December 2025 witnessed an unprecedented sea training landscape, highlighted by US Marine Corps' announcement of a comprehensive drone training program, international exercises and certifications -- initiatives reflecting an emphasis on unmanned systems integration and enhanced regional interoperability.
Marine Corps Unveils Six New Drone Piloting Courses
On December 31st 2025, the Marine Corps unveiled six drone piloting courses open to Marines across all military occupational specialties as detailed in a service memo. These include basic drone operator, attack drone operator, attack drone leader, payload specialist instructor as well as attack drone instructor courses that aim to standardize training ahead of the deployment of thousands of commercial drones in two years' time.
Camp Pendleton in California; Camp Lejeune in North Carolina; Okinawa in Japan and Quantico, Virginia were chosen as regional training hubs. Eight new drone-related certifications will broaden qualification pathways, with prior training potentially providing equivalent credentials. Infantry, reconnaissance and littoral combat teams should begin using first-person view drones by May in line with the Defense Departments $1 billion investment in autonomous systems; full operational capability is scheduled to become a reality by 2028.
Lt. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, Commander of Marine Corps Training and Education Command, highlighted the pilot nature of these programs as an expedient means of validating curricula quickly. Units must coordinate through leadership for course access through regional hubs like 1st Marine Division Schools or School of Infantry East or West.
CARAT Malaysia 2025 Strengthens Indo-Pacific Interoperability
From December 4-10, 2025, US Navy Sailors and Marines joined with Royal Malaysian Navy Sailors and Marines at Lumut for Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2025 (CARAT 2025). At-sea phases included USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) and KD Lekiu (FFG 30) conducting communications drills, simulation of air defense systems, formation sailing drills and deck landing qualification practices in the Strait of Malacca.
Ashore training focused on legal, cyber, maritime domain awareness, medical diving and salvage topics. The exercise, the 31st iteration in its series, furthered regional stability within a free and open Indo-Pacific, with US participants pledged to ongoing partnership.
22nd MEU Conducted Maritime Interdiction Operations in Caribbean
On December 31st 2025, Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Special Purpose Force trained for advanced maritime interdiction operations during a deployment with Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group in the Caribbean Sea. Drills focused on enforcing sanctions and controlling shipping as US efforts against illicit oil transport intensified.
This followed recent interdictions, including the seizure of the oil tanker Skipper off Venezuela for transporting sanctioned crude. The training addresses operational demands in contested maritime domains.
Forward-Deployed Drone Certifications Advance Readiness
Marines of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) earned certification on first-person-view (FPV) drones while deployed in the Caribbean, marking a wider rollout. Marine Corps Aviation Detachment Training (MCADT) also certified 3rd Marine Division troops on Okinawa early December 2025.
These efforts build upon 2025 modernization efforts such as Project Dynamis and Force Design, emphasizing contested logistics, jammed communications and analog targeting exercises in Pacific exercises with partners such as the Philippines, Japan, Australia and Indonesia.
Oregon Community College Advances Maritime Simulator Plans
On December 31st 2025, an Oregon community college announced plans for a maritime simulator facility, filling an identified gap in simulation training statewide. Industry stakeholders highlighted its necessity and students in Oregon were forced to look elsewhere for alternative forms of simulation education.
These developments in both military and civilian sectors reflect an ambitious emphasis on maritime training innovation by late 2025.