Soldiers of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Western Army Infantry Regiment Scout Sniper Program move out on a patrol through an area with mock enemies to practice breaking contact drills during an abbreviated scout sniper course, instructed by U.S. Marine Corps instructors, during Exercise Iron Fist 2016 on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 1, 2016 Break contact drills are important as sniper teams are typically small, with limited firepower and ammunition. During break contact drills, the team moves to a location where the enemy cannot observe and fire upon them. - Soldiers of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Western Army Infantry Regiment Scout Sniper Program move out on a patrol through an area with mock enemies to practice breaking contact drills during an abbreviated scout sniper course, instructed by U.S. Marine Corps instructors, during Exercise Iron Fist 2016 on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 1, 2016 Break contact drills are important as sniper teams are typically small, with limited firepower and ammunition. During break contact drills, the team moves to a location where the enemy cannot observe and fire upon them.

First Sgt. Shonor Burton runs through a non-lethal weapons course while blinded by the effects of oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, Jan. 26, 2016. Burton is the company first sergeant for Company B, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. - First Sgt. Shonor Burton runs through a non-lethal weapons course while blinded by the effects of oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, Jan. 26, 2016. Burton is the company first sergeant for Company B, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

Cpl. Joshua Payne, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 161 and a Spring, Texas, native, guides the pilots of an MV-22B Osprey to an unprepared field during casualty-evacuation training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 20. Casualty-evacuation training prepares the Marines to land in a combat zone, pick up injured Marines and transport them to a safe area. - Cpl. Joshua Payne, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 161 and a Spring, Texas, native, guides the pilots of an MV-22B Osprey to an unprepared field during casualty-evacuation training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 20. Casualty-evacuation training prepares the Marines to land in a combat zone, pick up injured Marines and transport them to a safe area.

Marines with the 1st Expeditionary Operations Training wait to reach the proper altitude before a free fall jump at 10,000 feet above Drop Zone Basilone, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Dec.21. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 supported the 1st EOTG in their parachute-operations training. This training is intended to improve the Marines’ skill for future uses of this knowledge, such as a deployment situation. Units like the 1st EOTG deploy often and this training allows the Marines to be ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. - Marines with the 1st Expeditionary Operations Training wait to reach the proper altitude before a free fall jump at 10,000 feet above Drop Zone Basilone, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Dec.21. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 supported the 1st EOTG in their parachute-operations training. This training is intended to improve the Marines’ skill for future uses of this knowledge, such as a deployment situation. Units like the 1st EOTG deploy often and this training allows the Marines to be ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.

Capt. Joseph Tremaine, a CH-53E Super Stallion pilot with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 466, conducts preflight checks aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, July 2. The aircrew prepares the aircraft for night fast-rope training on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. - Capt. Joseph Tremaine, a CH-53E Super Stallion pilot with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 466, conducts preflight checks aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, July 2. The aircrew prepares the aircraft for night fast-rope training on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

U.S. Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, participate in a conditioning hike during Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2015 June 14 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia. SJ15 was a combined training opportunity for the Marines with their Australian allies that helped to improve interoperability between the two forces. The U.S. Marine Corps and the Australian Defence Forces are committed to continuing their tradition of more than 100 years of global partnership and security cooperation between Australia and the United States of America. - U.S. Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, participate in a conditioning hike during Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2015 June 14 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia. SJ15 was a combined training opportunity for the Marines with their Australian allies that helped to improve interoperability between the two forces. The U.S. Marine Corps and the Australian Defence Forces are committed to continuing their tradition of more than 100 years of global partnership and security cooperation between Australia and the United States of America.

Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, commence Exercise Southern Jackaroo with soldiers with Company A, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, Australian Army, Australian Defence Force, May 3 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia. SJ15 is a bilateral training exercise between soldiers from Company A, 3RAR, and the Marines with MRF-D. The rotational deployment of U.S. Marines in Australia affords an unprecedented combined training opportunity with their Australian allies and improves interoperability between the two forces. - Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, commence Exercise Southern Jackaroo with soldiers with Company A, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, Australian Army, Australian Defence Force, May 3 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia. SJ15 is a bilateral training exercise between soldiers from Company A, 3RAR, and the Marines with MRF-D. The rotational deployment of U.S. Marines in Australia affords an unprecedented combined training opportunity with their Australian allies and improves interoperability between the two forces.

Lance Corporal Brandon Renteria fires simulation rounds from a M32A1 multi-shot grenade launcher during a live-fire training event alongside Australian soldiers with 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Australian Army, Australian Defence Force, May 15 at Kangaroo Flats Training Area, Victoria, Northern Territory, Australia. The Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, and Australian soldiers brushed up on squad attack tactics, basic point man skills and explosives to refine basic infantry skills. The rotational deployment of U.S. Marines affords an unprecedented combined training opportunity with their Australian allies and improves interoperability between the two forces. Renteria is a rifleman with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, MRF-D. - Lance Corporal Brandon Renteria fires simulation rounds from a M32A1 multi-shot grenade launcher during a live-fire training event alongside Australian soldiers with 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Australian Army, Australian Defence Force, May 15 at Kangaroo Flats Training Area, Victoria, Northern Territory, Australia. The Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, and Australian soldiers brushed up on squad attack tactics, basic point man skills and explosives to refine basic infantry skills. The rotational deployment of U.S. Marines affords an unprecedented combined training opportunity with their Australian allies and improves interoperability between the two forces. Renteria is a rifleman with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, MRF-D.

Gunnery Sgt. Michael Woods, electronic key management system manager with Marine Wing Communications Squadron (MWCS) 38, shoots an M16A4 rifle on Range 109 during Back in the Saddle training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 7. Marines practiced marksmanship skills all while in full combat gear including Kevlar and flak jacket to make the training seem as real as possible. - Gunnery Sgt. Michael Woods, electronic key management system manager with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, shoots an M16A4 rifle on Range 109 during Back in the Saddle training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 7. Marines practiced marksmanship skills all while in full combat gear including Kevlar and flak jacket to make the training seem as real as possible.

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Gunnery Sgt. Jhimelle Sepulveda, training chief with a fire fighting unit here, emerges from a fire training facility during an exercise conducted by the Camp Pendleton Fire Department and the Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton’s Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting unit on a controlled burn training facility at the 25 Area here.The training was designed to teach firefighters how to prevent rapid combustion of burned materials in rooms and structures."This is good training because we don't normally get to experience this type of situation when dealing with burning aircraft," said Sepulveda. - Gunnery Sgt. Jhimelle Sepulveda, training chief with a fire fighting unit here, emerges from a fire training facility during an exercise conducted by the Camp Pendleton Fire Department and the Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton’s Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting unit on a controlled burn training facility at the 25 Area here. The training was designed to teach firefighters how to prevent rapid combustion of burned materials in rooms and structures. "This is good training because we don't normally get to experience this type of situation when dealing with burning aircraft," said Sepulveda.