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.
Corporal Christian B. Swanholm, a field artillery cannoneer with 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, embraces his crying wife after a seven-month deployment aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 23, 2015. Marines arrived from the early hours of the morning until the late hours of the night to greet their family and friends. - Corporal Christian B. Swanholm, a field artillery cannoneer with 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, embraces his crying wife after a seven-month deployment aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 23, 2015. Marines arrived from the early hours of the morning until the late hours of the night to greet their family and friends.
Sergeant Michael V. Hall II, a field radio operator with 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, listens to remarks from his commanding officer during his Purple Heart ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 11. Hall sustained wounds in Afghanistan while serving with Georgia Liaison Team 10 in November 2013. - Sergeant Michael V. Hall II, a field radio operator with 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, listens to remarks from his commanding officer during his Purple Heart ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 11. Hall sustained wounds in Afghanistan while serving with Georgia Liaison Team 10 in November 2013.
Marines with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, patrol during a squad tactics exercises aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 9, 2014. The exercise gave assualtmen, mortarmen and machine-gunners an opportunity to coordinate with each other while assaulting through enemy positions during a large-scale raid. 1st Bn., 1st Marines, conducted this training in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Okinawa, Japan. - Marines with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, patrol during a squad tactics exercises aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 9, 2014. The exercise gave assualtmen, mortarmen and machine-gunners an opportunity to coordinate with each other while assaulting through enemy positions during a large-scale raid. 1st Bn., 1st Marines, conducted this training in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Okinawa, Japan.
1st Lt. Kenneth Conover, executive officer, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, received the Silver Star Medal from Lt. Gen. John Toolan, commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, during an award ceremony held at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 18, 2014. Conover, a Native of Fallbrook, Calif., was recognized for his heroic actions in Afghanistan where he held off multiple attacks over a six-day period. Conover saved the lives of multiple Marines during the operation. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Moore/released) - 1st Lt. Kenneth Conover, executive officer, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, received the Silver Star Medal from Lt. Gen. John Toolan, commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, during an award ceremony held at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 18, 2014. Conover, a Native of Fallbrook, Calif., was recognized for his heroic actions in Afghanistan where he held off multiple attacks over a six-day period. Conover saved the lives of multiple Marines during the operation. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Moore/released)
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.