Stories

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.

Brig. Gen. David W. Coffman, the deputy commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, speaks at the senior leadership seminar as part of San Francisco Fleet Week 2015, Oct. 7. The seminars brought together leaders from local, regional, and federal agencies, as well as political and diplomatic leaders to broaden working relationships and encourage cooperative emergency planning in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. SFFW 15’ is a weeklong event that blends a unique training and education program, bringing together key civilian emergency responders and Naval crisis-response forces to exchange best practices on humanitarian assistance disaster relief with particular emphasis on defense support to civil authorities. - Brig. Gen. David W. Coffman, the deputy commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, speaks at the senior leadership seminar as part of San Francisco Fleet Week 2015, Oct. 7. The seminars brought together leaders from local, regional, and federal agencies, as well as political and diplomatic leaders to broaden working relationships and encourage cooperative emergency planning in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. SFFW 15’ is a weeklong event that blends a unique training and education program, bringing together key civilian emergency responders and Naval crisis-response forces to exchange best practices on humanitarian assistance disaster relief with particular emphasis on defense support to civil authorities.

The 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert Neller, speaks to Marines of the I Marine Expeditionary Force about the future of their Corps during his visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Oct. 5, 2015. Gen. Neller spoke about future equipment that will be used by the Marine Corps, discussed the importance of being a strong leader and answered any question the Marines had. - The 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert Neller, speaks to Marines of the I Marine Expeditionary Force about the future of their Corps during his visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Oct. 5, 2015. Gen. Neller spoke about future equipment that will be used by the Marine Corps, discussed the importance of being a strong leader and answered any question the Marines had.

Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, practice handling a simulated enraged enemy during the culminating event of 1st Marine Division Schools’ Urban Leaders Course at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 12, 2015. The course is a 15-day period of instruction that includes classwork, combat marksmanship and physical training in a simulated urban combat environment. - Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, practice handling a simulated enraged enemy during the culminating event of 1st Marine Division Schools’ Urban Leaders Course at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 12, 2015. The course is a 15-day period of instruction that includes classwork, combat marksmanship and physical training in a simulated urban combat environment.

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