Stories

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Midshipman Michelle Mathews is a 19-year-old Midshipmen striving to be a Marine Corps officer, is one of the many people whose passion for being in the armed services has put her in the path to becoming a future leader. Mathews lives in Houston and attends Villanova University as a political science major. Her ultimate goal is to lead Marines and become a combat engineer officer. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Midshipman Michelle Mathews is a 19-year-old Midshipmen striving to be a Marine Corps officer, is one of the many people whose passion for being in the armed services has put her in the path to becoming a future leader. Mathews lives in Houston and attends Villanova University as a political science major. Her ultimate goal is to lead Marines and become a combat engineer officer. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, present veterans with a current small-arms weaponry display during the unit’s 75th anniversary at Camp Pendleton May 26, 2016. During the event, veterans who served with 1st CEB gathered at the current headquarters building and toured the area, while speaking with current service members. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, present veterans with a current small-arms weaponry display during the unit’s 75th anniversary at Camp Pendleton May 26, 2016. During the event, veterans who served with 1st CEB gathered at the current headquarters building and toured the area, while speaking with current service members. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED)

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. – Col. Ian R. Clark, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, congratulates the Marine graduates of Expeditionary Warfare School, Command and Staff, and Career Course Seminar on Camp Pendleton May 26, 2016. The College of Distance Education and Training mission is to design, develop, deliver, evaluate, manage, and resource distance learning products and programs across the Marine Corps training and education continuum in order to increase operational readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tony Simmons/Released) - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. – Col. Ian R. Clark, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, congratulates the Marine graduates of Expeditionary Warfare School, Command and Staff, and Career Course Seminar on Camp Pendleton May 26, 2016. The College of Distance Education and Training mission is to design, develop, deliver, evaluate, manage, and resource distance learning products and programs across the Marine Corps training and education continuum in order to increase operational readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tony Simmons/Released)

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.

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)

First Sgt. Shonor Burton runs through a non-lethal weapons course while blinded by the effects of oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, Jan. 26, 2016. Burton is the company first sergeant for Company B, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. - First Sgt. Shonor Burton runs through a non-lethal weapons course while blinded by the effects of oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, Jan. 26, 2016. Burton is the company first sergeant for Company B, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

“Physical fitness is my hobby,” said Staff Sgt. Kenneth Bell. “It’s something I take great enthusiasm in. It’s my equivalent to how some people like to play video games, or others who like going fishing or riding motorcycles, but physical training is what I like to do.” Bell is a native of Atlanta and a helicopter mechanic with Headquarters Co., I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angel Serna/Released) - “Physical fitness is my hobby,” said Staff Sgt. Kenneth Bell. “It’s something I take great enthusiasm in. It’s my equivalent to how some people like to play video games, or others who like going fishing or riding motorcycles, but physical training is what I like to do.” Bell is a native of Atlanta and a helicopter mechanic with Headquarters Co., I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angel Serna/Released)