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

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.

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.

Sergeant John Matthieu, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System operator with Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, inspects his HIMARS before a live-fire exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 22, 2014. Conducting live-fire exercises strengthens the Marines’ ability to fire effectively in future operations. - Sergeant John Matthieu, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System operator with Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, inspects his HIMARS before a live-fire exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 22, 2014. Conducting live-fire exercises strengthens the Marines’ ability to fire effectively in future operations.

Cpl. Nickolas Collins meets his son, 6-month-old Karson Collins, for the first time Wednesday morning at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Collins returned early Wednesday from a seven-month deployment to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, with Tango Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment. Collins' wife, Annette Collins, made a sign saying, "I've waited my whole life to meet you" and dressed Karson in American flag-themed shorts and a shirt printed with "Awesome like daddy" for the occasion. - Cpl. Nickolas Collins meets his son, 6-month-old Karson Collins, for the first time Wednesday morning at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Collins returned early Wednesday from a seven-month deployment to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, with Tango Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment. Collins' wife, Annette Collins, made a sign saying, "I've waited my whole life to meet you" and dressed Karson in American flag-themed shorts and a shirt printed with "Awesome like daddy" for the occasion.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., -- Sergeant Brandon Schroeder, platoon sergeant, Tango Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, and a native of Delta, Colo., maneuvers toward enemy role-players during a training exercise at the Mobile Immersion Trainer here, Nov. 14, 2013. The MIT is similar to the Infantry Immersion Trainer and trains Marines to operate under stressful conditions. Throughout the morning, the battery simulated operating out of a base and posted security while mock insurgents attempted to breach the area and formed riots. The artillerymen later conducted a logistics patrol and recovered a broken vehicle, countered an improvised explosive device and repelled enemy role-players during an ambush. The battery is slated to continue predeployment training before deploying to Afghanistan this winter. - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., -- Sergeant Brandon Schroeder, platoon sergeant, Tango Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, and a native of Delta, Colo., maneuvers toward enemy role-players during a training exercise at the Mobile Immersion Trainer here, Nov. 14, 2013. The MIT is similar to the Infantry Immersion Trainer and trains Marines to operate under stressful conditions. Throughout the morning, the battery simulated operating out of a base and posted security while mock insurgents attempted to breach the area and formed riots. The artillerymen later conducted a logistics patrol and recovered a broken vehicle, countered an improvised explosive device and repelled enemy role-players during an ambush. The battery is slated to continue predeployment training before deploying to Afghanistan this winter.

Lieutenant Col. Shawn Beltran, (left) the incoming commanding officer of 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, and a native of Wichita Falls, Texas, takes the battalion colors from Lt. Col. David Everly, (center) the outgoing commanding officer, and a native of Inglewood, Calif., during a change of command ceremony at Camp Las Pulgas here, June 28, 2013. Everly served for two years as the battalion's commanding officer and said leading and being in command of Marines is one of the greatest honors. - Lieutenant Col. Shawn Beltran, (left) the incoming commanding officer of 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, and a native of Wichita Falls, Texas, takes the battalion colors from Lt. Col. David Everly, (center) the outgoing commanding officer, and a native of Inglewood, Calif., during a change of command ceremony at Camp Las Pulgas here, June 28, 2013. Everly served for two years as the battalion's commanding officer and said leading and being in command of Marines is one of the greatest honors.