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Marines from 1st Marine Division answer the call for SLDP

Marines are no strangers to taking on new challenges. When the Squad Leader Development Program was announced, Marines from the 1st Marine Division heeded the message and quickly looked into the program to help further develop themselves as small unit leaders.The SLDP ensures small unit leaders are provided the tools necessary to operate in more

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A Marine with 1st Marine Division, 7th Marine Regiment participates in stalking training aboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 27, 2015. The training was the last event during Division School’s 6-week-long Pre-Scout Sniper Course. (Photo by LCpl. Danielle Rodrigues/Released) - A Marine with 1st Marine Division, 7th Marine Regiment participates in stalking training aboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 27, 2015. The training was the last event during Division School’s 6-week-long Pre-Scout Sniper Course. (Photo by LCpl. Danielle Rodrigues/Released)

1/7 Attend Pre-Scout Sniper Course

Blending in with tall dry grass and patches of greenery, the stalker was indistinguishable to the pair of binoculars that were searching for him. Cpl. Fouad Cherair’s movements were slow and steady as he loaded a magazine into his weapon and prepared to fire. Off to the right of the two Marines who were trying to detect Cherair, the unexpected shot

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Master Sgt. David Jarvis, a reconnaissance Marine with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, and Capt. Patrick Zuber, a company commander for 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, are awarded for winning the 7th Annual Recon Challenge aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 15, 2015. The Marines received this honor from Col. Christopher J. Williams, the commanding officer of School of Infantry-West, and Master Gunnery Sgt. Brian Yarolem, the operations chief for Reconnaissance Training Company and event coordinator. - Master Sgt. David Jarvis, a reconnaissance Marine with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, and Capt. Patrick Zuber, a company commander for 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, are awarded for winning the 7th Annual Recon Challenge aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 15, 2015. The Marines received this honor from Col. Christopher J. Williams, the commanding officer of School of Infantry-West, and Master Gunnery Sgt. Brian Yarolem, the operations chief for Reconnaissance Training Company and event coordinator.

Setting the Recon Standard at the Recon Challenge

With the sound of five-foot swells crashing on the San Onofre shore, competitors in the 7th Annual Recon Challenge prepared themselves mentally for the day’s events. Service members from across the reconnaissance community came together aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 15, 2015, to honor their fallen brothers by competing in a

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PFC Michael Ainsworth, a mortarman with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, prepares to drop a mortar round during a combined-arms raid at Army National Training Center Fort Irwin, April 11, 2015. The raid was conducted by 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion as part of exercise Desert Scimitar 2015. - PFC Michael Ainsworth, a mortarman with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, prepares to drop a mortar round during a combined-arms raid at Army National Training Center Fort Irwin, April 11, 2015. The raid was conducted by 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion as part of exercise Desert Scimitar 2015.

Marines rain fire on the California desert

“Gun three half load,” exclaimed Lance Cpl. Cody Giroux, a mortar man with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. “Gun three, Fire!” The ground shook as the 81 mm high explosive round boomed out of the mortar and soared across the sky.Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion 5th Marines conducted mortar fire missions in support of 1st Light

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Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment provide security in a simulated combat town during the culminating event of Division School’s Urban Leaders Course aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 22, 2015. The three-week course is designed to prepare Marines to lead in an urban environment. - Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment provide security in a simulated combat town during the culminating event of Division School’s Urban Leaders Course aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 22, 2015. The three-week course is designed to prepare Marines to lead in an urban environment.

1/7 Participates in Urban Leaders Course

Yellow and green CS gas enveloped a group of Marines as they cleared an abandoned building from enemy threats. The sound of gunfire echoed loudly throughout the simulated combat town as the Marines took simulated fire from a nearby structure.This exercise on April 22-23, 2015, was the culminating event of Division School’s Urban Leaders Course.

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Clockwise from top left, 1st Lieutenant John Neail, tank commander, Cpl. Christian Bills, gunner, Lance Cpl. Robert Benaridez driver, Lance Cpl. Patrick Bellinger, loader, the crew for the M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank named “Star Lord” participated in Desert Scimitar aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. Desert Scimitar enables 1st Marine Division to test and refine its command and control capabilities and ensures 1st Marine Division units remain committed to consistently improving the quality of their training efforts and their resultant warfighting capabilities. - Clockwise from top left, 1st Lieutenant John Neail, tank commander, Cpl. Christian Bills, gunner, Lance Cpl. Robert Benaridez driver, Lance Cpl. Patrick Bellinger, loader, the crew for the M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank named “Star Lord” participated in Desert Scimitar aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. Desert Scimitar enables 1st Marine Division to test and refine its command and control capabilities and ensures 1st Marine Division units remain committed to consistently improving the quality of their training efforts and their resultant warfighting capabilities.

“Star Lord” blasts through Desert Scimitar

The sound of 70-ton tracked machines interrupted the calm hush of the desert as tank after tank rolled over the rugged terrain. They held their formation as they advanced toward anotional enemy position, firing their 120 mm main gun along the way.It was all in a day’s work for Marines with Company A, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

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Corporals Augusto R. Carlin and Deneaga D. McMillian, supply Marines with Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, take a moment during Exercise Desert Scimitar 2015 to take a photo before both Marines return home as the exercise comes to a close aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 15, 2015 . Carlin was inspired to join the military by his grandfather, George Carlin, who was a general in the Peruvian army. Although he was originally inspired to join the military by his family, he never anticipated the family he would find in the Marine Corps. - Corporals Augusto R. Carlin and Deneaga D. McMillian, supply Marines with Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, take a moment during Exercise Desert Scimitar 2015 to take a photo before both Marines return home as the exercise comes to a close aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 15, 2015 . Carlin was inspired to join the military by his grandfather, George Carlin, who was a general in the Peruvian army. Although he was originally inspired to join the military by his family, he never anticipated the family he would find in the Marine Corps.

Family Inspiration drives supply clerk to succeed

Inspiration can drive an individual in many directions. It can push one to reach higher and go farther than where they could go on their own. For Cpl. Augusto R. Carlin, a supply fiscal clerk with Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, inspiration came from his grandfather, George Carlin.“My grandfather would always tell me stories about him

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"Magnificent Seventh" Best in Show

With the sun beating down on their backs, sailors from the 1st Marine Division competed in the Sailor’s Cup aboard Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 24, 2015. This quarterly competition, which is usually held on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, was designed to test the sailors’ ability to work as a unit and complete

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Corporal Osmar S. Gorish, a section chief for Battery A, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, returns to his team with the new orders from his executive officer during Exercise Desert Scimitar 2015 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 20, 2015. The tough, realistic live-fire training central to Desert Scimitar allows Division units to train in order to maintain readiness and meet current and real-world operational demands. - Corporal Osmar S. Gorish, a section chief for Battery A, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, returns to his team with the new orders from his executive officer during Exercise Desert Scimitar 2015 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 20, 2015. The tough, realistic live-fire training central to Desert Scimitar allows Division units to train in order to maintain readiness and meet current and real-world operational demands.

From Bare Feet to Combat Boots

People come from different climes and places, from around the world, to join the ranks of the Unites States Marine Corps. For one Marine in particular, earning the title meant the biggest opportunity of his life. Being born in Colon, Panama, Cpl. Osmar S. Gorish, a section chief for Battery A, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine

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Cpl. Marcus Chischilly, from Phoenix, Ariz., takes a shot during basketball practice at Fort Carson, Colo., May 10 for the 2013 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo. Chischilly, infantryman by trade, suffered an above the knee amputation while conducting combat operations in Kajaki, Helmand province, Afghanistan, after he struck an improvised explosive devise. He plays wheelchair basketball with other wounded warrior Marines known as the Wolf Pack in Southern California.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel Wetzel/Released) - Cpl. Marcus Chischilly, from Phoenix, Ariz., takes a shot during basketball practice at Fort Carson, Colo., May 10 for the 2013 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo. Chischilly, infantryman by trade, suffered an above the knee amputation while conducting combat operations in Kajaki, Helmand province, Afghanistan, after he struck an improvised explosive devise. He plays wheelchair basketball with other wounded warrior Marines known as the Wolf Pack in Southern California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel Wetzel/Released)

Can’t keep a Darkhorse down: A story of overcoming adversity

After taking the reins in Sangin District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, began a hard-fought battle. By the time their tour ended in April 2011, the Marines of the battalion suffered the highest casualty rate of any U.S. Marine unit during the past 10 years of Operation Enduring Freedom, losing 25 Marines and

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