Media Room

Enhanced Defense: 3d MLR Deploys MADIS to Philippines for Balikatan 2025

U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, deployed to the Philippines in support of Exercise Balikatan 25, scheduled for April 21 to May 9, 2025. During this year’s iteration of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense event (IAMD), one of the 6 Combined Joint All-Domain Operations events scheduled during Balikatan 25, U.S. Marines with 3d Littoral Anti-Air Battalion’s Ground-Based Air Defense Battery (GBAD) will conduct live-fire training with the newly fielded Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS).

3d MLR Deploys NMESIS to Philippines for Exercise Balikatan 25

Following the announcement by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during his visit to Manila on March 28, U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Littoral Regiment deployed the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System to the Philippines in support of Exercise Balikatan 25. This marks the inaugural deployment of the newly fielded Marine Corps weapon system to the Philippines and serves as a major milestone for the continuously developing U.S.-Philippines Alliance.

1st Recon to Support 3d MLR for BK25

U.S. Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, conducts dive operations on Marine Corps Base Hawaii Feb. 24, 2025. 1st Reconnaissance Battalion conducted the training to enhance rapid insertion capabilities in littoral zones as preparation for integrating with 3d Marine Littoral Regiment and its subordinate battalions while forward in the Philippines for Exercise Balikatan 25 and Kamandag 9 this summer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Malia Sparks)

Dedication Beyond Duty: Sgt. Dale’s Impact on USO PTA

Sgt. Michael "Jay" Dale, a U.S. Marine with 3d Littoral Combat Team, recently trained at Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawai‘i Island where he volunteered at the USO. Jay and his team, which included Soldiers from Schofield Barracks and fellow Marines from Marine Corps Base Hawai’i, ensured the USO center remained open seven days a week for up to 12 hours daily. After closing, Dale, along with Cpl. Corbin Parker, Lance Cpl. Dominick Virola, Petty Officer 2nd Class Kamal Kandel, Lance Cpl. Dylan Watkins, Seaman Apprentice Andrew Wright, Lance Cpl. Pedro Perez, and others, would spend an additional hour or two cleaning the center to ensure it was spotless for the next day.

3d MLR Conducts its first Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation across the Hawaiian Islands

MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS, HAWAII — Various U.S. Army and Marine Corps units put 3d Marine Littoral Regiment to the test during the Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation, February 10-14, 2025. The evaluation exercise was the first of its kind with U.S. Marine Corps Training and Education Command, Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group, and Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command providing support while 3d Marine Division and 12th Marine Littoral Regiment conducted the evaluation across multiple locations around the Hawaiian archipelago.

3d Marine Littoral Regiment Fires the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS)

U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, conducted a counter unmanned aerial system live-fire training event utilizing the Marine Air Defense Integrated System – a ground-based air defense capability, on January 25, 2025, to commemorate the addition of the MADIS and the months of operational testing and evaluation required to field this new weapon system.