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U.S. Navy sailor HM2 Matthew Belmonte, a senior line corpsman with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, observes his surroundings during a security patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan on July 16, 2014. Patrols are conducted to disrupt enemy operations against Bastion- Leatherneck Complex.

Photo by Cpl. John Martinez

Cpl. Alex Roberts, a turret gunner and weapons noncommissioned officer with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, makes final adjustments to his M240B machine gun in the turret of his Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, July 14, 2014. Roberts, a native of Dunnellon, Fla., and his fellow turret gunners with CLB-7 act as the eyes and ears while being the guardian angels of each combat logistics patrol conducted during their deployment.

Photo by Sgt. Frances Johnson

Corpsmen train for small-unit rushes as part of force resuscitative care training June 27 at Camp Hansen. The training involved simulated combat casualty scenarios that prepared the corpsmen for triaging and treating potential casualties during combat deployments, while also ensuring basic combat skills were emphasized throughout. The corpsmen are with Company B, 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Isaac Ibarra

The colors of Marine Corps Logistics Command (Forward) are lowered during a flag folding ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, June 1, 2014. MCLC (Fwd) merged with Redeployment and Retrograde in support of Reset and Reconstitution Operations Group to more efficiently work to redeploy the Corps from Afghanistan.

Photo by Cpl. Cody Haas

Marines and sailors with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, move to concealed positions after taking enemy fire during a reconnaissance patrol near Patrol Base Boldak in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, May 15, 2014. The Marines and sailors of the unit conduct daily patrols in order to maintain trust and communication with the local Afghan population.

Photo by Cpl. Michael Dye

Sgt. Maj. Devon A. Lee, center, salutes Lt. Col. Larry G. Brown and Sgt. Maj. Timonthy J. Rudd during a post and relief ceremony Jan. 8 at hangar 525 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. . Sgt. Maj. Devon A. Lee passes on his reponsibilities as the squadron sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Timonthy J. Rudd. Marines are with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Juan Esquedal

Marines stand at parade rest durinig a post and relief ceremony Jan. 8 at hangar 525 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. Sgt. Maj. Devon A. Lee passes on his reponsibilities as the squadron sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Timonthy J. Rudd. The Marines are with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-262, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Juan Esquedal

Marines from Battery M, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, fire the M240 machine gun at targets down range at Pelham Range in Anniston, Ala., on Sept. 19, 2015. The Marines attended training to hone skills and increase their proficiency in crew-served weapons systems.

Photo by Cpl. Sara Graham

Lance Cpl. Joshua Arntzen (front), a radio operator, Battery M, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, Marine Forces Reserve and Cpl. Jeffrey Mallone, a field wireman with Battery M, man the M250 machine gun on Pelham Range in Anniston, Ala., on Sept. 19, 2015. The Marines trained on three different crew-served weapons to maintain their proficiency and knowledge on each system.

Photo by Cpl. Sara Graham

Marines from Battery M, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division fire the M250 machine gun at Pelham Range in Anniston, Ala., on Sept. 19, 2015. The Marines attended training to hone skills and increase their proficiency in crew-served weapons systems including the M249 SAW and M240.

Photo by Cpl. Sara Graham

Marines from Battery M, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division gather together as a class is given covering the fundamentals, functions and safety procedures of crew-served weapons at Pelham Range in Anniston, Ala., on Sept. 19, 2015. The Marines applied all of their knowledge and increased their proficiency in firing the M249 SAW, the M240 and the M250.

Photo by Cpl. Sara Graham

The Marine Corps released a request for information for a suite of hearing enhancement devices to help Marines communicate better and increase their lethality on the battlefield. Marine Corps Systems Command will assess industry’s capability to provide devices that are compatible with Marine Corps radios and the Marine Corps Enhanced Combat Helmet.

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Ezekiel Kitandwe

Aviation ordnance Marines with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225 load a LAU-10 rocket on an F/A-18 Hornet during high-explosive ordnance loading training at the combat aircraft loading area aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., July 29. The ordnance Marines also loaded the aircraft with MK-82 low-drag bombs during the training.

Photo by Cpl. Raquel Barraza

Marine Special Operations Officers graduating MARSOC’s ITC will be assigned a new Primary Military Occupational Specialty, clearing the way for retention and promotion in a professional career path. Previously, only enlisted Marines designated as critical skills operators were awarded a PMOS of 0372, while SOOs were awarded an Additional Military Occupational Specialty of 0370. The decision now allows SOOs to hold 0370 as a PMOS, and be managed with a development strategy that facilitates talent management of Special Operations Forces skills, standardized training, retention, promotions, command, professional military education and career progression, according to Maj. Gen Clark, the MARSOC commander.“Approval of the PMOS allows the Marine Corps the ability to develop Marine Special Operations Officers, over a course of a career, as both fully proficient special operations professionals and well-rounded Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force officers,” said Clark.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Thomas W. Provost

Smoke clears after Marines deploy an MK-154 mine clearance launcher during a training exercise in Twentynine Palms, California. The MK-154 was deadlined in 2013 following a mishap at the recommendation of Marine Corps Systems Command engineers trained in mishap investigation. The Mishap Investigation Training and Support Implementation Team, or MITSIT, received a Secretary of the Navy safety award for their efforts in training acquisition engineers to be mishap investigators.

Photo by LCpl Kelsey J. Green

Lance Cpl. David Wadleigh, military working dog handler, Military Working Dog Platoon, 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, instructs his dog, Hugo, to search for traces of explosive materials. Marines with MWD Platoon, 1st LEB and Assault Breacher Vehicle Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Combat Engineers Battalion, participated in Counter Improvised Explosive Device Training aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 10, 2015.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jenna Loofe

Lance Cpl. Rosendo Madrigal, military working dog handler, Military Working Dog Platoon, 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, and his dog, Saber, post security as the patrol comes to a halt. “Saber is a specialized search dog, he has different capabilities than the other dogs,” said Madrigal. “He’s an explosive detection dog he works on and off the leash, but I primarily work him off of the leash so I can push him off a great distance and he can help us to find IEDs and keep us at a safe distance.” Marines with MWD Platoon, 1st LEB and Assault Breacher Vehicle Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Combat Engineers Battalion, participated in Counter Improvised Explosive Device Training aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 10, 2015.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jenna Loofe

Lance Cpl. Suzette Goddard, military working dog handler, Military Working Dog Platoon, 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, posts security alongside her dog, Denny, during the Counter IED course. Marines with MWD Platoon, 1st LEB and Assault Breacher Vehicle Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Combat Engineers Battalion, participated in Counter Improvised Explosive Device Training aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 10, 2015.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jenna Loofe