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Lance Cpl. Jamie Tenorio, a forward observer with 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division communicates with an artillery battery during Exercise Rolling Thunder aboard Fort Bragg, N.C., March 5, 2015. Tenorio sights in with binoculars letting the battery know where the artillery rounds hit.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Immanuel Johnson

Cpl. Armontey D. Parks carries charges for the M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer Jan. 31 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. Different charges are used to adjust the distance the round will travel. Parks, a Saginaw, Michigan, native, is a cannoneer with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force as part of the ground combal element of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 4 for ITX 2-15. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. William Hester/ Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. William Hester

Lance Cpl. Christian J. Hernandez (left) and Lance Cpl. Giovonni Mejia fire the M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer Jan. 31 to support units engaged in the mechanized assault course at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. “Fighting with combined arms is on of the most important parts of the (Marine Air-Ground Task Force),” said Lt. Col. Neil J. Owens. Giovonni, a Dallas, Texas native and Hernandez, a Buford, Georgia, native are both cannoneers with 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for ITX 2-15, as part of the ground combat element for SPMAGTF-4. Owens, a Medford, Massechusetts, native, is the commanding officer for 3rd Bn., 12th Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. William Hester/ Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. William Hester

Marines gather around Capt. Justin E. Sumner Jan. 30 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15 to debrief and discuss the following day’s mission. ITX 2-15 gives all elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force to operate in the field together. Sumner, a Mooresville, Indiana, native, is the battery commander. Sumner and the Marines are with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for ITX 2-15 as a part of the ground combat element for Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 4. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. William Hester/ Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. William Hester

Marines with Alpha Battery perform weapon maintenance on a M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer Jan. 30 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. Cannoneers clean their weapons multiple times a day to keep them functioning correctly. The Marines are with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for ITX 2-15 as part of the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 4. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. William Hester/ Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. William Hester

Lance Cpl. Christian J. Hernandez cleans the breach of a M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer Jan. 30 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15 to keep the weapon firing properly. The howitzer is capable of firing high explosive, illuminating, smoke and satellite guided rounds. Hernandez, a Buford, Georgia, native, is a cannoneer with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for ITX 2-15 as part of the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 4. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. William Hester/ Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. William Hester

Lance Cpl. Jacob T. Madar prepares to insert a powder casing into the breach of an M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer Nov. 7 at the during Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-3. ARTP is a regularly scheduled training event that strengthens combat readiness of U.S. Marine forces, and supports the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. Madar is from Saint Clair Shores, Michigan, and is a field artillery cannoneer with Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based out of Twentynine Palms, California, and is currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

Photo by Sgt. Jennifer Martinez

Lance Cpl. Johnathan Dowden, from Wichita Falls, cleans a spindle from an M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer during a command post exercise Oct. 30 for Artillery Training Relocation Program 14-3 at Camp Fuji. The exercise focused on communications between the fire direction center and teams manning the howitzers. ARTP prepared artillery batteries for a smooth execution of training in the North Fuji Maneuver Area by affording teams a chance to troubleshoot any problems with their weapons before moving to the live-fire training. Dowden is an artilleryman with Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, based out of Twentynine Palms, Calif., and is currently assigned to 3rd Bn., 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

Photo by Sgt. Jennifer Martinez

Sgt. Johnathan F. Alcantar, left, Lance Cpl. Axel R. Lozano, right, and Staff Sgt. Rodney P. Agustin determine the GPS location of an M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer during an exercise for Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-3 Oct. 30 at Camp Fuji. ARTP was established to provide artillery units the opportunity to train with live ammunition and sustain combat readiness. The Marines are with Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based out of Twentynine Palms, California, and currently assigned to 3rd Bn., 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

Photo by Sgt. Jennifer Martinez

Lance Cpl. George Moreno, left, an electro-optical ordnance repairman from San Antonio, and Sgt. Mike Saephanh, a field radio operator from Sacramento, Calif., both with Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, begin to take cover after Moreno throws an M-69 practice grenade during a hand grenade training exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 18, 2014. The event helped Marines of 5/11 refresh their basic combat skills and maintain their combat mindsets.

Photo by Cpl. Ricardo Hurtado

Sgt. Julian Gomez III, a section chief with 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, gives the command to fire an M777A2 Lightweight Howitzer to Lance Cpl. James Whearry, a field artilleryman with 3rd Bn. 14th Marines, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., during exercise Twisted Sister, a battalion fire exercise, Oct. 25, 2014. Field artillerymen receive various call-for-fire scenarios, some requiring them to fire a certain number of rounds in a given time, others require precision shooting involving each gun in the battery as well as other batteries combined.

Photo by Cpl. Joseph Karwick

Lance Cpl. James Whearry, a field artilleryman with 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, fires the M777A2 Lightweight Howitzer at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., during exercise Twisted Sister, a battalion fire exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., Oct. 25, 2014. Field artillerymen receive various call for fire scenarios, some requiring them to fire a certain number of rounds in a given time, others require precision shooting involving each gun in the battery as well as other batteries combined.

Photo by Cpl. Joseph Karwick

Lance Cpl. Trevian Mortorff, a field artilleryman with 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, rotates the degree of fire on an M777A2 Lightweight Howitzer before firing rounds down range at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., during exercise Twisted Sister, a battalion fire exercise, Oct. 25, 2014. The M777A2 is an indirect field artillery cannon designed to be easily maneuverable for effective support maneuver warfare tactics.

Photo by Cpl. Joseph Karwick

Marines disembark a CH-53E Super Stallion to prepare a M777 Howitzer for firing during a reactionary combat training exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 30, 2014. The combined air-ground team used the training to build cohesion and improve their ability to rapidly deploy the weapon system in a combat environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Olivia C. McDonald/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Olivia C. McDonald

A CH-53E Super Stallion lowers a M777 Howitzer and its ammunition onto a landing zone aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., as part of a reactionary combat training exercise Sept. 30, 2014. The purpose of the exercise was to build cohesion between and the aircraft’s crew and the Marines on the ground handling the equipment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Olivia C. McDonald/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Olivia C. McDonald

Lance Cpl. Dylan Johnson, a cannon crewman with Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, preps a 120 mm high explosive round prior to it being fired from a M327 Expeditionary Fire Support System Oct. 7 during a training and readiness evaluation. The artillerymen from 1st Bn., 12th Marines, spent two days out on the range for their final evaluation prior to leaving to Okinawa.

Photo by Cpl. Erik Estrada

Lance Cpl. Justin T. Goedert, a mortarman with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and Queens, N.Y., fires an M-252 81mm high-explosive mortar during a live-fire exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 23, 2014. The 24th MEU is currently conducting a realistic urban training exercise, their first major pre-deployment training event in preparation for their deployment at the end of the year.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Austin A. Lewis

Lance Cpl. Andrew Crotts, a section leader with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, directs the placement of aiming stakes for his section of mortars aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 29, 2014. The mortars were utilized in support of a live-fire range involving adjacent infantry and machine gun units.

Photo by Lance Cpl. William Perkins

Lance Cpl. Junior Jack, machinegunner, Weapon’s Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, sights in on a Latvian G36 rifle at a weapon’s display during Summer Shield aboard Camp Adazi, Latvia, 7 April, 2014. This is the 11th iteration of the Summer Shield exercise, a joint staff planning and combined arms live fire maneuver event designed to enhance the Latvian Land Force’s capacity and capability to integrate fires and maneuver at the battalion and brigade level as well as increase partner capacity, promote regional stability and to continue to develop Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian and U.S. interoperability. (Official Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Tanner M. Iskra, 2nd Marine Division, BSRF, Combat Camera/Released)

Photo by SSgt Iskra