MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Lance Cpl. Ismael E. Ortega, combat photographer, Headquarters and Service Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, bounds over a log at the obstacle course at Camp Margarita here, July 26, 2013. Ortega, a native of El Paso, Texas, deployed to Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Marines with Headquarters Battalion often attach to combat arms units for deployments to Afghanistan, so they must maintain a high state of physical readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Lance Cpl. Ismael E. Ortega, combat photographer, Headquarters and Service Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, bounds over a log at the obstacle course at Camp Margarita here, July 26, 2013. Ortega, a native of El Paso, Texas, deployed to Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Marines with Headquarters Battalion often attach to combat arms units for deployments to Afghanistan, so they must maintain a high state of physical readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)
Marines and sailors of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, exit from an assault amphibious vehicle in order to treat and evacuate a mock casualty during a mechanized night raid at Combat Town 25 here, July 18, 2013. Echo Co. trained with 3rd Assault Amphibian Bn., and Special Operations and Training Group for the raid, to prepare the unit for an upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. - Marines and sailors of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, exit from an assault amphibious vehicle in order to treat and evacuate a mock casualty during a mechanized night raid at Combat Town 25 here, July 18, 2013. Echo Co. trained with 3rd Assault Amphibian Bn., and Special Operations and Training Group for the raid, to prepare the unit for an upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year.
Nicole Beeson, the 1st Marine Division sexual assault response coordinator, and Gunnery Sgt. Maria Rodriguez, the lead uniformed victim advocate for 1st Marine Division, speak to Marines about sexual assault prevention at the command post here July 23, 2013. Beeson, a native of Country Club Hills, Ill., and Rodriguez, a native of Hawthorne, Calif., speak to Marines regularly to ensure they know how to prevent sexual assault and who they can seek help from in case they become a victim. - Nicole Beeson, the 1st Marine Division sexual assault response coordinator, and Gunnery Sgt. Maria Rodriguez, the lead uniformed victim advocate for 1st Marine Division, speak to Marines about sexual assault prevention at the command post here July 23, 2013. Beeson, a native of Country Club Hills, Ill., and Rodriguez, a native of Hawthorne, Calif., speak to Marines regularly to ensure they know how to prevent sexual assault and who they can seek help from in case they become a victim.
Sergeant Richard Skates, a 25-year-old native of O'Fallon, Mo., and an amphibious assault vehicle crewman serving with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, standing with his wife, Jacqueline Skates, a 22-year-old native of O'Fallon, Mo., helped save the lives of four when he rushed to their rescue after their vehicle crashed on Interstate Highway 5, July 9, 2013. The Skates, along with their 2-month-old son, were traveling on an exit ramp from state Route 78 to Interstate Highway 5 when he selflessly rushed to save a family from an overturned car that was involved in a crash. - Sergeant Richard Skates, a 25-year-old native of O'Fallon, Mo., and an amphibious assault vehicle crewman serving with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, standing with his wife, Jacqueline Skates, a 22-year-old native of O'Fallon, Mo., helped save the lives of four when he rushed to their rescue after their vehicle crashed on Interstate Highway 5, July 9, 2013. The Skates, along with their 2-month-old son, were traveling on an exit ramp from state Route 78 to Interstate Highway 5 when he selflessly rushed to save a family from an overturned car that was involved in a crash.
Staff Sgt. Matthew Reep, the assault chief for Division Schools, 1st Marine Division, prepares for his chest workout at the Camp Margarita gym here, July 17, 2013. Standing at 5 feet 2 inches, the 165-pound native of Lexington, S.C., currently holds three world records in powerlifting, which he established during a tournament in Las Vegas. - Staff Sgt. Matthew Reep, the assault chief for Division Schools, 1st Marine Division, prepares for his chest workout at the Camp Margarita gym here, July 17, 2013. Standing at 5 feet 2 inches, the 165-pound native of Lexington, S.C., currently holds three world records in powerlifting, which he established during a tournament in Las Vegas.
From left to right, Cpl. Mark Bradley, Sgt. Michael Henderson, Sgt. Jay Hewlett and Cpl. Alex Louser, all serving with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, practice using the scope on the M107 Special Application Scoped Rifle during a weeklong SASR training course here, July 9, 2013. Upon completion of the course, they will train their fellow Marines on the employment of the rifle. - From left to right, Cpl. Mark Bradley, Sgt. Michael Henderson, Sgt. Jay Hewlett and Cpl. Alex Louser, all serving with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, practice using the scope on the M107 Special Application Scoped Rifle during a weeklong SASR training course here, July 9, 2013. Upon completion of the course, they will train their fellow Marines on the employment of the rifle.
Sergeant Thomas Reed, a training noncommissioned officer serving with Truck Company Alpha, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, disassembles a Mk-19 grenade launcher during the Basic Mk-19 Heavy Machine Gun Course here, June 11, 2013. Throughout the course, support Marines were instructed by experienced machine gunners who are combat veterans. The course tested Marines on the weapon nomenclature, weapon conditions, the weapon's range, different types of ammunition and range cards. The Marines were ultimately evaluated on a live-fire range. - Sergeant Thomas Reed, a training noncommissioned officer serving with Truck Company Alpha, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, disassembles a Mk-19 grenade launcher during the Basic Mk-19 Heavy Machine Gun Course here, June 11, 2013. Throughout the course, support Marines were instructed by experienced machine gunners who are combat veterans. The course tested Marines on the weapon nomenclature, weapon conditions, the weapon's range, different types of ammunition and range cards. The Marines were ultimately evaluated on a live-fire range.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Bennett, a Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman in training serving with Alpha Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, shows he has what it takes to become a SARC in the U.S. Navy. Bennett, 29, from Carrollton, Texas, has completed two of the five courses needed to become a SARC and said he can't wait to join the ranks of this elite group of sailors. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Bennett, a Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman in training serving with Alpha Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, shows he has what it takes to become a SARC in the U.S. Navy. Bennett, 29, from Carrollton, Texas, has completed two of the five courses needed to become a SARC and said he can't wait to join the ranks of this elite group of sailors.
Educational posters are taped to a wall by U.S. Army Soldiers with Georgia Agricultural Development Team 3, Regimental Combat Team 7, conducting veterinary classes for staff members of the directorate of agricultural, irrigation and livestock in Kajaki, Afghanistan, April 24, 2013. The classes included treating parasites, deworming and aiding livestock with birthing problems. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kowshon Ye/Released) - Educational posters are taped to a wall by U.S. Army Soldiers with Georgia Agricultural Development Team 3, Regimental Combat Team 7, conducting veterinary classes for staff members of the directorate of agricultural, irrigation and livestock in Kajaki, Afghanistan, April 24, 2013. The classes included treating parasites, deworming and aiding livestock with birthing problems. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kowshon Ye/Released)
Lance Cpl. Timothy Pierce, 24, from Wallace, N.C., shakes hands with Capt. Todd Richardson, the Echo Company company commander with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, after being awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his decisive thinking and quick response to a car accident. "It wasn't a duty," explained Pierce. "It was just decent human nature and the right thing to do." - Lance Cpl. Timothy Pierce, 24, from Wallace, N.C., shakes hands with Capt. Todd Richardson, the Echo Company company commander with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, after being awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his decisive thinking and quick response to a car accident. "It wasn't a duty," explained Pierce. "It was just decent human nature and the right thing to do."