A AH-64D Apache helicopter launches from the flight deck during flight operations aboard the expeditionary sea base USS Lewis B. Puller June 25. - A AH-64D Apache helicopter launches from the flight deck during flight operations aboard the expeditionary sea base USS Lewis B. Puller June 25.

U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, exchange gifts with Saudi Arabian Naval Special Forces at the end of a subject matter expert exchange while forward deployed in the Middle East, May 18, 2017. The exchange proved to be an enhancing opportunity for both the U.S. and Saudi forces. Deploying U.S. Marines into the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to conduct combined military training with our partner nations’ security forces strengthens our vital relationships with partners in this important region. - U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, exchange gifts with Saudi Arabian Naval Special Forces at the end of a subject matter expert exchange while forward deployed in the Middle East, May 18, 2017. The exchange proved to be an enhancing opportunity for both the U.S. and Saudi forces. Deploying U.S. Marines into the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to conduct combined military training with our partner nations’ security forces strengthens our vital relationships with partners in this important region.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Juan Cerna, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, changes the batteries in a Talon Mark II robot at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Feb. 20, 2016. The EOD technicians are present to provide the base and airfield with the ability to handle unexploded ordnance, hung ordnance, or suspicious packages. - U.S. Marine Sgt. Juan Cerna, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, changes the batteries in a Talon Mark II robot at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Feb. 20, 2016. The EOD technicians are present to provide the base and airfield with the ability to handle unexploded ordnance, hung ordnance, or suspicious packages.

U.S. Navy and Army medical personnel prepare to load a simulated casualty onto a UH-60 “Black Hawk” helicopter during a mass casualty exercise at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 23, 2015. Canadian forces, U.S. Air Force and Army medical personnel, along with U.S. Marines and Navy corpsmen with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, participated in the joint exercise to hone the coalition’s medical response capabilities. SPMAGTF-CR-CC is currently deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility with a mission spanning 20 nations. - U.S. Navy and Army medical personnel prepare to load a simulated casualty onto a UH-60 “Black Hawk” helicopter during a mass casualty exercise at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 23, 2015. Canadian forces, U.S. Air Force and Army medical personnel, along with U.S. Marines and Navy corpsmen with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, participated in the joint exercise to hone the coalition’s medical response capabilities. SPMAGTF-CR-CC is currently deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility with a mission spanning 20 nations.

The Command Element Marine Forces Central Command Forward guidon is retired during the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade activation ceremony at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Oct. 15, 2015. Command Element Marine Forces Central Command Forward was re-designated as the 5TH MEB to more accurately reflect Marine Corps organizational doctrine, and will continue to provide a forward-deployed headquarters in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility - The Command Element Marine Forces Central Command Forward guidon is retired during the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade activation ceremony at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Oct. 15, 2015. Command Element Marine Forces Central Command Forward was re-designated as the 5TH MEB to more accurately reflect Marine Corps organizational doctrine, and will continue to provide a forward-deployed headquarters in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility

U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force--Crisis Response--Central Command, rush with their weapons system as they conduct live-fire training on the new M252A2 81mm mortar system at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 24, 2015. The training allowed the Marines, who are charged with providing security of Al Asad, an opportunity to hone their tactics, techniques and procedures in employment of the system, further reinforcing their ability to provide protection to their coalition and Iraqi Security Force partners as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s building partner capacity mission. - U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force--Crisis Response--Central Command, rush with their weapons system as they conduct live-fire training on the new M252A2 81mm mortar system at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 24, 2015. The training allowed the Marines, who are charged with providing security of Al Asad, an opportunity to hone their tactics, techniques and procedures in employment of the system, further reinforcing their ability to provide protection to their coalition and Iraqi Security Force partners as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve’s building partner capacity mission.

Marine Corps Capt. Paul Keller, a pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, assesses the firmness of the expeditionary safety equipment that he flawlessly landed an MV-22 Osprey on after the aircraft experienced a technical malfunction with its landing gear, Oct. 9, 2015 in Southwest Asia. - Marine Corps Capt. Paul Keller, a pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, assesses the firmness of the expeditionary safety equipment that he flawlessly landed an MV-22 Osprey on after the aircraft experienced a technical malfunction with its landing gear, Oct. 9, 2015 in Southwest Asia.