Stories

Pfc. Jonathan Linares, a gunner with Battery F, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, stands ready for the next fire mission of his team’s M777 howitzer aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 23, 2015. Processing fire missions is one of the most important forms of training for an artillery team. (U.S. Marine photo by Pvt. Robert Bliss/Released) - Pfc. Jonathan Linares, a gunner with Battery F, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, stands ready for the next fire mission of his team’s M777 howitzer aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 23, 2015. Processing fire missions is one of the most important forms of training for an artillery team. (U.S. Marine photo by Pvt. Robert Bliss/Released)

Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, conduct a patrol at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., Aug. 25, 2015. The patrol was conducted as part of an experimental exercise designed to test Internally Transported Vehicle (ITVs) capabilities and discuss areas for improvement. The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab established the exercise to aid in the process of getting reliable information for future vehicle designs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Murray) - Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, conduct a patrol at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., Aug. 25, 2015. The patrol was conducted as part of an experimental exercise designed to test Internally Transported Vehicle (ITVs) capabilities and discuss areas for improvement. The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab established the exercise to aid in the process of getting reliable information for future vehicle designs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Murray)

Captain Guy Lee, the I Marine Expeditionary Force chaplain introduces a panel of subject matter experts that were present during the second battle for Fallujah, Iraq. Navy Chaplains and Religious Program Specialists gathered Sept. 18 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., to discuss the roles of religious personnel during times of heavy combat; specifically revisiting the events of the second battle of Fallujah during Operation Phantom Fury. - Captain Guy Lee, the I Marine Expeditionary Force chaplain introduces a panel of subject matter experts that were present during the second battle for Fallujah, Iraq. Navy Chaplains and Religious Program Specialists gathered Sept. 18 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., to discuss the roles of religious personnel during times of heavy combat; specifically revisiting the events of the second battle of Fallujah during Operation Phantom Fury.

Marines with Force Reconnaissance Company and Reconnaissance Training Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, jump from a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft during High Altitude – High Opening parachute insertion training over Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 17, 2015. The goal of the training was to sharpen a skill set that is of great advantage to expeditionary forces, allowing the jumpers to infiltrate locations where access would be too difficult for vehicles. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Devan Gowans/Released) - Marines with Force Reconnaissance Company and Reconnaissance Training Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, jump from a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft during High Altitude – High Opening parachute insertion training over Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 17, 2015. The goal of the training was to sharpen a skill set that is of great advantage to expeditionary forces, allowing the jumpers to infiltrate locations where access would be too difficult for vehicles. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Devan Gowans/Released)

Sergeant Maj. Bradley Kasal, Sergeant Major of I Marine Expeditionary Force, congratulates new graduates from Field Medical Battalion-West during the 65th anniversary celebration of the training institution, and graduation ceremony of Field Medical Service Technician Class 2015-040, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 18, 2015. FMTB-West opened its doors in the fall of 1950 and has trained young Sailors on life-saving techniques utilized on battlefields throughout history. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Rick Hurtado / Released). - Sergeant Maj. Bradley Kasal, Sergeant Major of I Marine Expeditionary Force, congratulates new graduates from Field Medical Battalion-West during the 65th anniversary celebration of the training institution, and graduation ceremony of Field Medical Service Technician Class 2015-040, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 18, 2015. FMTB-West opened its doors in the fall of 1950 and has trained young Sailors on life-saving techniques utilized on battlefields throughout history. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Rick Hurtado / Released).

Donnelly, Idaho, native, Sgt. Elizabeth Azcuenaga, an enlisted aircrew training manager with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 (HMLA-169), Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, fires a GAU-17 machine gun from the door of a UH-1Y Huey while the pilot simultaneously launches a rocket aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 17, 2015. Azcuenaga fired the weapon during a weapons proficiency range designed to help new pilots and crew chiefs become more effective with their respective weapons systems. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel) - Donnelly, Idaho, native, Sgt. Elizabeth Azcuenaga, an enlisted aircrew training manager with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 (HMLA-169), Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, fires a GAU-17 machine gun from the door of a UH-1Y Huey while the pilot simultaneously launches a rocket aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 17, 2015. Azcuenaga fired the weapon during a weapons proficiency range designed to help new pilots and crew chiefs become more effective with their respective weapons systems. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel)

Marines with Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, lay down suppressive fire, allowing a breacher in their team to plant an improvised bangalore torpedo by concertina wire during a rocket shoot and fire team assault training exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 16, 2015. The overall goal of the training was to expose the Marines to multiple weapons systems and provide them with the experience needed to employ them in deployed environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Devan Gowans/Released) - Marines with Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, lay down suppressive fire, allowing a breacher in their team to plant an improvised bangalore torpedo by concertina wire during a rocket shoot and fire team assault training exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 16, 2015. The overall goal of the training was to expose the Marines to multiple weapons systems and provide them with the experience needed to employ them in deployed environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Devan Gowans/Released)

Marines retire the American flag for the last time in the city of Phoenix at Civic Space Park Sept. 13, 2015. More than 800 Marines participated in Marine Week Phoenix to give the citizens of the Valley of the Sun the opportunity to meet the individual Marines and celebrate community, country and Corps. - Marines retire the American flag for the last time in the city of Phoenix at Civic Space Park Sept. 13, 2015. More than 800 Marines participated in Marine Week Phoenix to give the citizens of the Valley of the Sun the opportunity to meet the individual Marines and celebrate community, country and Corps.

Lt. Col. Demetrius Bolduc, commanding officer of KOA MOANA 15-3, and 1st Sgt. Jason Goulter, first sergeant of KOA MOANA 15-3, lead Marines on a hike aboard the USNS Lewis and Clark on Sept. 9. Marines of KM 15-3 departed Charleston, S.C. for a deployment to the Asian Pacific Ocean to conduct military training and key leadership engagements in Tahiti, Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Timor Leste. - Lt. Col. Demetrius Bolduc, commanding officer of KOA MOANA 15-3, and 1st Sgt. Jason Goulter, first sergeant of KOA MOANA 15-3, lead Marines on a hike aboard the USNS Lewis and Clark on Sept. 9. Marines of KM 15-3 departed Charleston, S.C. for a deployment to the Asian Pacific Ocean to conduct military training and key leadership engagements in Tahiti, Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Timor Leste.

Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Phoenix partnered with the Keep Phoenix Beautiful organization during Marine Week Phoenix to host a beatification project at Steele Indian School Park, Sept. 11, 2015. The project included constructing a washhouse, building berms, removing graffiti panels and creating irrigation for vegetable fields. Marine Week is an opportunity to connect with the people of Phoenix and surrounding communities, and thank them for their continued support. - Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Phoenix partnered with the Keep Phoenix Beautiful organization during Marine Week Phoenix to host a beatification project at Steele Indian School Park, Sept. 11, 2015. The project included constructing a washhouse, building berms, removing graffiti panels and creating irrigation for vegetable fields. Marine Week is an opportunity to connect with the people of Phoenix and surrounding communities, and thank them for their continued support.