MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Sergeant Maj. Clifford Wiggins, the former sergeant major of 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, hands a noncommissioned officer sword to Lt. Col. William Blanchard, the commanding officer of 3rd AABn., as Sgt. Maj. Michael P. Woods (left) takes over as battalion sergeant major during a relief and appointment ceremony here, Aug. 23, 2013. Relief and appointment ceremonies are one of the many traditions upheld in the Marine Corps today, which involves the passing of the noncommissioned officer sword from the outgoing sergeant major to the oncoming. The passing of the sword signifies the transfer of responsibility and entails the transfer of total accountability and authority, from one senior enlisted Marine to another. The sword thus continues as the personification of military tradition and is entrusted to those most responsible for maintaining it. - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Sergeant Maj. Clifford Wiggins, the former sergeant major of 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, hands a noncommissioned officer sword to Lt. Col. William Blanchard, the commanding officer of 3rd AABn., as Sgt. Maj. Michael P. Woods (left) takes over as battalion sergeant major during a relief and appointment ceremony here, Aug. 23, 2013. Relief and appointment ceremonies are one of the many traditions upheld in the Marine Corps today, which involves the passing of the noncommissioned officer sword from the outgoing sergeant major to the oncoming. The passing of the sword signifies the transfer of responsibility and entails the transfer of total accountability and authority, from one senior enlisted Marine to another. The sword thus continues as the personification of military tradition and is entrusted to those most responsible for maintaining it.
Marines serving with Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, load 25 mm rounds into the M242 Bushmaster machine gun during a training exercise here, Aug. 20, 2013. The purpose of the exercise was to cross train the riflemen serving with 1st LAR on the weapons systems of the light armored vehicle. The riflemen must know how to operate and maintain the light armored vehicles' weapons systems in preparation for future combat operations. - Marines serving with Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, load 25 mm rounds into the M242 Bushmaster machine gun during a training exercise here, Aug. 20, 2013. The purpose of the exercise was to cross train the riflemen serving with 1st LAR on the weapons systems of the light armored vehicle. The riflemen must know how to operate and maintain the light armored vehicles' weapons systems in preparation for future combat operations.
A gun grew serving with India Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, provided preventative maintenance to an M777 Lightweight Howitzer at the 11th Marines gun park here, Aug. 14, 2013. The field artillery Marines prepped the howitzer for the upcoming regimental fire exercise Aug. 19 through 28. - A gun grew serving with India Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, provided preventative maintenance to an M777 Lightweight Howitzer at the 11th Marines gun park here, Aug. 14, 2013. The field artillery Marines prepped the howitzer for the upcoming regimental fire exercise Aug. 19 through 28.
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Corporal William S. Hall, combat engineer, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, performs a situp during a combat conditioning exercise as part of the Martial Arts Instructor Course here, July 30, 2013. Hall, a native of Paducah, Ky., completed situps, pushups, and burpees with teammates while an individual Marine crawled and jumped around a circuit course. Teammates relied on each other to quickly complete the circuit course and progress through the exercise.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Corporal William S. Hall, combat engineer, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, performs a situp during a combat conditioning exercise as part of the Martial Arts Instructor Course here, July 30, 2013. Hall, a native of Paducah, Ky., completed situps, pushups, and burpees with teammates while an individual Marine crawled and jumped around a circuit course. Teammates relied on each other to quickly complete the circuit course and progress through the exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)
Corporal Genadiy Moskalenko, motor transportation operator, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, wears his newly presented French Fourragere on his left shoulder after a ceremony aboard the Camp San Mateo parade deck, Aug. 1, 2013. The regiment is one of two Marine Corps regiments authorized to wear the fourragere for heroic actions during World War I. The ceremony emphasized the Marines' commitment to upholding the rich history of the Fighting Fifth. - Corporal Genadiy Moskalenko, motor transportation operator, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, wears his newly presented French Fourragere on his left shoulder after a ceremony aboard the Camp San Mateo parade deck, Aug. 1, 2013. The regiment is one of two Marine Corps regiments authorized to wear the fourragere for heroic actions during World War I. The ceremony emphasized the Marines' commitment to upholding the rich history of the Fighting Fifth.
Major Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, commanding general, 1st Marine Division, congratulates Sgt. Matthew T. Woodall, former squad leader, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, after awarding him the Silver Star Medal during an award ceremony at the Camp San Mateo parade deck here, Aug. 2, 2013. Woodall, a native of Paducah, Ky., earned the nation's third highest military award for valor for his actions in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A platoon-sized enemy force attacked Woodall and his Marines from several fortified positions during a security patrol mission in the Sangin district of Helmand, July 10 through 11, 2011. His daring actions ultimately defeated the enemy attack, killing four insurgents and wounding many others. - Major Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, commanding general, 1st Marine Division, congratulates Sgt. Matthew T. Woodall, former squad leader, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, after awarding him the Silver Star Medal during an award ceremony at the Camp San Mateo parade deck here, Aug. 2, 2013. Woodall, a native of Paducah, Ky., earned the nation's third highest military award for valor for his actions in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A platoon-sized enemy force attacked Woodall and his Marines from several fortified positions during a security patrol mission in the Sangin district of Helmand, July 10 through 11, 2011. His daring actions ultimately defeated the enemy attack, killing four insurgents and wounding many others.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Matthew Carpenter, the infantry weapons officer with Regimental Combat Team 7, has deployed 12 times including five to Iraq and two to Afghanistan. The Perry County, Penn., native has been promoted nine times in his 24 years in the Marine Corps and has received three medals with a combat valor distinguishing device. - Chief Warrant Officer 4 Matthew Carpenter, the infantry weapons officer with Regimental Combat Team 7, has deployed 12 times including five to Iraq and two to Afghanistan. The Perry County, Penn., native has been promoted nine times in his 24 years in the Marine Corps and has received three medals with a combat valor distinguishing device.
SANGIN DISTRICT, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Cpl. Matthew T. Woodall, a squad leader for 3rd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, moves between the elements of his squad during Operation Zapoonki Guzaroona in the Upper Sangin Valley, Afghanistan, May 23. Woodall was made the squad leader of 3rd squad when his squad leader was injured the first day of the operation. This forced Woodall to assume the role of squad leader and make critical decisions that directly affected and ensured his Marines safety. Woodall, 26, is from Paducah, Ky., and a 2003 graduate of Heath High School. - SANGIN DISTRICT, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Cpl. Matthew T. Woodall, a squad leader for 3rd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, moves between the elements of his squad during Operation Zapoonki Guzaroona in the Upper Sangin Valley, Afghanistan, May 23. Woodall was made the squad leader of 3rd squad when his squad leader was injured the first day of the operation. This forced Woodall to assume the role of squad leader and make critical decisions that directly affected and ensured his Marines safety. Woodall, 26, is from Paducah, Ky., and a 2003 graduate of Heath High School.
Col. A. E. "Sparky" Renforth, Regimental Combat Team 7 commanding officer, talks to Marines and coalition forces during the casing of the colors ceremony here, July 31, 2013. "I say all the time, 'It's amazing what you can do when you don't care who gets the credit,'" Renforth said. "That's what our Marines have lived by, and they all know that they made a difference." - Col. A. E. "Sparky" Renforth, Regimental Combat Team 7 commanding officer, talks to Marines and coalition forces during the casing of the colors ceremony here, July 31, 2013. "I say all the time, 'It's amazing what you can do when you don't care who gets the credit,'" Renforth said. "That's what our Marines have lived by, and they all know that they made a difference."
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Lance Cpl. Keon Maluia, rifleman, 1st Combined Anti-Armor Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and native of Inglewood, Calif., patrols around his team’s vehicle during a simulated convoy in the Combat Convoy Simulator here, July 25, 2013. The CCS provides an immersive training environment for both convoy operations training and command and control procedures for vehicle and convoy commanders in tactical scenarios. The CCS places Marines in a realistic environment and allows for repetition, review and critique while saving time, maintenance, ammunition, weapons and range facilities. - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Lance Cpl. Keon Maluia, rifleman, 1st Combined Anti-Armor Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and native of Inglewood, Calif., patrols around his team’s vehicle during a simulated convoy in the Combat Convoy Simulator here, July 25, 2013. The CCS provides an immersive training environment for both convoy operations training and command and control procedures for vehicle and convoy commanders in tactical scenarios. The CCS places Marines in a realistic environment and allows for repetition, review and critique while saving time, maintenance, ammunition, weapons and range facilities.