Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Thomas B. Savage, left, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, gifts a 1st MARDIV coin and patch to Republic of Korea Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lee Ho Jong, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, ROK Marine Corps, during a meeting in Pohang, South Korea, March 7, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Thomas B. Savage, left, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, gifts a 1st MARDIV coin and patch to Republic of Korea Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lee Ho Jong, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, ROK Marine Corps, during a meeting in Pohang, South Korea, March 7, 2025. Freedom Shield is an exercise that provides iterative opportunities for Republic of Korea Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps units to train together, improving their combined capabilities to deter threats and maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula. (Courtesy photo from Republic of Korea Marine Corps)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Staff Sgt. Albert Macklin, a battery local security chief with Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, I Marine Expeditionary Force and New Orleans native, helps coordinate 360-degree security during Spring Fire Exercise at Camp Pendleton March 31, 2016. During the combined-arms training exercise, Macklin and other Marines helped coordinate where all security posts were, along with securing the various parts of the range in accordance with where the battery was firing. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Staff Sgt. Albert Macklin, a battery local security chief with Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, I Marine Expeditionary Force and New Orleans native, helps coordinate 360-degree security during Spring Fire Exercise at Camp Pendleton March 31, 2016. During the combined-arms training exercise, Macklin and other Marines helped coordinate where all security posts were, along with securing the various parts of the range in accordance with where the battery was firing. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED)

Cpl. Nathaniel Asoau, Light Armored Vehicle crewman with Company D., 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and student with the Urban Leaders Course, provides covering fire from behind a barricade while his partner, Lance Cpl. Leonardo Perez, drops to a prone position during a combat marksmanship program range at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 31, 2016. This range is the first live-fire range of the three-week course and is designed to hone Marines’ combat marksmanship skills including how to shoot, move and communicate with a buddy. - Cpl. Nathaniel Asoau, Light Armored Vehicle crewman with Company D., 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and student with the Urban Leaders Course, provides covering fire from behind a barricade while his partner, Lance Cpl. Leonardo Perez, drops to a prone position during a combat marksmanship program range at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 31, 2016. This range is the first live-fire range of the three-week course and is designed to hone Marines’ combat marksmanship skills including how to shoot, move and communicate with a buddy.

Marines coordinate fires for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during an M142 HIMARS live fire exercise at Camp Pendleton March 16, 2016. During the exercise, Marines coordinated fires based on hypothetical combat situations they might encounter while deployed. The HIMARS rounds are aided by Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and can travel to altitudes up to 75 kilometers and can precisely engage targets up to 40 miles away. The Marines are with Battery S, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines coordinate fires for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during an M142 HIMARS live fire exercise at Camp Pendleton March 16, 2016. During the exercise, Marines coordinated fires based on hypothetical combat situations they might encounter while deployed. The HIMARS rounds are aided by Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and can travel to altitudes up to 75 kilometers and can precisely engage targets up to 40 miles away. The Marines are with Battery S, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

A Marine with Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion performs rifle drills during a combat marksmanship program led by Expeditionary Operations Training Group March 17, 2016 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. The shooting package helps to better prepare these Marines for an upcoming deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. - A Marine with Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion performs rifle drills during a combat marksmanship program led by Expeditionary Operations Training Group March 17, 2016 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. The shooting package helps to better prepare these Marines for an upcoming deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Marines with 1st Marine Division participate in a three-week urban operations course led by 1st Marine Division Schools, Urban Leaders Course at Camp Pendleton March 8, 2016. During the course, unit leaders cover urban terrain tactics like combat marksmanship, dynamic breaching, close quarters battle and room clearing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Justin E. Bowles/ Released) - Marines with 1st Marine Division participate in a three-week urban operations course led by 1st Marine Division Schools, Urban Leaders Course at Camp Pendleton March 8, 2016. During the course, unit leaders cover urban terrain tactics like combat marksmanship, dynamic breaching, close quarters battle and room clearing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Justin E. Bowles/ Released)

Marines execute a rehearsal of concept drill during combat marksmanship training at Camp Pendleton March 2, 2016. The training was part of the Urban Leaders Course taught by 1st Marine Division Schools. The course focuses on enhancing small unit leadership through integrated training and implementation of fire teams and squad-sized elements in an urban setting. Marines participating in the training are from various units on Camp Pendleton. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Emmanuel Ramos/Released) - Marines execute a rehearsal of concept drill during combat marksmanship training at Camp Pendleton March 2, 2016. The training was part of the Urban Leaders Course taught by 1st Marine Division Schools. The course focuses on enhancing small unit leadership through integrated training and implementation of fire teams and squad-sized elements in an urban setting. Marines participating in the training are from various units on Camp Pendleton. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Emmanuel Ramos/Released)

Maj. Gen. Daniel J. O'Donohue presents the Naval Chaplaincy Excellence award to Petty Officer 3rd Class Dawaylon Farr at Camp Pendleton, Feb. 23, 2016. The ceremony recognized Lt. Michael Kennedy and Petty Officer 3rd Class Dawaylon Farr for going above and beyond the call of duty to provide spiritual guidance and renewed faith to Marines and sailors serving I Marine Expeditionary Force. O’Donohue, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, was a guest speaker and presented awards to the recipients. Kennedy is a chaplain with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Mar. Div. Farr is a religious program specialist with 1st Bn., 4th Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pvt. Robert Bliss/Released) - Maj. Gen. Daniel J. O'Donohue presents the Naval Chaplaincy Excellence award to Petty Officer 3rd Class Dawaylon Farr at Camp Pendleton, Feb. 23, 2016. The ceremony recognized Lt. Michael Kennedy and Petty Officer 3rd Class Dawaylon Farr for going above and beyond the call of duty to provide spiritual guidance and renewed faith to Marines and sailors serving I Marine Expeditionary Force. O’Donohue, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, was a guest speaker and presented awards to the recipients. Kennedy is a chaplain with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Mar. Div. Farr is a religious program specialist with 1st Bn., 4th Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pvt. Robert Bliss/Released)

Volunteers reenact the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi during the memorial dinner for the 71st anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Feb. 20 at Camp Pendleton. During the 36-day battle for the 8.5 square-mile island, 6,821 Marines gave their lives to gain control of the strategic position in the Pacific during World War II. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel) - Volunteers reenact the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi during the memorial dinner for the 71st anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Feb. 20 at Camp Pendleton. During the 36-day battle for the 8.5 square-mile island, 6,821 Marines gave their lives to gain control of the strategic position in the Pacific during World War II. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel)

Lance Cpl. Faustino J. Camilo prepares to load a M231 primer into the M777 Howitzer cannon during a battery-level fire exercise at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 10, 2016. The battery participated in a fire exercise in preparation for their upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. This exercise was the first time the battery used the Digital Firing Control System, a computer that shows grid coordinates of targets and accompanying information. This system is important because it provides a faster response time than using iron sights to fire the howitzer. Camilo, from Brunswick, Ga., is an artillery cannoneer with Battery F, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin E. Bowles) - Lance Cpl. Faustino J. Camilo prepares to load a M231 primer into the M777 Howitzer cannon during a battery-level fire exercise at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 10, 2016. The battery participated in a fire exercise in preparation for their upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. This exercise was the first time the battery used the Digital Firing Control System, a computer that shows grid coordinates of targets and accompanying information. This system is important because it provides a faster response time than using iron sights to fire the howitzer. Camilo, from Brunswick, Ga., is an artillery cannoneer with Battery F, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin E. Bowles)