Stories

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Master Chief Petty Officer Michael Smith, outgoing command master chief of I Marine Expeditionary force, ‘goes ashore’ for the last time at the conclusion of his change of charge and retirement ceremony on Camp Pendleton June 3, 2016. Stemming from the naval tradition of requesting permission to leave the ship, ‘going ashore’ signifies the honorable retirement of a sailor from naval service. Master Chief Petty Officer Frank Dominguez, a Superior, Arizona native, is replacing Smith, a Ridgecrest native, as the command master chief of I Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By Cpl. Garrett White/Released) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Master Chief Petty Officer Michael Smith, outgoing command master chief of I Marine Expeditionary force, ‘goes ashore’ for the last time at the conclusion of his change of charge and retirement ceremony on Camp Pendleton June 3, 2016. Stemming from the naval tradition of requesting permission to leave the ship, ‘going ashore’ signifies the honorable retirement of a sailor from naval service. Master Chief Petty Officer Frank Dominguez, a Superior, Arizona native, is replacing Smith, a Ridgecrest native, as the command master chief of I Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By Cpl. Garrett White/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)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Lieutenant General David Berger, I Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, presents SSgt. Kurtis Carpenter, an armorer with 1st Intelligence Battalion, and Louisa, VA. a meritorious promotion certificate on Camp Pendleton, April 4, 2016. Meritorious promotions are a way for the Marine Corps to reward outstanding performance and highlight the dedication and spirit among those who serve within it. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan Boynes/Released) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Lieutenant General David Berger, I Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, presents SSgt. Kurtis Carpenter, an armorer with 1st Intelligence Battalion, and Louisa, VA. a meritorious promotion certificate on Camp Pendleton, April 4, 2016. Meritorious promotions are a way for the Marine Corps to reward outstanding performance and highlight the dedication and spirit among those who serve within it. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan Boynes/Released)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Colonel Willard ‘Willy’ Buhl (left) and Dwight Trafton (right), a retired colonel, stand at attention for the conclusion of Col. Buhl’s retirement ceremony on Feb. 12, at Camp Pendleton, Calif. The ceremony was to commemorate Buhl’s 34 years of dedicated service to the United States Marine Corps. Buhl was formerly the director of Expeditionary Operations Training Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force and is from Los Gatos, Calif. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angel Serna/Released) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Colonel Willard ‘Willy’ Buhl (left) and Dwight Trafton (right), a retired colonel, stand at attention for the conclusion of Col. Buhl’s retirement ceremony on Feb. 12, at Camp Pendleton, Calif. The ceremony was to commemorate Buhl’s 34 years of dedicated service to the United States Marine Corps. Buhl was formerly the director of Expeditionary Operations Training Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force and is from Los Gatos, Calif. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angel Serna/Released)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Cpl. Richelle Delapaz, left, guides Kayla Morley through an obstacle course at North Terrace Elementary, March 25, 2016. Approximately 30 Marine volunteers with the Single Marine Program facilitated a series of exercises and competitions including an obstacle course relay race and tug-of-war as part of a Physical Education Fitness Challenge. The challenge encourages children to stay active and helps Marines engage with their local community. Delapaz, a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, is a field radio operator with 9th Communication Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group. Morley is a second grade student at North Terrace Elementary. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel/RELEASED) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Cpl. Richelle Delapaz, left, guides Kayla Morley through an obstacle course at North Terrace Elementary, March 25, 2016. Approximately 30 Marine volunteers with the Single Marine Program facilitated a series of exercises and competitions including an obstacle course relay race and tug-of-war as part of a Physical Education Fitness Challenge. The challenge encourages children to stay active and helps Marines engage with their local community. Delapaz, a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, is a field radio operator with 9th Communication Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group. Morley is a second grade student at North Terrace Elementary. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel/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.

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)