Clockwise from top left, 1st Lieutenant John Neail, tank commander, Cpl. Christian Bills, gunner, Lance Cpl. Robert Benaridez driver, Lance Cpl. Patrick Bellinger, loader, the crew for the M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank named “Star Lord” participated in Desert Scimitar aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. Desert Scimitar enables 1st Marine Division to test and refine its command and control capabilities and ensures 1st Marine Division units remain committed to consistently improving the quality of their training efforts and their resultant warfighting capabilities. - Clockwise from top left, 1st Lieutenant John Neail, tank commander, Cpl. Christian Bills, gunner, Lance Cpl. Robert Benaridez driver, Lance Cpl. Patrick Bellinger, loader, the crew for the M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank named “Star Lord” participated in Desert Scimitar aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. Desert Scimitar enables 1st Marine Division to test and refine its command and control capabilities and ensures 1st Marine Division units remain committed to consistently improving the quality of their training efforts and their resultant warfighting capabilities.
2/17/2026 - https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2026/2/13/every-marine-a-rifleman-and-now-a-drone-operator
2/13/2026 - https://news.usni.org/2026/02/11/marines-on-target-to-meet-recruiting-retention-goals
2/10/2026 - https://www.businessinsider.com/marines-still-the-only-military-service-with-clean-books-2026-2
2/06/2026 - https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2026/u-s-marines-conduct-night-amphibious-assaults-using-sea-launched-armored-vehicles
2/04/2026 - https://defence-blog.com/u-s-marines-test-v-bat-operations-on-uss-portland-amphibious-ship/