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U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, exit from a U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle assigned to Charlie Company, BLT 1/7, 31st MEU, during a simulated force-on-force mechanized raid at Combat Town, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, April 24, 2025. The purpose of the exercise was to create a challenging, realistic training environment with the integration of the newly fielded ACV that produces combat-ready forces in urban terrain. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premiere crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angel Diaz Montes De Oca) - U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, exit from a U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle assigned to Charlie Company, BLT 1/7, 31st MEU, during a simulated force-on-force mechanized raid at Combat Town, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, April 24, 2025. The purpose of the exercise was to create a challenging, realistic training environment with the integration of the newly fielded ACV that produces combat-ready forces in urban terrain. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premiere crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angel Diaz Montes De Oca)

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines provide security for a platoon attack during Stand-in Force Exercise on Okinawa, Japan, Dec.11, 2022. SiF-EX is a Division-level exercise involving all elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force focused on strengthening multi-domain awareness, maneuver, and fires across a distributed maritime environment. This exercise serves as a rehearsal for rapidly projecting combat power in defense of allies and partners in the region. - U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines provide security for a platoon attack during Stand-in Force Exercise on Okinawa, Japan, Dec.11, 2022. SiF-EX is a Division-level exercise involving all elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force focused on strengthening multi-domain awareness, maneuver, and fires across a distributed maritime environment. This exercise serves as a rehearsal for rapidly projecting combat power in defense of allies and partners in the region.

U.S. Marines pose for a photo with the 2023 Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition East pistol match trophy at the Base Theater on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 17, 2023. The winners of this year’s pistol match were Marine Corps Security Forces Training Company Team 1. - U.S. Marines pose for a photo with the 2023 Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition East pistol match trophy at the Base Theater on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 17, 2023. The winners of this year’s pistol match were Marine Corps Security Forces Training Company Team 1.

U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Division fire the M3E1 multipurpose anti-armor anti-personnel weapon system on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 9, 2023. The MAAWS, also known as the Carl Gustaf, is a man portable, reusable, breech-loading, 84 mm recoilless weapon system capable of destroying armored targets. - U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Division fire the M3E1 multipurpose anti-armor anti-personnel weapon system on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 9, 2023. The MAAWS, also known as the Carl Gustaf, is a man portable, reusable, breech-loading, 84 mm recoilless weapon system capable of destroying armored targets.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Shelby Mann, from Udall, Kan., assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), signals a CH-47J Chinook helicopter from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to take off from the ship’s flight deck during Exercise Noble Fusion, Feb. 6, 2022. Noble Fusion demonstrates that Navy and Marine Corps forward-deployed stand-in naval expeditionary forces can rapidly aggregate Marine Expeditionary Unit/Amphibious Ready Group teams at sea, along with a carrier strike group, as well as other joint force elements and allies, in order to conduct lethal sea-denial operations, seize key maritime terrain, guarantee freedom of movement, and create advantage for U.S., partner and allied forces. Naval Expeditionary forces conduct training throughout the year, in the Indo-Pacific, to maintain readiness. - Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Shelby Mann, from Udall, Kan., assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), signals a CH-47J Chinook helicopter from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to take off from the ship’s flight deck during Exercise Noble Fusion, Feb. 6, 2022. Noble Fusion demonstrates that Navy and Marine Corps forward-deployed stand-in naval expeditionary forces can rapidly aggregate Marine Expeditionary Unit/Amphibious Ready Group teams at sea, along with a carrier strike group, as well as other joint force elements and allies, in order to conduct lethal sea-denial operations, seize key maritime terrain, guarantee freedom of movement, and create advantage for U.S., partner and allied forces. Naval Expeditionary forces conduct training throughout the year, in the Indo-Pacific, to maintain readiness.

Marines with Combat Marksmanship Coaches Reserve conduct the new Annual Rifle Qualification at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sept. 21, 2021. The CMCR students are the first to qualify as Combat Marksmanship Coaches under the new ARQ that will soon be implemented across the Marine Corps Total Force. The new ARQ ensures that every Marine is a rifleman, testing Marines’ basic marksmanship skills and ability to effectively engage targets in combat shooting scenarios. - Marines with Combat Marksmanship Coaches Reserve conduct the new Annual Rifle Qualification at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sept. 21, 2021. The CMCR students are the first to qualify as Combat Marksmanship Coaches under the new ARQ that will soon be implemented across the Marine Corps Total Force. The new ARQ ensures that every Marine is a rifleman, testing Marines’ basic marksmanship skills and ability to effectively engage targets in combat shooting scenarios.

Sgt. Sebastien Auguste, an instructor for the Advanced Infantry Course at the School of Infantry-East, tests the M3E1 Multi-purpose Anti-armor Anti-personnel Weapon System to engage targets during a live-fire training on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 6, 2021. In May, Marine Corps Systems Command began fielding the MAAWS, a recoilless rocket system designed to destroy armored vehicles, structures and fortifications. - Sgt. Sebastien Auguste, an instructor for the Advanced Infantry Course at the School of Infantry-East, tests the M3E1 Multi-purpose Anti-armor Anti-personnel Weapon System to engage targets during a live-fire training on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 6, 2021. In May, Marine Corps Systems Command began fielding the MAAWS, a recoilless rocket system designed to destroy armored vehicles, structures and fortifications.

U.S. Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, suppress targets on a company battle course on range G-36, Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 23, 2021. Echo Company was the first company to execute the battle course as a night live-fire event. The event is the culmination of their Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation, certifying the unit as an apex battalion. - U.S. Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, suppress targets on a company battle course on range G-36, Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 23, 2021. Echo Company was the first company to execute the battle course as a night live-fire event. The event is the culmination of their Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation, certifying the unit as an apex battalion.

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes off from the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) during a U.S. Air Forces Central Agile Combat Employment event, March 1, 2021. AFCENT’s ACE capstone event enhances theater airpower competencies, validating operational capabilities and command and control while simultaneously strengthening regional partnerships. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and the 15th MEU are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. - A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes off from the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) during a U.S. Air Forces Central Agile Combat Employment event, March 1, 2021. AFCENT’s ACE capstone event enhances theater airpower competencies, validating operational capabilities and command and control while simultaneously strengthening regional partnerships. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and the 15th MEU are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.

A test facility professional prepares to fire an M72 LAW Fire from Enclosure test round at an undisclosed test range in 2019. - A test facility professional prepares to fire an M72 LAW Fire from Enclosure test round at an undisclosed test range in 2019.