Retired Marine Sgt. Maj. Martin Vasquez (left) and Maj. Gen. Daniel J. O’Donohue, commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, attach campaign streamers to the division colors during a Battle Colors Rededication Ceremony in honor of the division’s 75th anniversary, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 4, 2016. Veteran and active duty Marines and Sailors who served in the division over the years participated in the ceremony, celebrating the oldest, largest, and most decorated division in the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Will Perkins) - Retired Marine Sgt. Maj. Martin Vasquez (left) and Maj. Gen. Daniel J. O’Donohue, commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, attach campaign streamers to the division colors during a Battle Colors Rededication Ceremony in honor of the division’s 75th anniversary, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 4, 2016. Veteran and active duty Marines and Sailors who served in the division over the years participated in the ceremony, celebrating the oldest, largest, and most decorated division in the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Will Perkins)
A Marine with 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, establishes communications with the combat operation center in a Combat Convoy Simulator aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Feb. 2, 2016. The CCS at first glance looks like an expensive, high-tech video game, but its primary use is preparing Marines for real-world combat missions with simulations of realistic scenarios. - A Marine with 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, establishes communications with the combat operation center in a Combat Convoy Simulator aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Feb. 2, 2016. The CCS at first glance looks like an expensive, high-tech video game, but its primary use is preparing Marines for real-world combat missions with simulations of realistic scenarios.
Staff Sgt. James Case, the chief instructor of the Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division Lance Corporal Seminar Leadership and Ethics Seminar, briefs students on the plan of the day after a combat conditioning session aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 27, 2016. The weeklong seminar focuses on preparing lance corporals physically and mentally to become successful noncommissioned officers, while building the foundation for the more difficult residential courses like Corporals Course and Sergeants Course. - Staff Sgt. James Case, the chief instructor of the Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division Lance Corporal Seminar Leadership and Ethics Seminar, briefs students on the plan of the day after a combat conditioning session aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 27, 2016. The weeklong seminar focuses on preparing lance corporals physically and mentally to become successful noncommissioned officers, while building the foundation for the more difficult residential courses like Corporals Course and Sergeants Course.
Master Gunnery Sgt. Bruce Knapp, the operations chief with 1st Marine Division, speaks to Marines with 5th Marine Regiment about the Squad Leader Development Program, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 20, 2016. The SLDP is one of the various tools the Marine Corps uses to build stronger small unit leadership, while presenting Marines the opportunity to further their career. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/Released) - Master Gunnery Sgt. Bruce Knapp, the operations chief with 1st Marine Division, speaks to Marines with 5th Marine Regiment about the Squad Leader Development Program, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 20, 2016. The SLDP is one of the various tools the Marine Corps uses to build stronger small unit leadership, while presenting Marines the opportunity to further their career. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/Released)
Maj. Gen. Daniel J. O’Donohue and Sgt. Maj. William T. Sowers stand for a quick photo opportunity following a ceremony with the San Diego Nice Guys charity group, Dec. 16, 2015. During the ceremony, the San Diego Nice Guys presented their annual contribution from the Marine Family Christmas Fund to assist local military families in their holiday grocery shopping. Since 1997, the MFCF has supported thousands of families, primarily those who have forward deployed Marines and sailors of the Blue Diamond division, with generous donations for the holiday season. - Maj. Gen. Daniel J. O’Donohue and Sgt. Maj. William T. Sowers stand for a quick photo opportunity following a ceremony with the San Diego Nice Guys charity group, Dec. 16, 2015. During the ceremony, the San Diego Nice Guys presented their annual contribution from the Marine Family Christmas Fund to assist local military families in their holiday grocery shopping. Since 1997, the MFCF has supported thousands of families, primarily those who have forward deployed Marines and sailors of the Blue Diamond division, with generous donations for the holiday season.
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)
U.S. Marine Cpl. Christian Reyes, a shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon gunner with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, scans the surrounding environment for possible threats during a mission readiness exercise at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Nov. 24, 2015. The Marines conducted the exercise to prepare for potential missions in the Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Owen Kimbrel / Released) - U.S. Marine Cpl. Christian Reyes, a shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon gunner with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, scans the surrounding environment for possible threats during a mission readiness exercise at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Nov. 24, 2015. The Marines conducted the exercise to prepare for potential missions in the Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Owen Kimbrel / Released)
Staff Sgt. Alexander Panos, a trombone player with the 1st Marine Division Band, rehearses alongside his fellow Marines aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Nov. 23, 2015. Panos was recognized as the Marine Corps Musician of the Year Award for 2015. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Will Perkins/ RELEASED) - Staff Sgt. Alexander Panos, a trombone player with the 1st Marine Division Band, rehearses alongside his fellow Marines aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Nov. 23, 2015. Panos was recognized as the Marine Corps Musician of the Year Award for 2015. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Will Perkins/ RELEASED)
Marines with 1st Marine Division take part in a Combined Armed Staff Trainer exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 17, 2015, in preparation for Exercise Steel Knight 2016. The CAST exercise was a division-level evolution, which allowed Marines to maintain designated skillsets in support of a simulated, large-scale operation.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED) - Marines with 1st Marine Division take part in a Combined Armed Staff Trainer exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 17, 2015, in preparation for Exercise Steel Knight 2016. The CAST exercise was a division-level evolution, which allowed Marines to maintain designated skillsets in support of a simulated, large-scale operation.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/RELEASED)
Marines and Sailors assigned to Company A, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, celebrate the Marine Corps’ 240th birthday aboard Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., Nov. 10, 2015. The Marines and Sailors celebrated the birthday as a culminating event to the 18-day field operation. - Marines and Sailors assigned to Company A, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, celebrate the Marine Corps’ 240th birthday aboard Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., Nov. 10, 2015. The Marines and Sailors celebrated the birthday as a culminating event to the 18-day field operation.