U.S. Marines Conduct Island Seizure Drills in Philippine Exercise
During the Balikatan 2026 exercise in the Philippines, U.S. Marines practiced seizing remote islands, showcasing their ability to conduct dispersed, expeditionary operations. The exercise involved the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, which is designed for agile operations in littoral environments. The regiment, based in Hawaii, deployed across 17 locations in the Philippines, utilizing the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) for simulated missile strikes. This year's exercise marked the fourth participation of the regiment in Balikatan, highlighting its evolving tactics and collaboration with regional allies. The drills focused on securing maritime straits and involved deploying NMESIS to multiple islands, supported by air and sea transport. 
