Noncommissioned officers with Headquarters Company, 5th Marine Regiment, attend a professional military education session as part of the regiment's emphasis on small-unit leaders here, Sept. 20, 2013. Every Friday, Marines conduct PMEs to train and educate the servicemembers with the regiment. This PME focused on the NCOs' roles as mentors and leaders with their junior Marines. - Noncommissioned officers with Headquarters Company, 5th Marine Regiment, attend a professional military education session as part of the regiment's emphasis on small-unit leaders here, Sept. 20, 2013. Every Friday, Marines conduct PMEs to train and educate the servicemembers with the regiment. This PME focused on the NCOs' roles as mentors and leaders with their junior Marines.
Sergeant Charles Lopez (center), squad leader, 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, served with First of the First for eight years, his entire career. He's deployed in support of combat operations to Fallujah, Iraq, twice, once on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and most recently deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan, during 2011Lopez had the choice to transition to another duty station when he re-enlisted during 2009, but he chose to stay with First of the First so he can sharpen his skills as an infantry rifleman and an antitank missileman. Lopez is a native of San Antonio. - Sergeant Charles Lopez (center), squad leader, 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, served with First of the First for eight years, his entire career. He's deployed in support of combat operations to Fallujah, Iraq, twice, once on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and most recently deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan, during 2011Lopez had the choice to transition to another duty station when he re-enlisted during 2009, but he chose to stay with First of the First so he can sharpen his skills as an infantry rifleman and an antitank missileman. Lopez is a native of San Antonio.
Lieutenant Col. Robert Rice, commanding officer, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, passes the noncommissioned officer sword to Sgt. Maj. Carlos Ruiz, incoming sergeant major, 3rd Bn., 5th Marines, during a relief and appointment ceremony here, Sept. 20, 2013. Relief and appointment ceremonies are one of the many traditions upheld in the Marine Corps today, which involves the passing of the noncommissioned officer sword from the outgoing sergeant major to the oncoming. The passing of the sword signifies the transfer of responsibilities and accountability from one senior enlisted Marine to another. - Lieutenant Col. Robert Rice, commanding officer, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, passes the noncommissioned officer sword to Sgt. Maj. Carlos Ruiz, incoming sergeant major, 3rd Bn., 5th Marines, during a relief and appointment ceremony here, Sept. 20, 2013. Relief and appointment ceremonies are one of the many traditions upheld in the Marine Corps today, which involves the passing of the noncommissioned officer sword from the outgoing sergeant major to the oncoming. The passing of the sword signifies the transfer of responsibilities and accountability from one senior enlisted Marine to another.
Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, maintain security while on patrol during a combat readiness training exercise on Range 800 here, Sept. 12, 2013. The training helped the battalion see how multiple elements of an attack work together to accomplish a single mission. The training exercise prepared the Marines for future operations as well as combat. - Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, maintain security while on patrol during a combat readiness training exercise on Range 800 here, Sept. 12, 2013. The training helped the battalion see how multiple elements of an attack work together to accomplish a single mission. The training exercise prepared the Marines for future operations as well as combat.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Shults, independent duty corpsman, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of Mt. Sterling, Ky., hugs his son, Lucas, 3, before leaving for a deployment at the parade deck at Camp Horno here, Sept. 14, 2013. Marines with the company will provide site security at an embassy in the Middle East. The servicemembers focused on nonlethal training for scenarios similar to rioting civilians prior to their deployment. - Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Shults, independent duty corpsman, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of Mt. Sterling, Ky., hugs his son, Lucas, 3, before leaving for a deployment at the parade deck at Camp Horno here, Sept. 14, 2013. Marines with the company will provide site security at an embassy in the Middle East. The servicemembers focused on nonlethal training for scenarios similar to rioting civilians prior to their deployment.
Marines serving with Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, talk to a role-player portraying a possible enemy threat during tactical sight exploitation training here, Sept. 11, 2013. After securing the perimeter, the Marines gained entry into the role-player's house and searched it for weapons and intelligence. The training was designed to prepare the Marines for their upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. - Marines serving with Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, talk to a role-player portraying a possible enemy threat during tactical sight exploitation training here, Sept. 11, 2013. After securing the perimeter, the Marines gained entry into the role-player's house and searched it for weapons and intelligence. The training was designed to prepare the Marines for their upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Marines with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, complete their surf qualification here, Sept. 6, 2013. The training ensured the Marines know how to properly evacuate their AAV and swim back to shore in case of an emergency. The battalion conducts the surf qualification annually. The swim to shore presents the Marines with many challenges, including the confidence to jump into the cold water while facing the waves rushing over them. - Marines with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, complete their surf qualification here, Sept. 6, 2013. The training ensured the Marines know how to properly evacuate their AAV and swim back to shore in case of an emergency. The battalion conducts the surf qualification annually. The swim to shore presents the Marines with many challenges, including the confidence to jump into the cold water while facing the waves rushing over them.
Servicemembers escort family members of Marines who sacrificed their lives with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, as well as Army units, during the Honor Bowl here, Sept. 7, 2013. The Gold Star family members were the guests of honor during the game and were walked to the center of the field for the coin toss. The Honor Bowl is a two-day event put together by the Honor Group to raise awareness of the sacrifices of servicemembers. - Servicemembers escort family members of Marines who sacrificed their lives with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, as well as Army units, during the Honor Bowl here, Sept. 7, 2013. The Gold Star family members were the guests of honor during the game and were walked to the center of the field for the coin toss. The Honor Bowl is a two-day event put together by the Honor Group to raise awareness of the sacrifices of servicemembers.
(Right to left) Colonel Jason Bohm, commanding officer, 5th Marine Regiment, Sgt. Maj. Clifford Wiggins, sergeant major, 5th Marines, and Sgt. Maj. Alberto Ruiz, former sergeant major, 5th Marines, salute Marines and sailors as they conduct a pass and review during a relief, appointment and retirement ceremony at the Camp San Mateo helicopter landing pad here, Sept. 6, 2013. Marines and sailors of the Fighting Fifth bid farewell to Ruiz who retired after 30 years of service after relinquishing his post to Wiggins during the ceremony. Wiggins served as the sergeant major of 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion before assuming his current post. Ruiz is a Laredo, Texas, native, Bohm is an Oyster Bay, N.Y., native, and Wiggins is a Cincinnati native. - (Right to left) Colonel Jason Bohm, commanding officer, 5th Marine Regiment, Sgt. Maj. Clifford Wiggins, sergeant major, 5th Marines, and Sgt. Maj. Alberto Ruiz, former sergeant major, 5th Marines, salute Marines and sailors as they conduct a pass and review during a relief, appointment and retirement ceremony at the Camp San Mateo helicopter landing pad here, Sept. 6, 2013. Marines and sailors of the Fighting Fifth bid farewell to Ruiz who retired after 30 years of service after relinquishing his post to Wiggins during the ceremony. Wiggins served as the sergeant major of 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion before assuming his current post. Ruiz is a Laredo, Texas, native, Bohm is an Oyster Bay, N.Y., native, and Wiggins is a Cincinnati native.