Stories

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert B. Neller speaks with the Marines forward deployed to the Middle East with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, Dec. 22, 2016. Neller spoke about the SPMAGTF-CR-CC history, coalition partnerships, readiness, and the future of the Marine Corps. - Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert B. Neller speaks with the Marines forward deployed to the Middle East with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, Dec. 22, 2016. Neller spoke about the SPMAGTF-CR-CC history, coalition partnerships, readiness, and the future of the Marine Corps.

U.S. Navy and Army medical personnel prepare to load a simulated casualty onto a UH-60 “Black Hawk” helicopter 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 and Army medical personnel prepare to load a simulated casualty onto a UH-60 “Black Hawk” helicopter 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 Petty Officer 2nd Class Ambrose McGill, a hospital corpsman with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force—Crisis Response—Central Command, was awarded the Fleet Marine Force pin during a recognition ceremony at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 12, 2015. McGill spent countless hours reviewing the vast amount of material required to earn the pin. McGill said, he wanted to earn this since the first day he became a hospital corpsman. (Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Owen Kimbrel/RELEASED) - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ambrose McGill, a hospital corpsman with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force—Crisis Response—Central Command, was awarded the Fleet Marine Force pin during a recognition ceremony at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 12, 2015. McGill spent countless hours reviewing the vast amount of material required to earn the pin. McGill said, he wanted to earn this since the first day he became a hospital corpsman. (Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Owen Kimbrel/RELEASED)

A U.S. Marine, assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force—Crisis Response—Central Command, interacts with students of a local middle school during a celebration commemorating the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait in Kuwait City, Nov. 17, 2015. In attendance of the event was Douglas A. Silliman, the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait, along with Kuwaiti dignitaries and members of the U.S. armed forces. The American service members were recognized during the ceremony and had the opportunity to interact with students and local community members. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Rick Hurtado / Released) - A U.S. Marine, assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force—Crisis Response—Central Command, interacts with students of a local middle school during a celebration commemorating the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait in Kuwait City, Nov. 17, 2015. In attendance of the event was Douglas A. Silliman, the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait, along with Kuwaiti dignitaries and members of the U.S. armed forces. The American service members were recognized during the ceremony and had the opportunity to interact with students and local community members. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Rick Hurtado / Released)

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.

U.S. Marines with Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, and Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, currently deployed in support of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command 16.1, prepare the hook block of a MAC-50 Crane to move Alaskan walls at Al Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 25, 2015. The 12-ton T-walls are placed around key structures to provide protection from shrapnel. - U.S. Marines with Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, and Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, currently deployed in support of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command 16.1, prepare the hook block of a MAC-50 Crane to move Alaskan walls at Al Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 25, 2015. The 12-ton T-walls are placed around key structures to provide protection from shrapnel.

Royal Danish Army Sgt. 1st Class Martin, left, a primary shooting instructor, marks shot groups during a live-fire range at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 26, 2015. The training was a part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve building partner capacity mission to teach the Iraqi soldiers proper marksmanship techniques to improve their effectiveness on the battlefield against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. - Royal Danish Army Sgt. 1st Class Martin, left, a primary shooting instructor, marks shot groups during a live-fire range at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 26, 2015. The training was a part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve building partner capacity mission to teach the Iraqi soldiers proper marksmanship techniques to improve their effectiveness on the battlefield against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

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.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Duc Nguyen, a rifleman, with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Division, Ground Combat Element, Special Purpose Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, poses for a photo while deployed to Southwest Asia, September 21, 2015. Nguyen joined the Marine Corps at 26, after attending a few years of college and while working a steady career. His unit is the Ground Combat Element of a task force providing the commander of USCENTCOM with a range of nimble solutions to emergent crises across the Middle East. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan Boynes / released) - U.S. Marine Sgt. Duc Nguyen, a rifleman, with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Division, Ground Combat Element, Special Purpose Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, poses for a photo while deployed to Southwest Asia, September 21, 2015. Nguyen joined the Marine Corps at 26, after attending a few years of college and while working a steady career. His unit is the Ground Combat Element of a task force providing the commander of USCENTCOM with a range of nimble solutions to emergent crises across the Middle East. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan Boynes / released)