Stories

Marines and Sailors with I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, bag food with local volunteers at the Fallbrook Food Pantry in Fallbrook, Calif., Aug. 15, 2015. The Fallbrook Food Pantry collects food donations from local businesses and redistributes the food to families going through difficult times. (USMC photo by Pfc. Devan K. Gowans/Released) - Marines and Sailors with I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, bag food with local volunteers at the Fallbrook Food Pantry in Fallbrook, Calif., Aug. 15, 2015. The Fallbrook Food Pantry collects food donations from local businesses and redistributes the food to families going through difficult times. (USMC photo by Pfc. Devan K. Gowans/Released)

Volunteers unload a truck of donated dresses during a ball gown giveaway organized by the family readiness officers of 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 22, 2015. Approximately 2,000 dresses, shoes and accessories were donated to the event where more than 150 wives and family members of Marines were able to choose outfits for the Marine Corps birthday ball. - Volunteers unload a truck of donated dresses during a ball gown giveaway organized by the family readiness officers of 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 22, 2015. Approximately 2,000 dresses, shoes and accessories were donated to the event where more than 150 wives and family members of Marines were able to choose outfits for the Marine Corps birthday ball.

Rosamond, Calif., native, Gunnery Sgt. Pedro “Pete” Lujan, the cyber security chief for 9th Communication Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, is joined by his family during his retirement ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 21, 2015. Lujan’s wife, Christina, has been with him since their freshman year of high school and they have been married for approximately 19 years. Lujan’s family has supported him through approximately five years’ worth of deployments throughout his 20-year career. - Rosamond, Calif., native, Gunnery Sgt. Pedro “Pete” Lujan, the cyber security chief for 9th Communication Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, is joined by his family during his retirement ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 21, 2015. Lujan’s wife, Christina, has been with him since their freshman year of high school and they have been married for approximately 19 years. Lujan’s family has supported him through approximately five years’ worth of deployments throughout his 20-year career.

Marines with 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Air Wing, practice sighting the Stinger in preparation for a Stinger missile fire exercise, Aug. 9, 2015, aboard National Training Center Fort Irwin, Calif. During the exercise, Marines fired 60 Stinger missiles at remote-controlled airplanes to simulate a realistic encounter. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. April L. Price/Released) - Marines with 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Air Wing, practice sighting the Stinger in preparation for a Stinger missile fire exercise, Aug. 9, 2015, aboard National Training Center Fort Irwin, Calif. During the exercise, Marines fired 60 Stinger missiles at remote-controlled airplanes to simulate a realistic encounter. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. April L. Price/Released)

Lance Cpl. Nathan Battle, an administration specialist currently deployed with Marine Wing Support Squadron - 371, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command from St. Louis, Missouri, poses for a portrait while deployed in Southwest Asia, Aug. 18, 2015. Battle said his religious beliefs act as his foundation, his philosophy, and way of life aimed at developing himself, others, and the Marine Corps. - Lance Cpl. Nathan Battle, an administration specialist currently deployed with Marine Wing Support Squadron - 371, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command from St. Louis, Missouri, poses for a portrait while deployed in Southwest Asia, Aug. 18, 2015. Battle said his religious beliefs act as his foundation, his philosophy, and way of life aimed at developing himself, others, and the Marine Corps.

Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, practice handling a simulated enraged enemy during the culminating event of 1st Marine Division Schools’ Urban Leaders Course at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 12, 2015. The course is a 15-day period of instruction that includes classwork, combat marksmanship and physical training in a simulated urban combat environment. - Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, practice handling a simulated enraged enemy during the culminating event of 1st Marine Division Schools’ Urban Leaders Course at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 12, 2015. The course is a 15-day period of instruction that includes classwork, combat marksmanship and physical training in a simulated urban combat environment.

Staff Sgt. Steve Holland, a team leader, and Gunnery Sgt. Brett Lane, the platoon sergeant for Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, prepare equipment for a fast-roping exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 18, 2015. The exercise was conducted with UH-1Y Huey helicopters operated by Marines with Medium Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I MEF. The cooperation of air and ground elements gives Marines access to obstructed locations and prepares them to face any challenge, anywhere. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel) - Staff Sgt. Steve Holland, a team leader, and Gunnery Sgt. Brett Lane, the platoon sergeant for Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, prepare equipment for a fast-roping exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 18, 2015. The exercise was conducted with UH-1Y Huey helicopters operated by Marines with Medium Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I MEF. The cooperation of air and ground elements gives Marines access to obstructed locations and prepares them to face any challenge, anywhere. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel)

U.S. Marine Sgt. Fox Walkeithus, a motor transport mechanic with the Special Purpose Marine Air – Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, inspects the engine of a Humvee at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, July 30, 2015. Walkeithus and a team of six other Marines spent a week conducting preventive maintenance checks for Task Force Al Asad’s vehicles and equipment. Task Force Al Asad is a multinational coalition participating in Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s build partner capacity mission, which trains and enables Iraqi security forces in their fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Garrett White/Released) - U.S. Marine Sgt. Fox Walkeithus, a motor transport mechanic with the Special Purpose Marine Air – Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, inspects the engine of a Humvee at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, July 30, 2015. Walkeithus and a team of six other Marines spent a week conducting preventive maintenance checks for Task Force Al Asad’s vehicles and equipment. Task Force Al Asad is a multinational coalition participating in Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s build partner capacity mission, which trains and enables Iraqi security forces in their fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Garrett White/Released)

Dawn Blitz 2015 Logo - Dawn Blitz 2015 Logo

Jerome Joseph, the tactical safety officer for 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, picks up debris off the side of the road to ensure Marines stay safe while conducting training aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 1. As the tactical safety officer, Joseph works tirelessly to ensure the Marines are mindful of safety at all times. - Jerome Joseph, the tactical safety officer for 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, picks up debris off the side of the road to ensure Marines stay safe while conducting training aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 1. As the tactical safety officer, Joseph works tirelessly to ensure the Marines are mindful of safety at all times.