Stories

Army Sgt. Maj. Maureen Simpkins, the operations sergeant major for 4th Joint Communications Squadron, Joint Communications Support Element (Airborne), U.S. Army Reserves, and Master Gunnery Sgt. Paul Olson with 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Corps Forces Reserve, oversee the cooperative training of Marines and Soldiers during Exercise Lightning Strike aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 29, 2015. The service members trained with various forms of communication equipment including both voice and data transmission. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel) - Army Sgt. Maj. Maureen Simpkins, the operations sergeant major for 4th Joint Communications Squadron, Joint Communications Support Element (Airborne), U.S. Army Reserves, and Master Gunnery Sgt. Paul Olson with 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Corps Forces Reserve, oversee the cooperative training of Marines and Soldiers during Exercise Lightning Strike aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 29, 2015. The service members trained with various forms of communication equipment including both voice and data transmission. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel)

Captain Alexander R. Diener, a fire support coordinator with 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, right, looks out onto the range as a Marine calls in to plot the fired shots during a battalion-level Fire Support Coordination Exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 14- 24. Training included live fire exercises, simulated medical evacuation operations and employing artillery assets to support operations. - Captain Alexander R. Diener, a fire support coordinator with 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, right, looks out onto the range as a Marine calls in to plot the fired shots during a battalion-level Fire Support Coordination Exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 14- 24. Training included live fire exercises, simulated medical evacuation operations and employing artillery assets to support operations.

Danish coalition members with Task Force Al Asad explain proper firing positions with Iraqi army soldiers during marksmanship training as part of the building partner capacity mission at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, July 27, 2015. Through the advise and assist and building partner capacity missions, Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve’s multinational coalition has trained approximately 11,000 Iraqi security force personnel to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and restore the sovereignty and security of Iraq. - Danish coalition members with Task Force Al Asad explain proper firing positions with Iraqi army soldiers during marksmanship training as part of the building partner capacity mission at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, July 27, 2015. Through the advise and assist and building partner capacity missions, Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve’s multinational coalition has trained approximately 11,000 Iraqi security force personnel to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and restore the sovereignty and security of Iraq.

Machine gunners with Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, sprint to a hilltop to establish a support by fire position in order to provide suppressing fires for several platoons of riflemen. 1/3 Marines conducted a company level live fire assault during an Integrated Training Exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 29. - Machine gunners with Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, sprint to a hilltop to establish a support by fire position in order to provide suppressing fires for several platoons of riflemen. 1/3 Marines conducted a company level live fire assault during an Integrated Training Exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 29.

Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepare to load onto a CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 26. The Marines were inserted into an urban terrain to cordon and search the area for possible threats. - Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepare to load onto a CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 26. The Marines were inserted into an urban terrain to cordon and search the area for possible threats.

Lance Cpl. Steven Hoggand, a machine gunner and section leader with 1st Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, directs his Marines’ fire while suppressing an enemy position during platoon attack drills, July 24, aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. Training began for the Marines of Company C with a combined arms fire and maneuver exercise as part of their Integrated Training Exercise in preparation for their upcoming deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command 16.1 scheduled to depart later this year. - Lance Cpl. Steven Hoggand, a machine gunner and section leader with 1st Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, directs his Marines’ fire while suppressing an enemy position during platoon attack drills, July 24, aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. Training began for the Marines of Company C with a combined arms fire and maneuver exercise as part of their Integrated Training Exercise in preparation for their upcoming deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command 16.1 scheduled to depart later this year.

Midshipmen practice military operations in urban terrain training using simulated rounds during the Professional Training of Midshipmen program aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 16, 2015. The PROTRAMID program is designed to expose midshipmen to opportunities for junior Marine Corps officers in order to bring interest in a Marine Corps commission. - Midshipmen practice military operations in urban terrain training using simulated rounds during the Professional Training of Midshipmen program aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 16, 2015. The PROTRAMID program is designed to expose midshipmen to opportunities for junior Marine Corps officers in order to bring interest in a Marine Corps commission.

Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Ammunition Detachment, and 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, load a 7-ton Medium Tactical Vehicle with ammunition during an Integrated Training Exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 22, 2015. Ammunition distribution is performed at the field ammunition supply point, which is set-up and operated by CLB-1, Ammunition Detachment. CLB-1 is currently training to support Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command 16.1. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Rick Hurtado / Released) - Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Ammunition Detachment, and 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, load a 7-ton Medium Tactical Vehicle with ammunition during an Integrated Training Exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 22, 2015. Ammunition distribution is performed at the field ammunition supply point, which is set-up and operated by CLB-1, Ammunition Detachment. CLB-1 is currently training to support Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command 16.1. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Rick Hurtado / Released)

Lance Cpl. Colin Brennan, an assault man with Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepares to insert a blasting cap into a claymore during training as the battalion prepares for an Integrated Training Exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 21. ITX focuses on the tactical application of combined arms maneuver warfare during global contingency operations. - Lance Cpl. Colin Brennan, an assault man with Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepares to insert a blasting cap into a claymore during training as the battalion prepares for an Integrated Training Exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 21. ITX focuses on the tactical application of combined arms maneuver warfare during global contingency operations.

Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, conduct unknown distance shooting during the Pre-Scout Sniper Course aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 17, 2015. The six-week long course is designed to prepare and screen students for the follow-on training at Scout Sniper Basic School. (Photo by LCpl. Danielle Rodrigues/Released) - Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, conduct unknown distance shooting during the Pre-Scout Sniper Course aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 17, 2015. The six-week long course is designed to prepare and screen students for the follow-on training at Scout Sniper Basic School. (Photo by LCpl. Danielle Rodrigues/Released)