U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 5, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, operate an evacuation control center during a mission rehearsal exercise as part of Exercise Steel Knight 23.2 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Nov. 29 - 1 Dec. 2023. Steel Knight maintains and sharpens I Marine Expeditionary Force as America’s expeditionary force in readiness – organized, trained and equipped to respond to any crisis, anytime, anywhere. This exercise will certify 5th Marines to be forward-postured in Australia as Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, a six-month deployment during which Marines train with Australian allies and facilitate rapid response to crises and contingencies. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Cristian Bestul)

U.S. Marines and Sailors with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, conduct a simulated embassy reinforcement during a mission rehearsal exercise as a part of Exercise Steel Knight 23.2 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Nov. 29, 2023. Steel Knight maintains and sharpens I Marine Expeditionary Force as America’s expeditionary force in readiness – organized, trained and equipped to respond to any crisis, anytime, anywhere. This exercise will certify 5th Marines to be forward-postured in Australia as Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, a six-month deployment during which Marines train with Australian allies and facilitate rapid response to crises and contingencies. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Manuel Rivera)

U.S. Marine Corps combat engineers practice breaching operations and live-fire drills during a sapper squad competition at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Oct. 16-19, 2023. The competition is an annual event attended by combat engineers from across the Marine Corps that incorporates a variety of combat-related tasks designed to test and determine the top squad within the community and build camaraderie between the different units. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Anita Ramos)

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, participate in Mountain Training Exercise 5-23 at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, California, Aug. 9-Sept. 5, 2023. MTX gives Marines the opportunity to hone their combat and survival skills in an austere mountain environment. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Juan Torres)