Stories

Lance Cpl. Ali J. Mohammed poses for a photo with a Humvee aboard Al Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq, July 4, 2015. Mohammed is originally from Baghdad and is now serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as a supply Marine. He is currently deployed as an Arabic interpreter for Task Force Al Taqaddum. - Lance Cpl. Ali J. Mohammed poses for a photo with a Humvee aboard Al Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq, July 4, 2015. Mohammed is originally from Baghdad and is now serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as a supply Marine. He is currently deployed as an Arabic interpreter for Task Force Al Taqaddum.

Sergeant Maj. Darryl Sisneros, the sergeant major of I Marine Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and the president of the mess, presents a token of appreciation to the guest of honor, Col. James H. Herrera, the I MHG commanding officer, during a mess night in Carlsbad, California, June 18, 2015. Sisneros described mess night as a time for Marines to strengthen the customs and traditions of the corps and reaffirm their common bonds as Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel) - Sergeant Maj. Darryl Sisneros, the sergeant major of I Marine Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and the president of the mess, presents a token of appreciation to the guest of honor, Col. James H. Herrera, the I MHG commanding officer, during a mess night in Carlsbad, California, June 18, 2015. Sisneros described mess night as a time for Marines to strengthen the customs and traditions of the corps and reaffirm their common bonds as Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel)

U.S. Marines participate alongside joint and multinational service members in the command post exercise portion of Khaan Quest 2015 at Five Hills Training Area in Tavantolgoi, Mongolia, June 24, 2015. In its 34th iteration, Khaan Quest is a multinational exercise hosted annually by Mongolian Armed Forces and co-sponsored by U.S. Army, Pacific, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. The command post exercise trains participants to establish and globally deploy battalion assets during peacekeeping operations through exercising scenario-based missions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Marisa Lindsay/Released) - U.S. Marines participate alongside joint and multinational service members in the command post exercise portion of Khaan Quest 2015 at Five Hills Training Area in Tavantolgoi, Mongolia, June 24, 2015. In its 34th iteration, Khaan Quest is a multinational exercise hosted annually by Mongolian Armed Forces and co-sponsored by U.S. Army, Pacific, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. The command post exercise trains participants to establish and globally deploy battalion assets during peacekeeping operations through exercising scenario-based missions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Marisa Lindsay/Released)

Lieutenant Col. Peter J. Lang II, officer in charge, Georgia Deployment Program, International Security Assistance Force-Rotation 14, and mentor to the 51st Georgian Light Infantry Battalion commander, is awarded the Bronze Star Medal by Lt. Gen. David H. Berger, the commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, June 29, 2015. The Bronze Star Medal is an individual military award of the U.S. armed forces that may be awarded for acts of heroism, merit or meritorious service in a combat zone. - Lieutenant Col. Peter J. Lang II, officer in charge, Georgia Deployment Program, International Security Assistance Force-Rotation 14, and mentor to the 51st Georgian Light Infantry Battalion commander, is awarded the Bronze Star Medal by Lt. Gen. David H. Berger, the commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, June 29, 2015. The Bronze Star Medal is an individual military award of the U.S. armed forces that may be awarded for acts of heroism, merit or meritorious service in a combat zone.

Marines with 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, disembark a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter and move to their mission objective, where they were tasked with destroying ordnance fired at a foreign embassy during a training exercise aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 17, 2015. The Marines of 1st EOD Co. are preparing for an upcoming deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground – Crisis Response – Central Command, where they will participate in a fast reaction force role. - Marines with 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, disembark a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter and move to their mission objective, where they were tasked with destroying ordnance fired at a foreign embassy during a training exercise aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 17, 2015. The Marines of 1st EOD Co. are preparing for an upcoming deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground – Crisis Response – Central Command, where they will participate in a fast reaction force role.

U.S. Navy Health Service Augmentation Program personnel and doctors with Naval Medical Center San Diego perform surgery on a mock casualty wearing a bleed suit during a field casualty training exercise at the Balboa Symposium, Naval Medical Center San Diego, June 18, 2015. The hospital corpsmen and field medical service technicians worked together to operate a field shock trauma and forward resuscitative surgical suite. - U.S. Navy Health Service Augmentation Program personnel and doctors with Naval Medical Center San Diego perform surgery on a mock casualty wearing a bleed suit during a field casualty training exercise at the Balboa Symposium, Naval Medical Center San Diego, June 18, 2015. The hospital corpsmen and field medical service technicians worked together to operate a field shock trauma and forward resuscitative surgical suite.

A mortarman with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, establishes the direction of fires for his 60 millimeter mortar team during 1/7’s Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., June 9, 2015. Marines from 1/7 and 2nd battalion, 7th Marine Regiment are currently in preparation for deployment with the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) scheduled to depart in support of Operation Inherent Resolve later this year. - A mortarman with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, establishes the direction of fires for his 60 millimeter mortar team during 1/7’s Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., June 9, 2015. Marines from 1/7 and 2nd battalion, 7th Marine Regiment are currently in preparation for deployment with the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) scheduled to depart in support of Operation Inherent Resolve later this year.

Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, members of the Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety and Security team, and Air Force Pararescuemen trained together during Exercise Angel Thunder off the coast of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 9-11, 2015. Exercise Angel Thunder is a joint personnel recovery operation designed to provide military branches and partner nations the opportunity to train together in order to prepare for times of war and crisis. (Photo by LCpl. Danielle Rodrigues/Released) - Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, members of the Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety and Security team, and Air Force Pararescuemen trained together during Exercise Angel Thunder off the coast of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 9-11, 2015. Exercise Angel Thunder is a joint personnel recovery operation designed to provide military branches and partner nations the opportunity to train together in order to prepare for times of war and crisis. (Photo by LCpl. Danielle Rodrigues/Released)

Sergeant Major William T. Sowers receives a Marine non-commissioned officer’s sword as he takes over the role of 1st Marine Division Sergeant Major during a relief and appointment ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 12, 2015. Sowers most recently served as the sergeant major for the Marine Corps Training and Education Command in Quantico, Va. - Sergeant Major William T. Sowers receives a Marine non-commissioned officer’s sword as he takes over the role of 1st Marine Division Sergeant Major during a relief and appointment ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 12, 2015. Sowers most recently served as the sergeant major for the Marine Corps Training and Education Command in Quantico, Va.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus speaks at a Navy Cross Presentation Ceremony in honor of the late Sgt. Rafael Peralta, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, June 8, 2015. Sgt. Rafael Peralta was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously after sacrificing his life by absorbing the blast of an enemy grenade and shielding fellow Marines only feet away while serving with Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division in Fallujah, Al Anbar province, Iraq, on Nov. 15, 2004. - Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus speaks at a Navy Cross Presentation Ceremony in honor of the late Sgt. Rafael Peralta, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, June 8, 2015. Sgt. Rafael Peralta was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously after sacrificing his life by absorbing the blast of an enemy grenade and shielding fellow Marines only feet away while serving with Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division in Fallujah, Al Anbar province, Iraq, on Nov. 15, 2004.