Marines TV

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, participate in a squad competition on Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 30, 2017. The annual event pits various squads from within the regiment in a competition of physical endurance, tactical knowledgeability, and weapons expertise for recognition amongst their peers and leadership. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Danny Gonzalez)

U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) hike on Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 18, 2017. The 13th MEU is preparing for deployment by conditioning monthly through hikes, each one escalating in difficulty. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Danny Gonzalez)

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jorge Barajas, a dental technician with 1st Dental Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group talks about how he received the DN Thomas A. Christensen Award. The award is named in honor of Thomas A. Christensen Jr., who, during the Battle of Chosen Reservoir in Korea, was attached to an Amphibious Tractor Battalion that came under attack by Chinese Communists. During the battle, he rushed forward numerous times to rescue the wounded and offer first aid. Wounded himself, he continued to offer aid until he was mortally wounded at point blank range. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. He was the first dental technician in history to be awarded the Navy Cross. This award is given annually to a deserving enlisted hospital corpsman who deployed with a dental battalion in the Fleet Marine Force and was recognized by their seniors, subordinates and peers to be deserving of the award.

U.S. Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company and Japanese Ground Self Defense Force Soldiers with the Western Army 1st Infantry Regiment conducted call for fire, close air support and combined-arms operations at a Supporting Arms Coordinating Center Exercise during Exercise Iron Fist 2017 San Clemente Island, Calif., Feb 22, 2017. The exercise trains both Marines and JGSDF soldiers on coordinating, combined-arms fires form air and sea assets. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral training exercise where the U.S. and Japanese service members train together and share techniques, tactics and procedure to improve their combined operational capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Alvin Pujols/Released)

U.S. Marines with the 3rd Assault Amphibious Battalion and Japanese Ground Self Defense Force Soldiers operate, load into and conduct operations on assault amphibious vehicles during Exercise Iron First 2017 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendelton, Calif., Feb. 16, 2017. The JGSDF will be establishing an Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, which will have a mission similar to a Marine Expeditionary Unit. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral training exercise where U.S. and Japanese service members train together and share techniques, tactics and procedure to improve their combined operational capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alvin Pujols/ Released)

U.S. Marines with Golf Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines and Soldiers with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force conduct a 120mm Mortar Range Fire during Exercise Iron Fist 2017, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 14, 2017. The range was held to share artillery capabilities knowledge between JGSDF soldiers and U.S. Marines. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral training exercise where U.S. and Japanese service members train together and share techniques, tactics and procedures to improve their combined operational capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Laboy/Released)

U.S. Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, Charlie Company, share close quarters tactics with soldiers from the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, Western Army Infantry Regiment, in an urban environment during Exercise Iron Fist 2017. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral training exercise where U.S. and Japanese service members train together and share techniques, tactics and procedures to improve their combined operational capabilities. Iron Fist 2017 marks the twelfth iteration of the exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps motion imagery by Lance Cpl. Robert Alejandre/ Released)

Soldiers with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) conduct reconnaissance practical application drills with combat rubber raiding crafts (CRRCs) as part of Exercise Iron Fist 2017, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 10, 2017. The drills were used to demonstrate to the JGSDF soldiers U.S. Marine reconnaissance amphibious techniques and how to integrate the skills into amphibious operations. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral training exercise where U.S. and Japanese service members train together and share techniques, tactics and procedures to improve their combined operational capabilities.(U.S. Marine Corps Video by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Laboy, Lance Cpl. Elizabeth Warner/Released)

U.S. Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force and soldiers with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force conduct a Reconnaissance Swim Screener course during Exercise Iron Fist 2017, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 6, 2017. The course was used to asses the JGSDF soldiers' skill set in order to properly integrate U.S. Marine reconnaissance techniques and skills during future training evolutions within Exercise Iron Fist. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral training exercise where U.S. and Japanese service members train together and share techniques, tactics and procedures to improve their combined operational capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps Video by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Laboy/Released)