Lt. Col. Lance Jackola, the commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, presents Mayor Keith Curry with a plaque, thanking him and the community for the continued support of the battalion during a meeting here, Nov. 26, 2013. The community is celebrating its 10-year anniversary of adopting the battalion. In addition to homecoming events, mess nights, fund raisers and care packages, the community supports families visiting wounded Marines by helping with travel costs, hotel accommodations and meals. - Lt. Col. Lance Jackola, the commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, presents Mayor Keith Curry with a plaque, thanking him and the community for the continued support of the battalion during a meeting here, Nov. 26, 2013. The community is celebrating its 10-year anniversary of adopting the battalion. In addition to homecoming events, mess nights, fund raisers and care packages, the community supports families visiting wounded Marines by helping with travel costs, hotel accommodations and meals.

Marines serving with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, deploy concertina while conducting site security training here, Oct. 9, 2013. The training gave Marines a chance to refine their skills in setting up and maintaining a fortified position. The training was designed to prepare the Marines for their upcoming deployment to the Middle East where they will provide embassy security. - Marines serving with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, deploy concertina while conducting site security training here, Oct. 9, 2013. The training gave Marines a chance to refine their skills in setting up and maintaining a fortified position. The training was designed to prepare the Marines for their upcoming deployment to the Middle East where they will provide embassy security.

Lance Cpl. Oscar Kush, mortarman, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of Chicago, demonstrates a knee strike during a Mixed Martial Arts class in Oceanside, Calif., Oct. 3, 2013. Kush's experience in the Marine Corps helps prepare him mentally for the challenges of being an MMA fighter. Kush's training has paid off with two wins and zero losses. - Lance Cpl. Oscar Kush, mortarman, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of Chicago, demonstrates a knee strike during a Mixed Martial Arts class in Oceanside, Calif., Oct. 3, 2013. Kush's experience in the Marine Corps helps prepare him mentally for the challenges of being an MMA fighter. Kush's training has paid off with two wins and zero losses.

Staff Sgt. Randy Coole, 1st Platoon sergeant, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, rinses his face after enduring a nonlethal weapons training course here where he was sprayed with pepper spray, Oct. 1, 2013. The Marines with Delta Company are preparing for a deployment to the Middle East where they’ll provide embassy security. Coole is a native of Oakley, Mich. - Staff Sgt. Randy Coole, 1st Platoon sergeant, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, rinses his face after enduring a nonlethal weapons training course here where he was sprayed with pepper spray, Oct. 1, 2013. The Marines with Delta Company are preparing for a deployment to the Middle East where they’ll provide embassy security. Coole is a native of Oakley, Mich.

A Marine with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, returns for an accountability formation as part of an air contingency battalion recall rehearsal aboard the Camp Horno parade deck here, Sept. 26, 2013. The drill required Marines to arrive in two hours at the parade deck and get accountability of their gear. The Marines of First of the First make up the air contingency battalion for the next 30 days and are ready to deploy anywhere in the world at anytime. - A Marine with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, returns for an accountability formation as part of an air contingency battalion recall rehearsal aboard the Camp Horno parade deck here, Sept. 26, 2013. The drill required Marines to arrive in two hours at the parade deck and get accountability of their gear. The Marines of First of the First make up the air contingency battalion for the next 30 days and are ready to deploy anywhere in the world at anytime.

Sergeant Charles Lopez (center), squad leader, 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, served with First of the First for eight years, his entire career. He's deployed in support of combat operations to Fallujah, Iraq, twice, once on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and most recently deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan, during 2011Lopez had the choice to transition to another duty station when he re-enlisted during 2009, but he chose to stay with First of the First so he can sharpen his skills as an infantry rifleman and an antitank missileman. Lopez is a native of San Antonio. - Sergeant Charles Lopez (center), squad leader, 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, served with First of the First for eight years, his entire career. He's deployed in support of combat operations to Fallujah, Iraq, twice, once on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and most recently deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan, during 2011Lopez had the choice to transition to another duty station when he re-enlisted during 2009, but he chose to stay with First of the First so he can sharpen his skills as an infantry rifleman and an antitank missileman. Lopez is a native of San Antonio.

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Shults, independent duty corpsman, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of Mt. Sterling, Ky., hugs his son, Lucas, 3, before leaving for a deployment at the parade deck at Camp Horno here, Sept. 14, 2013. Marines with the company will provide site security at an embassy in the Middle East. The servicemembers focused on nonlethal training for scenarios similar to rioting civilians prior to their deployment. - Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Shults, independent duty corpsman, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of Mt. Sterling, Ky., hugs his son, Lucas, 3, before leaving for a deployment at the parade deck at Camp Horno here, Sept. 14, 2013. Marines with the company will provide site security at an embassy in the Middle East. The servicemembers focused on nonlethal training for scenarios similar to rioting civilians prior to their deployment.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Lance Cpl. Ben Aloia, a rifleman with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of Denver, changes a barrel on an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon during a live-fire exercise on Range 222 here, Sept. 5, 2013. The Alpha Co. Marines fired Mk-19 grenade launchers, .50 caliber machine guns, SAWs and M240B medium machine guns Sept. 4 and 5 to crosstrain and refine their skills with each weapon system. Throughout the two days of shooting, the Marines were evaluated as they engaged multiple targets with each weapon system at ranges of 400 to 1,200 meters away. - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Lance Cpl. Ben Aloia, a rifleman with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of Denver, changes a barrel on an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon during a live-fire exercise on Range 222 here, Sept. 5, 2013. The Alpha Co. Marines fired Mk-19 grenade launchers, .50 caliber machine guns, SAWs and M240B medium machine guns Sept. 4 and 5 to crosstrain and refine their skills with each weapon system. Throughout the two days of shooting, the Marines were evaluated as they engaged multiple targets with each weapon system at ranges of 400 to 1,200 meters away.

Marines serving with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, hike an 11-mile route with a full combat load to their next training destination here, April 2, 2013. The hike began at 6:30 a.m. and finished approximately four hours later. The company conducts hikes weekly to build strength, confidence and unit-readiness. Hikes also give small-unit leaders an opportunity to lead Marines and build camaraderie. - Marines serving with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, hike an 11-mile route with a full combat load to their next training destination here, April 2, 2013. The hike began at 6:30 a.m. and finished approximately four hours later. The company conducts hikes weekly to build strength, confidence and unit-readiness. Hikes also give small-unit leaders an opportunity to lead Marines and build camaraderie.