Lieutenant Col. George Hasseltine, commanding officer of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Metairie, La., conducts an interview with Cpl. Christopher Moore, combat corresponden More
Marines and Sailors of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South receive a command brief aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 30, 2014. SPMAGTF-South is scheduled to join the Sailors o More
A U.S. Navy MH-60S with the Blackjacks of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21, hovers above the flight deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during the first flight operations of her tran More
A U.S. Navy MH-60S with the Blackjacks of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21, sits aboard the flight deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during nighttime flying operations July 11, 201 More
Marines and Sailors with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 and Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, conduct nighttime flight operations with U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawks and MV-22 Ospreys aboard the More
The future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) sails through the Gulf of Mexico carrying Marines, Sailors and equipment of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South during her transit around th More
Corporal Eric Cotter, MV-22 crew chief with Marine Operational Evaluation and Testing Squadron 22 (MVX-22), performs inflight maintenance on the GAU-17 minigun mounted aboard an MV-22 Osprey during an operation More
U.S. Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South load onto MV-22 Ospreys aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), for transport to Coveñas, Colombia, to tra More
The hangar bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) is transformed to hold the evening reception for distinguished visitors in Cartagena, Colombia, July 17, 2014. The reception was held in More
Rear Adm. Fernandez Ponds, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, greets Gen. John Kelly, commander of U.S. Southern Command, after arriving aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in More
U.S. and Colombian government diplomats and military leaders speak to the media during a press conference aboard the flight deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in Cartagena, Colombia, More
Staff Sgt. Mike Lones, operations chief with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., is awarded the Purple Heart Medal by Brigadier Gen. David Coffman, commander o More
Brigadier Gen. David Coffman, Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, speaks to the Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South aboard the future amphibious assault ship US More
Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South learn about non-lethal weapons during a training iteration aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), July 23, 201 More
An MK 2 MTRS (Talon) robot prepares to pick up a battery during an explosive ordnance disposal familiarization training aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), July 23, 2014. Utilizing th More
Corporal Samuel Dobek, airframes mechanic with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX-22), and a native of Chicago, performs routine maintenance on the landing gear of an MV-22 Osprey in direct More
Sergeant Daniel Knight, non-lethal weapons instructor for Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Crown Point, Ind., displays riot control equipment for diplomats, military leaders a More
Sergeant Caleb Pente, explosive ordnance disposal technician with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Detroit, engages his target with an M4A1 service rifle aboard the future amp More
Corporal Pasha Martin, a supply warehouse clerk with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Brunswick, Ga., is supervised by Petty Officer 3rd Class James Johnson, a Navy corpsman More
Guests from the Brazilian Navy walk aboard the future amphibious ship USS America (LHA 6) for the first time, July 31, 2014. Brazilian Navy officers were invited to stay aboard America to live amongst U.S. Navy More
Sergeant Kimberly Barton, supply chief with Logistics Combat Element, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Chicago, supervises as two Sailors with the future amphibious assault sh More
U.S. Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South exit an MV-22 Osprey after being inserted at Marambaia Island, Brazil, Aug. 4, 2014. The SPMAGTF personnel, arriving from the fut More
Marines and Sailors with the Logistics Combat Element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South sit beside Brazilian Naval forces during a bi-lateral medical exchange at Marambaia Island, Brazil, Au More
Sergeant Caleb Pente, explosive ordnance disposal technician with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Detroit, shares with a Brazilian Marine about proper usage of night vision e More
Brazilian Marines receive a mission brief from a Force Reconnaissance Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South during a combat tracking bi-lateral exchange conducted on Marambaia Island, B More
U.S. Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South play soccer with Brazilian Marines in the bivouac site during a theatre security cooperation event held at Marambaia Island, Braz More
A Brazilian special forces Marine utilizes a holly stick to inspect the ground where a simulated improvised explosive device is suspected to be laid during a counter IED course held on Marambaia Island, Brazil, More
Lieutenant Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, deputy commandant for plans, policy and operations, addresses Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South on the flight deck of the future amphi More
Marines and Sailors aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) walk across the flight deck to man the rails as the ship departs Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 9, 2014. America was moored in Rio More
Lieutenant Col. George Hasseltine, commanding officer of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Metairie, La., speaks to sailors during an awards ceremony aboard the future amphibio More
A Reconnaissance Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South watches from an MH-60S Seahawk as another Seahawk engages simulated targets over open water during a helicopter visit, board, sear More
Corporal Bobby Jackson, maintenance management specialist with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Jacksonville, Fla., performs an original song during a talent show held in the More
U.S. Ambassador to Chile Michael Hammer is welcomed aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) by the senior leadership of America and Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, in t More
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus eats dinner with Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South and the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in the mess deck aboard th More
Lance Cpl. Brandon Torres, a water support specialist with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, bandages a simulated casualty during the final exam of a combat lifesaver course aboard the future More
U.S. Ambassador to Chile Michael Hammer and Chilean distinguished guests come aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Aug. 23, 2014. U.S. and Chilean diplomats and military officials were More
Senior leadership of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South and the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) walk across the flight deck of the ship with U.S. Ambassador to Chile Michael H More
Children from a local school explore the law enforcement equipment at a non-lethal weapons static display aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in Valparaiso, Chile, Aug. 25, 2014. The c More
Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South and Sailors with the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) walk across the flight deck to man the rails as the ship arrives in Valpar More
A CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 hovers above the flight deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) preparing to land, Aug. 24, 2014. Four helicopter More
Sergeant Daniel Knight, non-lethal weapons instructor with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Crown Point, Ind., contaminates a Marine with oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray during More
A Sailor assigned to the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) removes the chocks and chains from an MV-22 Osprey from Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX-22) before its departu More
Lance Cpl. Spencer Dean, an a-gunner with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of St. Louis, prepares for movement to Peru for a theater security cooperation event aboard the future More
Lieutenant Col. George Hasseltine, commanding officer of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Metairie, La., speaks to a PowerPoint slide for Peruvian diplomats and military leade More
General John Kelly (center), commander of U.S. Southern Command, and Lt. Col. George Hasseltine (left), commanding officer of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Metairie, La., s More
General John Kelly, commander of U.S. Southern Command, walks to take control of a formation of Marines and Sailors assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South and the future amphibious assau More
U.S. Ambassador to Peru Brian A. Nichols and distinguished visitors come aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Aug. 31, 2014. Peruvian diplomats and military officials were hosted aboar More
Peruvian Marines gather around light armored vehicles at a static display during a tour aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in Peru, Sept. 1, 2014. The tour consisted of multiple displ More
Distinguished visitors are welcomed aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) for an evening reception in the hangar bay, Sept. 1, 2014. The reception was hosted by the Marines and Sailors a More
An aircraft handler prepares a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (HMM-364) for takeoff from the flight deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) to retu More
Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South and the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) of America man the rails of America for her arrival in San Diego, Sept. 15, More
Lieutenant Col. George Hasseltine, commanding officer of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Metairie, La., briefs Marine Corps and external media during an interview prior to th More
First Lt. Matthew Orzecohwski, Adjutant, Combat Logistics Battalion 13, 1st Marine Logistics Group, delivers a legal brief to Marines and sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South aboard M More
A U.S. Navy MH-60S with the Blackjacks of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21, lands aboard the flight deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during the first flight operations of her tran More
A U.S. Navy MH-60S with the Blackjacks of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21, conducts nighttime flying operations aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) July 11, 2014. America is carrying More
Corporal Eric Cotter (left) and Cpl. Jeramiah Serfling, MV-22 crew chiefs with Marine Operational Evaluation and Testing Squadron 22 (MVX-22), perform inflight maintenance on the GAU-17 minigun mounted aboard a More
The city of Cartagena, Colombia is seen from the deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during a night reception, July 17, 2014. Cartagena was the ship's first stop during its transit ar More
Rear Adm. Fernandez Ponds, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, shakes the hand of GEN Juan Pablo Rodriguez Barragan, Colombian CHoD, after arriving aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America ( More
Lance Cpl. Santiago Otero, supply administration clerk with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Miami, Fla., is interviewed by the Colombian media after being honored by GEN Juan More
An MK 2 MTRS (Talon) robot arranges objects by size during an explosive ordnance disposal familiarization training aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), July 23, 2014. Utilizing the Tal More
A Sailor with the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) inspects an X26E Taser during a training iteration aboard the ship, July 23, 2014. During the training, Marines and Sailors learned about the More
Sergeant Corey Porter, an airframe mechanic with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX-22), and a native of Kansas City, Mo., is currently serving in direct support of Special Purpose Marine A More
Sergeant Maj. Wesley Schaffer, sergeant major of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Roanoke, Va., engages his target with an M4A1 service rifle aboard the future amphibious assa More
Petty Officer 2nd Class Gabriel Besa, a Navy hospital corpsman with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Pearland, Texas, instructs on proper needle decompression during a combat More
Guests from the Brazilian Navy file through the passage ways of the future amphibious ship USS America (LHA 6) after landing in MV-22s, July 31, 2014. Brazilian Navy officers were invited to stay aboard America More
Sergeant Tyson Hicks, martial arts instructor trainer with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Lynwood, Calif., demonstrates sparring techniques for sailors with the future amphi More
U.S. and Brazilian Marines inspect the ground where a simulated improvised explosive device is suspected to be laid during the night portion of a counter IED bi-lateral exchange on Marambaia Island, Brazil, Aug More
An MV-22 Osprey with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX-22) departs from Marambaia Island, Brazil, after tactically inserting Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task More
Brazilian Marines analyze markings made in the sand during a combat tracking bi-lateral exchange on Marambaia Island, Brazil Aug. 5, 2015. During the exchange, Brazilian and U.S. Marines with Special Purpose Ma More
Brazilian Navy medical personnel share their expertise on mass casualty events with Marines and Sailors of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South as part of a medical bi-lateral exchange at Marambai More
A Brazilian special forces Marine utilizes a mine detector to inspect a road for simulated improvised explosive devices during a counter IED course held on Marambaia Island, Brazil, Aug. 6, 2014. The counter IE More
U.S. Marines Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South play soccer with Brazilian a Marine in the bivouac site during a theatre security cooperation event held at Marambaia Island, Brazil, Aug. 6, 2014 More
Marines and Sailors aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) man the rails as the ship departs Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 9, 2014. America was moored in Rio for a scheduled port visit dur More
Staff Sgt. Joshua Rochat, quality assurance chief with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX-22), and a native of Knoxville, Tenn., performs a song at a talent show held in the hangar bay of t More
U.S. Ambassador to Chile Michael Hammer is welcomed aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) by Sgt. Maj. Wesley Schaffer, sergeant major of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Sou More
Corporal Nicholas Charles, a gun line noncommissioned officer with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Greensboro, N.C., bandages a simulated casualty during the final exam of a More
Sergeant Maj. Wesley Schaffer, sergeant major of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Roanoke, Va., welcomes Adm. Enrique Larranaga, Chief of Chilean Naval Operations, aboard the More
A student from a local school poses for a photo wearing a bomb suit helmet at an explosive ordnance disposal static display aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in Valparaiso, Chile, Au More
The U.S. Ambassador to Chile Michael Hammer speaks to Chilean media during a press conference held on the flight deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in Valparaiso, Chile, Aug. 24, 201 More
Corporal Jeramiah Serfling, an MV-22 crew chief with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX-22), and a native of Mellette, S.D., walks across the flight deck of the future amphibious assault sh More
A CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 approaches the flight deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) preparing to land, Aug. 24, 2014. Four helicopters More
Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South watch as a Sailor assigned to the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) is contaminated with oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray during an More
An MV-22 Osprey, from Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, departs the flight deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) carrying Marines, Sailors and equipment from Special P More
Lieutenant Col. George Hasseltine (right), commanding officer of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Metairie, La., welcomes the U.S. Ambassador to Peru Brian A. Nichols aboard t More
Lieutenant Col. George Hasseltine, commanding officer of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, and a native of Metairie, La., speaks to Peruvian diplomats and military leaders about the assets and More
Peruvian media gather on the flight deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) for a press conference with the ship’s command, Peruvian diplomats and military officials, Aug. 31, 2014. The p More
General John Kelly, commander of U.S. Southern Command, addresses Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South and the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) aboard Am More
A Peruvian Marine poses for a photo in the driver's seat of a light armored vehicle at a static display during a tour aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in Peru, Sept. 1, 2014. The to More
Peruvian distinguished guests are hosted for an evening reception in the hangar bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Sept. 1, 2014. The reception was hosted by the Marines, Sailors abo More
CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (HMM-364) take off from the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) to return to Camp Pendleton, Sept. 15, 2014. HMM-364 recent More
The future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) fires its cannon for a 21 guns salute while Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South and America man the rails for the s More