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Staff Sgt. Mark W. Damm with Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, receives the John Archer Lejeune Award for Bravery during the American Hero Awards Oct. 28, 2015, in Jacksonville, N.C. Damm was awarded for his actions during a mission in Afghanistan, when he led an 84-man assault that repelled numerous enemy attacks while Afghan police realigned security checkpoints. Damm directed friendly forces during numerous engagements and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire, ultimately saving friendly lives and successfully completing the mission. - Staff Sgt. Mark W. Damm with Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, receives the John Archer Lejeune Award for Bravery during the American Hero Awards Oct. 28, 2015, in Jacksonville, N.C. Damm was awarded for his actions during a mission in Afghanistan, when he led an 84-man assault that repelled numerous enemy attacks while Afghan police realigned security checkpoints. Damm directed friendly forces during numerous engagements and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire, ultimately saving friendly lives and successfully completing the mission.

A student driver performs a driving test in a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle during a licensing course at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Nov. 3, 2015. The course trains Marines how to drive various tactical vehicles used within the Marine Corps. - A student driver performs a driving test in a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle during a licensing course at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Nov. 3, 2015. The course trains Marines how to drive various tactical vehicles used within the Marine Corps.

A U.S. Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 26, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, checks a role-player's information and enters it into an electronic database as part of a non-combatant evacuation operation training exercise during Exercise Egemen 2015 Oct. 26. Egemen is a Turkish-led and hosted amphibious exercise designed to increase tactical proficiencies and interoperability among participants. Turkish Marines and sailors acted as non-combatants to enhance the training and experience it first-hand. - A U.S. Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 26, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, checks a role-player's information and enters it into an electronic database as part of a non-combatant evacuation operation training exercise during Exercise Egemen 2015 Oct. 26. Egemen is a Turkish-led and hosted amphibious exercise designed to increase tactical proficiencies and interoperability among participants. Turkish Marines and sailors acted as non-combatants to enhance the training and experience it first-hand.

Lance Corporal John Roan, left, a squad leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment positively identified an improvised explosive device just before speaking with one of the instructors during Integrated Training Exercise 1-16 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Oct. 29, 2015. Marines at ITX demonstrate core infantry mission essential tasks while conducting offensive and defensive operations. - Lance Corporal John Roan, left, a squad leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment positively identified an improvised explosive device just before speaking with one of the instructors during Integrated Training Exercise 1-16 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Oct. 29, 2015. Marines at ITX demonstrate core infantry mission essential tasks while conducting offensive and defensive operations.

A Marine with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, finds concealment during a training event run by Division Combat Skills Center at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 27, 2015. The support provided by the DCSC enables Division units to focus on higher level task and larger exercise while ensuring that Marines and Sailors receive standardized small unit level training. - A Marine with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, finds concealment during a training event run by Division Combat Skills Center at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 27, 2015. The support provided by the DCSC enables Division units to focus on higher level task and larger exercise while ensuring that Marines and Sailors receive standardized small unit level training.

Marines with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, enter a fake village to conduct essential training at the Infantry Immersion Trainer at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 30, 2015. The training is designed to better prepare them for their upcoming deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Logistical Command Element Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Michael Dye/Released)  - Marines with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, enter a fake village to conduct essential training at the Infantry Immersion Trainer at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 30, 2015. The training is designed to better prepare them for their upcoming deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Logistical Command Element Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Michael Dye/Released) 

A Marine with Combat Logistics Regiment 25 drives a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle and trailer off of a Roll-on/Roll-off Discharge Facility and onto an Improved Navy Lighterage System during an in-stream Marine Prepositioning Force Exercise off the coast of Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, Florida, Aug. 19, 2015. Marines with CLR-25 and sailors with Naval Beach Group 2 joined forces for the latest iteration of MPFEX, which saw service members offloading the USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus using Lift-on/Lift-Off and Roll-on/Roll-off procedures. - A Marine with Combat Logistics Regiment 25 drives a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle and trailer off of a Roll-on/Roll-off Discharge Facility and onto an Improved Navy Lighterage System during an in-stream Marine Prepositioning Force Exercise off the coast of Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, Florida, Aug. 19, 2015. Marines with CLR-25 and sailors with Naval Beach Group 2 joined forces for the latest iteration of MPFEX, which saw service members offloading the USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus using Lift-on/Lift-Off and Roll-on/Roll-off procedures.

Marines with Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, drive the Polaris Rzr tactical vehicle along all-terrain vehicle trails during an all-terrain vehicle course at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 18, 2015. Marines drove the Polaris Rzr tactical vehicles through sand, mud, uneven terrain, and hills to gain experience with handling the vehicle. - Marines with Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, drive the Polaris Rzr tactical vehicle along all-terrain vehicle trails during an all-terrain vehicle course at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 18, 2015. Marines drove the Polaris Rzr tactical vehicles through sand, mud, uneven terrain, and hills to gain experience with handling the vehicle.

Marines with 2nd Radio Battalion prepare a Zodiac CRRC shortly before beginning amphibious operations at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 10, 2015. The amphibious operations were part of a two-week radio reconnaissance operator’s course. The unit holds the course in order to ready its radio operators for real world operations. - Marines with 2nd Radio Battalion prepare a Zodiac CRRC shortly before beginning amphibious operations at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 10, 2015. The amphibious operations were part of a two-week radio reconnaissance operator’s course. The unit holds the course in order to ready its radio operators for real world operations.

A CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 descends to a secured landing zone during a simulated casualty evacuation at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Aug. 10, 2015. The simulation gave Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group an opportunity to prepare for casualty response during future operations. - A CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 descends to a secured landing zone during a simulated casualty evacuation at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Aug. 10, 2015. The simulation gave Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group an opportunity to prepare for casualty response during future operations.

Lance Cpl. Dale Dibble, a mortarman with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment looks through the sight on the M224 60 mm Mortar Lightweight Company Mortar System during a 10-day long 60 mm Mortar Lightweight Company Mortar System course under the direction of the Division Combat Skills Center at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 10, 2015. The course began with classroom instruction over the weapons system in which they learned how to boresight, misfire procedures and deflection changes for elevation before the unit moves into live-fire. - Lance Cpl. Dale Dibble, a mortarman with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment looks through the sight on the M224 60 mm Mortar Lightweight Company Mortar System during a 10-day long 60 mm Mortar Lightweight Company Mortar System course under the direction of the Division Combat Skills Center at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 10, 2015. The course began with classroom instruction over the weapons system in which they learned how to boresight, misfire procedures and deflection changes for elevation before the unit moves into live-fire.

Two MV-22 Osprey aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, Marine Air Group 26, approach Landing Zone Bat during a confined landing area exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 4, 2015 Marines with VMM-365 rehearsed different drop off and extraction scenarios at Landing Zone Bluebird and Landing Zone Bat at Camp Lejeune to maintain skills and standards within the squadron. - Two MV-22 Osprey aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, Marine Air Group 26, approach Landing Zone Bat during a confined landing area exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 4, 2015 Marines with VMM-365 rehearsed different drop off and extraction scenarios at Landing Zone Bluebird and Landing Zone Bat at Camp Lejeune to maintain skills and standards within the squadron.

A Marine with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, provides watch during a military operations on urban terrain exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 11, 2015. Safely practicing transitions in an urban combat environment increased Marines’ confidence and better prepared them for a combat situation. - A Marine with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, provides watch during a military operations on urban terrain exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 11, 2015. Safely practicing transitions in an urban combat environment increased Marines’ confidence and better prepared them for a combat situation.