Stories

Marines run through the obstruction of smoke during the company supported, live-fire assault portion of a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 6, 2015. The purpose of a MCCRE is to evaluate Marines’ collective performance in specific mission requirements that will prepare them for their upcoming deployment rotation. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Devan K. Gowans) - Marines run through the obstruction of smoke during the company supported, live-fire assault portion of a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 6, 2015. The purpose of a MCCRE is to evaluate Marines’ collective performance in specific mission requirements that will prepare them for their upcoming deployment rotation. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Devan K. Gowans)

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.

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 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)

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.

Lance Cpl. Taylor Drake, a combat engineer with 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, prepares for breaching and room clearing drills aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 8, 2015. Drake, a Phoenix native, joined the Marine Corps to carry on the legacy of his family. - Lance Cpl. Taylor Drake, a combat engineer with 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, prepares for breaching and room clearing drills aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 8, 2015. Drake, a Phoenix native, joined the Marine Corps to carry on the legacy of his family.

U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force--Crisis Response--Central Command, rush with their weapons system as they conduct live-fire training on the new M252A2 81mm mortar system at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 24, 2015. The training allowed the Marines, who are charged with providing security of Al Asad, an opportunity to hone their tactics, techniques and procedures in employment of the system, further reinforcing their ability to provide protection to their coalition and Iraqi Security Force partners as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s building partner capacity mission. - U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force--Crisis Response--Central Command, rush with their weapons system as they conduct live-fire training on the new M252A2 81mm mortar system at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 24, 2015. The training allowed the Marines, who are charged with providing security of Al Asad, an opportunity to hone their tactics, techniques and procedures in employment of the system, further reinforcing their ability to provide protection to their coalition and Iraqi Security Force partners as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s building partner capacity mission.