Photos

Seaman Apprentice Kimberly McGlathery, right, a religious program specialist with Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and a native of Huntsville, Ala., performs a tactical reload during a fire and maneuver course while Sgt. Neil Nikirk, an Urban Leaders Course instructor serving with Division Schools, 1st Marine Division, and a native of Hillsboro, Ore., supervises during a live-fire range here, July 9, 2013. During the next couple weeks, Nikirk is training religious program specialists in various scenarios including room clearing and military operations on urban terrain.

Photo by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo

An Afghan National Army solder with the Signals Kandak, 215th Corps, watches as his fellow soldiers assemble a radio antenna during training here, July 1, 2013. "They know all the characteristics of all their radio equipment," said Staff Sgt. Leo Tapia, the radio chief with the Signals Kandak Adviser Team and a 30-year-old native of Yakima, Wash. "I quiz them on a daily basis. I ask all the soldiers questions about each radio, and they have really impressed me."

Photo by Sgt. Ned Johnson

Staff Sgt. Leo Tapia, the radio chief with the Signals Kandak Adviser Team, assists an Afghan National Army soldier with assembling a radio antenna here, July 1, 2013. Tapia, a 30-year-old native of Yakima, Wash., teaches the Afghan soldiers radio and antenna theory to help them understand how and why their equipment works.

Photo by Sgt. Ned Johnson

Afghan National Army soldiers with the Signals Kandak, 215th Corps, assemble a radio antenna during training here, July 1, 2013. The Afghan soldiers train to learn antenna communications so they can be ready for any situation, said Staff Sgt. Leo Tapia, the radio chief with the Signals Kandak Adviser Team.

Photo by Sgt. Ned Johnson

Staff Sgt. Leo Tapia, the radio chief with the Signals Kandak Adviser Team, supervises Afghan National Army soldiers with the Signals Kandak, 215th Corps, during training here, July 1, 2013. "I want them to be effective communicators, so we build them from the ground up," said Tapia, a 30-year-old native of Yakima, Wash. "I don't want them to be out there in a real life situation and not be able to communicate."

Photo by Sgt. Ned Johnson

Colonel Jason Q. Bohm, the 5th Marine Regiment commanding officer, speaks during a change of command ceremony for 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, at the Camp San Mateo parade deck here, June 26, 2013. During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Christeon C. Griffin relinquished command of Darkhorse battalion to Lt. Col. Robert C. Rice. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)

Photo by Sgt. Jacob Harrer

Lieutenant Col. Christeon C. Griffin (right), the former commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and Lt. Col. Robert C. Rice (left), the incoming commanding officer, salute during a change of command ceremony at the Camp San Mateo parade deck here, June 26, 2013. The Darkhorse battalion is one of the oldest Marine battalions in existence and has fought in every major war since World War I. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)

Photo by Sgt. Jacob Harrer

Lieutenant Col. Christeon C. Griffin, the outgoing commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, hands the battalion colors to Lt. Col. Robert C. Rice, the battalion's incoming commanding officer, during a change of command ceremony at the Camp San Mateo parade deck here, June 26, 2013. The passing of the colors signified the transfer of authority and responsibility from one commander to the next. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)

Photo by Sgt. Jacob Harrer

Lieutenant Col. Christeon C. Griffin, the former commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, speaks during a change of command ceremony at the Camp San Mateo parade deck here, June 26, 2013. Griffin, a native of Mims, Fla., said the battalion's rich legacy of service helped inspire the Marines to work hard and uphold that legacy. During his tenure as commanding officer, the battalion deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, visiting East Timor, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and other nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)

Photo by Sgt. Jacob Harrer

Colonel Jason Q. Bohm, (center) the incoming commanding officer of 5th Marine Regiment, passes the regimental colors to Sgt. Maj. Alberto Ruiz, (right) the regiment's sergeant major, during a change of command ceremony at the Camp San Mateo helicopter landing pad here, June 25, 2013. Brohm, a native of Oyster Bay, N.Y., assumed command of the regiment from Col. Roger B. Turner, the regiment's outgoing commanding officer and native of Laurel, Md.

Photo by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo

Canadian soldiers serving with 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, move into an urban training course behind the cover of a M1A1 Abrams tank during Exercise Dawn Blitz here, June 21, 2013. Canadian soldiers coordinated movements with Marines from 1st Tank Battalion to clear the mock village of enemy role players. Dawn Blitz 2013 is a multinational amphibious exercise that promotes interoperability between the Navy and Marine Corps and coalition partners, June 11-28. Participating countries include Canada, Japan, New Zealand and military observers from seven countries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)

Photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer

Canadian Army Sapper Alexander Boucher, a section member serving with 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, takes cover inside a building while a M1A1 Abrams Tank provides cover during Exercise Dawn Blitz here, June 21, 2013. Canadian soldiers coordinated movements with Marines from 1st Tank Battalion to clear the mock village of enemy role players. Dawn Blitz 2013 is a multinational amphibious exercise off the Southern California coast that refocuses Navy and Marine Corps and coalition forces in their ability to conduct complex amphibious operations essential for global crisis response across the range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)

Photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer

Canadian soldiers serving with 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, move into an urban training course while a M1A1 Abrams tank provides security during Exercise Dawn Blitz here, June 21, 2013. Canadian soldiers coordinated movements with Marines from 1st Tank Battalion to clear the mock village of enemy role players. Dawn Blitz 2013 is a multinational amphibious exercise off the Southern California coast that refocuses Navy and Marine Corps and coalition forces in their ability to conduct complex amphibious operations essential for global crisis response across the range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)

Photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer

New Zealand soldiers serving with 2nd 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, maneuver through an urban training course while M1A1 Abrams tanks provide security during Exercise Dawn Blitz here, June 21, 2013. New Zealand soldiers cleared each building and coordinated movements with Marines from 1st Tank Battalion. Dawn Blitz 2013 is a multinational amphibious exercise off the Southern California coast that refocuses Navy and Marine Corps and coalition forces in their ability to conduct complex amphibious operations essential for global crisis response across the range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)

Photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer

Canadian soldiers serving with 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, guard the sides and rear of a M1A1 Abrams tank during Exercise Dawn Blitz here, June 21, 2013. When maneuvering through urban terrain, tanks require troops on the ground to watch for enemies in the vehicle's blind spots. Dawn Blitz 2013 is a scenario-driven exercise designed to test Navy and Marine Corps forces at the Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) and Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) level, while promoting military-to-military cooperation and interoperability with partnered nations. Participating countries include Canada, Japan, New Zealand and military observers from seven countries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)

Photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer

Canadian soldiers serving with 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, move into an urban training course while a M1A1 Abrams tank provides security during Exercise Dawn Blitz here, June 21, 2013. Canadian soldiers coordinated movements with Marines from 1st Tank Battalion to clear the mock village of enemy role players. Dawn Blitz 2013 is a scenario-driven exercise designed to test Navy and Marine Corps forces at the Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) and Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) level, while promoting military-to-military cooperation and interoperability with partnered nations. Participating countries include Canada, Japan, New Zealand and military observers from seven countries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)

Photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer

A New Zealand soldier serving with 2nd 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, leaps over a trench as he maneuvers through an urban training course while a M1A1 Abrams tank provides security during Exercise Dawn Blitz here, June 21, 2013. New Zealand soldiers cleared each building and coordinated movements with Marines from 1st Tank Battalion. Dawn Blitz 2013 is a scenario-driven exercise designed to test Navy and Marine Corps forces at the Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) and Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) level, while promoting military-to-military cooperation and interoperability with partnered nations. Participating countries include Canada, Japan, New Zealand and military observers from seven countries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)

Photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer

Canadian soldiers serving with 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, hunt for enemy role players on a rooftop during Exercise Dawn Blitz here, June 21, 2013. Canadian soldiers coordinated movements with Marines from 1st Tank Battalion to clear the mock village of enemy role players. Dawn Blitz 2013 is a multinational amphibious exercise that promotes interoperability between the Navy and Marine Corps and coalition partners, June 11-28. Participating countries include Canada, Japan, New Zealand and military observers from seven countries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)

Photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer

Canadian soldiers serving with 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, move into an urban training course while a M1A1 Abrams tank provides security during Exercise Dawn Blitz here, June 21, 2013. Canadian soldiers coordinated movements with Marines from 1st Tank Battalion to clear the mock village of enemy role players. Dawn Blitz 2013 is a multinational amphibious exercise off the Southern California coast that refocuses Navy and Marine Corps and coalition forces in their ability to conduct complex amphibious operations essential for global crisis response across the range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)

Photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer

New Zealand Army soldier Nori D. Lee, an infantryman serving with 2nd 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, prepares to maneuver through an urban training course while a M1A1 Abrams tank provides security during Exercise Dawn Blitz here, June 21, 2013. Marines with 1st Tank Battalion pushed forward while New Zealand soldiers cleared multi-story buildings to protect the tanks during the advance. Dawn Blitz 2013 is a multinational amphibious exercise off the Southern California coast that refocuses Navy and Marine Corps and coalition forces in their ability to conduct complex amphibious operations essential for global crisis response across the range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)

Photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer