Stories

Marines pass the decontamination line to enter a building contaminated with black mold at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 17. Once inside, the Marines identified other potentially dangerous substances as part of Chemical, Biological, Radioactive and Nuclear Assessment and Consequence Management training. The training included CBRN defense specialists and other Marines from Headquarters Regiment, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, who learned how to perform decontamination procedures. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel). - Marines pass the decontamination line to enter a building contaminated with black mold at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 17. Once inside, the Marines identified other potentially dangerous substances as part of Chemical, Biological, Radioactive and Nuclear Assessment and Consequence Management training. The training included CBRN defense specialists and other Marines from Headquarters Regiment, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, who learned how to perform decontamination procedures. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel).

Cpl. Dominique A. Sparacino is welcomed home by his loving wife, Victoria Sparacino, upon return from a seven-month deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. While deployed, the 15th MEU participated in more than 15 different theater security cooperation or bi-lateral exercises including combined arms and desert survival training with French forces in Djibouti, the Malaysia-US Amphibious Exercise, Combined Afloat Readiness and Training in Brunei, and more than 12 subject matter expert exchanges with partner nations throughout the Middle East. Sparacino is an infantryman with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. April L. Price/ Released) - Cpl. Dominique A. Sparacino is welcomed home by his loving wife, Victoria Sparacino, upon return from a seven-month deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. While deployed, the 15th MEU participated in more than 15 different theater security cooperation or bi-lateral exercises including combined arms and desert survival training with French forces in Djibouti, the Malaysia-US Amphibious Exercise, Combined Afloat Readiness and Training in Brunei, and more than 12 subject matter expert exchanges with partner nations throughout the Middle East. Sparacino is an infantryman with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. April L. Price/ Released)

Lance Cpl. Taylor A. Vollmer observes aircraft as his team prepares to take off for a Joint Terminal Attack Control training scenerio Dec. 15 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. A JTAC is when combat aircraft engage in close air support and other offensive air operations from a forward position. Vollmer, a Bakersfield, California, native, is a crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. - Lance Cpl. Taylor A. Vollmer observes aircraft as his team prepares to take off for a Joint Terminal Attack Control training scenerio Dec. 15 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. A JTAC is when combat aircraft engage in close air support and other offensive air operations from a forward position. Vollmer, a Bakersfield, California, native, is a crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

1st Lt. Joshua Foster provides security for his team during the Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel portion of the Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 3, 2015. TRAP’s placement in a MCCRE is meant to evaluate Marines on this mission set which is performed for the specific purpose of the recovery of personnel, equipment, and/or aircraft by the insertion of a TRAP force. 1st Lt. Foster is a platoon commander with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. - 1st Lt. Joshua Foster provides security for his team during the Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel portion of the Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 3, 2015. TRAP’s placement in a MCCRE is meant to evaluate Marines on this mission set which is performed for the specific purpose of the recovery of personnel, equipment, and/or aircraft by the insertion of a TRAP force. 1st Lt. Foster is a platoon commander with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

Lance Cpl. Roderick Jacquote, a combat photographer with Headquarters Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, edits photos during a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear drill aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Dec. 13, 2015. The Marines and Sailors with 5th Marine Regiment conducted the gas drill as part of Steel Knight 2016, a division-led exercise which prepares Marines and Sailors with the 1st Marine Division and adjacent I Marine Expeditionary Force units with the skill sets necessary to operate as a fully capable Marine Air Ground Task Force. - Lance Cpl. Roderick Jacquote, a combat photographer with Headquarters Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, edits photos during a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear drill aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Dec. 13, 2015. The Marines and Sailors with 5th Marine Regiment conducted the gas drill as part of Steel Knight 2016, a division-led exercise which prepares Marines and Sailors with the 1st Marine Division and adjacent I Marine Expeditionary Force units with the skill sets necessary to operate as a fully capable Marine Air Ground Task Force.

Bulk refueling specialists with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 prepare to refuel an F-35B Lightning II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 at Red Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 10, 2015. Various squadrons within 3rd MAW performed more than 70 sorties ranging from external lifts, convoy escorts and casualty evacuation missions with rotary aircraft and fire support missions with the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to providing refueling points for air and ground assets. - Bulk refueling specialists with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 prepare to refuel an F-35B Lightning II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 at Red Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 10, 2015. Various squadrons within 3rd MAW performed more than 70 sorties ranging from external lifts, convoy escorts and casualty evacuation missions with rotary aircraft and fire support missions with the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to providing refueling points for air and ground assets.

Marines and Sailors with Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, pose for a photo atop of the USS Mississippi, a Virginia Class Block 5 submarine aboard Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Nov. 17, 2015. Company A toured the ship as part of a one-day Special Operations Forces capabilities training event, where they learned about lock-out submarine insertions. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Tony Simmons) - Marines and Sailors with Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, pose for a photo atop of the USS Mississippi, a Virginia Class Block 5 submarine aboard Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Nov. 17, 2015. Company A toured the ship as part of a one-day Special Operations Forces capabilities training event, where they learned about lock-out submarine insertions. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Tony Simmons)

Kaden Jeide (left) and Cpl. Matthew Franzoni, pose for a picture after spending the night shopping for Christmas presents as part of a “holiday with Heroes” event held in Poway, California, December 10. During the city-funded event, children purchased presents for their families and friends, took holiday photos with Santa, built arts and crafts, and participated in other events throughout the Night. (USMC photo by Cpl. Jonathan Boynes) - Kaden Jeide (left) and Cpl. Matthew Franzoni, pose for a picture after spending the night shopping for Christmas presents as part of a “holiday with Heroes” event held in Poway, California, December 10. During the city-funded event, children purchased presents for their families and friends, took holiday photos with Santa, built arts and crafts, and participated in other events throughout the Night. (USMC photo by Cpl. Jonathan Boynes)

Lance Cpl. David Wadleigh, a military working dog handler and Nicky, a military working dog with 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force, provide security during a simulated mass casualty drill during Steel Knight aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 12, 2015. Steel Knight prepares Marines and sailors with the 1st Marine Division and adjacent I Marine Expeditionary Force units with the skill sets necessary to operate as a fully capable Marine Air Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Will Perkins/RELEASED) - Lance Cpl. David Wadleigh, a military working dog handler and Nicky, a military working dog with 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force, provide security during a simulated mass casualty drill during Steel Knight aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 12, 2015. Steel Knight prepares Marines and sailors with the 1st Marine Division and adjacent I Marine Expeditionary Force units with the skill sets necessary to operate as a fully capable Marine Air Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Will Perkins/RELEASED)

Marines from Bridge Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group toss lines across a body of water to tow in two Mark III Improved Ribbon Bridges. The battalion trained in tandem with Marines from 6th ESB out of Battle Creek, Mich., aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Dec. 12, 2015. The IRB is a more improved version of the original and is used to move personnel and tactical vehicles over non-passable waterways. - Marines from Bridge Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group toss lines across a body of water to tow in two Mark III Improved Ribbon Bridges. The battalion trained in tandem with Marines from 6th ESB out of Battle Creek, Mich., aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Dec. 12, 2015. The IRB is a more improved version of the original and is used to move personnel and tactical vehicles over non-passable waterways.