Stories

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Lakin Chaffer, an embarkation specialist with Task Force Al Asad, and sourced from Special Purpose Marine Air – Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, from Woodstock, Georgia, poses for a portrait while deployed to Southwest Asia, Sept. 13, 2015. Chaffer serves as a liaison between TFAA and outside agencies, such as the SPMAGTF, in coordinating the movement of troops and supplies in and out of Al Asad Air Base, a strategically important location in Operation Inherent Resolve. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Garrett White /released) - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Lakin Chaffer, an embarkation specialist with Task Force Al Asad, and sourced from Special Purpose Marine Air – Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, from Woodstock, Georgia, poses for a portrait while deployed to Southwest Asia, Sept. 13, 2015. Chaffer serves as a liaison between TFAA and outside agencies, such as the SPMAGTF, in coordinating the movement of troops and supplies in and out of Al Asad Air Base, a strategically important location in Operation Inherent Resolve. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Garrett White /released)

Lance Cpl. Christopher Treadwell, from Tucson, Arizona, a refrigeration technician with Task Force Al Taqaddum, poses for a photo inside a tent on Al Taqaddum Air Base Iraq, Aug. 25, 2015. Treadwell was among the first Marines to arrive at Al Taqaddum and played a crucial role in the set up and powering of the base. - Lance Cpl. Christopher Treadwell, from Tucson, Arizona, a refrigeration technician with Task Force Al Taqaddum, poses for a photo inside a tent on Al Taqaddum Air Base Iraq, Aug. 25, 2015. Treadwell was among the first Marines to arrive at Al Taqaddum and played a crucial role in the set up and powering of the base.

A security forces Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron-371, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force--Crisis Response--Central Command fires after transitioning to his pistol during a live-fire, combat maneuver range in Southwest Asia, August 19, 2015. The live-fire range is designed to emulate realistic combat conditions and force Marines to shoot, move, and communicate to overcome targets at an unknown distance. - A security forces Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron-371, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force--Crisis Response--Central Command fires after transitioning to his pistol during a live-fire, combat maneuver range in Southwest Asia, August 19, 2015. The live-fire range is designed to emulate realistic combat conditions and force Marines to shoot, move, and communicate to overcome targets at an unknown distance.

Lance Cpl. Nathan Battle, an administration specialist currently deployed with Marine Wing Support Squadron - 371, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command from St. Louis, Missouri, poses for a portrait while deployed in Southwest Asia, Aug. 18, 2015. Battle said his religious beliefs act as his foundation, his philosophy, and way of life aimed at developing himself, others, and the Marine Corps. - Lance Cpl. Nathan Battle, an administration specialist currently deployed with Marine Wing Support Squadron - 371, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command from St. Louis, Missouri, poses for a portrait while deployed in Southwest Asia, Aug. 18, 2015. Battle said his religious beliefs act as his foundation, his philosophy, and way of life aimed at developing himself, others, and the Marine Corps.

One by one, Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command place a battle streamer on the Regimental Colors to symbolize the 7th Marine Regiment’s unit awards during the 98th anniversary ceremony, held in an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Aug. 15, 2015. The 7th Marine Regiment Headquarters and 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines are currently deployed with the SPMAGTF-CR-CC and took time to remember the regiment’s storied history and rededicate themselves to their current work with Operation Inherent Resolve. - One by one, Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command place a battle streamer on the Regimental Colors to symbolize the 7th Marine Regiment’s unit awards during the 98th anniversary ceremony, held in an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Aug. 15, 2015. The 7th Marine Regiment Headquarters and 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines are currently deployed with the SPMAGTF-CR-CC and took time to remember the regiment’s storied history and rededicate themselves to their current work with Operation Inherent Resolve.

Navy corpsmen with the Ground Combat Element, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command put Airmen and Marines through a strenuous workout before leading them into their final evaluation during a Combat Life Saver course in Southwest Asia, Aug. 12, 2015. During the final test the students work in pairs and each pair is given a different scenario where they must assess, treat and pass along a patient to a follow-on medical provider. The SPMAGTF corpsmen provide a three-day CLS course teaching combat triage and emergency trauma care to improve the survivability of the Crisis Response Company and coalition partners. - Navy corpsmen with the Ground Combat Element, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command put Airmen and Marines through a strenuous workout before leading them into their final evaluation during a Combat Life Saver course in Southwest Asia, Aug. 12, 2015. During the final test the students work in pairs and each pair is given a different scenario where they must assess, treat and pass along a patient to a follow-on medical provider. The SPMAGTF corpsmen provide a three-day CLS course teaching combat triage and emergency trauma care to improve the survivability of the Crisis Response Company and coalition partners.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Fox Walkeithus, a motor transport mechanic with the Special Purpose Marine Air – Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, inspects the engine of a Humvee at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, July 30, 2015. Walkeithus and a team of six other Marines spent a week conducting preventive maintenance checks for Task Force Al Asad’s vehicles and equipment. Task Force Al Asad is a multinational coalition participating in Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s build partner capacity mission, which trains and enables Iraqi security forces in their fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Garrett White/Released) - U.S. Marine Sgt. Fox Walkeithus, a motor transport mechanic with the Special Purpose Marine Air – Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, inspects the engine of a Humvee at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, July 30, 2015. Walkeithus and a team of six other Marines spent a week conducting preventive maintenance checks for Task Force Al Asad’s vehicles and equipment. Task Force Al Asad is a multinational coalition participating in Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s build partner capacity mission, which trains and enables Iraqi security forces in their fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Garrett White/Released)

U.S. Marine Sgt. Arnet Moore, a welder with the Logistics Combat Element, Special Purpose Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, welds a piece of metal for a project in Southwest Asia, July 19, 2015. - U.S. Marine Sgt. Arnet Moore, a welder with the Logistics Combat Element, Special Purpose Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, welds a piece of metal for a project in Southwest Asia, July 19, 2015.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Zachary Shelton, an embarkation specialist with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force—Crisis Response—Central Command, poses for a picture on Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, July 12, 2015. As an embarkation specialist, Shelton is responsible for manifesting and tracking weapons, equipment, and personnel that travel by air. The Marines and Sailors of SMPAGTF-CR-CC are deployed to several locations in the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and contingency operations. - U.S. Marine Cpl. Zachary Shelton, an embarkation specialist with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force—Crisis Response—Central Command, poses for a picture on Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, July 12, 2015. As an embarkation specialist, Shelton is responsible for manifesting and tracking weapons, equipment, and personnel that travel by air. The Marines and Sailors of SMPAGTF-CR-CC are deployed to several locations in the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and contingency operations.

Danish coalition members with Task Force Al Asad explain proper firing positions with Iraqi army soldiers during marksmanship training as part of the building partner capacity mission at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, July 27, 2015. Through the advise and assist and building partner capacity missions, Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve’s multinational coalition has trained approximately 11,000 Iraqi security force personnel to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and restore the sovereignty and security of Iraq. - Danish coalition members with Task Force Al Asad explain proper firing positions with Iraqi army soldiers during marksmanship training as part of the building partner capacity mission at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, July 27, 2015. Through the advise and assist and building partner capacity missions, Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve’s multinational coalition has trained approximately 11,000 Iraqi security force personnel to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and restore the sovereignty and security of Iraq.