U.S. Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) participate alongside NATO forces in exercise Nordic Response 24 in Norway, March 4-14, 2024. Nordic Response 24 is a Norwegian national readiness and defense exercise designed to enhance military capabilities and Allied cooperation while training under challenging Arctic conditions, including rugged terrain and extreme cold weather. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Emily Hazelbaker)

U.S. Marines with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) participated in Exercise Nordic Response 24 across Norway, Sweden, and Finland from January to March 2024. Exercise Nordic Response 24 is designed to enhance military capabilities and allied cooperation in high-intensity warfighting scenarios under challenging arctic conditions while providing U.S. Marines unique opportunities to train alongside NATO allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Christopher Hernandez, Cpl. Rowdy Vanskike and Lance Cpl. David OrnelasBaeza)

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), conduct distributed aviation operations (DAO) in Oulu, Finland, during Exercise Nordic Response 24 at Oulu, Finland, March 10-14, 2024. Exercise Nordic Response is an opportunity for the 2nd MAW to refine the DAO warfighting concept, which focuses on generating aviation combat power through the dispersion of aviation squadrons, command-and-control agencies, aviation logistics, and aviation ground-support units across the battlefield while integrating with allies and partners. Exercise Nordic Response is designed to enhance military capabilities and allied cooperation in high-intensity warfighting scenarios under challenging arctic conditions, while providing U.S. Marines unique opportunities to train alongside NATO allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Christopher Hernandez)

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Matthew Andrews, a native of Wisconsin and an F/A-18 Hornet pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), speaks on conducting distributed aviation operations (DAO) in Oulu, Finland, during Exercise Nordic Response 24 at Andenes, Norway, March 14, 2024. Exercise Nordic Response 24 is an opportunity for the 2nd MAW to refine the DAO warfighting concept, which focuses on generating aviation combat power through the coordinated employment of aviation squadrons, command-and-control agencies, aviation logistics, and aviation ground-support units disaggregated across the battlefield that challenges adversary targeting efforts. Exercise Nordic Response 24 is designed to enhance military capabilities and allied cooperation in high-intensity warfighting scenarios under challenging arctic conditions, while providing U.S. Marines unique opportunities to train alongside NATO allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Christopher Hernandez)

U.S. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), refuel F-35B Lightning II jets with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 542, 2nd MAW, using aviation-delivered ground refueling during Exercise Nordic Response 24 in Lulea, Sweden, March 13, 2024. VMFA-542 and VMGR-252 demonstrated aviation-delivered ground refueling during a distributed aviation operation to showcase expeditionary advanced-base operations using host-nation support. The training event marked the first U.S. F-35 landing in Sweden at Kallax Air Base. Exercise Nordic Response 24 is designed to enhance military capabilities and allied cooperation in high-intensity warfighting scenarios under challenging arctic conditions while providing U.S. Marines unique opportunities to train alongside NATO allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Rowdy Vanskike) (Music licensed from DeWolfe Music)