U.S. FIFTH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (Dec. 22, 2017) – Marines and Sailors with USS San Diego and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit pass boxes during a replenishment at sea. San Diego, with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region. - U.S. FIFTH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (Dec. 22, 2017) – Marines and Sailors with USS San Diego and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit pass boxes during a replenishment at sea. San Diego, with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region.

Colonel Giles R. Boyce, the commanding officer for Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, renames the staff non-commissioned officer barracks on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 22, 2017. Dorris Hall is named after the Navy Cross recipient, Staff Sgt. Claude H. Dorris, a squad leader with the Combined Action Program during the Vietnam War, who went above and beyond the call of duty. - Colonel Giles R. Boyce, the commanding officer for Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, renames the staff non-commissioned officer barracks on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 22, 2017. Dorris Hall is named after the Navy Cross recipient, Staff Sgt. Claude H. Dorris, a squad leader with the Combined Action Program during the Vietnam War, who went above and beyond the call of duty.

Marine Corps Base Quantico welcomes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Microsoft Software and Systems Academy, Jan. 8, which will allow Marines to get training for promising careers in information technology and various STEM fields. - Marine Corps Base Quantico welcomes Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Microsoft Software and Systems Academy, Jan. 8, which will allow Marines to get training for promising careers in information technology and various STEM fields.

Lance Cpl. Miguel Salazar, an unmanned aerial vehicle technician with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, returns an RQ-7 Shadow to the VMU-4 hanger at Camp Wilson, Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, June 22, 2017. VMU-4 provided aerial reconnaissance in support of the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, MARFORRES final battalion exercise of ITX 4-17. - Lance Cpl. Miguel Salazar, an unmanned aerial vehicle technician with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve, returns an RQ-7 Shadow to the VMU-4 hanger at Camp Wilson, Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, June 22, 2017. VMU-4 provided aerial reconnaissance in support of the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, MARFORRES final battalion exercise of ITX 4-17.

Marines conduct a field user evaluation for the Identity Dominance System-Marine Corps, or IDS-MC, in Dahlgren, Virginia. In September, Marine Corps Systems Command completed fielding of the IDS-MC, which is a new biometrics system to help deployed Marines identify and track the movement of individuals encountered on the battlefield, conduct entry control point operations, and determine who is a friend or foe. - Marines conduct a field user evaluation for the Identity Dominance System-Marine Corps, or IDS-MC, in Dahlgren, Virginia. In September, Marine Corps Systems Command completed fielding of the IDS-MC, which is a new biometrics system to help deployed Marines identify and track the movement of individuals encountered on the battlefield, conduct entry control point operations, and determine who is a friend or foe.

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), picks up an AV-8B Harrier engine to transport it from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) to the fleet replenishment ship USNS Big Horn (T-AO-198) during a Helicopter Support Team mission as part of Combined Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), Dec. 1, 2017, in the Atlantic Ocean. The exercise allows all elements of the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) to join and train in realistic scenarios so the MEU as a whole can meet its Pre-Deployment Training Program objectives prior to their upcoming deployment at sea. - A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), picks up an AV-8B Harrier engine to transport it from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) to the fleet replenishment ship USNS Big Horn (T-AO-198) during a Helicopter Support Team mission as part of Combined Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), Dec. 1, 2017, in the Atlantic Ocean. The exercise allows all elements of the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) to join and train in realistic scenarios so the MEU as a whole can meet its Pre-Deployment Training Program objectives prior to their upcoming deployment at sea.

A service member running the 42nd Marine Corps Marathon Forward approaches the 10-mile mark of the 26.2-mile race while deployed in the Middle East Oct. 22, 2017. The Marine Corps Marathon Forward gave Marines deployed with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command the opportunity to run the ‘Peoples Marathon’ while far from home. The Marine Corps Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the world and hosts the event in forward locations to allow service members outside the United States an opportunity to compete. - A service member running the 42nd Marine Corps Marathon Forward approaches the 10-mile mark of the 26.2-mile race while deployed in the Middle East Oct. 22, 2017. The Marine Corps Marathon Forward gave Marines deployed with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command the opportunity to run the ‘Peoples Marathon’ while far from home. The Marine Corps Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the world and hosts the event in forward locations to allow service members outside the United States an opportunity to compete.

Oshana also explained why he decided to become an infantry first sergeant. - U.S. Marine 1st Sgt. Gilbert G. Oshana, Baker Company, 1st Marine Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment recounted why he believes in this country and the Marine Corps. Oshana also explained why he decided to become an infantry first sergeant.

Sergeant Mike Stachowski greets Archibald Mosley, May 27, at the Colp Area Veterans Celebration, Dedication and Remembrance Ceremony, in Colp, Illinois. The ceremony honored fallen service members, Mosley and three other African American Marines from Colp, who were among the first black Americans to join Marine Corps during World War II. They became known as the Montford Point Marines. Nearly 20,000 African-Americans joined the Marine Corps in 1942, after President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a “presidential directive giving African Americans an opportunity to be recruited in the Marine Corps,” according to the Montford Point Marines Association website. They didn’t receive recruit training at San Diego or Parris Island, however, but Camp Montford Point, N.C., a segregated training site for African American Marine recruits. For the next seven years, the camp remained opened until it became desegregated. The four Marines are Sol Griffin, Jr.; James L. Kirby, Early Taylor, Jr. and Archibald Mosley. These Marines, among many other Montford Point Marines across the country, were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award that can be given to a civilian by Congress, in 2012. - Sergeant Mike Stachowski greets Archibald Mosley, May 27, at the Colp Area Veterans Celebration, Dedication and Remembrance Ceremony, in Colp, Illinois. The ceremony honored fallen service members, Mosley and three other African American Marines from Colp, who were among the first black Americans to join Marine Corps during World War II. They became known as the Montford Point Marines. Nearly 20,000 African-Americans joined the Marine Corps in 1942, after President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a “presidential directive giving African Americans an opportunity to be recruited in the Marine Corps,” according to the Montford Point Marines Association website. They didn’t receive recruit training at San Diego or Parris Island, however, but Camp Montford Point, N.C., a segregated training site for African American Marine recruits. For the next seven years, the camp remained opened until it became desegregated. The four Marines are Sol Griffin, Jr.; James L. Kirby, Early Taylor, Jr. and Archibald Mosley. These Marines, among many other Montford Point Marines across the country, were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award that can be given to a civilian by Congress, in 2012.

Pfc. Benjamin Kelly, machinegunner, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, provides security as a CH-53 ‘Super Stallion’ helicopter lands at Del Valle Field during a non-combatant Evacuation Operation exercise as part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 2-17 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 21, 2017. NEO exercises simulate real-life scenarios where non-combatants are evacuated from a potentially hostile area. - Pfc. Benjamin Kelly, machinegunner, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, provides security as a CH-53 ‘Super Stallion’ helicopter lands at Del Valle Field during a non-combatant Evacuation Operation exercise as part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 2-17 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 21, 2017. NEO exercises simulate real-life scenarios where non-combatants are evacuated from a potentially hostile area.

Marines with Echo Company 2nd Battalion 6th marines return from conducting fast rope training in support of Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 during the semiannual Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 2-17, at Auxiliary Airfield II, Yuma, Arizona, April 7, 2017. Lasting seven weeks, WTI is a training evolution hosted by MAWTS-1 which provides standardized advanced and tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine aviation training and readiness. - Marines with Echo Company 2nd Battalion 6th marines return from conducting fast rope training in support of Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 during the semiannual Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 2-17, at Auxiliary Airfield II, Yuma, Arizona, April 7, 2017. Lasting seven weeks, WTI is a training evolution hosted by MAWTS-1 which provides standardized advanced and tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine aviation training and readiness.

Marines with the School of Infantry West observe a UH-1Y Huey with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 during an aerial demonstration at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 11. Marines with HMLAT-303 conducted basic flight maneuvers during the demonstration to build cohesion between air and ground Marines. - Marines with the School of Infantry West observe a UH-1Y Huey with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 during an aerial demonstration at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 11. Marines with HMLAT-303 conducted basic flight maneuvers during the demonstration to build cohesion between air and ground Marines.

Sgt. 1st Class Midsru Miyazaki, center, coordinates with Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 204 during a pre-flight brief at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., April 7, 2017. Miyazaki has been training to become the first Japanese MV-22 Osprey crew chief. VMMT-204’s mission is to provide training to Osprey pilots, crew chiefs and units in the use and maintenance of the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. VMMT-204 is assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. - Sgt. 1st Class Midsru Miyazaki, center, coordinates with Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 204 during a pre-flight brief at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., April 7, 2017. Miyazaki has been training to become the first Japanese MV-22 Osprey crew chief. VMMT-204’s mission is to provide training to Osprey pilots, crew chiefs and units in the use and maintenance of the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. VMMT-204 is assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.