Sergeant Major William T. Sowers receives a Marine non-commissioned officer’s sword as he takes over the role of 1st Marine Division Sergeant Major during a relief and appointment ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 12, 2015. Sowers most recently served as the sergeant major for the Marine Corps Training and Education Command in Quantico, Va. - Sergeant Major William T. Sowers receives a Marine non-commissioned officer’s sword as he takes over the role of 1st Marine Division Sergeant Major during a relief and appointment ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 12, 2015. Sowers most recently served as the sergeant major for the Marine Corps Training and Education Command in Quantico, Va.
U.S. Marines with Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, rehearse urban operation tactics aboard USS Rushmore at sea in the Pacific Ocean, June 1, 2015. BLT 3/1 constantly trains for the unknown in order to respond to the needs of the MEU while deployed. These drills keep the Marines in a constant state of combat readiness while at sea. - U.S. Marines with Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, rehearse urban operation tactics aboard USS Rushmore at sea in the Pacific Ocean, June 1, 2015. BLT 3/1 constantly trains for the unknown in order to respond to the needs of the MEU while deployed. These drills keep the Marines in a constant state of combat readiness while at sea.
U.S. Marine Cpl. Roman Fernandez, right, gets Vaseline applied to his face to compensate for glove friction in the hangar bay of the USS Essex (LHD 2) at sea in the Pacific Ocean, May 29, 2015. Fernandez is a team leader with Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Marines find unique ways to continue to maintain combat readiness during their seven-month deployment through the Pacific and Central Command areas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Elize McKelvey/released) - U.S. Marine Cpl. Roman Fernandez, right, gets Vaseline applied to his face to compensate for glove friction in the hangar bay of the USS Essex (LHD 2) at sea in the Pacific Ocean, May 29, 2015. Fernandez is a team leader with Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Marines find unique ways to continue to maintain combat readiness during their seven-month deployment through the Pacific and Central Command areas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Elize McKelvey/released)
Tony Horton, the creator the fitness program P90X, speaks to Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 9, 2015. Horton believes Marines need to focus on nutrition and a wide variety of exercises to be ready for any mission as may be directed. (U.S. Marine photo by Cpl. Will Perkins/RELEASED) - Tony Horton, the creator the fitness program P90X, speaks to Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 9, 2015. Horton believes Marines need to focus on nutrition and a wide variety of exercises to be ready for any mission as may be directed. (U.S. Marine photo by Cpl. Will Perkins/RELEASED)
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus speaks at a Navy Cross Presentation Ceremony in honor of the late Sgt. Rafael Peralta, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, June 8, 2015. Sgt. Rafael Peralta was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously after sacrificing his life by absorbing the blast of an enemy grenade and shielding fellow Marines only feet away while serving with Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division in Fallujah, Al Anbar province, Iraq, on Nov. 15, 2004. - Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus speaks at a Navy Cross Presentation Ceremony in honor of the late Sgt. Rafael Peralta, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, June 8, 2015. Sgt. Rafael Peralta was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously after sacrificing his life by absorbing the blast of an enemy grenade and shielding fellow Marines only feet away while serving with Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division in Fallujah, Al Anbar province, Iraq, on Nov. 15, 2004.
1st Marine Division Logo - 1st Marine Division Logo
A Marine with 1st Marine Division, 7th Marine Regiment participates in stalking training aboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 27, 2015. The training was the last event during Division School’s 6-week-long Pre-Scout Sniper Course. (Photo by LCpl. Danielle Rodrigues/Released) - A Marine with 1st Marine Division, 7th Marine Regiment participates in stalking training aboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 27, 2015. The training was the last event during Division School’s 6-week-long Pre-Scout Sniper Course. (Photo by LCpl. Danielle Rodrigues/Released)
Master Sgt. David Jarvis, a reconnaissance Marine with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, and Capt. Patrick Zuber, a company commander for 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, are awarded for winning the 7th Annual Recon Challenge aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 15, 2015. The Marines received this honor from Col. Christopher J. Williams, the commanding officer of School of Infantry-West, and Master Gunnery Sgt. Brian Yarolem, the operations chief for Reconnaissance Training Company and event coordinator. - Master Sgt. David Jarvis, a reconnaissance Marine with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, and Capt. Patrick Zuber, a company commander for 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, are awarded for winning the 7th Annual Recon Challenge aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 15, 2015. The Marines received this honor from Col. Christopher J. Williams, the commanding officer of School of Infantry-West, and Master Gunnery Sgt. Brian Yarolem, the operations chief for Reconnaissance Training Company and event coordinator.
PFC Michael Ainsworth, a mortarman with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, prepares to drop a mortar round during a combined-arms raid at Army National Training Center Fort Irwin, April 11, 2015. The raid was conducted by 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion as part of exercise Desert Scimitar 2015. - PFC Michael Ainsworth, a mortarman with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, prepares to drop a mortar round during a combined-arms raid at Army National Training Center Fort Irwin, April 11, 2015. The raid was conducted by 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion as part of exercise Desert Scimitar 2015.
Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment provide security in a simulated combat town during the culminating event of Division School’s Urban Leaders Course aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 22, 2015. The three-week course is designed to prepare Marines to lead in an urban environment. - Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment provide security in a simulated combat town during the culminating event of Division School’s Urban Leaders Course aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 22, 2015. The three-week course is designed to prepare Marines to lead in an urban environment.