U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, hike up a hill during the Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation (MCCRE) on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 23, 2019. 5th Marines conducted a regimental-sized MCCRE for 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, as well as the Regimental Headquarters to increase the combat proficiency and readiness of the regiment. The MCCRE took place over a 10 day period and served as proof of concept for future regimental-sized MCCREs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexa M. Hernandez) - U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, hike up a hill during the Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation (MCCRE) on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 23, 2019. 5th Marines conducted a regimental-sized MCCRE for 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, as well as the Regimental Headquarters to increase the combat proficiency and readiness of the regiment. The MCCRE took place over a 10 day period and served as proof of concept for future regimental-sized MCCREs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexa M. Hernandez)

Marines from Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Divison, I Marine Expeditionary Force, are suspended from a UH-1Y Huey helicopter during an exercise on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 18, 2015. Utilizing both fast-roping and Special Patrol Insertion and Extraction rigging methods, the purpose of the training exercise was to integrate operational coordination between the I MEF Ground Combat Element and Air Combat Element. - Marines from Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Divison, I Marine Expeditionary Force, are suspended from a UH-1Y Huey helicopter during an exercise on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 18, 2015. Utilizing both fast-roping and Special Patrol Insertion and Extraction rigging methods, the purpose of the training exercise was to integrate operational coordination between the I MEF Ground Combat Element and Air Combat Element.

3rd Battalion, 4th Marines Logo - 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines 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.

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.

Sergeant Thomas Z. Spitzer, professionally instructed gunman, Scout Sniper Platoon, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, poses for a photo shortly after arriving in Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 20, 2014. Spitzer, a 23-year-old native of New Braunfels, Texas, was killed while conducting combat operations, June 25, 2014. - Sergeant Thomas Z. Spitzer, professionally instructed gunman, Scout Sniper Platoon, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, poses for a photo shortly after arriving in Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 20, 2014. Spitzer, a 23-year-old native of New Braunfels, Texas, was killed while conducting combat operations, June 25, 2014.

Major Gen. Ronald L. Bailey (left), the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, and Col. Roger Turner, the commanding officer of 5th Marine Regiment, salute for the national anthem during a Bronze Star Medal ceremony here at Camp San Mateo, Feb. 15, 2013. Sergeant William Stacey, a squad leader who served with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for valor for his actions in Helmand province, Afghanistan. In his final letter to his family, Stacey wrote, “If my life buys the safety of one child who will one day change the world, then I know that it was all worth it.” - Major Gen. Ronald L. Bailey (left), the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, and Col. Roger Turner, the commanding officer of 5th Marine Regiment, salute for the national anthem during a Bronze Star Medal ceremony here at Camp San Mateo, Feb. 15, 2013. Sergeant William Stacey, a squad leader who served with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for valor for his actions in Helmand province, Afghanistan. In his final letter to his family, Stacey wrote, “If my life buys the safety of one child who will one day change the world, then I know that it was all worth it.”

Lance Cpl. Anthony Quintanilla makes his way into a well in an abandoned compound during Operation Sangin United Horizons here, May 17, 2012. Quintanilla, a native of Los Angeles, found narcotics, weapons, and components to construct an improvised explosive device hidden inside the well. - Lance Cpl. Anthony Quintanilla makes his way into a well in an abandoned compound during Operation Sangin United Horizons here, May 17, 2012. Quintanilla, a native of Los Angeles, found narcotics, weapons, and components to construct an improvised explosive device hidden inside the well.

After an Afghan National Army soldier was injured by a an explosion from what fellow soldiers described as a blasting cap-like device, Staff Sgt. Yobany Flores used his linguist’s belt as an improvised tourniquet to stop the bleeding from the soldier’s hand. Flores is a motor transport maintenance advisor to 5th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps with Embedded Partnering Team, Combat Logistics Battalion 5. The West New York, N.J. native is on his third deployment to a combat zone, having previously deployed to Iraq in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2010. - After an Afghan National Army soldier was injured by a an explosion from what fellow soldiers described as a blasting cap-like device, Staff Sgt. Yobany Flores used his linguist’s belt as an improvised tourniquet to stop the bleeding from the soldier’s hand. Flores is a motor transport maintenance advisor to 5th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps with Embedded Partnering Team, Combat Logistics Battalion 5. The West New York, N.J. native is on his third deployment to a combat zone, having previously deployed to Iraq in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2010.

Scout Snipers with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, set up security in a remote location in Fallujah, Iraq, during a night operation Dec. 5. Two teams of snipers have recently taken on duties of a Quick Reactionary Force instead of their usual sniper missions. - Scout Snipers with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, set up security in a remote location in Fallujah, Iraq, during a night operation Dec. 5. Two teams of snipers have recently taken on duties of a Quick Reactionary Force instead of their usual sniper missions.