U.S. Marine Corps Col. Thomas Savage, right, commanding officer, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, shakes hands with a Portuguese Marine after an assault training exercise near Lisbon, Portugal, April 10, 2015. Marines stationed out of Moron Air Base, Spain, traveled to Portugal to utilize a variety of different ranges and training exercises alongside with the Portuguese Marines. After a week of training together, Marines and Fuzileiros were more familiar with each other's tactics and operating procedures. (U.S. Marine Corps photograph by Lance Cpl. Christopher Mendoza/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Thomas Savage, right, commanding officer, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, shakes hands with a Portuguese Marine after an assault training exercise near Lisbon, Portugal, April 10, 2015. Marines stationed out of Moron Air Base, Spain, traveled to Portugal to utilize a variety of different ranges and training exercises alongside with the Portuguese Marines. After a week of training together, Marines and Fuzileiros were more familiar with each other's tactics and operating procedures. (U.S. Marine Corps photograph by Lance Cpl. Christopher Mendoza/Released)

Cpl. Martin Quevedo-Chirinos, a joint fires observer with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, reviews gridded reference graphics of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, during simulated close air support training April 12-13, 2015. The training allowed Marines to receive valuable training with various types of equipment. - Cpl. Martin Quevedo-Chirinos, a joint fires observer with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, reviews gridded reference graphics of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, during simulated close air support training April 12-13, 2015. The training allowed Marines to receive valuable training with various types of equipment.

Sgt. Maya Marin C. Garnica, anti-tank missileman, Anti-Armor Section, Weapons Company, Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, carries a tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided missile to the firing line during a Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activity assessment at Range 107, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, April 12, 2015. From October 2014 to July 2015, the GCEITF will conduct individual and collective level skills training in designated ground combat arms occupational specialties in order to facilitate the standards-based assessment of the physical performance of Marines in a simulated operating environment performing specific ground combat arms tasks. - Sgt. Maya Marin C. Garnica, anti-tank missileman, Anti-Armor Section, Weapons Company, Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, carries a tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided missile to the firing line during a Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activity assessment at Range 107, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, April 12, 2015. From October 2014 to July 2015, the GCEITF will conduct individual and collective level skills training in designated ground combat arms occupational specialties in order to facilitate the standards-based assessment of the physical performance of Marines in a simulated operating environment performing specific ground combat arms tasks.

Marines with Company C, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, provide security for their team during a simulated casualty evacuation aboard Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, April 10, 2015. Marines with the company operated in remote locations of the wilderness and provided surveillance of the surrounding area to paint the commander a picture of the battlefield. During the patrol, the reconnaissance men navigated through several kilometers of thick brush and provided surveillance on numerous named areas of interest. The patrol was one of many exercises the company will complete as part of a combat readiness evaluation in preparation for an upcoming deployment.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Joseph Scanlan / released) - Marines with Company C, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, provide security for their team during a simulated casualty evacuation aboard Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, April 10, 2015. Marines with the company operated in remote locations of the wilderness and provided surveillance of the surrounding area to paint the commander a picture of the battlefield. During the patrol, the reconnaissance men navigated through several kilometers of thick brush and provided surveillance on numerous named areas of interest. The patrol was one of many exercises the company will complete as part of a combat readiness evaluation in preparation for an upcoming deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Joseph Scanlan / released)

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An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, prepares to take off while on top of a mountain during a flight aboard Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico, April 2, 2015. During the flight the Marines conducted low visibility landing, flew through mountainous terrain and at low altitudes. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andy J. Orozco/Released) - An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, prepares to take off while on top of a mountain during a flight aboard Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico, April 2, 2015. During the flight the Marines conducted low visibility landing, flew through mountainous terrain and at low altitudes. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andy J. Orozco/Released)

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and the Department of Defense is calling attention to the resources available to service members who were victims of sexual assault. The Marine Corps trains Uniformed Victim Advocates and Sexual Assault Response Coordinators to provide resources to victims and to support them throughout the healing process. Sexual assault is not tolerated in the Marine Corps as it impedes a unit or members’ morale effectiveness, efficiency, and impairs the ability of the unit to function smoothly. - April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and the Department of Defense is calling attention to the resources available to service members who were victims of sexual assault. The Marine Corps trains Uniformed Victim Advocates and Sexual Assault Response Coordinators to provide resources to victims and to support them throughout the healing process. Sexual assault is not tolerated in the Marine Corps as it impedes a unit or members’ morale effectiveness, efficiency, and impairs the ability of the unit to function smoothly.

Marines from Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment depart from an MV-22B Osprey to conduct a simulated embassy reinforcement training exercise at Joint Reserve Training Center Los Alamitos, California, April 11, 2015. The embassy reinforcement operation was a part of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s certification exercise, the last training exercise the MEU conducts before deployment. - Marines from Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment depart from an MV-22B Osprey to conduct a simulated embassy reinforcement training exercise at Joint Reserve Training Center Los Alamitos, California, April 11, 2015. The embassy reinforcement operation was a part of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s certification exercise, the last training exercise the MEU conducts before deployment.

Plane captain Lance Cpl. Joseph Crescenzo, of Ocala, Fla., signals stand clear to maintainers while directing an AV-8B Harrier assigned to the Bulldogs of Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223 at Key West, Florida March 24. Naval Air Station Key West is a state-of-the-art facility for air-to-air combat fighter aircraft of all military services and provides world-class pierside support to U.S. and foreign naval vessels. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian Morales/ Released) - Plane captain Lance Cpl. Joseph Crescenzo, of Ocala, Fla., signals stand clear to maintainers while directing an AV-8B Harrier assigned to the Bulldogs of Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223 at Key West, Florida March 24. Naval Air Station Key West is a state-of-the-art facility for air-to-air combat fighter aircraft of all military services and provides world-class pierside support to U.S. and foreign naval vessels. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian Morales/ Released)

Assault amphibious vehicles sit silently on Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, April 8, 2015. A platoon of AAVs, filled with a company of infantry Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, embarked on the USS Wasp off the coast of Onslow Beach to prepare for the next day’s mechanized infantry assault. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Justin T. Updegraff/ Released) - Assault amphibious vehicles sit silently on Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, April 8, 2015. A platoon of AAVs, filled with a company of infantry Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, embarked on the USS Wasp off the coast of Onslow Beach to prepare for the next day’s mechanized infantry assault. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Justin T. Updegraff/ Released)

U.S. Marines and soldiers from the Republic of Georgia conduct a squad-patrol and Close Air Support familiarity exercise as part of the Georgia Deployment Program- ISAF at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 10, 2014. What was formerly known as GDPI has now transitioned to Resolute Support Mission, in which Georgian soldiers and Marines focus on training, advising and assisting Afghan Security forces in ensuring stability and security in the region. - U.S. Marines and soldiers from the Republic of Georgia conduct a squad-patrol and Close Air Support familiarity exercise as part of the Georgia Deployment Program- ISAF at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 10, 2014. What was formerly known as GDPI has now transitioned to Resolute Support Mission, in which Georgian soldiers and Marines focus on training, advising and assisting Afghan Security forces in ensuring stability and security in the region.

Armed Forces of the Philippines engineers, from the 552nd Engineer Construction Battalion, U.S. Navy Seabees, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, and U.S. Marine engineers, from the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, are ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ as they pass buckets filled with concrete for placement at Don Joaquin Elementary School in Tapaz, Philippines, during Balikatan 2015, April 9. The engineers, part of the Combined-Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force located on the island of Panay, are constructing two classrooms at the school. Balikatan, which means “shoulder to shoulder” in Filipino, is an annual bilateral training exercise aimed at improving the ability of Philippine and U.S. military forces to work together during planning, contingency, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. - Armed Forces of the Philippines engineers, from the 552nd Engineer Construction Battalion, U.S. Navy Seabees, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, and U.S. Marine engineers, from the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, are ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ as they pass buckets filled with concrete for placement at Don Joaquin Elementary School in Tapaz, Philippines, during Balikatan 2015, April 9. The engineers, part of the Combined-Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force located on the island of Panay, are constructing two classrooms at the school. Balikatan, which means “shoulder to shoulder” in Filipino, is an annual bilateral training exercise aimed at improving the ability of Philippine and U.S. military forces to work together during planning, contingency, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

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