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Marine infantrymen make their way to a compound held by Guam Army National Guard who are acting as an opposing force Sept. 20 during the island seizure portion of Exercise Valiant Shield 2014 at Tinian’s North Field. The Marines were transported from Okinawa to Guam and from there to Tinian. Valiant Shield is a U.S.-only exercise integrating Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps assets, offering real-world joint operational experience to develop capabilities that provide a full range of options to defend U.S. interests and those of its allies and partners. The Marines are with Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. D. A. Walters/ Released) - Marine infantrymen make their way to a compound held by Guam Army National Guard who are acting as an opposing force Sept. 20 during the island seizure portion of Exercise Valiant Shield 2014 at Tinian’s North Field. The Marines were transported from Okinawa to Guam and from there to Tinian. Valiant Shield is a U.S.-only exercise integrating Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps assets, offering real-world joint operational experience to develop capabilities that provide a full range of options to defend U.S. interests and those of its allies and partners. The Marines are with Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. D. A. Walters/ Released)

Marines set up concertina wire around a weather observation compound in preparation of Valiant Shield 2014 at Tinian, North Marianas Islands. Valiant Shield is a U.S.-only exercise integrating U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army and Marine Corps assets, offering real-world joint operational experience to develop capabilities that provide a full range of options to defend U.S. interests and those of its allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Ngiraswei/ Released) - Marines set up concertina wire around a weather observation compound in preparation of Valiant Shield 2014 at Tinian, North Marianas Islands. Valiant Shield is a U.S.-only exercise integrating U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army and Marine Corps assets, offering real-world joint operational experience to develop capabilities that provide a full range of options to defend U.S. interests and those of its allies and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Ngiraswei/ Released)

Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadrons 171 and 172, both currently assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, use a jackhammer to drive a stake into the ground as part of the M31 Marine Corps expeditionary arresting gear system installation in preparation for Valiant Shield 2014. Arresting gear is used to stop aircraft quickly in case they land on a short runway or experience an emergency. Valiant Shield is a biennial exercise which focuses on training that enables real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces. - Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadrons 171 and 172, both currently assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, use a jackhammer to drive a stake into the ground as part of the M31 Marine Corps expeditionary arresting gear system installation in preparation for Valiant Shield 2014. Arresting gear is used to stop aircraft quickly in case they land on a short runway or experience an emergency. Valiant Shield is a biennial exercise which focuses on training that enables real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces.

Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, left, shakes hands with Col. Christopher B. Snyder,Sept. 6 during a day of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training on and around Miyako Island. The drills marked the first time members of the Okinawa Prefectural Government hosted a series of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief drills with full-fledged participation by the Japan Self-Defense Forces and U.S. Marines. Nakaima is the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture and Snyder is the deputy commander with Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. - Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, left, shakes hands with Col. Christopher B. Snyder,Sept. 6 during a day of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training on and around Miyako Island. The drills marked the first time members of the Okinawa Prefectural Government hosted a series of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief drills with full-fledged participation by the Japan Self-Defense Forces and U.S. Marines. Nakaima is the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture and Snyder is the deputy commander with Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Marine Corps Installations Pacific.

Marines stand guard at a warehouse during exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian Aug. 22 at Camp Kinser. The Marines are training for real combat situations in the Asia-Pacific region by checking for security badges, security access levels and searching all bags entering the grounds. The Marines are with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines stand guard at a warehouse during exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian Aug. 22 at Camp Kinser. The Marines are training for real combat situations in the Asia-Pacific region by checking for security badges, security access levels and searching all bags entering the grounds. The Marines are with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

A Marine works on a generator Sept. 1 on Tinian during preparation for Exercise Valiant Shield 2014. The squadron’s mission during the exercise is to prepare an airstrip and provide support for all participating units. Valiant Shield is a biennial exercise which focuses on the integration of joint training among U.S. forces. The Marine is with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - A Marine works on a generator Sept. 1 on Tinian during preparation for Exercise Valiant Shield 2014. The squadron’s mission during the exercise is to prepare an airstrip and provide support for all participating units. Valiant Shield is a biennial exercise which focuses on the integration of joint training among U.S. forces. The Marine is with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Lt. Gen. John Toolan, commander, U. S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, addresses the Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit following the culminating joint amphibious demonstration of Malaysia-United States Amphibious Exercise 2014 at Kg Tanduo Beach, Malaysia, Sept. 2. MALUS AMPHEX 14 is a bilateral exercise between the 11th MEU and Malaysian Armed Forces that includes operational and tactical level training in planning, command and control, and combat service support using both ground and sea assets. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Rome M. Lazarus/Released) - Lt. Gen. John Toolan, commander, U. S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, addresses the Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit following the culminating joint amphibious demonstration of Malaysia-United States Amphibious Exercise 2014 at Kg Tanduo Beach, Malaysia, Sept. 2. MALUS AMPHEX 14 is a bilateral exercise between the 11th MEU and Malaysian Armed Forces that includes operational and tactical level training in planning, command and control, and combat service support using both ground and sea assets. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Rome M. Lazarus/Released)

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Divers look upon the sunken remains of a Vietnam-era amphibious landing craft, that allegedly went under during a demonstration for the Secretary of the Navy on Pyramid Rock Beach, Marine Corps Base Hawaii. (Courtesy photo from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) - MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Divers look upon the sunken remains of a Vietnam-era amphibious landing craft, that allegedly went under during a demonstration for the Secretary of the Navy on Pyramid Rock Beach, Marine Corps Base Hawaii. (Courtesy photo from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Aug. 27, 2014) – Sailors with Beachmaster Unit 2, Naval Beach Group Two, guide Sgt. William Anderson, a motor transportation operator with Transport Support, Combat Logistics Battalion 26 onto an Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS) during a loading exercise (LOADEX) aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek Aug. 27. The LOADEX was designed to simulate a Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission, in order to train the Marines and Sailors what they need to accomplish during an actual DSCA mission and identify and rectify any shortfalls before the event of a real-world mission. A DSCA mission would occur if a federal agency, on behalf of local civil authorities, made a request to the Department of Defense to fill specific gaps in their abilities to respond to a natural or man-made disaster. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Scott McAdam/Released) - VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Aug. 27, 2014) – Sailors with Beachmaster Unit 2, Naval Beach Group Two, guide Sgt. William Anderson, a motor transportation operator with Transport Support, Combat Logistics Battalion 26 onto an Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS) during a loading exercise (LOADEX) aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek Aug. 27. The LOADEX was designed to simulate a Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission, in order to train the Marines and Sailors what they need to accomplish during an actual DSCA mission and identify and rectify any shortfalls before the event of a real-world mission. A DSCA mission would occur if a federal agency, on behalf of local civil authorities, made a request to the Department of Defense to fill specific gaps in their abilities to respond to a natural or man-made disaster. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Scott McAdam/Released)

Members of the Malaysian Armed Forces observe as a landing craft air cushion carrying Marines and sailors from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron Five arrives on a beach during Malaysia-United States Amphibious Exercise 2014. MALUS AMPHEX 14 is a bilateral exercise between the 11th MEU and Malaysian Armed Forces that includes operational and tactical level training in planning, command and control, and combat service support using both ground and sea assets. - Members of the Malaysian Armed Forces observe as a landing craft air cushion carrying Marines and sailors from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron Five arrives on a beach during Malaysia-United States Amphibious Exercise 2014. MALUS AMPHEX 14 is a bilateral exercise between the 11th MEU and Malaysian Armed Forces that includes operational and tactical level training in planning, command and control, and combat service support using both ground and sea assets.

Marines with Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, load onto MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced), 11th MEU, for training Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Hawaii Aug 1.. The 11th MEU and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group are deployed as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Laura Y. Raga/Released) - Marines with Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, load onto MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced), 11th MEU, for training Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Hawaii Aug 1.. The 11th MEU and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group are deployed as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Laura Y. Raga/Released)

Lance Cpl. Brandon Dieckmann, infantryman with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and native of Las Vegas, leads the Legged Squad Support System through a grassy area at Kahuku Training Area, July 12, 2014, during the Rim of the Pacific 2014 exercise. The LS3 is experimental technology being tested by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab during the Advanced Warfighting Experiment. It is programmed to follow an operator through terrain, carrying heavy loads like water and food to Marines training. There are multiple technologies being tested during RIMPAC, the largest maritime exercise in the Pacific region. This year's RIMPAC features 22 countries and around 25,000 people. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew Callahan/RELEASED) - Lance Cpl. Brandon Dieckmann, infantryman with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and native of Las Vegas, leads the Legged Squad Support System through a grassy area at Kahuku Training Area, July 12, 2014, during the Rim of the Pacific 2014 exercise. The LS3 is experimental technology being tested by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab during the Advanced Warfighting Experiment. It is programmed to follow an operator through terrain, carrying heavy loads like water and food to Marines training. There are multiple technologies being tested during RIMPAC, the largest maritime exercise in the Pacific region. This year's RIMPAC features 22 countries and around 25,000 people. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew Callahan/RELEASED)

Marines wounded during the landing on Tarawa are towed out on rubber boats by their buddies to larger vessels that will take them to base hospitals for better medical care. November 1943. (Marine Corps)Exact Date Shot UnknownNARA FILE #: 127-G-63454WAR & CONFLICT #: 913 - Marines wounded during the landing on Tarawa are towed out on rubber boats by their buddies to larger vessels that will take them to base hospitals for better medical care. November 1943. (Marine Corps) Exact Date Shot Unknown NARA FILE #: 127-G-63454 WAR & CONFLICT #: 913

Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airmen prepare their equipment and weapons for the 53rd Annual Interservice Rifle Championship on July 7, 2014, at Range 4, Weapons Training Battalion, Marine Corps Base Quantico. The event will last for a week and will test servicemembers individual talent as well as their team work. - Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airmen prepare their equipment and weapons for the 53rd Annual Interservice Rifle Championship on July 7, 2014, at Range 4, Weapons Training Battalion, Marine Corps Base Quantico. The event will last for a week and will test servicemembers individual talent as well as their team work.