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. - A Marine with Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, I Marine Expeditionary Force, guides a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launcher during Spring Fire Exercise at Camp Pendleton March 31, 2016. The regiment, comprised of four artillery battalions and a headquarters battalion, put their skills to the test during a large-scale, combined-arms training evolution in preparation for future deployments and operations. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - A Marine with Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, I Marine Expeditionary Force, guides a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launcher during Spring Fire Exercise at Camp Pendleton March 31, 2016. The regiment, comprised of four artillery battalions and a headquarters battalion, put their skills to the test during a large-scale, combined-arms training evolution in preparation for future deployments and operations. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED)

Cpl. Richard Nedlic (Right), Light Armored Vehicle crewman and Cpl. Nicholas Guiles, rifleman, both with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and students in the Urban Leaders Course, fire their weapons from the supine position during a combat marksmanship program range at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 31, 2016. This firing drill is meant to train Marines to safely and accurately return fire if they fall backward while moving or are knocked down. - Cpl. Richard Nedlic (Right), Light Armored Vehicle crewman and Cpl. Nicholas Guiles, rifleman, both with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and students in the Urban Leaders Course, fire their weapons from the supine position during a combat marksmanship program range at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 31, 2016. This firing drill is meant to train Marines to safely and accurately return fire if they fall backward while moving or are knocked down.

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)

Marines work together to load a 155mm round 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. The Marines are with Battery F, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin E. Bowles) - Marines work together to load a 155mm round 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. The Marines are with Battery F, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin E. Bowles)