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1st Lt. Kenneth Conover, executive officer, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, received the Silver Star Medal from Lt. Gen. John Toolan, commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, during an award ceremony held at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 18, 2014. Conover, a Native of Fallbrook, Calif., was recognized for his heroic actions in Afghanistan where he held off multiple attacks over a six-day period. Conover saved the lives of multiple Marines during the operation. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Moore/released) - 1st Lt. Kenneth Conover, executive officer, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, received the Silver Star Medal from Lt. Gen. John Toolan, commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, during an award ceremony held at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 18, 2014. Conover, a Native of Fallbrook, Calif., was recognized for his heroic actions in Afghanistan where he held off multiple attacks over a six-day period. Conover saved the lives of multiple Marines during the operation. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Moore/released)

Staff Sgt. Joshua Brodrick, a platoon sergeant with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, received the Bronze Star Medal with combat V for valor from Lt. Gen. John Toolan, commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, during an award ceremony held at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 18, 2014. Brodrick, a native of Huntington, Ind., was recognized for his heroic actions in Afghanistan when he maintained a tactical advantage while being ambushed by a larger enemy force. He saved the lives of multiple Marines during the six-day operation. (U.S. Marine - Staff Sgt. Joshua Brodrick, a platoon sergeant with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, received the Bronze Star Medal with combat V for valor from Lt. Gen. John Toolan, commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, during an award ceremony held at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 18, 2014. Brodrick, a native of Huntington, Ind., was recognized for his heroic actions in Afghanistan when he maintained a tactical advantage while being ambushed by a larger enemy force. He saved the lives of multiple Marines during the six-day operation. (U.S. Marine

Sergeant Kenneth Rick, a squad leader with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, received the Silver Star Medal from Lt. Gen. John Toolan, commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, during an award ceremony held at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 18, 2014. Rick, a native of Sacramento, was recognized for his heroic actions in Afghanistan when he maintained a tactical advantage while being ambushed by a larger enemy force. Rick saved the lives of multiple Marines and destroyed numerous enemy positions during a six-day operation. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Moore/released) - Sergeant Kenneth Rick, a squad leader with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, received the Silver Star Medal from Lt. Gen. John Toolan, commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, during an award ceremony held at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 18, 2014. Rick, a native of Sacramento, was recognized for his heroic actions in Afghanistan when he maintained a tactical advantage while being ambushed by a larger enemy force. Rick saved the lives of multiple Marines and destroyed numerous enemy positions during a six-day operation. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Moore/released)

Sergeant Maj. Reginald Robinson, incoming sergeant major, 1st Marine Regiment, addresses his Marines on the plans for the regiment during a relief and appointment ceremony aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 7, 2014. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars. Robinson is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan with the regiment as part of Task Force Belleau Wood and looks forward to being able to lead the regiment on the final deployment to Afghanistan. - Sergeant Maj. Reginald Robinson, incoming sergeant major, 1st Marine Regiment, addresses his Marines on the plans for the regiment during a relief and appointment ceremony aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 7, 2014. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars. Robinson is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan with the regiment as part of Task Force Belleau Wood and looks forward to being able to lead the regiment on the final deployment to Afghanistan.

Major Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, addresses the Marines and veterans of the division during a battle colors rededication ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 6, 2014. Marines celebrated the 73rd anniversary of 1st Marine Division by pinning battle streamers onto the division colors. Each battle streamer represented a different award from campaigns ranging from World War II, to Operation Enduring Freedom. - Major Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, addresses the Marines and veterans of the division during a battle colors rededication ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 6, 2014. Marines celebrated the 73rd anniversary of 1st Marine Division by pinning battle streamers onto the division colors. Each battle streamer represented a different award from campaigns ranging from World War II, to Operation Enduring Freedom.

Soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force practice amphibious landing techniques while conducting Helo Cast training during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., Jan. 27, 2014. Iron Fist is an amphibious exercise that brings together Marines and sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, other I Marine Expeditionary Force units, and soldiers from the JGSDF, to promote military interoperability and hone individual and small-unit skills through challenging, complex and realistic training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Emmanuel Ramos/Released) - Soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force practice amphibious landing techniques while conducting Helo Cast training during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., Jan. 27, 2014. Iron Fist is an amphibious exercise that brings together Marines and sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, other I Marine Expeditionary Force units, and soldiers from the JGSDF, to promote military interoperability and hone individual and small-unit skills through challenging, complex and realistic training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Emmanuel Ramos/Released)

A crowd gathers inside the California Center for the Arts to watch the 1st Marine Division Band perform a concert in honor of the division’s 73rd anniversary at Escondido, Calif., Jan. 31, 2014. The band played a variety of pieces, each representing different experiences that Marines go through from recruit training to missing the birth of a child while on deployment. The concert was held to strengthen relationships between the Marine Corps and the local community. - A crowd gathers inside the California Center for the Arts to watch the 1st Marine Division Band perform a concert in honor of the division’s 73rd anniversary at Escondido, Calif., Jan. 31, 2014. The band played a variety of pieces, each representing different experiences that Marines go through from recruit training to missing the birth of a child while on deployment. The concert was held to strengthen relationships between the Marine Corps and the local community.

Lance Cpl. Gregg Alvarez, trumpet instrumentalist, 1st Marine Division Band, and native of Harlingen, Texas, performed during the 1st Marine Division 73rd anniversary concert at Escondido, Calif., Jan. 31, 2014. Alvarez holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the McNeese State University and a master’s degree in music performance from the University of Louisville. Alvarez has been playing the trumpet since 1996 and plans to day attend officer candidate school and receive a commission. Gunnery Sgt. Tracy Martinez said, Alvarez’s vast musical experience greatly improves the quality and musicianship of the band’s trumpet section - Lance Cpl. Gregg Alvarez, trumpet instrumentalist, 1st Marine Division Band, and native of Harlingen, Texas, performed during the 1st Marine Division 73rd anniversary concert at Escondido, Calif., Jan. 31, 2014. Alvarez holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the McNeese State University and a master’s degree in music performance from the University of Louisville. Alvarez has been playing the trumpet since 1996 and plans to day attend officer candidate school and receive a commission. Gunnery Sgt. Tracy Martinez said, Alvarez’s vast musical experience greatly improves the quality and musicianship of the band’s trumpet section

Colonel Peter Baumgarten, commanding officer, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of El Paso, Texas, left, thanks retired Gen. Joseph Hoar, former commanding officer of the regiment, and a native of Boston, for attending the regiment’s 100-year anniversary ceremony as the guest of honor aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 24, 2014. Gen. Hoar commanded of the regiment in 1979 through 1981. His personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with combat “V” and gold star, and the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star. - Colonel Peter Baumgarten, commanding officer, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of El Paso, Texas, left, thanks retired Gen. Joseph Hoar, former commanding officer of the regiment, and a native of Boston, for attending the regiment’s 100-year anniversary ceremony as the guest of honor aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 24, 2014. Gen. Hoar commanded of the regiment in 1979 through 1981. His personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with combat “V” and gold star, and the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star.