Stories

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.

Petty Officer 1st Class Savannah Dukes guides a group discussion during a Coalition of Sailors and Marines Against Destructive Decisions (CSMADD) event at Camp Pendleton, Mar. 16, 2016. CSMADD targets service members between the ages of 18-25 and puts them in a position to influence their peers to make better decisions while also assessing their own ability to make sound, responsible choices. CSMADD was founded by Dukes, the lead petty officer of 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group in January, 2016. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED) - Petty Officer 1st Class Savannah Dukes guides a group discussion during a Coalition of Sailors and Marines Against Destructive Decisions (CSMADD) event at Camp Pendleton, Mar. 16, 2016. CSMADD targets service members between the ages of 18-25 and puts them in a position to influence their peers to make better decisions while also assessing their own ability to make sound, responsible choices. CSMADD was founded by Dukes, the lead petty officer of 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group in January, 2016. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED)

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.

Cpl. Brier Avara and Cpl. Marissa Ezinga perform tactical column maneuvers during military operations on urban terrain training at Camp Pendleton March 3, 2016. Marines with 1st Law Enforcement Battalion conducted a five-day offensive training evolution in an effort to better integrate military police officers with infantry units. Avara, a native of Monroe, La., and Ezinga, native of Vallejo, are military police officers with Company B, 1st LE Bn., I Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Justin E. Bowles/Released) - Cpl. Brier Avara and Cpl. Marissa Ezinga perform tactical column maneuvers during military operations on urban terrain training at Camp Pendleton March 3, 2016. Marines with 1st Law Enforcement Battalion conducted a five-day offensive training evolution in an effort to better integrate military police officers with infantry units. Avara, a native of Monroe, La., and Ezinga, native of Vallejo, are military police officers with Company B, 1st LE Bn., I Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Justin E. Bowles/Released)

Sgt. Roberto J. Perez, left, is congratulated by Sgt. Maj. Bradley Kasal after receiving the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal at Camp Pendleton, Feb. 16, 2016. The award was presented to Perez by Lt. Gen. David H. Berger, center, for being selected as the I Marine Expeditionary Force noncommissioned officer of the year. The NCO of the year is awarded to a Marine who exemplifies the highest standards of the Marine Corps, both physically and mentally, and has the ability to inspire Marines. Perez is a squad leader with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Kasal is the sergeant major of I Marine Expeditionary Force. Berger is the commanding general of I MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pvt. Robert Bliss) - Sgt. Roberto J. Perez, left, is congratulated by Sgt. Maj. Bradley Kasal after receiving the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal at Camp Pendleton, Feb. 16, 2016. The award was presented to Perez by Lt. Gen. David H. Berger, center, for being selected as the I Marine Expeditionary Force noncommissioned officer of the year. The NCO of the year is awarded to a Marine who exemplifies the highest standards of the Marine Corps, both physically and mentally, and has the ability to inspire Marines. Perez is a squad leader with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Kasal is the sergeant major of I Marine Expeditionary Force. Berger is the commanding general of I MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pvt. Robert Bliss)

Cpl. Corey Mount is recognized by Lt. Gen. David Berger as the I Marine Expeditionary Force Marine of the Year during a ceremony at Camp Pendleton Feb. 10, 2016. The award recognizes a Marine who exceeds expectations and embodies the spirit and ideals of the Marine Corps. Berger is the I MEF commanding general and Mount, a native of Indianapolis, is an administrative noncommissioned officer with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel) - Cpl. Corey Mount is recognized by Lt. Gen. David Berger as the I Marine Expeditionary Force Marine of the Year during a ceremony at Camp Pendleton Feb. 10, 2016. The award recognizes a Marine who exceeds expectations and embodies the spirit and ideals of the Marine Corps. Berger is the I MEF commanding general and Mount, a native of Indianapolis, is an administrative noncommissioned officer with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I MEF. (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.

A soldier with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Western Army Infantry Regiment looks out from the driver’s seat of an amphibious assault vehicle onto a simulated battlefield during training during Exercise Iron Fist 2016 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 26. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral amphibious training exercise designed to improve U.S. Marine Corps and JGSDF’s ability to plan, communicate and conduct combined amphibious operations. The exercise provides valuable training to warriors from different cultures, and the opportunity to build camaraderie between the U.S. and Japanese militaries. - A soldier with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Western Army Infantry Regiment looks out from the driver’s seat of an amphibious assault vehicle onto a simulated battlefield during training during Exercise Iron Fist 2016 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 26. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral amphibious training exercise designed to improve U.S. Marine Corps and JGSDF’s ability to plan, communicate and conduct combined amphibious operations. The exercise provides valuable training to warriors from different cultures, and the opportunity to build camaraderie between the U.S. and Japanese militaries.

“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)