News

U.S. Marines load an MV-22 Osprey onto a vessel - U.S. Marines secure an MV-22 Osprey aboard a contracted vessel Aug. 15, 2025, at Dames Point Marine Terminal in Jacksonville, Florida. Blount Island Command provided tow tractors and other prepositioned equipment to support Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced) as part of regional responsiveness efforts in the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa area of responsibility. (Official Marine Corps Photo/Dustin Senger)

Marine Corps Slipway Survey Supports Prepositioning, Hurricane Readiness - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District conduct a slipway survey Aug. 6 at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, supporting efficient and uninterrupted maritime operations for Marine Corps prepositioning program. Quarterly hydrographic surveys support efficient operations for the Marine Corps prepositioning programs by monitoring sediment buildup and confirming dredging needs around the slipway, ensuring the safe movement of maritime prepositioning ships. Third quarter data is especially important during hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, for assessing storm damage and identifying hazards, such as sunken vessels or debris. (Official Marine Corps Photo/Cpl. Nicholas Martinez)

Faster, Sharper, Safer: Blount Island Shop Powers Global Readiness - Jeremy Biggers, woodworker, operates a computer-controlled beam saw July 21, 2025, in the preservation, packing and packaging shop at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island in Florida. Installed for Blount Island Command, the HK5 PL Series Horizontal Beam Saw was placed into production that day to enhance precision cutting and output in support of global prepositioning missions. (Official Marine Corps Photo/Dustin Senger)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Nicholas Martinez holds a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Nicholas Martinez holds a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal after a formation July 15 at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, Florida. Martinez, 22, of Doral, Florida, earned the volunteer medal for his dedication to children with autism and their families, spanning more than 500 hours of volunteer service in Jacksonville. The medal is awarded to service members for exceptional, sustained volunteer service to the civilian community that produces tangible results and reflects favorably on the Marine Corps. Martinez’s commitment, spanning from October 2021 to October 2024, exemplified these criteria through his consistent coaching and mentorship. (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo/Dustin Senger)

Merles Takes Helm at Key Marine Corps Logistics Hub in Florida - U.S. Marine Corps Col. David Merles speaks to service members, government civilians, defense contractors and community leaders during a change of command ceremony July 2 at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island in Florida. Col. Luke Watson, who had served as commanding officer of Blount Island Command since Aug. 11, 2023, relinquished command to Merles while aboard the USNS Sgt. William W. Seay, a U.S. Navy maritime prepositioning ship. The facility is the hub of the Marine Corps’ prepositioning programs. Blount Island Command supports Marine expeditionary forces worldwide during military exercises and contingency operations, from combat to humanitarian. (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo/Dustin Senger)

As Hurricanes Loom, Blount Island Leverages Community Leadership - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Luke Watson, commanding officer of Blount Island Command, discusses facility vulnerabilities with a technical advisory committee for the Northeast Florida Military Installation Readiness Review during a command brief June 17 at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island in Florida. After a presentation on global prepositioning mission readiness, a detailed tour highlighted key challenges, including shoreline erosion. The group explored the complexities of managing power, water and wastewater systems, and the dredging needed to maintain the slipway for Navy cargo ships, as Florida communities brace for a predicted above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo/Dustin Senger)

Marine Colonel Emphasizes Maritime Readiness, Partnerships at Navy League Convention - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Luke Watson speaks during a sea services panel June 6 at the Navy League National Convention in Jacksonville. Watson, commanding officer of Blount Island Command and Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, the hub of Marine Corps prepositioning programs, underscored the importance of maritime readiness and strategic partnerships. He addressed key aspects of the Marine Corps' evolving strategies, underlining the service's commitment to maintaining readiness and adapting to emerging threats. (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo/Dustin Senger)

Blount Island Marine Earns Clay County Military Excellence Award - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Tatiana Corbeil of Sarasota, Florida, receives the Clay County Military Excellence Award during a military appreciation luncheon May 21, 2025, at Thrasher Horne Center in Orange Park, Florida. The annual Clay County Chamber of Commerce event, presented by VyStar Credit Union, honors the Northeast Florida military community. Corbeil is a quality assurance representative for Blount Island Command at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, the hub of the Marine Corps' prepositioning programs, and headquarters company noncommissioned officer in charge. (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo/Dustin Senger)

Tortoise Relocation Keeps Land Adaptable to Marine Corps Logistics - Taylor Comstock, Marine Corps environmental protection specialist, Betsy Stewart, an Environmental Resource Solutions environmental scientist, inspect a gopher tortoise during a burrow survey May 2, 2025, along the St. Johns River at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, Florida. (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo/Dustin Senger)

Blount Island Marines Achieve Rapid Offload, Boosting Global Readiness - U.S. Marine Corps Maritime Prepositioning Force assets from the United States Naval Ship Seay (T-AKR 302) Roll off from the stern ramp in preparation for the Maritime Prepositioning Force Maintenance Cycle (MMC) 14 at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island. The Maritime Prepositioning Force Maintenance Cycle (MMC) is a routine process for maintaining and replenishing the equipment and supplies carried by Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS). It ensures the MPS remain ready for deployment and are equipped with the necessary supplies for operations. The cycle typically lasts 42 to 45 days per ship and involves checking the serviceability of the equipment and replenishing stocks.