Stories

A Joint Fire Observer watches the impact of an 81 mm mortar round to forward corrections needed to accurately hit a target during training on the hillsides of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 13, 2016. The JFOs work hand-in-hand with the Joint Tactical Attack Controllers to accurately and effectively strike targets with either artillery or aircraft. The Marines are with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Timothy Valero/ Released) - A Joint Fire Observer watches the impact of an 81 mm mortar round to forward corrections needed to accurately hit a target during training on the hillsides of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 13, 2016. The JFOs work hand-in-hand with the Joint Tactical Attack Controllers to accurately and effectively strike targets with either artillery or aircraft. The Marines are with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Timothy Valero/ Released)

U.S. Navy medical personnel treat a simulated casualty during a mass casualty exercise at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 23, 2015. Canadian forces, U.S. Air Force and Army medical personnel, along with U.S. Marines and Navy corpsmen with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, participated in the joint exercise to hone the coalition’s medical response capabilities. SPMAGTF-CR-CC is currently deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility with a mission spanning 20 nations. - U.S. Navy medical personnel treat a simulated casualty during a mass casualty exercise at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 23, 2015. Canadian forces, U.S. Air Force and Army medical personnel, along with U.S. Marines and Navy corpsmen with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, participated in the joint exercise to hone the coalition’s medical response capabilities. SPMAGTF-CR-CC is currently deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility with a mission spanning 20 nations.

Marines collect toys and donations for the Toys for Tots program throughout Southern California, Dec. 18, 2015. This group of Marines collected 700 gifts, 600 bicycles, and more than $1,000 in donations for children over the holidays. The Marines are with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Pvt. Robert Bliss) - Marines collect toys and donations for the Toys for Tots program throughout Southern California, Dec. 18, 2015. This group of Marines collected 700 gifts, 600 bicycles, and more than $1,000 in donations for children over the holidays. The Marines are with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Pvt. Robert Bliss)

Lance Cpl. Taylor A. Vollmer observes aircraft as his team prepares to take off for a Joint Terminal Attack Control training scenerio Dec. 15 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. A JTAC is when combat aircraft engage in close air support and other offensive air operations from a forward position. Vollmer, a Bakersfield, California, native, is a crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. - Lance Cpl. Taylor A. Vollmer observes aircraft as his team prepares to take off for a Joint Terminal Attack Control training scenerio Dec. 15 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. A JTAC is when combat aircraft engage in close air support and other offensive air operations from a forward position. Vollmer, a Bakersfield, California, native, is a crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The 2015 San Diego Sea Service Marine Corps Spouse of the Year recipient, Amanda McMillan, poses with her husband, Chief Warrant Officer Christopher McMillan, after being awarded at the San Diego Council Navy League monthly luncheon in San Diego, Dec. 4. As a I Marine Expeditionary Force spouse, Amanda was awarded for her dedication to educating and volunteering with groups such as special needs children and fellow military families. The award was presented to McMillan by Jon Berg-Johnson (left), council president of San Diego Council Navy League of the United States. This is the fifth consecutive year a I MEF spouse has won the award. Nominees were selected by their respective commands for exhibiting a balance in their military community, their work and home life, and for serving their local community. Both Amanda and Christopher are Zephyrhills, Florida, natives. Christopher is a bulk fuel officer with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I MEF. “I’m more than honored to receive the award, but I know I could have done, can do so much more for the community. I can never express how thankful I am for the serves the military has provided me and my family,” Amanda said. - The 2015 San Diego Sea Service Marine Corps Spouse of the Year recipient, Amanda McMillan, poses with her husband, Chief Warrant Officer Christopher McMillan, after being awarded at the San Diego Council Navy League monthly luncheon in San Diego, Dec. 4. As a I Marine Expeditionary Force spouse, Amanda was awarded for her dedication to educating and volunteering with groups such as special needs children and fellow military families. The award was presented to McMillan by Jon Berg-Johnson (left), council president of San Diego Council Navy League of the United States. This is the fifth consecutive year a I MEF spouse has won the award. Nominees were selected by their respective commands for exhibiting a balance in their military community, their work and home life, and for serving their local community. Both Amanda and Christopher are Zephyrhills, Florida, natives. Christopher is a bulk fuel officer with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I MEF. “I’m more than honored to receive the award, but I know I could have done, can do so much more for the community. I can never express how thankful I am for the serves the military has provided me and my family,” Amanda said.

A Marine with 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I MEF practices his community engagement with a role-player during mobile immersion training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 20, 2015. Mobile immersion training is a scenario-based training exercise in which the Marines engage in locating, apprehending and transporting a high-value individual. - A Marine with 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I MEF practices his community engagement with a role-player during mobile immersion training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 20, 2015. Mobile immersion training is a scenario-based training exercise in which the Marines engage in locating, apprehending and transporting a high-value individual.

Private First Class Stephen King, a motor vehicle operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 5, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, connects with retirees over a dinner held at Fairwinds-Ivey Ranch Retirement Community in Oceanside, California, on Aug. 26, 2015. In conjunction with the Single Marines Program on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and just in time for Thanksgiving, the Fairwinds-Ivey Ranch Retirement Community hosts a dinner for volunteering Marines and retirees on the final Wednesday of every month from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Devan K. Gowans/Released) - Private First Class Stephen King, a motor vehicle operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 5, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, connects with retirees over a dinner held at Fairwinds-Ivey Ranch Retirement Community in Oceanside, California, on Aug. 26, 2015. In conjunction with the Single Marines Program on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and just in time for Thanksgiving, the Fairwinds-Ivey Ranch Retirement Community hosts a dinner for volunteering Marines and retirees on the final Wednesday of every month from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Devan K. Gowans/Released)

Lt. Col. Demetrius Bolduc, commanding officer for KOA MOANA 15-3, presents an award to Maj. Henry Macomber, a commander with the Republic of Fiji Military Force during a ceremony following a training exercise between the two nations in Namosi Province, Fiji, Oct. 15. Marines and members of the RFMF conducted jungle training, jungle survival exercises and participated in community rebuilding projects. - Lt. Col. Demetrius Bolduc, commanding officer for KOA MOANA 15-3, presents an award to Maj. Henry Macomber, a commander with the Republic of Fiji Military Force during a ceremony following a training exercise between the two nations in Namosi Province, Fiji, Oct. 15. Marines and members of the RFMF conducted jungle training, jungle survival exercises and participated in community rebuilding projects.

U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force--Crisis Response--Central Command, rush with their weapons system as they conduct live-fire training on the new M252A2 81mm mortar system at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 24, 2015. The training allowed the Marines, who are charged with providing security of Al Asad, an opportunity to hone their tactics, techniques and procedures in employment of the system, further reinforcing their ability to provide protection to their coalition and Iraqi Security Force partners as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s building partner capacity mission. - U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force--Crisis Response--Central Command, rush with their weapons system as they conduct live-fire training on the new M252A2 81mm mortar system at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 24, 2015. The training allowed the Marines, who are charged with providing security of Al Asad, an opportunity to hone their tactics, techniques and procedures in employment of the system, further reinforcing their ability to provide protection to their coalition and Iraqi Security Force partners as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s building partner capacity mission.

Marine Corps Capt. Paul Keller, a pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, assesses the firmness of the expeditionary safety equipment that he flawlessly landed an MV-22 Osprey on after the aircraft experienced a technical malfunction with its landing gear, Oct. 9, 2015 in Southwest Asia. - Marine Corps Capt. Paul Keller, a pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, assesses the firmness of the expeditionary safety equipment that he flawlessly landed an MV-22 Osprey on after the aircraft experienced a technical malfunction with its landing gear, Oct. 9, 2015 in Southwest Asia.