Marines with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, complete their surf qualification here, Sept. 6, 2013. The training ensured the Marines know how to properly evacuate their AAV and swim back to shore in case of an emergency. The battalion conducts the surf qualification annually. The swim to shore presents the Marines with many challenges, including the confidence to jump into the cold water while facing the waves rushing over them. - Marines with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, complete their surf qualification here, Sept. 6, 2013. The training ensured the Marines know how to properly evacuate their AAV and swim back to shore in case of an emergency. The battalion conducts the surf qualification annually. The swim to shore presents the Marines with many challenges, including the confidence to jump into the cold water while facing the waves rushing over them.
Servicemembers escort family members of Marines who sacrificed their lives with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, as well as Army units, during the Honor Bowl here, Sept. 7, 2013. The Gold Star family members were the guests of honor during the game and were walked to the center of the field for the coin toss. The Honor Bowl is a two-day event put together by the Honor Group to raise awareness of the sacrifices of servicemembers. - Servicemembers escort family members of Marines who sacrificed their lives with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, as well as Army units, during the Honor Bowl here, Sept. 7, 2013. The Gold Star family members were the guests of honor during the game and were walked to the center of the field for the coin toss. The Honor Bowl is a two-day event put together by the Honor Group to raise awareness of the sacrifices of servicemembers.
(Right to left) Colonel Jason Bohm, commanding officer, 5th Marine Regiment, Sgt. Maj. Clifford Wiggins, sergeant major, 5th Marines, and Sgt. Maj. Alberto Ruiz, former sergeant major, 5th Marines, salute Marines and sailors as they conduct a pass and review during a relief, appointment and retirement ceremony at the Camp San Mateo helicopter landing pad here, Sept. 6, 2013. Marines and sailors of the Fighting Fifth bid farewell to Ruiz who retired after 30 years of service after relinquishing his post to Wiggins during the ceremony. Wiggins served as the sergeant major of 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion before assuming his current post. Ruiz is a Laredo, Texas, native, Bohm is an Oyster Bay, N.Y., native, and Wiggins is a Cincinnati native. - (Right to left) Colonel Jason Bohm, commanding officer, 5th Marine Regiment, Sgt. Maj. Clifford Wiggins, sergeant major, 5th Marines, and Sgt. Maj. Alberto Ruiz, former sergeant major, 5th Marines, salute Marines and sailors as they conduct a pass and review during a relief, appointment and retirement ceremony at the Camp San Mateo helicopter landing pad here, Sept. 6, 2013. Marines and sailors of the Fighting Fifth bid farewell to Ruiz who retired after 30 years of service after relinquishing his post to Wiggins during the ceremony. Wiggins served as the sergeant major of 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion before assuming his current post. Ruiz is a Laredo, Texas, native, Bohm is an Oyster Bay, N.Y., native, and Wiggins is a Cincinnati native.
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Lance Cpl. Ben Aloia, a rifleman with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of Denver, changes a barrel on an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon during a live-fire exercise on Range 222 here, Sept. 5, 2013. The Alpha Co. Marines fired Mk-19 grenade launchers, .50 caliber machine guns, SAWs and M240B medium machine guns Sept. 4 and 5 to crosstrain and refine their skills with each weapon system. Throughout the two days of shooting, the Marines were evaluated as they engaged multiple targets with each weapon system at ranges of 400 to 1,200 meters away. - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Lance Cpl. Ben Aloia, a rifleman with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of Denver, changes a barrel on an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon during a live-fire exercise on Range 222 here, Sept. 5, 2013. The Alpha Co. Marines fired Mk-19 grenade launchers, .50 caliber machine guns, SAWs and M240B medium machine guns Sept. 4 and 5 to crosstrain and refine their skills with each weapon system. Throughout the two days of shooting, the Marines were evaluated as they engaged multiple targets with each weapon system at ranges of 400 to 1,200 meters away.
Marines serving with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, conduct a live-fire range during a training exercise here, Aug. 27, 2013. The purpose of the range was to give crewmembers of the amphibious assault vehicle a chance to refine their skills with the .50 caliber machine gun and the 40 mm grenade launcher. The Marines performed the exercise in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Okinawa, Japan, where they will support joint operations in the Pacific. - Marines serving with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, conduct a live-fire range during a training exercise here, Aug. 27, 2013. The purpose of the range was to give crewmembers of the amphibious assault vehicle a chance to refine their skills with the .50 caliber machine gun and the 40 mm grenade launcher. The Marines performed the exercise in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Okinawa, Japan, where they will support joint operations in the Pacific.
Sergeant Ryan Boyd, section chief, India Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, briefs his Marines on their performance during a 10-day artillery training exercise here, Aug. 23, 2013. Marines with the entire regiment conducted the live-fire training exercise from Aug. 19 through 28. - Sergeant Ryan Boyd, section chief, India Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, briefs his Marines on their performance during a 10-day artillery training exercise here, Aug. 23, 2013. Marines with the entire regiment conducted the live-fire training exercise from Aug. 19 through 28.
Marines serving with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, conduct a nighttime beach landing during a training exercise here, Aug. 25, 2013. The landing involved more than 40 amphibious assault vehicles and gave the Marines experience in nighttime operations. The Marines performed the exercise in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Okinawa, Japan, where they will support joint operations in the Pacific. - Marines serving with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, conduct a nighttime beach landing during a training exercise here, Aug. 25, 2013. The landing involved more than 40 amphibious assault vehicles and gave the Marines experience in nighttime operations. The Marines performed the exercise in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Okinawa, Japan, where they will support joint operations in the Pacific.
A Marine serving with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion helps a simulated hostage to safety after clearing the house he was held in by enemy combatants during a mission rehearsal exercise here, Aug. 20, 2013. Marines responded to simulated small-arms fire and artillery rounds with suppressing fire and patrols through the area. An evaluator followed each squad of Marines and assessed their various skills including tactics, coordination and execution during the mission. - A Marine serving with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion helps a simulated hostage to safety after clearing the house he was held in by enemy combatants during a mission rehearsal exercise here, Aug. 20, 2013. Marines responded to simulated small-arms fire and artillery rounds with suppressing fire and patrols through the area. An evaluator followed each squad of Marines and assessed their various skills including tactics, coordination and execution during the mission.
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Faye Jonason (left), the museum officer of 1st Marine Division, shows Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift’s granddaughter and great granddaughter, Vallerey and Serina Vandegrift, photographs of the history of Camp Pendelton during a visit here, Aug. 27, 2013. General Vandegrift was a Medal of Honor recipient and commanded the division during 1942 in its first ground offensive of World War II, the Battle of Guadalcanal. - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Faye Jonason (left), the museum officer of 1st Marine Division, shows Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift’s granddaughter and great granddaughter, Vallerey and Serina Vandegrift, photographs of the history of Camp Pendelton during a visit here, Aug. 27, 2013. General Vandegrift was a Medal of Honor recipient and commanded the division during 1942 in its first ground offensive of World War II, the Battle of Guadalcanal.
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Marines serving with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, prepare to breach an enemy compound while conducting a mock raid during the Integrated Training Exercise here, Aug. 12, 2013. The Marines assume a supporting role while deployed to Afghanistan by letting the ANA and the Afghan National Police lead in combat operations. The ITX is a training exercise held to prepare Marines prior to their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. - MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Marines serving with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, prepare to breach an enemy compound while conducting a mock raid during the Integrated Training Exercise here, Aug. 12, 2013. The Marines assume a supporting role while deployed to Afghanistan by letting the ANA and the Afghan National Police lead in combat operations. The ITX is a training exercise held to prepare Marines prior to their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.