Rigorous training keeps 3rd MEB ready for crisis response

CAMP COURTNEY, Okinawa, Japan — The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade sharpened its crisis-response posture in May with a series of readiness events that included a four-day Humanitarian Assistance Response Training–Disaster course and routine Alert Contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force drills.

Forward-deployed in Okinawa as III Marine Expeditionary Force’s crisis-response headquarters in the Indo-Pacific, the brigade sustains its ability to move quickly through regular ACM training, accountability drills and deployment rehearsals, alongside exercises and combined operations with allies and partners across the region.

From May 12–15, Marines completed the HART–D course to deepen expertise in disaster-response planning, coordination and execution, reinforcing the brigade’s role as a forward-deployed command-and-control node capable of rapidly forming and deploying a forward command element in support of crisis-response operations. “Readiness is a daily requirement for this brigade,” said Sgt. Maj. Erick Cortes, sergeant major of 3rd MEB. “Our Marines and Sailors must be prepared to respond quickly, whether that means supporting disaster relief, enabling joint and partner forces, or providing command and control during a contingency.”

ACM drills held on Camp Courtney tested rapid activation procedures, personnel accountability and movement preparation, validating the unit’s ability to assemble people, organize equipment and prepare to deploy under compressed timelines. The brigade also runs no-notice accountability drills to gauge responsiveness under unforeseen conditions, mirroring the uncertainty of real-world emergencies. “Every drill matters because every drill builds confidence in the process,” said Col. Petra Lovetinska Seipel, chief of staff, 3rd MEB. “When the call comes, there is no time to figure out the basics. Our Marines rehearse now so the brigade can move quickly, communicate clearly and support the mission immediately.”

The brigade’s most recent ACM activation occurred in November 2025, when 3rd MEB deployed from Okinawa to support U.S. foreign disaster relief efforts in the Philippines following severe weather, establishing command-and-control support in Manila to help coordinate response efforts before redeploying later that month.

With these recurring training events, the brigade remains poised to respond to humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and other contingencies throughout the Indo-Pacific, leveraging its forward-deployed posture and frequent collaboration with allied and partner nations to provide rapid, stabilizing support.