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Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division rush through a door after detonating a breaching charge at Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 26, 2016. The Marines conducted live-fire training allowing them the opportunity to work with breaching charges and familiarizing them with the capabilities of each charge. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Bradley J. Morrow) - Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division rush through a door after detonating a breaching charge at Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 26, 2016. The Marines conducted live-fire training allowing them the opportunity to work with breaching charges and familiarizing them with the capabilities of each charge. (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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A field radio operator assigned to the Western Army Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self Defense Force, relays orders to his squad, during a live-fire platoon level assault during Exercise Iron Fist 2016 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Feb. 9, 2016. Iron Fist is an annual, bi-lateral training exercise between the Japan Ground Self Defense Force and Marines to strengthen warfighting capabilities in ship to shore operations. - A field radio operator assigned to the Western Army Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self Defense Force, relays orders to his squad, during a live-fire platoon level assault during Exercise Iron Fist 2016 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Feb. 9, 2016. Iron Fist is an annual, bi-lateral training exercise between the Japan Ground Self Defense Force and Marines to strengthen warfighting capabilities in ship to shore operations.

One Team, One Fight: 1/4, JGSDF take part in Iron Fist

For years, Marines and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force have come together to build upon their storied relationship as allies through Exercise Iron Fist. The exercise requires Marines at all levels to effectively work with a partnered nation to complete tasks and missions.Marines and Sailors assigned to 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st

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Retired Marine Sgt. Maj. Martin Vasquez (left) and Maj. Gen. Daniel J. O’Donohue, commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, attach campaign streamers to the division colors during a Battle Colors Rededication Ceremony in honor of the division’s 75th anniversary, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 4, 2016. Veteran and active duty Marines and Sailors who served in the division over the years participated in the ceremony, celebrating the oldest, largest, and most decorated division in the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Will Perkins) - Retired Marine Sgt. Maj. Martin Vasquez (left) and Maj. Gen. Daniel J. O’Donohue, commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, attach campaign streamers to the division colors during a Battle Colors Rededication Ceremony in honor of the division’s 75th anniversary, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 4, 2016. Veteran and active duty Marines and Sailors who served in the division over the years participated in the ceremony, celebrating the oldest, largest, and most decorated division in the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Will Perkins)

1st Marine Division Celebrates 75th Anniversary

Marines and Sailors gathered in front of 1st Marine Division’s historic, “White House,” which serves as the unit’s headquarters building, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the oldest, largest, and most decorated division in the Marine Corps, Feb. 4, 2016.Retired and veteran Marines and Sailors, some members of the 1st Marine Division

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines with Company A., 3rd Assault Amphibious Battalion conduct maintenance on an Assault Amphibious Vehicle engine at Camp Pendleton, Feb. 2, 2016. Marines from 3rd AAB supported 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Division and 1st Bn, 1st Mar. Div. infantry battalions as they conducted raid drills for Expeditionary Operations Training Group and their Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation. “We are being mechanics, changing engines, changing transmissions and troubleshooting issues so we can get the infantry units back in the fight with the full power of their AAVs,” said Staff Sgt. Nicholas R. Faltynski, recovery chief for Company A., 3rd AAB. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin E. Bowles) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines with Company A., 3rd Assault Amphibious Battalion conduct maintenance on an Assault Amphibious Vehicle engine at Camp Pendleton, Feb. 2, 2016. Marines from 3rd AAB supported 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Division and 1st Bn, 1st Mar. Div. infantry battalions as they conducted raid drills for Expeditionary Operations Training Group and their Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation. “We are being mechanics, changing engines, changing transmissions and troubleshooting issues so we can get the infantry units back in the fight with the full power of their AAVs,” said Staff Sgt. Nicholas R. Faltynski, recovery chief for Company A., 3rd AAB. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Justin E. Bowles)

3rd Assault Amphibious Battalion Support EOTG and MCCRE Operations

The smell of oil and engine exhaust emit from two adjacent Assault Amphibious Vehicles’ engines, as Marines in oil-splattered jumpsuits work tirelessly to ensure the engines are in good order. A sergeant operates a crane atop an Assault Amphibious Vehicle as other Marines direct him on when and where to lift the broken engine. The sergeant sets the

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