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Marines with Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, fire an M777 Howitzer¬ during the opening day of live-fire operations for Steel Knight at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, on Dec. 10, 2015. The tough, realistic training is intended to develop combat skills necessary to operate as the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines with Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, fire an M777 Howitzer¬ during the opening day of live-fire operations for Steel Knight at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, on Dec. 10, 2015. The tough, realistic training is intended to develop combat skills necessary to operate as the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force.

1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment infantrymen tactically move from building to building in a simulated combat zone during Exercise Steel Knight 2016 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 4, 2015. 1st Marine Division has conducted Steel Knight for the past three years, making this the fourth iteration of the exercise. Steel Knight will test I Marine Expeditionary Force’s amphibious capabilities through realistic, scenario-driven training. - 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment infantrymen tactically move from building to building in a simulated combat zone during Exercise Steel Knight 2016 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 4, 2015. 1st Marine Division has conducted Steel Knight for the past three years, making this the fourth iteration of the exercise. Steel Knight will test I Marine Expeditionary Force’s amphibious capabilities through realistic, scenario-driven training.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Christian Reyes, a shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon gunner with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, scans the surrounding environment for possible threats during a mission readiness exercise at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Nov. 24, 2015. The Marines conducted the exercise to prepare for potential missions in the Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Owen Kimbrel / Released) - U.S. Marine Cpl. Christian Reyes, a shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon gunner with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, scans the surrounding environment for possible threats during a mission readiness exercise at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Nov. 24, 2015. The Marines conducted the exercise to prepare for potential missions in the Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Owen Kimbrel / Released)

Staff Sgt. Alexander Panos, a trombone player with the 1st Marine Division Band, rehearses alongside his fellow Marines aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Nov. 23, 2015. Panos was recognized as the Marine Corps Musician of the Year Award for 2015. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Will Perkins/ RELEASED) - Staff Sgt. Alexander Panos, a trombone player with the 1st Marine Division Band, rehearses alongside his fellow Marines aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Nov. 23, 2015. Panos was recognized as the Marine Corps Musician of the Year Award for 2015. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Will Perkins/ RELEASED)

Marines with 1st Marine Division take part in a Combined Armed Staff Trainer exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 17, 2015, in preparation for Exercise Steel Knight 2016. The CAST exercise was a division-level evolution, which allowed Marines to maintain designated skillsets in support of a simulated, large-scale operation.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED) - Marines with 1st Marine Division take part in a Combined Armed Staff Trainer exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 17, 2015, in preparation for Exercise Steel Knight 2016. The CAST exercise was a division-level evolution, which allowed Marines to maintain designated skillsets in support of a simulated, large-scale operation.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED)

Marines assigned to Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division provide security during the 5/11 Command Post Exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 18, 2015. The CPX provided an opportunity for the Marines to refresh their skillsets in preparation for exercise Steel Knight 2016. - Marines assigned to Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division provide security during the 5/11 Command Post Exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 18, 2015. The CPX provided an opportunity for the Marines to refresh their skillsets in preparation for exercise Steel Knight 2016.

Marines and Sailors assigned to Company A, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, celebrate the Marine Corps’ 240th birthday aboard Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., Nov. 10, 2015. The Marines and Sailors celebrated the birthday as a culminating event to the 18-day field operation. - Marines and Sailors assigned to Company A, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, celebrate the Marine Corps’ 240th birthday aboard Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., Nov. 10, 2015. The Marines and Sailors celebrated the birthday as a culminating event to the 18-day field operation.

U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, the ground combat element of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, present the colors during a ceremony honoring members of their regiment who gave their lives during the Vietnam War. During the ceremony, plaques bearing the names of the fallen were dedicated in their honor at the Camp Horno Memorial Garden aboard Camp Pendleton. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paris Capers/ Released) - U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, the ground combat element of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, present the colors during a ceremony honoring members of their regiment who gave their lives during the Vietnam War. During the ceremony, plaques bearing the names of the fallen were dedicated in their honor at the Camp Horno Memorial Garden aboard Camp Pendleton. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paris Capers/ Released)

Corporal Brian Williams, the designated driver for the commanding general, 1st Marine Division, and wide receiver for the Headquarters Battalion Wolverines. While Williams is dedicated to his team, his duties as a Marine will always come first aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. The Atlanta native ties his life of wearing shoulder pads to his desire to wear his Eagle, Globe and Anchor. (Official Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Will Perkins) - Corporal Brian Williams, the designated driver for the commanding general, 1st Marine Division, and wide receiver for the Headquarters Battalion Wolverines. While Williams is dedicated to his team, his duties as a Marine will always come first aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. The Atlanta native ties his life of wearing shoulder pads to his desire to wear his Eagle, Globe and Anchor. (Official Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Will Perkins)

U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force--Crisis Response--Central Command, rush with their weapons system as they conduct live-fire training on the new M252A2 81mm mortar system at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 24, 2015. The training allowed the Marines, who are charged with providing security of Al Asad, an opportunity to hone their tactics, techniques and procedures in employment of the system, further reinforcing their ability to provide protection to their coalition and Iraqi Security Force partners as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s building partner capacity mission. - U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force--Crisis Response--Central Command, rush with their weapons system as they conduct live-fire training on the new M252A2 81mm mortar system at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 24, 2015. The training allowed the Marines, who are charged with providing security of Al Asad, an opportunity to hone their tactics, techniques and procedures in employment of the system, further reinforcing their ability to provide protection to their coalition and Iraqi Security Force partners as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s building partner capacity mission.