News - Page 3

Retired Maj. Gen. James Myatt, now the president and CEO of the Marines’ Memorial Association, fires an M4A1 carbine during a shooting drill aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 19, 2016. Started in 1946, the MMA honors the sacrifices of members of the armed forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bradley J. Morrow) - Retired Maj. Gen. James Myatt, now the president and CEO of the Marines’ Memorial Association, fires an M4A1 carbine during a shooting drill aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 19, 2016. Started in 1946, the MMA honors the sacrifices of members of the armed forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bradley J. Morrow)

Marines' Memorial Association reconnects with modern generation of Marines

Members of the Marines’ Memorial Association visited Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, to reconnect with the current generation of Marines and see the advances in training and equipment aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 19, 2016.During their visit, members of the MMA participated with Marines in training exercises,

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Maj. Gen. Daniel O’Donohue, the 1st Marine Division commanding general, pins the winning squad members from 1st Marine Division’s Super Squad Competition aboard Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine, Palms, Calif., Aug. 15, 2016. Throughout the competition, the Marines faced various events that challenged them both mentally and physically. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Timothy Valero) - Maj. Gen. Daniel O’Donohue, the 1st Marine Division commanding general, pins the winning squad members from 1st Marine Division’s Super Squad Competition aboard Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine, Palms, Calif., Aug. 15, 2016. Throughout the competition, the Marines faced various events that challenged them both mentally and physically. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Timothy Valero)

1st Battalion 7th Marine Regiment ‘Super Squad’ awarded for excellence

Marines and sailors of Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment put their close quarter training on hold to recognize the champions of 1st Marine Division’s Super Squad Competition aboard Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 15, 2016. The Super Squad Competition is a three day non-stop event that pins squads

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Marines and their family members position themselves behind cones during the helicopter gun run during a Jane Wayne Day event on Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 16, 2016. Pilots with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 shot rockets and ammunition at various targets from one UH-1Y Huey helicopter, two AH-1W Cobra helicopters and one AH-1Z Cobra helicopter. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Shellie Hall) - Marines and their family members position themselves behind cones during the helicopter gun run during a Jane Wayne Day event on Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 16, 2016. Pilots with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 shot rockets and ammunition at various targets from one UH-1Y Huey helicopter, two AH-1W Cobra helicopters and one AH-1Z Cobra helicopter. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Shellie Hall)

Not your typical Jane Wayne Day

Hundreds of Marines and their family members gather under tents as they patiently wait for the next “big show” to begin after seeing the power behind the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, the M777A2 Howitzer, and a crew-served weapons demonstration. As dust begins to swirl into the air and echoes of excitement ripple through the crowd, an

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Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division shield themselves behind a blast blanket as they detonate a water charge at Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 26, 2016. Marines from the battalion conducted a live-fire exercise to create a realistic training environment and familiarize them with improvised breaching charges. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Bradley J. Morrow) - Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division shield themselves behind a blast blanket as they detonate a water charge at Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 26, 2016. Marines from the battalion conducted a live-fire exercise to create a realistic training environment and familiarize them with improvised breaching charges. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Bradley J. Morrow)

1st Battalion, 5th Marines, conduct urban breaching at demolition range

A squad of Marines stood stacked behind a blast blanket, as they braced for the wave of energy sure to follow a breaching charge. Suddenly, the silence is shattered by a sergeant yelling to the Marines, “Begin slow count!”As the countdown begins, they squeeze in closer to each other.“3, 2, 1.” Instantly, the door is split down the middle, the blast

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The 2016 1st Marine Division Infantry Squad Competition medal. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by LCpl Timothy Valero) - The 2016 1st Marine Division Infantry Squad Competition medal. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by LCpl Timothy Valero)

Back for another round - 1st Marine Division Super Squad Competition

The Infantry Super Squad Competition has returned to 1st Marine Division and the training grounds of Marine Corps Camp Pendleton, Calif., for the second straight year after a 15 year hiatus due to the division’s high operational tempo. “The last time an order was written for the Super Squad Competition the Marine Corps was using completely

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Reconnoiter the Recon Challenge

Each year, reconnaissance Marines come together from across the country to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, to an event which is unique to the reconnaissance brotherhood and community. The Recon Challenge is a grueling team race which starts before sun rise with a two kilometer open water swim off the shore of San Onofre Beach,

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1st Marine Division Combat Camera developed a number of posters to promote the Protect What You Earned campaign as championed by Gen. Robert Neller, commandant of the Marine Corps, to get Marines talking about thoughtful decision-making. The commandant’s vision is to preserve the Corps’ combat readiness by ensuring individual Marines succeed in their careers and personal lives. - 1st Marine Division Combat Camera developed a number of posters to promote the Protect What You Earned campaign as championed by Gen. Robert Neller, commandant of the Marine Corps, to get Marines talking about thoughtful decision-making. The commandant’s vision is to preserve the Corps’ combat readiness by ensuring individual Marines succeed in their careers and personal lives.

Protect What You’ve Earned: 1st Marine Division localizes campaign

Force protection is one of the six warfighting functions common to Marine Corps planning for operations abroad, and it can be just as important to consider while in garrison.Marines with the 1st Marine Division are engaging and empowering leaders at all levels to take responsibility for their own well-being and that of those around them by

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Sergeant Edwin Lopez, a rifleman with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, poses for a portrait aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 7, 2016. Lopez said the Marine Corps provided the 25-year-old, San Marcos native to become a successful leader within the infantry community, deploying four separate times to places such as Okinawa and Afghanistan. - Sergeant Edwin Lopez, a rifleman with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, poses for a portrait aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 7, 2016. Lopez said the Marine Corps provided the 25-year-old, San Marcos native to become a successful leader within the infantry community, deploying four separate times to places such as Okinawa and Afghanistan.

San Marcos Marine molds young leaders

Sergeant Edwin Lopez, a native of San Marcos, California, fell into the latter category. He’d finished high school but felt he lacked direction.“At that time I had nothing going for me,” the San Marcos, California native said. “My buddy told me to go see a recruiter.”Shortly after his visit to the recruiting station, Lopez found himself immersed in

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Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Robert Park, a combat trauma management instructor with the 1st Marine Division Surgeon’s Office, poses for a portrait aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 7, 2016. Park teaches Sailors and Marines combat lifesaving skills and was recently selected as the I Marine Expeditionary Force Junior Sailor of the Year. - Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Robert Park, a combat trauma management instructor with the 1st Marine Division Surgeon’s Office, poses for a portrait aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 7, 2016. Park teaches Sailors and Marines combat lifesaving skills and was recently selected as the I Marine Expeditionary Force Junior Sailor of the Year.

Carrying on the torch

At a young age growing up in Dothan, Alabama, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Robert Park knew he wanted to join the military like so many in his family before him. During the summer of his junior year in high school, Park approached his parents and told them he didn’t want to remain in public school. His goal was to pursue the military and he wanted

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Marines refuel an Amphibious Assault Vehicle from a CH-53E Super Stallion during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation Feb. 25, 2016. The MCCRE evaluates the readiness of the Marines of Company A, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion prior to their deployment to Okinawa, Japan. Refueling from an aircraft is a unique capability for the AAV crew as it is not a commonly trained skill. The aircraft is from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Timothy Valero/ Released) - Marines refuel an Amphibious Assault Vehicle from a CH-53E Super Stallion during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation Feb. 25, 2016. The MCCRE evaluates the readiness of the Marines of Company A, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion prior to their deployment to Okinawa, Japan. Refueling from an aircraft is a unique capability for the AAV crew as it is not a commonly trained skill. The aircraft is from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Timothy Valero/ Released)

Marines take on the sea, shore, air

The fumes of diesel and oil surrounded Marines as they sat in the small, dimly lit hull of an Assault Amphibious Vehicle. The massive gate to the USS Essex’s (LHD 2) well deck slowly lowered, disappearing under the surface of the water. The AAV-7 jolted forward as the driver increased the speed as the end of the ramp approached. The Marines felt a

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