Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, follow Afghan role-players into a compound during a counterinsurgency exercise on Range 220 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 9, 2013. The $140 million urban warfare training facility consists of more than 1,000 buildings and is divided into four sectors. The buildings replicate what can be found in an urban town to include gas stations, factories, one story complexes, marketplaces and multiple story buildings. - Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, follow Afghan role-players into a compound during a counterinsurgency exercise on Range 220 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 9, 2013. The $140 million urban warfare training facility consists of more than 1,000 buildings and is divided into four sectors. The buildings replicate what can be found in an urban town to include gas stations, factories, one story complexes, marketplaces and multiple story buildings.

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.

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.

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.