Marine continues legacy of service - Cpl. Nizhoni Milton, an intelligence specialist with Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division poses for a photo in front of the Navajo Code Talkers Memorial in Window Rock, Ariz., Aug. 13, 2022. Cpl. Milton is a member of the Navajo Nation and the Native American Women Warriors, a non-profit organization comprised of Native American women veterans and active duty service members. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alcaraz)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Midshipman Michelle Mathews is a 19-year-old Midshipmen striving to be a Marine Corps officer, is one of the many people whose passion for being in the armed services has put her in the path to becoming a future leader. Mathews lives in Houston and attends Villanova University as a political science major. Her ultimate goal is to lead Marines and become a combat engineer officer. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Midshipman Michelle Mathews is a 19-year-old Midshipmen striving to be a Marine Corps officer, is one of the many people whose passion for being in the armed services has put her in the path to becoming a future leader. Mathews lives in Houston and attends Villanova University as a political science major. Her ultimate goal is to lead Marines and become a combat engineer officer. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Maj. Misty Posey the Plans Officer with the Manpower Integration Office, Headquarters Marine Corps, educates an audience about the integration of female Marines into previously closed combat arms occupations and units at the Unit Event Center June 8, 2016. The goal of integration education training is to ensure commanders and staffs are sufficiently educated and prepared to receive Marines of either gender by October 31, 2016 (active) and January 31, 2017 (reserve). “I hope we get to the point where people look at female Marines as Marines first and as women second,” Posey said. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Shellie Hall/ Released) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Maj. Misty Posey the Plans Officer with the Manpower Integration Office, Headquarters Marine Corps, educates an audience about the integration of female Marines into previously closed combat arms occupations and units at the Unit Event Center June 8, 2016. The goal of integration education training is to ensure commanders and staffs are sufficiently educated and prepared to receive Marines of either gender by October 31, 2016 (active) and January 31, 2017 (reserve). “I hope we get to the point where people look at female Marines as Marines first and as women second,” Posey said. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Shellie Hall/ Released)

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. – Col. Ian R. Clark, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, congratulates the Marine graduates of Expeditionary Warfare School, Command and Staff, and Career Course Seminar on Camp Pendleton May 26, 2016. The College of Distance Education and Training mission is to design, develop, deliver, evaluate, manage, and resource distance learning products and programs across the Marine Corps training and education continuum in order to increase operational readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tony Simmons/Released) - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. – Col. Ian R. Clark, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, congratulates the Marine graduates of Expeditionary Warfare School, Command and Staff, and Career Course Seminar on Camp Pendleton May 26, 2016. The College of Distance Education and Training mission is to design, develop, deliver, evaluate, manage, and resource distance learning products and programs across the Marine Corps training and education continuum in order to increase operational readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tony Simmons/Released)

Marines from across I Marine Expeditionary Force post security during fast rope inserts on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. May 9, 2016. This training was a part of a helicopter rope suspension techniques training package facilitated by 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, I MEF. Marines and Royal British Commandos practiced these techniques on a rappel tower prior to fast roping out of helicopters hovering nearly 40 feet off the ground. - Marines from across I Marine Expeditionary Force post security during fast rope inserts on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. May 9, 2016. This training was a part of a helicopter rope suspension techniques training package facilitated by 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, I MEF. Marines and Royal British Commandos practiced these techniques on a rappel tower prior to fast roping out of helicopters hovering nearly 40 feet off the ground.

Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Ray Mabus, speaks with a mix of entry-level Marine students from the School of Infantry-West and mid-career enlisted leaders studying at the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., about opening all occupational specialties to qualified Marines of either gender April 12, 2016. - Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Ray Mabus, speaks with a mix of entry-level Marine students from the School of Infantry-West and mid-career enlisted leaders studying at the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., about opening all occupational specialties to qualified Marines of either gender April 12, 2016.

Cpl. Nathaniel Asoau, Light Armored Vehicle crewman with Company D., 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and student with the Urban Leaders Course, provides covering fire from behind a barricade while his partner, Lance Cpl. Leonardo Perez, drops to a prone position during a combat marksmanship program range at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 31, 2016. This range is the first live-fire range of the three-week course and is designed to hone Marines’ combat marksmanship skills including how to shoot, move and communicate with a buddy. - Cpl. Nathaniel Asoau, Light Armored Vehicle crewman with Company D., 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and student with the Urban Leaders Course, provides covering fire from behind a barricade while his partner, Lance Cpl. Leonardo Perez, drops to a prone position during a combat marksmanship program range at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 31, 2016. This range is the first live-fire range of the three-week course and is designed to hone Marines’ combat marksmanship skills including how to shoot, move and communicate with a buddy.

Marines coordinate fires for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during an M142 HIMARS live fire exercise at Camp Pendleton March 16, 2016. During the exercise, Marines coordinated fires based on hypothetical combat situations they might encounter while deployed. The HIMARS rounds are aided by Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and can travel to altitudes up to 75 kilometers and can precisely engage targets up to 40 miles away. The Marines are with Battery S, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines coordinate fires for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during an M142 HIMARS live fire exercise at Camp Pendleton March 16, 2016. During the exercise, Marines coordinated fires based on hypothetical combat situations they might encounter while deployed. The HIMARS rounds are aided by Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and can travel to altitudes up to 75 kilometers and can precisely engage targets up to 40 miles away. The Marines are with Battery S, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

A Marine with Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion performs rifle drills during a combat marksmanship program led by Expeditionary Operations Training Group March 17, 2016 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. The shooting package helps to better prepare these Marines for an upcoming deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. - A Marine with Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion performs rifle drills during a combat marksmanship program led by Expeditionary Operations Training Group March 17, 2016 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. The shooting package helps to better prepare these Marines for an upcoming deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.