Rear Adm. Cynthia Thebaud, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group Two takes the shooter stance while she launches an F-35B Lightning II off the flight deck of USS Wasp, on the Atlantic Ocean, May 26, 2015. Wasp, with VMFA-121 and VMFAT-501 embarked, is underway conducting the first phase of operational testing for the F-35B aircraft, which will evaluate the full spectrum of F-35B measures of suitability and effectiveness in an at-sea environment. - Rear Adm. Cynthia Thebaud, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group Two takes the shooter stance while she launches an F-35B Lightning II off the flight deck of USS Wasp, on the Atlantic Ocean, May 26, 2015. Wasp, with VMFA-121 and VMFAT-501 embarked, is underway conducting the first phase of operational testing for the F-35B aircraft, which will evaluate the full spectrum of F-35B measures of suitability and effectiveness in an at-sea environment.

Corporal Chris Stewart, the senior crew chief aboard an MV-22B Osprey aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), communicates with pilots during a para-operations training with an 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 6, 2015. Reconnaissance Marines, rigged with parachutes, jumped from an altitude of 13,000 feet with the assistance of Marines with VMM-365 (Rein) to practice the airborne insertion. - Corporal Chris Stewart, the senior crew chief aboard an MV-22B Osprey aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), communicates with pilots during a para-operations training with an 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 6, 2015. Reconnaissance Marines, rigged with parachutes, jumped from an altitude of 13,000 feet with the assistance of Marines with VMM-365 (Rein) to practice the airborne insertion.

A UH-1Y Huey takes off alongside an AH-1W Super Cobra during a training exercise testing a digital interoperability system at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., July 24, 2015. Digital interoperability is the technology capable of increasing prowess on the battlefield. The exercise included Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467, Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, testing a LINK 16 conversion system for one of the first times within an explicitly rotary-wing exercise. - A UH-1Y Huey takes off alongside an AH-1W Super Cobra during a training exercise testing a digital interoperability system at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., July 24, 2015. Digital interoperability is the technology capable of increasing prowess on the battlefield. The exercise included Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467, Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, testing a LINK 16 conversion system for one of the first times within an explicitly rotary-wing exercise.

Marines, veterans and civilians gathered at Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort, S.C. for a Vietnam Veterans Tribute, Aug 8. The event was organized by veteran services to give Vietnam War veterans the welcome that many of them never received. - Marines, veterans and civilians gathered at Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort, S.C. for a Vietnam Veterans Tribute, Aug 8. The event was organized by veteran services to give Vietnam War veterans the welcome that many of them never received.

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Brazilian Major Rafael Pires Ferreira, an artillery officer with Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais, observes the tactical capabilities of 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment’s M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 9, 2015. The two Brazilian officers visited to share and discuss information on military operations, unit structure and different weapons systems. - Brazilian Major Rafael Pires Ferreira, an artillery officer with Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais, observes the tactical capabilities of 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment’s M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 9, 2015. The two Brazilian officers visited to share and discuss information on military operations, unit structure and different weapons systems.

U.S. Marines and sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the USS Ashland offload relief supplies from the ship for typhoon recovery efforts in Saipan, Aug. 8, 2015. The MEU and the ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group will assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency in delivering the supplies to the victims of Typhoon Soudelor in Saipan. The island, part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, was struck by the typhoon Aug. 2-3. - U.S. Marines and sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the USS Ashland offload relief supplies from the ship for typhoon recovery efforts in Saipan, Aug. 8, 2015. The MEU and the ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group will assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency in delivering the supplies to the victims of Typhoon Soudelor in Saipan. The island, part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, was struck by the typhoon Aug. 2-3.

Marines with 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion (LAAD) fire stinger missiles during a live shoot in Fort Irwin, California, Aug. 10. Marines also fired the 50 Caliber sniper rifle and the M240B machine gun during the five-day annual training. - Marines with 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion (LAAD) fire stinger missiles during a live shoot in Fort Irwin, California, Aug. 10. Marines also fired the 50 Caliber sniper rifle and the M240B machine gun during the five-day annual training.

A U.S. Navy corpsman, assigned to the 1st Marine Division, conducts tactical combat casualty care training during the Combat Trauma Management Course, taught by instructors from the 1st Mar. Div. Navy Education and Training Office, at the Strategic Operations facility, San Diego, July 30, 2015. The course, held once a month for 40 students, combines simulated injuries on role players and chaotic battlefield environments to prepare corpsmen and Marine combat life savers for the stress of saving lives in a real world operations. - A U.S. Navy corpsman, assigned to the 1st Marine Division, conducts tactical combat casualty care training during the Combat Trauma Management Course, taught by instructors from the 1st Mar. Div. Navy Education and Training Office, at the Strategic Operations facility, San Diego, July 30, 2015. The course, held once a month for 40 students, combines simulated injuries on role players and chaotic battlefield environments to prepare corpsmen and Marine combat life savers for the stress of saving lives in a real world operations.

Marines from 4th Combat Engineer Battalion, 4th Marine Division, take a few seconds to rest as Ospreys practice landing for a casualty evacuation during a battalion-level Fire Support Coordination Exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 14-24. The combat engineers' main role is to build, repair and maintain buildings, roads and power supplies. During the FSCEX, the Marines constructed trenches and tank traps. - Marines from 4th Combat Engineer Battalion, 4th Marine Division, take a few seconds to rest as Ospreys practice landing for a casualty evacuation during a battalion-level Fire Support Coordination Exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 14-24. The combat engineers' main role is to build, repair and maintain buildings, roads and power supplies. During the FSCEX, the Marines constructed trenches and tank traps.

A Marine with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, checks the line of sight on an 81mm Mortar during a training exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. July 30, 2015. Marines with the unit conducted “hip shoots” to better prepare them on the go. A “hip shoot” is where mortar teams receive a call for fire on the move and use their leadership and teamwork to set-up the mortars and begin supporting the unit. - A Marine with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, checks the line of sight on an 81mm Mortar during a training exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. July 30, 2015. Marines with the unit conducted “hip shoots” to better prepare them on the go. A “hip shoot” is where mortar teams receive a call for fire on the move and use their leadership and teamwork to set-up the mortars and begin supporting the unit.

Two F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters complete vertical landings aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) during the opening day of the first session of operational testing, May 18, 2015. As the future of Marine Corps aviation, the F-35B will eventually replace all aircraft from three legacy Marine Corps platforms; th AV-8B Harrier, the F/A-18 Hornet, and the EA-6B Prowler. The aircraft are stationed with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Beaufort, South Carolina and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Yuma, Arizona. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Remington Hall/Released) - Two F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters complete vertical landings aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) during the opening day of the first session of operational testing, May 18, 2015. As the future of Marine Corps aviation, the F-35B will eventually replace all aircraft from three legacy Marine Corps platforms; th AV-8B Harrier, the F/A-18 Hornet, and the EA-6B Prowler. The aircraft are stationed with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Beaufort, South Carolina and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Yuma, Arizona. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Remington Hall/Released)

U.S. Marines with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, make their way toward an objective before conducting a squad attack exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 28. Approximately 50 Marines with the unit participated in the training, which helped build unit cohesion and fire and maneuver skills. - U.S. Marines with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, make their way toward an objective before conducting a squad attack exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 28. Approximately 50 Marines with the unit participated in the training, which helped build unit cohesion and fire and maneuver skills.