Marines with Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, fire an M777 Howitzer¬ during the opening day of live-fire operations for Steel Knight at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, on Dec. 10, 2015. The tough, realistic training is intended to develop combat skills necessary to operate as the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines with Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, fire an M777 Howitzer¬ during the opening day of live-fire operations for Steel Knight at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, on Dec. 10, 2015. The tough, realistic training is intended to develop combat skills necessary to operate as the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marines assigned to Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division provide security during the 5/11 Command Post Exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 18, 2015. The CPX provided an opportunity for the Marines to refresh their skillsets in preparation for exercise Steel Knight 2016. - Marines assigned to Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division provide security during the 5/11 Command Post Exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 18, 2015. The CPX provided an opportunity for the Marines to refresh their skillsets in preparation for exercise Steel Knight 2016.

1st Marine Division Logo - 1st Marine Division Logo

Corporal Brady Davenport (left), a fire support man, and 1st Lt. Mark Null (right), an artillery officer, both assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Divison, observe impacts from M777 Howitizers aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 14, 2015. 2/11 annually conducts Summer Fire Exercise to sustain core proficiencies and to further develop their ability to execute fire missions. - Corporal Brady Davenport (left), a fire support man, and 1st Lt. Mark Null (right), an artillery officer, both assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Divison, observe impacts from M777 Howitizers aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 14, 2015. 2/11 annually conducts Summer Fire Exercise to sustain core proficiencies and to further develop their ability to execute fire missions.

Master Sgt. Alex Ng, the field artillery chief assigned to Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, explains the abilities of the M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System to Maj. Rafael Pires Ferreira, a battery commander with Brazil’s Corpo de Fuzileios, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 5, 2015. Two Brazilian military officers participated in a Subject Matter Expert Exchange with the Marines and Sailors of 11th Marines to compare standard operating procedures and to share experiences and ideas. - Master Sgt. Alex Ng, the field artillery chief assigned to Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, explains the abilities of the M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System to Maj. Rafael Pires Ferreira, a battery commander with Brazil’s Corpo de Fuzileios, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 5, 2015. Two Brazilian military officers participated in a Subject Matter Expert Exchange with the Marines and Sailors of 11th Marines to compare standard operating procedures and to share experiences and ideas.

A Marine assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, prepares an M777 howitzer to fire at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, June 17, 2015. CH-53E Super Stallions transported howitzers and ammunition as part of 1/11’s quarterly exercise to test the artillery Marines’ proficiency and readiness. - A Marine assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, prepares an M777 howitzer to fire at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, June 17, 2015. CH-53E Super Stallions transported howitzers and ammunition as part of 1/11’s quarterly exercise to test the artillery Marines’ proficiency and readiness.

Corporal Osmar S. Gorish, a section chief for Battery A, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, returns to his team with the new orders from his executive officer during Exercise Desert Scimitar 2015 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 20, 2015. The tough, realistic live-fire training central to Desert Scimitar allows Division units to train in order to maintain readiness and meet current and real-world operational demands. - Corporal Osmar S. Gorish, a section chief for Battery A, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, returns to his team with the new orders from his executive officer during Exercise Desert Scimitar 2015 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 20, 2015. The tough, realistic live-fire training central to Desert Scimitar allows Division units to train in order to maintain readiness and meet current and real-world operational demands.

Corporal Ronald Peebles, right, a motor transport operator with Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, instructs another Marine on proper grenade throwing techniques during a hand grenade training exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 18, 2014. The event served as a way for 5/11 Marines to refresh their basic fighting skills and to maintain their combat mindsets. - Corporal Ronald Peebles, right, a motor transport operator with Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, instructs another Marine on proper grenade throwing techniques during a hand grenade training exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 18, 2014. The event served as a way for 5/11 Marines to refresh their basic fighting skills and to maintain their combat mindsets.

Marines with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, prepared to load an M77 Howitzer during a direct fire exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 3, 2014. The training re-established specific close-quarters firing skills with the Marines, ensuring successful future combat operations - Marines with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, prepared to load an M77 Howitzer during a direct fire exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 3, 2014. The training re-established specific close-quarters firing skills with the Marines, ensuring successful future combat operations

Artillery Marines with Gun 3, Battery A, Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, prepare to send a round down range during a fire mission at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Oct. 29, 2014. Marines of Battery A conducted a live-fire artillery shoot, Oct. 28-30, 2014. From October 2014 to July 2015, the GCEITF will conduct individual and collective level skills training in designated ground combat arms occupational specialties in order to facilitate the standards based assessment of the physical performance of Marines in a simulated operating environment performing specific ground combat arms tasks. - Artillery Marines with Gun 3, Battery A, Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, prepare to send a round down range during a fire mission at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Oct. 29, 2014. Marines of Battery A conducted a live-fire artillery shoot, Oct. 28-30, 2014. From October 2014 to July 2015, the GCEITF will conduct individual and collective level skills training in designated ground combat arms occupational specialties in order to facilitate the standards based assessment of the physical performance of Marines in a simulated operating environment performing specific ground combat arms tasks.