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Col. Matthew G. St. Clair, commanding officer, Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, presents 1st Lt. Benjamin Sheldon, platoon commander, Company A, GCEITF, with a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat "V" distinguishing device at the task force headquarters, Oct. 10, 2014. Sheldon was awarded for actions during a deployment to Afghanistan with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, from September 2013 to May 2014. From October 2014 to July 2015, the GCEITF will conduct individual and collective level skills training in designated ground combat arms occupational specialties in order to facilitate the standards based assessment of the physical performance of Marines in a simulated operating environment performing specific ground combat arms tasks. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez/Released)

Photo by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez

1st Lt. William D. Comiskey (left) with brother Barrett O. Comiskey, sister-in-law JoJo and nieces Tara and Sora pose for a photo during a surprise family reunion at a mechanized assault that was part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 15 here, Oct. 5. Barrett traveled with his family from Taipei, Taiwan to the Philippines to surprise his brother after they had not seen each other for over a year. William is an Amphibious Assault Vehicle platoon commander with Company I, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. PHIBLEX is an annual, bilateral training exercise conducted by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines alongside U.S Marine and Navy forces.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Digirolamo

Philippine and U.S. Marines assault their objective during a mechanized assault as part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 15 at Naval Education Training Command, Zambales, Luzon, Philippines, Oct. 5. PHIBLEX is an annual, bilateral training exercise conducted by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines alongside U.S Marine and Navy forces focused on strengthening the partnership and relationships between the two nations across a range of military operations including disaster relief and complex expeditionary operations.. The U.S. Marines are with Company I, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. The Philippine Marines are with 4th Marine Company, Battalion Landing Team - 9.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Giguere

Philippine and U.S. Marines loaded in U.S. Marine Amphibious Assault Vehicles hit the beach during a mechanized assault in Amphibious Landing Exercise 15 at Naval Education and Training Command, Zambales, Luzon, Philippines, Oct. 5. PHIBLEX is an annual, bilateral training exercise conducted by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines alongside U.S Marine and Navy Forces focused on strengthening the partnership and relationships between the two nations across a range of military operations including disaster relief and complex expeditionary operations. The U.S. Marines are with Company I, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. The Philippine Marines are with 4th Marine Company, Battalion Landing Team - 9.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Digirolamo

The Secretary of the Navy has established the Marine Corps Combat Instructor Ribbon. Marines with the 0913 Combat Instructor MOS will be eligible for the award. This is an approximation of what the ribbon will look like. Detailed information will be made available in the pending MARADMIN.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark Fayloga

Lance Corporal Antonio C. Galloway (center), an aircraft communications, navigation, electrical and weapon systems technician with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron [VMM 264], poses for a photo with General James F. Amos (right center), 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps and Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (center left) and other service members with VMM 264 aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, Sept. 3, 2014. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin)

Photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin

Lance Corporal Antonio C. Galloway (center), an aircraft communications, navigation, electrical and weapon systems technician with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron [VMM 264], is meritoriously promoted to the rank of corporal by General James F. Amos (right), 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps and Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett (left), Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, during a visit to Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 14 aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, Sept. 3, 2014. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin)

Photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin

Unexploded ordnance is detonated during range clearance operations at the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, Calif., Monday, Aug. 25, 2014. Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians with both Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., and Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., conducted a surface sweep to clear target areas of ordnance in preparation for the next Weapons and Tactics Instructor course.

Photo by Cpl. Reba James

Marines with Weapons Company conduct security patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan

Photo by Cpl. Cody Haas

Petty Officer 3rd Class James Johnson, a U.S. Navy hospital corpsman with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South, of New Orleans, fires at his target during a live-fire exercise on the flight deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America, Aug. 15, 2014. The purpose of the exercise was to refresh the Marines on weapons handling and marksmanship with the M4 service rifle and M9 service pistol.

Photo by Cpl. Christopher J. Moore

Staff Sgt. Brandon Wood, the operations chief for Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 combat engineers based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., verifies targets as Cpl. Benjamin Rodriguez fires a MK 19 automatic grenade launcher, July 29,2014, at Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, Ariz. Combat engineers from MWSS-371 practiced automatic weapons training by firing the M203 grenade launcher, the M32 multiple grenade launcher, and the MK 19 automatic grenade launcher in order to better prepare for future missions.

Photo by Cpl. Brendan King

Marines with the headquarters element of Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, call over a Marine for communication set up during a long-range raid at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Hawaii, as part of their Western Pacific 14-2 deployment Aug. 1, 2014.The 11th MEU and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group are deploying as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/ RELEASED)

Photo by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan

Department of Defense's first production F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter flies toward its new home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., escorted by Marine Corps F-18 Hornets. The Marine variant of the JSF belongs to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501. The Marines of VMFAT-501 received two F-35Bs Jan. 11. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joely Santiago)

Photo by Courtesy Photo

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

An MV-22B Osprey, with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, maneuvers into position to receive fuel en route to Hawaii, July 30th, 2014. Four Ospreys launched from the USS Makin Island and traveled more than 800 nautical miles to insert an element of Marines into a simulated embassy compound. The MEU departed San Diego on July 25 and is currently deployed as part of Western Pacific 14-2. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Evan R. White/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Evan White

An M9 Berretta pistol is secured in a holster during a training event at Carlos Hathcock Range Complex aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., July 29. The new Combat Pistol Program requires shooters to draw their M9 Berretta pistol from a holster, fire at a target, and hold their pistol in a ready position while assessing the area around them for more threats.

Photo by Cpl. Christopher Johns

Lance Cpl. Scott G. Gulette, top, catches his opponent off-guard and brings him to the ground during the 35th annual Okinawa Island-Wide Sumo Tournament July 26, 2014 at the Kin Town Athletic Field, Okinawa, Japan. In Okinawa-style sumo wrestling, the competitors begin at the center of the ring with both hands on their opponent’s belt and they attempt to pin their opponents to the ground without losing their grip. Gulette is a Richmond, Michigan native and forward observer with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Ngiraswei

A Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion rides over a beach carrying a M1 Abrams tank with Company E, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, during a simulated ship-to-shore movement as a part of the battalion’s annual training exercise here, July 21, 2014. The two week exercise included live-fire tank and infantry integration as well as amphibious operations which gave the Marines a chance to operate in a simulated ship-to-shore movement. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Codey Underwood)

Photo by Cpl. Codey Underwood

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

Marines stabilize their Combat Rubber Raiding Craft after broaching the craft during a month-long coxswains course July 22 at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan. The purpose of broaching is to simulate a small boat capsizing in turbulent waters and complete the steps necessary to recover the craft. Following completion of the course the Marines will gain an additional military occupational specialty of 0316, or CRRC coxswain. The Marines are with various units assigned to 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Matt Myers