U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force--Crisis Response--Central Command, rush with their weapons system as they conduct live-fire training on the new M252A2 81mm mortar system at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 24, 2015. The training allowed the Marines, who are charged with providing security of Al Asad, an opportunity to hone their tactics, techniques and procedures in employment of the system, further reinforcing their ability to provide protection to their coalition and Iraqi Security Force partners as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s building partner capacity mission. - U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force--Crisis Response--Central Command, rush with their weapons system as they conduct live-fire training on the new M252A2 81mm mortar system at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 24, 2015. The training allowed the Marines, who are charged with providing security of Al Asad, an opportunity to hone their tactics, techniques and procedures in employment of the system, further reinforcing their ability to provide protection to their coalition and Iraqi Security Force partners as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s building partner capacity mission.

Marines with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment provide security on the beach following an amphibious landing as part of Exercise Dawn Blitz 2015 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 5, 2015. Dawn Blitz is a multinational, amphibious training exercise designed to hone the amphibious landing skills of I Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Expeditionary Strike Group Three and allies of the United States. - Marines with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment provide security on the beach following an amphibious landing as part of Exercise Dawn Blitz 2015 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 5, 2015. Dawn Blitz is a multinational, amphibious training exercise designed to hone the amphibious landing skills of I Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Expeditionary Strike Group Three and allies of the United States.

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.

Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, provide security during a Mission Rehearsal Exercise at Forward Operating Base Juno, Afghanistan, March 13, 2014. The Marines traveled to Forward Operating Base Juno 17, kilometers away, and provided security on three objectives while Afghan National Security Forces cleared the area of notional hostile threats. The MRX was a training mission to help prepare the infantrymen for potential future operations. - Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, provide security during a Mission Rehearsal Exercise at Forward Operating Base Juno, Afghanistan, March 13, 2014. The Marines traveled to Forward Operating Base Juno 17, kilometers away, and provided security on three objectives while Afghan National Security Forces cleared the area of notional hostile threats. The MRX was a training mission to help prepare the infantrymen for potential future operations.

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.

Citizens of Kajaki attend a shura here, April 14, 2012. The villagers had the opportunity to speak directly to commanders of the Marines and Afghan National Civil Order Police who provide security for their community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz) - Citizens of Kajaki attend a shura here, April 14, 2012. The villagers had the opportunity to speak directly to commanders of the Marines and Afghan National Civil Order Police who provide security for their community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz)

Captain Joshua B. Kling, commanding officer of Golf Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, inspects the post here, April 20, 2012. Marine and Afghan National Army officials toured the observation post, which is the northernmost Marine position in Kajaki. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz) - Captain Joshua B. Kling, commanding officer of Golf Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, inspects the post here, April 20, 2012. Marine and Afghan National Army officials toured the observation post, which is the northernmost Marine position in Kajaki. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz)

Lance Cpl. Daniel Grant, a native of Detroit and rifleman serving with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, departs Patrol Base Virginia, an Afghan National Civil Order Police position in Kajaki, as his squad begins a foot patrol here, April 14, 2012. Marines formerly operated PB Virginia until the ANCOP officers took full responsibility for maintaining security in the local area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz) - Lance Cpl. Daniel Grant, a native of Detroit and rifleman serving with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, departs Patrol Base Virginia, an Afghan National Civil Order Police position in Kajaki, as his squad begins a foot patrol here, April 14, 2012. Marines formerly operated PB Virginia until the ANCOP officers took full responsibility for maintaining security in the local area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz)

Lance Cpl. Edgar Lima (right), a sweeper with 2nd squad, 1st platoon, Lima Company, searches for improvised explosive devices with PFC. Christopher Birdt, a machine gunner, covering him, during an afternoon patrol in Wishtan, Feb. 22. Their patrol talked to as many local people as they could, gathering information about the area and building relationships with the people. Lima, a San Diego native, uses humor to interact and build connections with the children who sometimes surround the Marines. - Lance Cpl. Edgar Lima (right), a sweeper with 2nd squad, 1st platoon, Lima Company, searches for improvised explosive devices with PFC. Christopher Birdt, a machine gunner, covering him, during an afternoon patrol in Wishtan, Feb. 22. Their patrol talked to as many local people as they could, gathering information about the area and building relationships with the people. Lima, a San Diego native, uses humor to interact and build connections with the children who sometimes surround the Marines.

Iraqi policemen gather on a street in Fallujah, Iraq, Nov. 21. Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, handed over control of several forward operating bases and combat outposts in the city to members of the Iraqi Security Forces, recently. - Iraqi policemen gather on a street in Fallujah, Iraq, Nov. 21. Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, handed over control of several forward operating bases and combat outposts in the city to members of the Iraqi Security Forces, recently.