The U.S. Marine Corps is planning to branch out across the West Pacific with new prepositioning sites as the force continues to shape its force design and long term planning goals around restricted mobility and a lack of hardened supply chains, according to documents published by the service last month.

Two new sites are being proposed in Palau in Australia following the format of the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Philippines (MCPP-PHIL) which reached its initial operational capability in the second quarter of FY2025. Full operational capability is planned for FY2026.

MCPP-PHIL, located in a warehouse in Subic Bay outside the capital city of Manila, stores equipment used in Humanitarian Assistance / Disaster Response (HA/DR) roles. That includes equipment like fuel distribution trucks, transportation vehicles, power distribution equipment and material handling equipment, according to the Corps.

The Philippines has agreements to not permanently base U.S. troops, but those agreements do not apply to prepositioned equipment located inside the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Freeport Zone. Subic Bay itself is also receiving prepositioning equipment in a 57,000-square-foot warehouse at the former Subic Bay Naval Supply Depot. The port area has also received attention as a possible location for a new ammunition plant.

Screen capture from a U.S. Marine Corps presentation showcasing the new 55,000 square foot commercial warehouse that will be used to ultimately quadruple the amount of stored equipment at MCPP-PHIL. U.S. Marine Corps photos.

“Marine Corps Prepositioning Program Philippines is the newest prepositioning program to be activated and is currently at an initial operational capability status. The program currently operates out of a single warehouse in Subic Bay ongoing efforts in place to expand to additional sites within the Subic Bay area.”

U.S. Marine Corps

To adhere to regulations and laws, the U.S Marine Corps regularly interfaces with local agencies like the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Philippine Bureau of Customs to manage the importation and exportation of equipment into the Philippines. The U.S. Marine Corps also works with locals to provide security to the warehouses under U.S. control. The U.S. Marine Corps has also confirmed that no weapons are stored at the various warehouses used by MCPP-PHIL.

MCPP-PHIL warehouse loaded with prepositioned vehicles and equipment for use in contingencies and emergencies. Several different types of vehicles and equipment are visible, including generators, trucks, MEDEVAC vehicles, and infantry mobility vehicles. U.S. Marine Corps photo

New sites in Australia and Palau would model the Philippines location if pursued, enabling a rapid standup of stored equipment within a year of approval as a program of record, with gradual ramp-up to full operational capability over several years.

The U.S. Marine Corps have ramped up work in Palau, landing an aircraft on the once-abandoned World War 2 Peleliu airfield last year as part of Marine Corps Engineer Detachment Palau 24.1. Work in Palau has continued throughout the year with Navy contracts supporting new construction at and around the airfield to support a larger contingent of land-based operations as China’s missile range and magazine size grows.

Last week, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command announced its intentions to rebuild South Dock in Peleliu as a NAVFAC-led effort. The project “incorporates shoreline stabilization, a quay wall wharf with a roll-on/roll-off boat ramp, and construction of a public boat ramp to support safe launch and recovery of small craft for residents”, according to the Department of Defense.

A Tactical Multi-Mission Over-the-Horizon Radar (TACMOR) system is also being constructed in Angaur, Palau to support early warning and enhanced tracking in the West Pacific.

PELELIU, Palau (July 25, 2025) – A U.S. Navy Sailor of Marine Corps Engineer Detachment- Palau briefs U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Josh Lasky, commander, Joint Task Force-Micronesia, about U.S. Navy medical capabilities in Peleliu, July 25. During his trip to Palau, Lasky visited current and future project sites to include the Tactical Multi-Mission Over-the-Horizon Radar receiver site under construction in Angaur, Malakal Harbor in Koror where wharf and harbor improvements are planned, as well as the South Dock and airstrip in Peleliu where improvements are also planned. (U.S. Navy photo by Shaina O’Neal)

Australia has a prominent presence of U.S. Marine Corps forces as part of Marine Rotational Force Darwin (MRF-D), based at based at Robertson Barracks and at RAAF Base Darwin. Prepositioning equipment would give much greater access to materials for the rotational force as well as follow-on forces assisting in disaster response or contingency missions.

A decision on both sites is expected by the end of the fiscal year, with follow-on contracts to grow both sites if pursued.

‘There are two additional programs in INDOPACOM being considered by the service now. That decision to execute will be made by the end of the fiscal year and drive further contracting requirements. These programs projected to be initially stood up prior to the recompete and built to expanded to fully operational capable over several years.”

U.S. Marine Corps