Navy
GalleryUSS Boxer and 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit return home after conducting joint exercises in the Indo-Pacific
Stars and Stripes
November 24, 2024
U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 20, 2024. (Amelia Kang/U.S. Marine Corps)
The USS Boxer and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit returned to their respective homeports in San Diego and Camp Pendleton, Calif., last week after a deployment to the U.S. 7th and 3rd Fleet areas of operations where more than 2,500 sailors and Marines participated in joint and combined exercises in the Indo-Pacific, according to a Navy news release.
Families and loved ones reunited with their sailors and Marines upon their return.
Families of U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, wait for loved ones aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Nov. 22, 2024. (Aidan Hekker/U.S. Marine Corps)
U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Dyllan Manning, an avionics technician assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embraces his daughters aboard Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 22, 2024. (Peyton Kahle/U.S. Marine Corps)
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Timothy Hunsaker, a UH-1Y Venom pilot and native of Oregon, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, reunites with his family aboard Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 22, 2024. (Patrick Katz/U.S. Marine Corps)
U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Jacob Parker, an air support control officer assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, hugs his son aboard Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 22, 2024. (Peyton Kahle/U.S. Marine Corps)
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Giovanny Colinabarca, an avionics technician assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embraces his children aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Nov. 22, 2024. (Sgt. Aidan Hekker/U.S. Marine Corps)
“The tactical expertise, professionalism and stealth of the sailors and Marines who make up our amphibious force team is unmatched, and that was proven time and time again throughout our deployment to the 7th Fleet area of operations,” Capt. Tate Robinson, commodore of Amphibious Squadron 5, said in the release.
During deployment, Boxer and the 15th MEU participated in exercise Ssang Yong to strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance through bilateral, joint training, contributing toward combined amphibious capability in defense of the Korean Peninsula.
After departing the South Korea, Boxer and the 15th MEU rapidly shifted course to head to the Philippines at the direction of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to support U.S. Agency for International Development’s efforts in foreign disaster response operations following Typhoon Krathon at the request of the Philippine government.
The Navy-Marine Corps team provided critical logistics support, transporting much-needed foreign disaster response supplies to remote locations in the Philippines alongside USAID, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and personnel from I Marine Expeditionary Force’s Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA).
The Boxer and the 15th MEU remained in the region to participate in Exercise KAMANDAG 8, an annual Philippines and Marine Corps-led exercise aimed at enhancing shared defense and humanitarian capabilities through realistic training scenarios and information exchanges.
U.S. Marines and sailors assigned to Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to depart the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) aboard a landing craft, utility attached to Assault Craft Unit 1 in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 23, 2024. (Joseph Helms/U.S. Marine Corps)
U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, board a landing craft, utility attached to Assault Craft Unit 1 before departing the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 23, 2024. (Joseph Helms/U.S. Marine Corps)
U.S. Marines assigned to Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, carry their bags to a landing craft, utility attached to Assault Craft Unit 1 before departing the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 23, 2024. (Joseph Helms/U.S. Marine Corps)
A U.S. Navy landing craft, utility attached to Assault Craft Unit 1 prepares to offload U.S. Marines assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 23, 2024. (Luis Agostini/U.S. Marine Corps)
U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, walk the flight-line towards their families aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Nov. 22, 2024. (Aidan Hekker/U.S. Marine Corps)
“Together, the entire 15th MEU and the three ships of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group have demonstrated an exceptional level of versatility, resilience, and operational capability,” said Col. Sean Dynan, commanding officer, 15th MEU.
Boxer and the 15th MEU transited over 3,200 nautical miles in support of deterring aggression, crisis response, presence operations, and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“From crisis response during foreign disaster relief to supporting 10 theater exercises, the accomplishments of our amphibious force reflect the skill, resilience, dedication and professionalism of every Marine and sailor,” Dynan said. “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together and the lasting impact this deployment will have on future operations in the Indo-Pacific working with our allies and partners.”
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares for takeoff from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean Nov. 20, 2024. (Amelia Kang/U.S. Marine Corps)