Major Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, addresses the Marines and veterans of the division during a battle colors rededication ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 6, 2014. Marines celebrated the 73rd anniversary of 1st Marine Division by pinning battle streamers onto the division colors. Each battle streamer represented a different award from campaigns ranging from World War II, to Operation Enduring Freedom. - Major Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, addresses the Marines and veterans of the division during a battle colors rededication ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 6, 2014. Marines celebrated the 73rd anniversary of 1st Marine Division by pinning battle streamers onto the division colors. Each battle streamer represented a different award from campaigns ranging from World War II, to Operation Enduring Freedom.
Soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force practice amphibious landing techniques while conducting Helo Cast training during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., Jan. 27, 2014. Iron Fist is an amphibious exercise that brings together Marines and sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, other I Marine Expeditionary Force units, and soldiers from the JGSDF, to promote military interoperability and hone individual and small-unit skills through challenging, complex and realistic training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Emmanuel Ramos/Released) - Soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force practice amphibious landing techniques while conducting Helo Cast training during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., Jan. 27, 2014. Iron Fist is an amphibious exercise that brings together Marines and sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, other I Marine Expeditionary Force units, and soldiers from the JGSDF, to promote military interoperability and hone individual and small-unit skills through challenging, complex and realistic training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Emmanuel Ramos/Released)
A crowd gathers inside the California Center for the Arts to watch the 1st Marine Division Band perform a concert in honor of the division’s 73rd anniversary at Escondido, Calif., Jan. 31, 2014. The band played a variety of pieces, each representing different experiences that Marines go through from recruit training to missing the birth of a child while on deployment. The concert was held to strengthen relationships between the Marine Corps and the local community. - A crowd gathers inside the California Center for the Arts to watch the 1st Marine Division Band perform a concert in honor of the division’s 73rd anniversary at Escondido, Calif., Jan. 31, 2014. The band played a variety of pieces, each representing different experiences that Marines go through from recruit training to missing the birth of a child while on deployment. The concert was held to strengthen relationships between the Marine Corps and the local community.
Lance Cpl. Gregg Alvarez, trumpet instrumentalist, 1st Marine Division Band, and native of Harlingen, Texas, performed during the 1st Marine Division 73rd anniversary concert at Escondido, Calif., Jan. 31, 2014. Alvarez holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the McNeese State University and a master’s degree in music performance from the University of Louisville. Alvarez has been playing the trumpet since 1996 and plans to day attend officer candidate school and receive a commission. Gunnery Sgt. Tracy Martinez said, Alvarez’s vast musical experience greatly improves the quality and musicianship of the band’s trumpet section - Lance Cpl. Gregg Alvarez, trumpet instrumentalist, 1st Marine Division Band, and native of Harlingen, Texas, performed during the 1st Marine Division 73rd anniversary concert at Escondido, Calif., Jan. 31, 2014. Alvarez holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the McNeese State University and a master’s degree in music performance from the University of Louisville. Alvarez has been playing the trumpet since 1996 and plans to day attend officer candidate school and receive a commission. Gunnery Sgt. Tracy Martinez said, Alvarez’s vast musical experience greatly improves the quality and musicianship of the band’s trumpet section
Colonel Peter Baumgarten, commanding officer, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of El Paso, Texas, left, thanks retired Gen. Joseph Hoar, former commanding officer of the regiment, and a native of Boston, for attending the regiment’s 100-year anniversary ceremony as the guest of honor aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 24, 2014. Gen. Hoar commanded of the regiment in 1979 through 1981. His personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with combat “V” and gold star, and the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star. - Colonel Peter Baumgarten, commanding officer, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of El Paso, Texas, left, thanks retired Gen. Joseph Hoar, former commanding officer of the regiment, and a native of Boston, for attending the regiment’s 100-year anniversary ceremony as the guest of honor aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 24, 2014. Gen. Hoar commanded of the regiment in 1979 through 1981. His personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with combat “V” and gold star, and the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star.
Lance Cpl. Gilbert McCune, right, team leader, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and Pfc. Dakota Newcomer, rifleman, prepare to move to their next objective during a live-fire exercise at Range 410A at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Jan. 19, 2014. The battalion conducted platoon attacks at the range for the first event of their Integrated Training Exercise. ITX is a 30-day training evolution to prepare them for their upcoming combat deployment. The platoon attacks consisted of an assault on three entrenched positions with mortar and machine gun fire.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan / released) - Lance Cpl. Gilbert McCune, right, team leader, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and Pfc. Dakota Newcomer, rifleman, prepare to move to their next objective during a live-fire exercise at Range 410A at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Jan. 19, 2014. The battalion conducted platoon attacks at the range for the first event of their Integrated Training Exercise. ITX is a 30-day training evolution to prepare them for their upcoming combat deployment. The platoon attacks consisted of an assault on three entrenched positions with mortar and machine gun fire. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan / released)
Sergeant Charles Swope, assistant team leader, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, earned his Masters of Business Administration, completing part of his degree while on his two deployments to Afghanistan. Swope, a native of Coral Springs, Fla., said the hardest part of completing his course load was dealing with the stress of being in a combat zone while still performing in his classes. He will attend his commencement ceremony May 2014. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. James Gulliver/Released) - Sergeant Charles Swope, assistant team leader, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, earned his Masters of Business Administration, completing part of his degree while on his two deployments to Afghanistan. Swope, a native of Coral Springs, Fla., said the hardest part of completing his course load was dealing with the stress of being in a combat zone while still performing in his classes. He will attend his commencement ceremony May 2014. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. James Gulliver/Released)
Sergeant Misha Nassiri, ammunition technician, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, won her first professional mixed martial arts fight Jan. 18, 2014 at Valley Center, Calif. Nassiri, a native of San Diego, won the match by technical knockout in the first 20 seconds of round one. - Sergeant Misha Nassiri, ammunition technician, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, won her first professional mixed martial arts fight Jan. 18, 2014 at Valley Center, Calif. Nassiri, a native of San Diego, won the match by technical knockout in the first 20 seconds of round one.
Lance Cpl. Hayden Parker, rifleman, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and a native of Florence, Ariz., provides security for his fire team during an Urban Operations exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 9, 2014. The training area tested the Marines’ knowledge and skills on operations in austere conditions. The range portrayed how an urban battlefield may look in a combat environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Moore/Released) - Lance Cpl. Hayden Parker, rifleman, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and a native of Florence, Ariz., provides security for his fire team during an Urban Operations exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 9, 2014. The training area tested the Marines’ knowledge and skills on operations in austere conditions. The range portrayed how an urban battlefield may look in a combat environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Moore/Released)