Northern Strike

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt Anthony Giron, left, an infantryman and native of Los Angeles, California, Lance Cpl. Kagan Begley, center, a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense specialist and Native of Sacramento, California, and Cpl Haunter Hernandezescobedo, an infantryman and native of East Vale, California, watch a movie together while waiting in a passenger terminal at March Air Reserve Base, California, March 12, 2025.The Marines are headed to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan as part of Unit Deployment Program 25.1. The activation marks the beginning of an intensive period of training for 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines as they provide a total force solution in support of the UDP by aligning Marine Forces Reserve’s commitment to Marine Corps strategic objectives. This is first time since 2020 that an entire Reserve infantry battalion has activated to support the Unit Deployment Program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Scott Jenkins)