Diversity AIMED Officer Program 2023 - Participants of the Marine Forces Reserve Diversity AIMED Officer Program (DAOP) pose for a photo with senior leaders at The Basic School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Aug. 17, 2023. DAOP identifies talented and diverse enlisted Marines who may become future senior officers in the coming decades. These upcoming leaders will help build and fight the most lethal and survivable Marine Corps imaginable to continue winning the Nation's battles.

Multiple nations participating in the cyber security defense training pose for a group photo during Tradewinds 2023 in Georgetown, Guyana, July 26, 2023. Tradewinds is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise designed to strengthen partnerships and interoperability, promote human rights, as well as increase all participants training capacity and to mitigate, plan for and respond to crisis and security threats. - Multiple nations participating in the cyber security defense training pose for a group photo during Tradewinds 2023 in Georgetown, Guyana, July 26, 2023. Tradewinds is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise designed to strengthen partnerships and interoperability, promote human rights, as well as increase all participants training capacity and to mitigate, plan for and respond to crisis and security threats.

U.S. Marines Corps 1st Lt. David Powell, an assault amphibian vehicle commander with 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion, 4th Marine Division, guards the perimeter of a UH-1Y Venom landing zone during riverine operations training on the Río Sinú during UNITAS LXIV near Base de Entrenamiento de Infantería de Marina in Coveñas, Colombia, July 14, 2023. Through event-driven scenarios, UNITAS provides unique training opportunities both at sea and ashore in challenging and uncertain environments to conduct joint maritime operations through the execution of surface, air, amphibious and electronic warfare operations that enhance warfighting proficiency and increase interoperability among participating naval and marine forces. - U.S. Marines Corps 1st Lt. David Powell, an assault amphibian vehicle commander with 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion, 4th Marine Division, guards the perimeter of a UH-1Y Venom landing zone during riverine operations training on the Río Sinú during UNITAS LXIV near Base de Entrenamiento de Infantería de Marina in Coveñas, Colombia, July 14, 2023. Through event-driven scenarios, UNITAS provides unique training opportunities both at sea and ashore in challenging and uncertain environments to conduct joint maritime operations through the execution of surface, air, amphibious and electronic warfare operations that enhance warfighting proficiency and increase interoperability among participating naval and marine forces.

U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Nkundimana Claude, a fire team leader assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, is pinned as a 2nd Lt. during his commissioning ceremony at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, June 17, 2023. Claude moved to the United States from Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa and enlisted in the Marine Corps to become a U.S. citizen. He then graduated from Texas State University and commissioned as an officer. - U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Nkundimana Claude, a fire team leader assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, is pinned as a 2nd Lt. during his commissioning ceremony at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, June 17, 2023. Claude moved to the United States from Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa and enlisted in the Marine Corps to become a U.S. citizen. He then graduated from Texas State University and commissioned as an officer.

Alex LoRusso, one of the two victims of a car collision saved by Sgt. Joseph Howard, a Yonkers, New York native and an infantry mortarman with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, poses for a photo with Howard, at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, Dec. 9, 2022. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is the highest non-combatant decoration awarded. On Dec 30, 2017, at the time a lance corporal, Howard witnessed a car collision between four vehicles. Victims were trapped in a vehicle that had flipped eight times over a distance of 300 feet. Howard extracted the two unconscious victims from the car that continued to leak fuel. As he moved the second victim to safety, the vehicle was engulfed in flames and exploded. He then reassessed their injuries and provided life-saving first aid until first responders arrived. By his bold initiative and unwavering dedication to duty, Lance Cpl. Howard reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and United States Naval Service. LoRusso suffered severe life-threatening injuries but despite the circumstances he was able to recover and is now thriving. - Alex LoRusso, one of the two victims of a car collision saved by Sgt. Joseph Howard, a Yonkers, New York native and an infantry mortarman with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, poses for a photo with Howard, at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, Dec. 9, 2022. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is the highest non-combatant decoration awarded. On Dec 30, 2017, at the time a lance corporal, Howard witnessed a car collision between four vehicles. Victims were trapped in a vehicle that had flipped eight times over a distance of 300 feet. Howard extracted the two unconscious victims from the car that continued to leak fuel. As he moved the second victim to safety, the vehicle was engulfed in flames and exploded. He then reassessed their injuries and provided life-saving first aid until first responders arrived. By his bold initiative and unwavering dedication to duty, Lance Cpl. Howard reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and United States Naval Service. LoRusso suffered severe life-threatening injuries but despite the circumstances he was able to recover and is now thriving.

A U.S. Airman with the 163rd Attack Wing, California Air National Guard, directs an MQ-9 Reaper to a refueling point during Integrated Training Exercise 4-22 at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, Calif. on July 20th, 2022. The MQ-9 Reaper received fuel via aviation delivered ground refueling from an MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 764, marking the first time the MQ-9 received fuel from a joint asset and the first time an Air National Guard MQ-9 received fuel from another aircraft. The MQ-9 Reaper provided close air support to Marine Air-Ground Task Force 23 during its execution of the fire support coordination exercise of ITX as the Marine Corps Reserve continues to work to integrate with sister services in preparation for future operations. - A U.S. Airman with the 163rd Attack Wing, California Air National Guard, directs an MQ-9 Reaper to a refueling point during Integrated Training Exercise 4-22 at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, Calif. on July 20th, 2022. The MQ-9 Reaper received fuel via aviation delivered ground refueling from an MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 764, marking the first time the MQ-9 received fuel from a joint asset and the first time an Air National Guard MQ-9 received fuel from another aircraft. The MQ-9 Reaper provided close air support to Marine Air-Ground Task Force 23 during its execution of the fire support coordination exercise of ITX as the Marine Corps Reserve continues to work to integrate with sister services in preparation for future operations.

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Song, right, a C-40A Clipper crew chief with Marine Transport Squadron 1, Marine Aircraft Group 41, Marine Forces Reserve, poses with other Marines with VMR-1 after the first C-40A Clipper mission conducted by solely by Marines at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Song, right, a C-40A Clipper crew chief with Marine Transport Squadron 1, Marine Aircraft Group 41, Marine Forces Reserve, poses with other Marines with VMR-1 after the first C-40A Clipper mission conducted by solely by Marines at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas.

Col. Victor Pastor, Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3/5, 4th Marine Division, discusses force design and establishing a crisis response force Dec. 15, 2021, at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans. II MEF and MARFORRES are the Marine Corps’ service-retained forces administratively and operationally controlled by the Marine Corps instead of a combatant command, such as most Marines stationed in California and Japan who are aligned to support U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The importance of these operational planning teams is to establish the process needed to create an effective service-retained crisis response force to respond to global threats outside of USINDOPACOM area of responsibility. MARFORRES and II MEF are the Marine Corps’ service-retained forces, which means they are administratively and operationally controlled by the Marine Corps. - Col. Victor Pastor, Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3/5, 4th Marine Division, discusses force design and establishing a crisis response force Dec. 15, 2021, at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans. II MEF and MARFORRES are the Marine Corps’ service-retained forces administratively and operationally controlled by the Marine Corps instead of a combatant command, such as most Marines stationed in California and Japan who are aligned to support U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The importance of these operational planning teams is to establish the process needed to create an effective service-retained crisis response force to respond to global threats outside of USINDOPACOM area of responsibility. MARFORRES and II MEF are the Marine Corps’ service-retained forces, which means they are administratively and operationally controlled by the Marine Corps.

A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 takes off from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 18, 2021. VMFA-112 participated in a joint maritime strike rehearsal with the U.S. Navy off the coast of Okinawa, Nov 19, 2021. U.S. Marines with VMFA-112 routinely train and rehearse joint maritime mission sets in order to maintain readiness to carry out a wide range of operational tasks in a region characterized by vast oceans, seas, and waterways. - A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 takes off from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 18, 2021. VMFA-112 participated in a joint maritime strike rehearsal with the U.S. Navy off the coast of Okinawa, Nov 19, 2021. U.S. Marines with VMFA-112 routinely train and rehearse joint maritime mission sets in order to maintain readiness to carry out a wide range of operational tasks in a region characterized by vast oceans, seas, and waterways.

Lance Cpl. Anthony Bryan, a water support technician with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command, reviews recently purified water’s chlorine level during the command post exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 8, 2020. Water support technician Marines used lightweight water purification systems to purify water before providing it to the combat engineer Marines working at another site. The CPX increases readiness and challenges SPMAGTF-SC command and control, communications and timely decision-making capabilities through simulated real-world scenarios. SPMAGTF-SC will be deployed into the Southern Command area of operation to provide crisis response preparedness efforts, security cooperation training and engineering events to help strengthen relations with partner nations throughout Central and South America. Bryan is a native of Eugene, Oregon. - Lance Cpl. Anthony Bryan, a water support technician with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command, reviews recently purified water’s chlorine level during the command post exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 8, 2020. Water support technician Marines used lightweight water purification systems to purify water before providing it to the combat engineer Marines working at another site. The CPX increases readiness and challenges SPMAGTF-SC command and control, communications and timely decision-making capabilities through simulated real-world scenarios. SPMAGTF-SC will be deployed into the Southern Command area of operation to provide crisis response preparedness efforts, security cooperation training and engineering events to help strengthen relations with partner nations throughout Central and South America. Bryan is a native of Eugene, Oregon.

U.S. Marines conduct a simulated assault during a force on force training event during exercise Northern Viper on Yausubetsu Training Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Feb. 7, 2020. - U.S. Marines conduct a simulated assault during a force on force training event during exercise Northern Viper on Yausubetsu Training Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Feb. 7, 2020.

Service members from across the nation receive a brief at Ponce, Puerto Rico, April 26, 2019, during Innovative Readiness Training Puerto Rico. Marine Forces Reserve Sailors are working jointly with several National Guard and Reserve units from across the nation to provide medical care in Puerto Rico during a two-week medical exercise. - Service members from across the nation receive a brief at Ponce, Puerto Rico, April 26, 2019, during Innovative Readiness Training Puerto Rico. Marine Forces Reserve Sailors are working jointly with several National Guard and Reserve units from across the nation to provide medical care in Puerto Rico during a two-week medical exercise.

Brig. Gen. Bradley S. James, commanding general of 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, reads a letter written by Gen. Robert B. Neller, Commandant of the Marine Corps, addressing retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Hershel “Woody” Williams, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from the Battle of Iwo Jima, for his 95th birthday at the National World War II Museum, Oct. 2, 2018. Part of the letter stated, “This is a remarkable milestone and I hope it will offer you the opportunity to reflect on a lifetime of achievements.” (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl Tessa D. Watts) - Brig. Gen. Bradley S. James, commanding general of 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, reads a letter written by Gen. Robert B. Neller, Commandant of the Marine Corps, addressing retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Hershel “Woody” Williams, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from the Battle of Iwo Jima, for his 95th birthday at the National World War II Museum, Oct. 2, 2018. Part of the letter stated, “This is a remarkable milestone and I hope it will offer you the opportunity to reflect on a lifetime of achievements.” (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl Tessa D. Watts)