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Marines with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, move to the roof of a building to provide security during a live fire exercise on Range 210 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Dec. 6, 2013. The facility resembles an urban environment and is unique because its buildings’ walls are constructed of shock-absorbent concrete. Unlike a majority of urban training facilities, Marines are able to conduct live fire training versus firing blank ammunition. - Marines with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, move to the roof of a building to provide security during a live fire exercise on Range 210 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Dec. 6, 2013. The facility resembles an urban environment and is unique because its buildings’ walls are constructed of shock-absorbent concrete. Unlike a majority of urban training facilities, Marines are able to conduct live fire training versus firing blank ammunition.

Colonel Austin E. Renforth (left) and Col. Jay M. Bargeron salute during the pass and review portion of a change of command ceremony where Renforth relinquished command of 7th Marine Regiment at the Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Memorial Field here, Oct. 17, 2013. - Colonel Austin E. Renforth (left) and Col. Jay M. Bargeron salute during the pass and review portion of a change of command ceremony where Renforth relinquished command of 7th Marine Regiment at the Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Memorial Field here, Oct. 17, 2013.

Marines with Animal Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, prepare to enter a room with containing enemy role players during a raid exercise here, Oct. 9, 2013. The Animal Co. Marines inserted into a training town by fast roping from UH-1Y Huey helicopters and engaged enemy role players while a designated team captured a suspected high-ranking insurgent. The company conducted the raid as part of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan this spring. - Marines with Animal Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, prepare to enter a room with containing enemy role players during a raid exercise here, Oct. 9, 2013. The Animal Co. Marines inserted into a training town by fast roping from UH-1Y Huey helicopters and engaged enemy role players while a designated team captured a suspected high-ranking insurgent. The company conducted the raid as part of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan this spring.

Logo of the 1st Marine Division, headquartered in Camp Pendleton, Calif. - Logo of the 1st Marine Division, headquartered in Camp Pendleton, Calif.

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. – Lance Cpl. John Verity (right), a rifleman with Scout Sniper Platoon, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and Sgt. Sylvester Brooks, a team leader with the platoon, work together to move a rock to the wall of a hide site during Weapons Tactics Instructors course here, Sept. 25, 2013. Their structure provides 360 degree concealment, maximum fields of observation and protection from weather. Hide sites can vary from temporary two-man sites to permanent structures where teams can rotate through weekly. - MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. – Lance Cpl. John Verity (right), a rifleman with Scout Sniper Platoon, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and Sgt. Sylvester Brooks, a team leader with the platoon, work together to move a rock to the wall of a hide site during Weapons Tactics Instructors course here, Sept. 25, 2013. Their structure provides 360 degree concealment, maximum fields of observation and protection from weather. Hide sites can vary from temporary two-man sites to permanent structures where teams can rotate through weekly.

Lance Cpl. Christopher Wilson, a rifleman with Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and a native of Alexandria, La., simulates attempting to detect improvised explosive devices with a mine sweeper during a training convoy here, Sept. 24, 2013. The Baker Co. Marines drove two Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicles and two armored Humvees to a turnaround point nearly an hour away and then returned to their starting point. The convoy halted multiple times to simulate different situations such as a vehicle breaking down or hitting an IED. - Lance Cpl. Christopher Wilson, a rifleman with Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and a native of Alexandria, La., simulates attempting to detect improvised explosive devices with a mine sweeper during a training convoy here, Sept. 24, 2013. The Baker Co. Marines drove two Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicles and two armored Humvees to a turnaround point nearly an hour away and then returned to their starting point. The convoy halted multiple times to simulate different situations such as a vehicle breaking down or hitting an IED.

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Marines serving with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, prepare to breach an enemy compound while conducting a mock raid during the Integrated Training Exercise here, Aug. 12, 2013. The Marines assume a supporting role while deployed to Afghanistan by letting the ANA and the Afghan National Police lead in combat operations. The ITX is a training exercise held to prepare Marines prior to their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. - MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Marines serving with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, prepare to breach an enemy compound while conducting a mock raid during the Integrated Training Exercise here, Aug. 12, 2013. The Marines assume a supporting role while deployed to Afghanistan by letting the ANA and the Afghan National Police lead in combat operations. The ITX is a training exercise held to prepare Marines prior to their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

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.

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."

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)