U.S. Marine Cpl. Christian Reyes, a shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon gunner with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, scans the surrounding environment for possible threats during a mission readiness exercise at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Nov. 24, 2015. The Marines conducted the exercise to prepare for potential missions in the Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Owen Kimbrel / Released) - U.S. Marine Cpl. Christian Reyes, a shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon gunner with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, scans the surrounding environment for possible threats during a mission readiness exercise at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Nov. 24, 2015. The Marines conducted the exercise to prepare for potential missions in the Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Owen Kimbrel / Released)

U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force--Crisis Response--Central Command, rush with their weapons system as they conduct live-fire training on the new M252A2 81mm mortar system at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 24, 2015. The training allowed the Marines, who are charged with providing security of Al Asad, an opportunity to hone their tactics, techniques and procedures in employment of the system, further reinforcing their ability to provide protection to their coalition and Iraqi Security Force partners as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s building partner capacity mission. - U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force--Crisis Response--Central Command, rush with their weapons system as they conduct live-fire training on the new M252A2 81mm mortar system at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 24, 2015. The training allowed the Marines, who are charged with providing security of Al Asad, an opportunity to hone their tactics, techniques and procedures in employment of the system, further reinforcing their ability to provide protection to their coalition and Iraqi Security Force partners as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s building partner capacity mission.

Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, practice handling a simulated enraged enemy during the culminating event of 1st Marine Division Schools’ Urban Leaders Course at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 12, 2015. The course is a 15-day period of instruction that includes classwork, combat marksmanship and physical training in a simulated urban combat environment. - Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, practice handling a simulated enraged enemy during the culminating event of 1st Marine Division Schools’ Urban Leaders Course at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 12, 2015. The course is a 15-day period of instruction that includes classwork, combat marksmanship and physical training in a simulated urban combat environment.

Lance Cpl. Steven Hoggand, a machine gunner and section leader with 1st Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, directs his Marines’ fire while suppressing an enemy position during platoon attack drills, July 24, aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. Training began for the Marines of Company C with a combined arms fire and maneuver exercise as part of their Integrated Training Exercise in preparation for their upcoming deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command 16.1 scheduled to depart later this year. - Lance Cpl. Steven Hoggand, a machine gunner and section leader with 1st Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, directs his Marines’ fire while suppressing an enemy position during platoon attack drills, July 24, aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. Training began for the Marines of Company C with a combined arms fire and maneuver exercise as part of their Integrated Training Exercise in preparation for their upcoming deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command 16.1 scheduled to depart later this year.

A mortarman with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, establishes the direction of fires for his 60 millimeter mortar team during 1/7’s Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., June 9, 2015. Marines from 1/7 and 2nd battalion, 7th Marine Regiment are currently in preparation for deployment with the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) scheduled to depart in support of Operation Inherent Resolve later this year. - A mortarman with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, establishes the direction of fires for his 60 millimeter mortar team during 1/7’s Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., June 9, 2015. Marines from 1/7 and 2nd battalion, 7th Marine Regiment are currently in preparation for deployment with the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) scheduled to depart in support of Operation Inherent Resolve later this year.

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)

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.

Staff Sgt. Joshua Brodrick, a platoon sergeant with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, received the Bronze Star Medal with combat V for valor 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. Brodrick, a native of Huntington, Ind., was recognized for his heroic actions in Afghanistan when he maintained a tactical advantage while being ambushed by a larger enemy force. He saved the lives of multiple Marines during the six-day operation. (U.S. Marine - Staff Sgt. Joshua Brodrick, a platoon sergeant with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, received the Bronze Star Medal with combat V for valor 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. Brodrick, a native of Huntington, Ind., was recognized for his heroic actions in Afghanistan when he maintained a tactical advantage while being ambushed by a larger enemy force. He saved the lives of multiple Marines during the six-day operation. (U.S. Marine

Sergeant Kenneth Rick, a squad leader with 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. Rick, a native of Sacramento, was recognized for his heroic actions in Afghanistan when he maintained a tactical advantage while being ambushed by a larger enemy force. Rick saved the lives of multiple Marines and destroyed numerous enemy positions during a six-day operation. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Moore/released) - Sergeant Kenneth Rick, a squad leader with 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. Rick, a native of Sacramento, was recognized for his heroic actions in Afghanistan when he maintained a tactical advantage while being ambushed by a larger enemy force. Rick saved the lives of multiple Marines and destroyed numerous enemy positions during a six-day operation. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Moore/released)

Lance Cpl. Gilbert McCune, right, team leader, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and Pfc. Dakota Newcomer, rifleman, prepare to move to their next objective during a live-fire exercise at Range 410A at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Jan. 19, 2014. The battalion conducted platoon attacks at the range for the first event of their Integrated Training Exercise. ITX is a 30-day training evolution to prepare them for their upcoming combat deployment. The platoon attacks consisted of an assault on three entrenched positions with mortar and machine gun fire.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan / released) - Lance Cpl. Gilbert McCune, right, team leader, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and Pfc. Dakota Newcomer, rifleman, prepare to move to their next objective during a live-fire exercise at Range 410A at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Jan. 19, 2014. The battalion conducted platoon attacks at the range for the first event of their Integrated Training Exercise. ITX is a 30-day training evolution to prepare them for their upcoming combat deployment. The platoon attacks consisted of an assault on three entrenched positions with mortar and machine gun fire. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan / released)