U.S. Marines conduct simulated combat patrols in preparation for exercise Freezing Winds 24 on Dragsvik, Finland, Nov. 4, 2024. Freezing Winds is an annual Finnish-led maritime exercise involving U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Rotational Force – Europe and serves as a venue to increase Finnish Naval readiness and interoperability between NATO partners and allies in and around the Baltic Sea. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Christian Salazar)
U.S. Army Col. Karen L. Meeker, Command Chaplain with U.S. Africa Command, performs the invocation during the MARFOREUR/AF 249th Marine Corps birthday ball celebration in Stuttgart, Germany, on Nov. 16, 2024. Brig. Gen. I.D.L. (Ivo) Moerman, Commandant of the Netherlands Marine Corps attended the ball as the guest of honor and remarked on the long history and strength of the relationship between the United States Marine Corps and the Netherlands Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Donato Maffin)
U.S. Marines from II Marine Expeditionary Force and the Finnish Defence Forces worked toward international strategic goals during the Finnish Readiness Exercise at Camp Dragsvik, Finland, Aug. 5-9, 2024. The training provided U.S. Marines and the FDF multiple opportunities to exchange tactics, techniques, and technologies while further developing military partnerships.
The training primarily focused on enhancing the operational capabilities and readiness of both Finnish and U.S. forces through combined amphibious and helicopter raids, integration of naval gunfire support and coastal defense rehearsals.
The newest training brought to Finland was the establishment of the forward arming and refueling point and the execution of a...
