Marines rush a simulated combat town during the mechanized assault portion of a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 9, 2015. The purpose of a MCCRE is to evaluate Marines’ collective performance in specific mission requirements that will prepare them for their upcoming deployment rotation. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Devan K. Gowans) - Marines rush a simulated combat town during the mechanized assault portion of a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 9, 2015. The purpose of a MCCRE is to evaluate Marines’ collective performance in specific mission requirements that will prepare them for their upcoming deployment rotation. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Devan K. Gowans)
Marines run through the obstruction of smoke during the company supported, live-fire assault portion of a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 6, 2015. The purpose of a MCCRE is to evaluate Marines’ collective performance in specific mission requirements that will prepare them for their upcoming deployment rotation. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Devan K. Gowans) - Marines run through the obstruction of smoke during the company supported, live-fire assault portion of a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 6, 2015. The purpose of a MCCRE is to evaluate Marines’ collective performance in specific mission requirements that will prepare them for their upcoming deployment rotation. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Devan K. Gowans)
Lance Cpl. Anthony Sarmiento, a rifleman assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, provides security while establishing a defensive position during Talon Exercise 1-16 at Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 12, 2015. The training took place at Baker’s Peak, a rugged desert training area located on the approximately 1,700,000 acre Barry M. Goldwater Range and was part of a larger event called Talon Exercise, which focused on offensive and defensive operations in desert and urban environments. - Lance Cpl. Anthony Sarmiento, a rifleman assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, provides security while establishing a defensive position during Talon Exercise 1-16 at Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 12, 2015. The training took place at Baker’s Peak, a rugged desert training area located on the approximately 1,700,000 acre Barry M. Goldwater Range and was part of a larger event called Talon Exercise, which focused on offensive and defensive operations in desert and urban environments.
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.
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.
Marines with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, fire 60 mm mortars during a mortar fire exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 4, 2014. The unit, based out of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., came to Camp Pendleton to conduct training on the different types of terrain the base has to offer. After reloading the hand-held mortar, Marines regained their sight alignment before firing the round to ensure accuracy and safety. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua Murray/Released) - Marines with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, fire 60 mm mortars during a mortar fire exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 4, 2014. The unit, based out of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., came to Camp Pendleton to conduct training on the different types of terrain the base has to offer. After reloading the hand-held mortar, Marines regained their sight alignment before firing the round to ensure accuracy and safety. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua Murray/Released)
Lance Cpl. Jose Avila, a refrigeration mechanic with Regimental Combat Team 7 and a 30-year-old native of Honduras, is now a U.S. citizen, is deployed to Afghanistan, and hopes to pursue his master’s degree. “I’m a citizen, but now I am out here in Afghanistan actually getting to be a part of something,” Avila said. “ I like the idea of the Marines being badass. We go everywhere and can do every thing.” - Lance Cpl. Jose Avila, a refrigeration mechanic with Regimental Combat Team 7 and a 30-year-old native of Honduras, is now a U.S. citizen, is deployed to Afghanistan, and hopes to pursue his master’s degree. “I’m a citizen, but now I am out here in Afghanistan actually getting to be a part of something,” Avila said. “ I like the idea of the Marines being badass. We go everywhere and can do every thing.”
Corporal Michael Kelly, a fires watch chief with Regimental Combat Team 7 and 28-year-old native of Omaha, Neb., has a bachelor's in history and loves to inspire fellow Marines with stories of warriors-past. “As warriors we must never lose touch with what we are. Warriors and great men of the past have set the standard for what it means to be a warrior and must be remembered,” Kelly said. “Their legacies and deeds have shown what it means to be brave and maintain honor in the face of danger, defining what it means to be a soldier.” - Corporal Michael Kelly, a fires watch chief with Regimental Combat Team 7 and 28-year-old native of Omaha, Neb., has a bachelor's in history and loves to inspire fellow Marines with stories of warriors-past. “As warriors we must never lose touch with what we are. Warriors and great men of the past have set the standard for what it means to be a warrior and must be remembered,” Kelly said. “Their legacies and deeds have shown what it means to be brave and maintain honor in the face of danger, defining what it means to be a soldier.”