Stories

Marines with Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, survey a named area of interest during reconnaissance and surveillance training, Nov. 19-21, 2015, aboard Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Hawaii. The Marines conducted insertion, infiltration, execution, exfiltration, and extraction in terrain unfamiliar to what is usually found at their home base in California. The Hawaiian terrain ranged from beach shores, to dense jungle and open valleys during pouring rains (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tony Simmons) - Marines with Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, survey a named area of interest during reconnaissance and surveillance training, Nov. 19-21, 2015, aboard Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Hawaii. The Marines conducted insertion, infiltration, execution, exfiltration, and extraction in terrain unfamiliar to what is usually found at their home base in California. The Hawaiian terrain ranged from beach shores, to dense jungle and open valleys during pouring rains (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tony Simmons)

The 2015 San Diego Sea Service Marine Corps Spouse of the Year recipient, Amanda McMillan, poses with her husband, Chief Warrant Officer Christopher McMillan, after being awarded at the San Diego Council Navy League monthly luncheon in San Diego, Dec. 4. As a I Marine Expeditionary Force spouse, Amanda was awarded for her dedication to educating and volunteering with groups such as special needs children and fellow military families. The award was presented to McMillan by Jon Berg-Johnson (left), council president of San Diego Council Navy League of the United States. This is the fifth consecutive year a I MEF spouse has won the award. Nominees were selected by their respective commands for exhibiting a balance in their military community, their work and home life, and for serving their local community. Both Amanda and Christopher are Zephyrhills, Florida, natives. Christopher is a bulk fuel officer with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I MEF. “I’m more than honored to receive the award, but I know I could have done, can do so much more for the community. I can never express how thankful I am for the serves the military has provided me and my family,” Amanda said. - The 2015 San Diego Sea Service Marine Corps Spouse of the Year recipient, Amanda McMillan, poses with her husband, Chief Warrant Officer Christopher McMillan, after being awarded at the San Diego Council Navy League monthly luncheon in San Diego, Dec. 4. As a I Marine Expeditionary Force spouse, Amanda was awarded for her dedication to educating and volunteering with groups such as special needs children and fellow military families. The award was presented to McMillan by Jon Berg-Johnson (left), council president of San Diego Council Navy League of the United States. This is the fifth consecutive year a I MEF spouse has won the award. Nominees were selected by their respective commands for exhibiting a balance in their military community, their work and home life, and for serving their local community. Both Amanda and Christopher are Zephyrhills, Florida, natives. Christopher is a bulk fuel officer with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I MEF. “I’m more than honored to receive the award, but I know I could have done, can do so much more for the community. I can never express how thankful I am for the serves the military has provided me and my family,” Amanda said.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ambrose McGill, a hospital corpsman with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force—Crisis Response—Central Command, was awarded the Fleet Marine Force pin during a recognition ceremony at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 12, 2015. McGill spent countless hours reviewing the vast amount of material required to earn the pin. McGill said, he wanted to earn this since the first day he became a hospital corpsman. (Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Owen Kimbrel/RELEASED) - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ambrose McGill, a hospital corpsman with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force—Crisis Response—Central Command, was awarded the Fleet Marine Force pin during a recognition ceremony at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 12, 2015. McGill spent countless hours reviewing the vast amount of material required to earn the pin. McGill said, he wanted to earn this since the first day he became a hospital corpsman. (Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Owen Kimbrel/RELEASED)

An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 takes off from Red Beach on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 10. This is the first time that the F-35 conducted close air support missions in support of exercise Steel Knight. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian Marion/Released) - An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 takes off from Red Beach on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 10. This is the first time that the F-35 conducted close air support missions in support of exercise Steel Knight. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian Marion/Released)

Marines with Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, fire an M777 Howitzer¬ during the opening day of live-fire operations for Steel Knight at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, on Dec. 10, 2015. The tough, realistic training is intended to develop combat skills necessary to operate as the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines with Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, fire an M777 Howitzer¬ during the opening day of live-fire operations for Steel Knight at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, on Dec. 10, 2015. The tough, realistic training is intended to develop combat skills necessary to operate as the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force.

1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment infantrymen tactically move from building to building in a simulated combat zone during Exercise Steel Knight 2016 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 4, 2015. 1st Marine Division has conducted Steel Knight for the past three years, making this the fourth iteration of the exercise. Steel Knight will test I Marine Expeditionary Force’s amphibious capabilities through realistic, scenario-driven training. - 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment infantrymen tactically move from building to building in a simulated combat zone during Exercise Steel Knight 2016 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 4, 2015. 1st Marine Division has conducted Steel Knight for the past three years, making this the fourth iteration of the exercise. Steel Knight will test I Marine Expeditionary Force’s amphibious capabilities through realistic, scenario-driven training.

A Marine with 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I MEF practices his community engagement with a role-player during mobile immersion training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 20, 2015. Mobile immersion training is a scenario-based training exercise in which the Marines engage in locating, apprehending and transporting a high-value individual. - A Marine with 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I MEF practices his community engagement with a role-player during mobile immersion training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 20, 2015. Mobile immersion training is a scenario-based training exercise in which the Marines engage in locating, apprehending and transporting a high-value individual.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Christian Reyes, a shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon gunner with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, scans the surrounding environment for possible threats during a mission readiness exercise at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Nov. 24, 2015. The Marines conducted the exercise to prepare for potential missions in the Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Owen Kimbrel / Released) - U.S. Marine Cpl. Christian Reyes, a shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon gunner with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, scans the surrounding environment for possible threats during a mission readiness exercise at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Nov. 24, 2015. The Marines conducted the exercise to prepare for potential missions in the Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Owen Kimbrel / Released)

A U.S. Marine, assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force—Crisis Response—Central Command, interacts with students of a local middle school during a celebration commemorating the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait in Kuwait City, Nov. 17, 2015. In attendance of the event was Douglas A. Silliman, the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait, along with Kuwaiti dignitaries and members of the U.S. armed forces. The American service members were recognized during the ceremony and had the opportunity to interact with students and local community members. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Rick Hurtado / Released) - A U.S. Marine, assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force—Crisis Response—Central Command, interacts with students of a local middle school during a celebration commemorating the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait in Kuwait City, Nov. 17, 2015. In attendance of the event was Douglas A. Silliman, the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait, along with Kuwaiti dignitaries and members of the U.S. armed forces. The American service members were recognized during the ceremony and had the opportunity to interact with students and local community members. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Rick Hurtado / Released)