Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Philip Maupin, a vehicle repair technician assigned to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, holds his daughter after arriving at the Del Mar Boat Basin aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California Oct. 16, 2024. - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Philip Maupin, a vehicle repair technician assigned to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, holds his daughter after arriving at the Del Mar Boat Basin aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California Oct. 16, 2024. Elements of the 15th MEU embarked aboard amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), returned to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton after a seven-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region in support of regional stability and a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Kenneth Twaddell)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Bridget Bastian and Lance Cpl. Jonathan Fer, both combat engineers attached to Task Force Al Asad with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 372 ,Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, improve force protection measures by laying concertina wire at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, July 6, 2017. The Marines of the Engineering Detachment work daily on a variety of engineer tasks in support of the master base plan for Task Force Al Asad. Task Force Al Asad’s mission is to advise and assist and build partner capacity with the Iraqi Security Forces in Al Anbar province in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, the global coalition to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Dave Williams) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Bridget Bastian and Lance Cpl. Jonathan Fer, both combat engineers attached to Task Force Al Asad with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 372 ,Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, improve force protection measures by laying concertina wire at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, July 6, 2017. The Marines of the Engineering Detachment work daily on a variety of engineer tasks in support of the master base plan for Task Force Al Asad. Task Force Al Asad’s mission is to advise and assist and build partner capacity with the Iraqi Security Forces in Al Anbar province in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, the global coalition to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Dave Williams)

From left to right, Sgt. Michael Roman, Capt. Andres Zuniga, and Cpl. James S. Frost, form the Comptroller Team for the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command while deployed to the Middle East, July 25, 2017. Throughout their eight-month deployment, the team identified approximately $800,000 of allocated yet unspent funds which allowed for the purchase of additional products to enhance the command’s ability to react to any mission they may encounter while conducting USCENTCOM’s crisis response mission. - From left to right, Sgt. Michael Roman, Capt. Andres Zuniga, and Cpl. James S. Frost, form the Comptroller Team for the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command while deployed to the Middle East, July 25, 2017. Throughout their eight-month deployment, the team identified approximately $800,000 of allocated yet unspent funds which allowed for the purchase of additional products to enhance the command’s ability to react to any mission they may encounter while conducting USCENTCOM’s crisis response mission.

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Shakelia Woods, a food service specialist with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, showcases khubuz, a traditional Iraqi flat bread, at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, May 4, 2017. Woods instructed Iraqi soldiers with the 7th Iraqi Army Division on capabilities and employment of an Ozti Field Kitchen (OFK) during an advise and assist mission in support of Task Force Al Asad. Task Force Al Asad trains Iraqi forces with operationally relevant training, an integral aspect of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, the global coalition to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer B. Poole) - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Shakelia Woods, a food service specialist with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, showcases khubuz, a traditional Iraqi flat bread, at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, May 4, 2017. Woods instructed Iraqi soldiers with the 7th Iraqi Army Division on capabilities and employment of an Ozti Field Kitchen (OFK) during an advise and assist mission in support of Task Force Al Asad. Task Force Al Asad trains Iraqi forces with operationally relevant training, an integral aspect of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, the global coalition to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer B. Poole)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Christian Cabaniss, the commander of Task Force Al Taqaddum and deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, speaks with Italian police officials about the current and future training plans for the Iraqi police and military forces on Al-Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq, April 27, 2017. Deploying U.S. Marines into the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to conduct combined military training with our partner nations’ security forces strengthens our vital relationships with partners in this strategically important region. This training is part of the overall CJTF-OIR building partner capacity mission by training and improving the capability of partnered forces fighting ISIS. CJTF-OIR is the global Coalition to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Christian Cabaniss, the commander of Task Force Al Taqaddum and deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, speaks with Italian police officials about the current and future training plans for the Iraqi police and military forces on Al-Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq, April 27, 2017. Deploying U.S. Marines into the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to conduct combined military training with our partner nations’ security forces strengthens our vital relationships with partners in this strategically important region. This training is part of the overall CJTF-OIR building partner capacity mission by training and improving the capability of partnered forces fighting ISIS. CJTF-OIR is the global Coalition to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Cpl. Dominique A. Sparacino is welcomed home by his loving wife, Victoria Sparacino, upon return from a seven-month deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. While deployed, the 15th MEU participated in more than 15 different theater security cooperation or bi-lateral exercises including combined arms and desert survival training with French forces in Djibouti, the Malaysia-US Amphibious Exercise, Combined Afloat Readiness and Training in Brunei, and more than 12 subject matter expert exchanges with partner nations throughout the Middle East. Sparacino is an infantryman with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. April L. Price/ Released) - Cpl. Dominique A. Sparacino is welcomed home by his loving wife, Victoria Sparacino, upon return from a seven-month deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. While deployed, the 15th MEU participated in more than 15 different theater security cooperation or bi-lateral exercises including combined arms and desert survival training with French forces in Djibouti, the Malaysia-US Amphibious Exercise, Combined Afloat Readiness and Training in Brunei, and more than 12 subject matter expert exchanges with partner nations throughout the Middle East. Sparacino is an infantryman with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. April L. Price/ Released)

Haji Abdul Manaf, Nawa District governor, addresses the crowd at a lunch event honoring the work of 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and welcoming their replacement, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, at Patrol Base Jaker June 3. At the event, Manaf called all the people of Nawa Marines in a nod to the close relationship that has developed between Nawa’s citizens and the Marines in the area. - Haji Abdul Manaf, Nawa District governor, addresses the crowd at a lunch event honoring the work of 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and welcoming their replacement, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, at Patrol Base Jaker June 3. At the event, Manaf called all the people of Nawa Marines in a nod to the close relationship that has developed between Nawa’s citizens and the Marines in the area.

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.