I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) announced an 18-month Preservation and Resiliency Campaign on September 30, 2026, aimed at strengthening mental and physical resilience across its ranks. The initiative builds on the Operational Stress Control and Readiness program (OSCAR IV), which was codified in March 2026 through Marine Corps Order 5351.1A. The campaign focuses on improving stress recognition, fostering peer support, and standardizing onboarding for new personnel.

The announcement came during a 22-mile hike at Camp Pendleton, California, where nearly 1,200 Marines and sailors carried 22-pound packs to symbolize the weight of service and the importance of mutual support. Sgt. Maj. Rodney Nevinger, I MEF’s senior enlisted leader, emphasized that showing up for one another is the most critical act of unit cohesion. "The most important thing you did today was to show up," he said during the event.

Lt. Gen. Christian Wortman, I MEF commander, stated the campaign’s goal is to ensure every Marine and sailor is physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially resilient. "We’re 44,500 strong, but life can be cruel. Even the strongest can find themselves on their knees," he said. He framed resilience as a warfighting function essential to operational readiness.

The Tomahawk 22 hike, which covers 22 miles with a 2,700-foot elevation gain, was not a combat readiness test but a symbolic effort to raise awareness about veteran suicide and the need for collective care. Wortman noted the distance was chosen to anchor conversations about suicide prevention and peer intervention.

A key component of the campaign is training small-unit leaders to act as "sensors" — individuals trained to detect signs of distress in their peers and initiate supportive conversations. Carissa Tourtelot, I MEF’s preventative behavioral health director, explained that Marines often prefer seeking help from fellow service members, making peer-to-peer support a critical channel.

The campaign also includes a standardized New-Join onboarding process for new Marines and sailors, designed to integrate them into their units within 90 days. The program emphasizes early connection with sponsors, administrative and medical check-ins, financial readiness training, and mentorship. Wortman issued a directive in August 2026 requiring all subordinate commands to adopt the curriculum, which aims to reduce early-career mental health risks.

OSCAR IV, now part of the broader Marine Corps Total Fitness framework, provides structured training for leaders at all levels to recognize stress signals and respond appropriately. Mobile training teams have been certifying unit trainers since April 2026, with a focus on proactive engagement and baseline establishment within units.

The initiative extends to Navy personnel supporting Marine units, including hospital corpsmen and religious program specialists. Force Master Chief Loren Rucker highlighted that peer support must be mutual — "sometimes it is the Marines saving our corpsmen as well."

According to Pentagon data, the Marine Corps recorded 55 suicides in 2025, down from 61 in 2023 and 43 in 2021. The Navy reported 73 suicides in 2025, up from 70 in 2023. While suicide rates remain a concern, Wortman emphasized that efforts like Tomahawk 22 and OSCAR IV are helping units identify and support struggling service members earlier.

Wortman acknowledged the challenge of maintaining resiliency amid ongoing deployments and training cycles. "We’re under constant pressure, so we must prioritize care for one another without losing focus on the mission," he said.

The campaign’s core message — "no Marine fights alone" — underscores a cultural shift toward encouraging help-seeking behavior and recognizing interdependence as a strength. Leaders are trained to respond when a service member signals distress, with promises of immediate support and follow-up care.

While the campaign is still in its early stages, officials say it represents a sustained effort to embed resilience into daily military life, from deployment cycles to new-unit integration.