General Paul Xavier Kelley, 91, 28th commandant of the Marine Corps, was laid to rest Feb. 13, at Arlington National Cemetery. Kelley passed away Dec. 29, 2019, in McLean, Virginia.General David H. Berger, 38th commandant of the Marine Corps, said Kelley’s leadership, passion and courage drove people to follow him, regardless of the situation, as he was known as a Marine’s Marine.“His contributions to our Corps and leadership through a tumultuous period ensured that we have been ready when our nation needed us,” said Berger. “Although his presence will be deeply missed, his legacy will serve as an inspiration to us all for years to come.”Kelley was born Nov. 11, 1928, in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating from Villanova University with

U.S. Marines from across III Marine Expeditionary Force, and members of 5th Brigade, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, say goodbye as exercise Northern Viper 2020 comes to an end, concluding the training that has taken place for the last few weeks in Hokudaien and Yausubetsu Training Areas, Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 26 to Feb. 8, 2020.Over the past two weeks, a total of over 3,000 U.S. and Japan forces conducted a variety of training events. Starting off, the Marines were taught how to simply move on skis; a skill well rehearsed by the members of the Northern Army. They progressed to moving with weight and eventually reached a level of proficiency that enabled them to fire and maneuver on a live-fire range, all while on skis. “The Marine

U.S. Marines with Information Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force participated in a HAM Amateur Radio General Licensing Course as part of the group’s High Frequency Auxiliary Initiative on base, Jan. 27-31, 2020.The course, taught by members of the Brightleaf Amateur Radio Club, out of Greenville, N.C., helps Marines learn the principles of high frequency radio operations as a contingency against a peer-to-peer adversary in real-world operations.Throughout the duration of the course, Marines learned HAM radio frequency and propagation theory, frequency band allocation, conventional and field-expedient antenna theory in addition to HAM radio operations and control.U.S. Marine Corps Col. Jordan Walzer, commanding officer of II MIG, created

Pendleton Marines participated in a wreath laying ceremony hosted by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in honor of Ronald Reagan’s 109th birthday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Feb. 6.The ceremony is an annual event to commemorate the life and legacy of the 40th president of the United States, with a ceremony being held every year on his birthday by presidential declaration since his death in 2004.For 16 years, Pendleton Marines have played a crucial role in the ceremony, providing a funeral honors team, a color guard, and a speech from the base commanding general.“It’s a real honor to be able to lay this wreath on a former presidents’ gravesite,” said Cpl. Dylan Ackerman, an administrative specialist with

U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations – From sunrise to sunset, Marines assigned to the Battalion Landing Team and Combat Logistics Battalion conduct training every day to increase their physical fitness, knowledge and lethality aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill.On most days, training begins before sunrise. Marines from the BLT can be found on the flight deck conducting drills with various weapon systems. Typically they consist of remedial actions, to clear a weapon’s malfunction, as well as focusing on speed reloads. Performing these drills in complete darkness refines the Marines’ ability to be proficient in darkened and low-light situations. During these drills, Marines learn to react quickly in the event of a rifle