Stories

The U.S. Secretary of Defense, the honorable Mr. Ashton Carter congratulates a young reconnaissance Marine on a job well done following a combined arms raid aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 27, 2015. Carter met with senior military leaders and service members and witnessed ship-to-shore operations, a capability synonymous with Navy and Marine Corps teams in order to assess the need to better support military capabilities. - The U.S. Secretary of Defense, the honorable Mr. Ashton Carter congratulates a young reconnaissance Marine on a job well done following a combined arms raid aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 27, 2015. Carter met with senior military leaders and service members and witnessed ship-to-shore operations, a capability synonymous with Navy and Marine Corps teams in order to assess the need to better support military capabilities.

Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepare to load onto a CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 26. The Marines were inserted into an urban terrain to cordon and search the area for possible threats. - Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepare to load onto a CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 26. The Marines were inserted into an urban terrain to cordon and search the area for possible threats.

Lance Cpl. Steven Hoggand, a machine gunner and section leader with 1st Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, directs his Marines’ fire while suppressing an enemy position during platoon attack drills, July 24, aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. Training began for the Marines of Company C with a combined arms fire and maneuver exercise as part of their Integrated Training Exercise in preparation for their upcoming deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command 16.1 scheduled to depart later this year. - Lance Cpl. Steven Hoggand, a machine gunner and section leader with 1st Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, directs his Marines’ fire while suppressing an enemy position during platoon attack drills, July 24, aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. Training began for the Marines of Company C with a combined arms fire and maneuver exercise as part of their Integrated Training Exercise in preparation for their upcoming deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command 16.1 scheduled to depart later this year.

A strong breeze blows through a rifle memorial display for Petty Officer 3rd class James M. Swink II a hospital corpsman with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Aug 31, during a memorial service aboard Command Observation Post Riley, Marjah. Swink gave the ultimate sacrifice Aug 27, during combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. - A strong breeze blows through a rifle memorial display for Petty Officer 3rd class James M. Swink II a hospital corpsman with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Aug 31, during a memorial service aboard Command Observation Post Riley, Marjah. Swink gave the ultimate sacrifice Aug 27, during combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Marines from Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, take a short security halt during a patrol down Route Giants in Laki, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 30. Marines patrolled southward to establish a new patrol base to more easily conduct patrols and operations in the more southern portion of their area of operations. \ - Marines from Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, take a short security halt during a patrol down Route Giants in Laki, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 30. Marines patrolled southward to establish a new patrol base to more easily conduct patrols and operations in the more southern portion of their area of operations. \

Marines go about digging trenches and enforcing walls at Forward Operating Base Marjah, March 30. The construction of the base began in early March and serves as a key center of operations within the city of Marjah, Afghanistan. - Marines go about digging trenches and enforcing walls at Forward Operating Base Marjah, March 30. The construction of the base began in early March and serves as a key center of operations within the city of Marjah, Afghanistan.

Afghan National Army soldiers answer questions from local citizens prior to the start of Nawa’s first-ever ANA recruiting and information event at Patrol Base Jaker April 12. More than 60 people attended the event to hear about the benefits of military service. - Afghan National Army soldiers answer questions from local citizens prior to the start of Nawa’s first-ever ANA recruiting and information event at Patrol Base Jaker April 12. More than 60 people attended the event to hear about the benefits of military service.

Cpl. Erick A. Monterrosa, background, a radio operator with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and Lance Cpl. Justin K. Schwartz, foreground, look through their rear sight optics on their M-4 Carbine rifles while patrolling in Laki, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 31. With Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians in support, the Marines used mine detectors to check a bridge and tree lines for improvised explosive devices that sat no more than 50 meters away from the patrol base. - Cpl. Erick A. Monterrosa, background, a radio operator with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and Lance Cpl. Justin K. Schwartz, foreground, look through their rear sight optics on their M-4 Carbine rifles while patrolling in Laki, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 31. With Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians in support, the Marines used mine detectors to check a bridge and tree lines for improvised explosive devices that sat no more than 50 meters away from the patrol base.

Corporal Daniel Medley, a fireteam leader with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, attached to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, takes a break from assembling tents at Forward Operating Base Sher Wali, Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 6, 2010. The large tents, complete with electricity, lighting and air-conditioning, are the latest structures the engineers have built since arriving to Afghanistan back in January. - Corporal Daniel Medley, a fireteam leader with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, attached to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, takes a break from assembling tents at Forward Operating Base Sher Wali, Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 6, 2010. The large tents, complete with electricity, lighting and air-conditioning, are the latest structures the engineers have built since arriving to Afghanistan back in January.

Cpl. Sherman W. Smith, infantry adviser, Border Transition Team 4222, teaches a class on combat marksmanship to a squad of the “Desert Wolves” 2nd Iraqi Border Police Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Division’s newly formed Quick Reaction Force Oct. 23. Smugglers don’t waste time when they cross from Syria into Iraq. Marines identified the problem, and a group of Iraqi policemen answered the call. An elite platoon of Iraqis began training to be the border’s first Quick Reaction Force Oct. 22. The main activity the QRF will respond to is illegal drug and arms smuggling, said Smith, 23, Cooper Landing, Alaska. The QRF will also be a provisional infantry force for any immediate insurgent threat along the border towns and neighborhoods, to include improvised explosive device attacks and small arms skirmishes. Classes start with basics. Hand-to-hand combat and detainee ethics provide another less harmful option than the trigger finger. Marines don’t ignore the possibility of deadly engagements, so the QRF’s marksmanship and weapons familiarization improve with exercises from the Corps’ Combat Marksmanship Program. The CMP is a short-distance marksmanship exercise that incorporates firing on the move, target acquisition and accurate round placement. The course is more for the officers’ personal protection, and Marines always reinforce proper escalation of force procedures. - Cpl. Sherman W. Smith, infantry adviser, Border Transition Team 4222, teaches a class on combat marksmanship to a squad of the “Desert Wolves” 2nd Iraqi Border Police Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Division’s newly formed Quick Reaction Force Oct. 23. Smugglers don’t waste time when they cross from Syria into Iraq. Marines identified the problem, and a group of Iraqi policemen answered the call. An elite platoon of Iraqis began training to be the border’s first Quick Reaction Force Oct. 22. The main activity the QRF will respond to is illegal drug and arms smuggling, said Smith, 23, Cooper Landing, Alaska. The QRF will also be a provisional infantry force for any immediate insurgent threat along the border towns and neighborhoods, to include improvised explosive device attacks and small arms skirmishes. Classes start with basics. Hand-to-hand combat and detainee ethics provide another less harmful option than the trigger finger. Marines don’t ignore the possibility of deadly engagements, so the QRF’s marksmanship and weapons familiarization improve with exercises from the Corps’ Combat Marksmanship Program. The CMP is a short-distance marksmanship exercise that incorporates firing on the move, target acquisition and accurate round placement. The course is more for the officers’ personal protection, and Marines always reinforce proper escalation of force procedures.