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Cpl. Joseph Giordano, a team leader with Alpha Battery, 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, carries a FIM-92 stinger weapons system during the National Training Center Rotation 16-01 on Fort Irwin, Calif., Oct. 20. This was the first time in more than 10 years that a Marine LAAD unit participated in this exercise. - Cpl. Joseph Giordano, a team leader with Alpha Battery, 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, carries a FIM-92 stinger weapons system during the National Training Center Rotation 16-01 on Fort Irwin, Calif., Oct. 20. This was the first time in more than 10 years that a Marine LAAD unit participated in this exercise.

Marines with 1st Radio Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force, prepare to conduct a parachute drop out of a KC-130J Super Hercules at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 8. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 assisted the battalion with the parachute drop. - Marines with 1st Radio Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force, prepare to conduct a parachute drop out of a KC-130J Super Hercules at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 8. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 assisted the battalion with the parachute drop.

Lance Cpl. Ali J. Mohammed poses for a photo with a Humvee aboard Al Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq, July 4, 2015. Mohammed is originally from Baghdad and is now serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as a supply Marine. He is currently deployed as an Arabic interpreter for Task Force Al Taqaddum. - Lance Cpl. Ali J. Mohammed poses for a photo with a Humvee aboard Al Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq, July 4, 2015. Mohammed is originally from Baghdad and is now serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as a supply Marine. He is currently deployed as an Arabic interpreter for Task Force Al Taqaddum.

Marines with 1st Radio Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force, prepare to conduct a parachute drop out of a KC-130J Super Hercules at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 8. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352 assisted the battalion with the parachute drop. - Marines with 1st Radio Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force, prepare to conduct a parachute drop out of a KC-130J Super Hercules at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 8. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352 assisted the battalion with the parachute drop.

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.

An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Operational and Test Evaluation Squadron 22 prepares to touch down aboard Edwards Air Force Base, California, Oct. 9, 2014. This is the squadron’s first F-35 Lightning II. - An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Operational and Test Evaluation Squadron 22 prepares to touch down aboard Edwards Air Force Base, California, Oct. 9, 2014. This is the squadron’s first F-35 Lightning II.

A sailor aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) signals to the pilot of an F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to land as it arrives for the first phase of operational testing, May 18, 2015. The short take-off, vertical landing capabilities of the F-35B are crucial to the mission of the Marine Corps and necessary for operation aboard a Navy amphibious ship. The aircraft are stationed with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Beaufort, South Carolina and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Yuma, Arizona. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Remington Hall/Released) - A sailor aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) signals to the pilot of an F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to land as it arrives for the first phase of operational testing, May 18, 2015. The short take-off, vertical landing capabilities of the F-35B are crucial to the mission of the Marine Corps and necessary for operation aboard a Navy amphibious ship. The aircraft are stationed with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Beaufort, South Carolina and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Yuma, Arizona. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Remington Hall/Released)

Lt. Col. Jason Holden, right, commanding officer of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, and a Woodbridge, Virginia native, shakes the hand of Cpl. Andrew Sturgess, his crew chief and a Sidney, Indiana, native, after a successful training flight aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, April 10. This training operation marks the last time the commanding officer of VMM-163 will participate in a squadron-sized event before relinquishing command. - Lt. Col. Jason Holden, right, commanding officer of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, and a Woodbridge, Virginia native, shakes the hand of Cpl. Andrew Sturgess, his crew chief and a Sidney, Indiana, native, after a successful training flight aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, April 10. This training operation marks the last time the commanding officer of VMM-163 will participate in a squadron-sized event before relinquishing command.

As part of the annual training exercise Scorpion Fire, Lance Cpl. Clinton Lehner, a crew chief with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 369 “Gunfighters,” looks down range during close-air support maneuvers at the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, Calif., Jan. 29. Marines with both tiltrotor and fixed-wing squadrons participate in this annual exercise, which provides a realistic environment for ground units in need of close air support. - As part of the annual training exercise Scorpion Fire, Lance Cpl. Clinton Lehner, a crew chief with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 369 “Gunfighters,” looks down range during close-air support maneuvers at the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, Calif., Jan. 29. Marines with both tiltrotor and fixed-wing squadrons participate in this annual exercise, which provides a realistic environment for ground units in need of close air support.

Chuck Hagel, secretary of defense, speaks to Marines and Sailors aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Jan. 13. Marines and Sailors also had the opportunity to ask questions, take photos with Hagel and receive coins. - Chuck Hagel, secretary of defense, speaks to Marines and Sailors aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Jan. 13. Marines and Sailors also had the opportunity to ask questions, take photos with Hagel and receive coins.