Stories

Major Gen. Joseph L. Osterman, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, presents Petty Officer 2nd Class Alejandro Salabarria, a corpsman with Marine Special Operations Company F, 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, the Silver Star Medal during a ceremony at Stone Bay aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 5, 2016. Salabarria was awarded for his actions in Afghanistan Sept.15, 2014. - Major Gen. Joseph L. Osterman, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, presents Petty Officer 2nd Class Alejandro Salabarria, a corpsman with Marine Special Operations Company F, 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, the Silver Star Medal during a ceremony at Stone Bay aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 5, 2016. Salabarria was awarded for his actions in Afghanistan Sept.15, 2014.

Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion post security during the assault breacher’s portion of the Sapper leader’s course at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 28, 2016. The three-week long course trains the Marines to be more proficient at patrolling, demolitions and demolition breaching. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joey Mendez) - Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion post security during the assault breacher’s portion of the Sapper leader’s course at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 28, 2016. The three-week long course trains the Marines to be more proficient at patrolling, demolitions and demolition breaching. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joey Mendez)

A Marine with Alpha Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, provides security as his squad conducts casualty evacuation drills during Mountain Exercise 1-16 at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., Jan. 15, 2016. Marines across II Marine Expeditionary Force and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade were taking part in the training in preparation for Exercise Cold Response 16 in Norway this March. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Dalton A. Precht/released) - A Marine with Alpha Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, provides security as his squad conducts casualty evacuation drills during Mountain Exercise 1-16 at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., Jan. 15, 2016. Marines across II Marine Expeditionary Force and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade were taking part in the training in preparation for Exercise Cold Response 16 in Norway this March. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Dalton A. Precht/released)

A soldier with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Western Army Infantry Regiment looks out from the driver’s seat of an amphibious assault vehicle onto a simulated battlefield during training during Exercise Iron Fist 2016 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 26. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral amphibious training exercise designed to improve U.S. Marine Corps and JGSDF’s ability to plan, communicate and conduct combined amphibious operations. The exercise provides valuable training to warriors from different cultures, and the opportunity to build camaraderie between the U.S. and Japanese militaries. - A soldier with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Western Army Infantry Regiment looks out from the driver’s seat of an amphibious assault vehicle onto a simulated battlefield during training during Exercise Iron Fist 2016 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 26. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral amphibious training exercise designed to improve U.S. Marine Corps and JGSDF’s ability to plan, communicate and conduct combined amphibious operations. The exercise provides valuable training to warriors from different cultures, and the opportunity to build camaraderie between the U.S. and Japanese militaries.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew A. Sprankle is congratulated by a Spanish Air Force Officer at Morón Air Base, Spain, Jan. 26, 2016, after receiving the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for saving a Senegalese man from drowning on last August. The award is the highest non-combative decoration for heroism awarded by the U.S. Department of the Navy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew A. Sprankle is congratulated by a Spanish Air Force Officer at Morón Air Base, Spain, Jan. 26, 2016, after receiving the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for saving a Senegalese man from drowning on last August. The award is the highest non-combative decoration for heroism awarded by the U.S. Department of the Navy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)

A Marine student undergoing the 2nd Marine Division Combat Skills Center’s Pre-Scout Sniper Course departs a field following a stalking exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Jan. 22, 2016. The DCSC offers several infantry-based courses to enhance the combat readiness of its Marines. - A Marine student undergoing the 2nd Marine Division Combat Skills Center’s Pre-Scout Sniper Course departs a field following a stalking exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Jan. 22, 2016. The DCSC offers several infantry-based courses to enhance the combat readiness of its Marines.

Sgt. DeMonte R. Cheeley is presented the Purple Heart medal by Brig. Gen. Terry V. Williams Jan. 26, 2015, at a ceremony in Chattanooga, Tenn. Cheeley received the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained during a July 16, 2015 attack in Chattanooga at the Armed Forces Career Center where he works. An investigation conducted by the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service determined the attack had been inspired by a foreign terrorist group making Cheeley eligible for the Purple Heart. Cheeley is a Recruiting Substation Chattanooga recruiter in Chattanooga, Tenn. Williams is the Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Eastern Recruiting Region. - Sgt. DeMonte R. Cheeley is presented the Purple Heart medal by Brig. Gen. Terry V. Williams Jan. 26, 2015, at a ceremony in Chattanooga, Tenn. Cheeley received the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained during a July 16, 2015 attack in Chattanooga at the Armed Forces Career Center where he works. An investigation conducted by the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service determined the attack had been inspired by a foreign terrorist group making Cheeley eligible for the Purple Heart. Cheeley is a Recruiting Substation Chattanooga recruiter in Chattanooga, Tenn. Williams is the Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Eastern Recruiting Region.

Marines with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command dive out the back of a MV-22B Osprey with the goal of hitting their pre-designated landing zone with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Jan. 21, 2016. The squadron supported Marine Raiders by conducting high altitude low opening jumps as well as static line jumps to allow them to train for future operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Luke Hoogendam/Released) - Marines with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command dive out the back of a MV-22B Osprey with the goal of hitting their pre-designated landing zone with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Jan. 21, 2016. The squadron supported Marine Raiders by conducting high altitude low opening jumps as well as static line jumps to allow them to train for future operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Luke Hoogendam/Released)

Sgt. DeMonte R. Cheeley stands for a photo after receiving the Purple Heart medal Jan. 26, 2016, at a ceremony in Chattanooga, Tenn. Cheeley received the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained during a July 16, 2015 attack in Chattanooga at the Armed Forces Career Center where he works. An investigation conducted by the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service determined the attack had been inspired by a foreign terrorist group making Cheeley eligible for the Purple Heart. Cheeley is a Marine recruiter with Recruiting Substation Chattanooga, Recruiting Station Nashville, Tenn. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Diamond N. Peden/Released) - Sgt. DeMonte R. Cheeley stands for a photo after receiving the Purple Heart medal Jan. 26, 2016, at a ceremony in Chattanooga, Tenn. Cheeley received the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained during a July 16, 2015 attack in Chattanooga at the Armed Forces Career Center where he works. An investigation conducted by the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service determined the attack had been inspired by a foreign terrorist group making Cheeley eligible for the Purple Heart. Cheeley is a Marine recruiter with Recruiting Substation Chattanooga, Recruiting Station Nashville, Tenn. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Diamond N. Peden/Released)

Petty Officer 3rd Class Thomas McCarthy prepares to place an IV for Cpl. Walter Kowalski Jan. 5 at the U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka Branch Health Annex on Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan. The annex provides medical evaluation and care to units training on the installation and is typically staffed by less than six permanent personnel. The facility provides an area for service members in training to seek medical evaluation and care. McCarthy is a corpsman with 3rd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment; currently assigned to 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program, and a Visalia, Calif., native. Kowalski is a field radio operator with the battalion and an Amsterdam, N.Y., native. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Thomas McCarthy prepares to place an IV for Cpl. Walter Kowalski Jan. 5 at the U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka Branch Health Annex on Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan. The annex provides medical evaluation and care to units training on the installation and is typically staffed by less than six permanent personnel. The facility provides an area for service members in training to seek medical evaluation and care. McCarthy is a corpsman with 3rd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment; currently assigned to 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program, and a Visalia, Calif., native. Kowalski is a field radio operator with the battalion and an Amsterdam, N.Y., native.