Stories

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)

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.

Lance Cpl. Sawyer Day, a combat engineer with Alpha Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, reloads his weapon during a Combat Marksmanship Program qualification. Marines conduct these qualifications yearly in order to remain combat ready in case they are called upon at a moment's notice. - Lance Cpl. Sawyer Day, a combat engineer with Alpha Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, reloads his weapon during a Combat Marksmanship Program qualification. Marines conduct these qualifications yearly in order to remain combat ready in case they are called upon at a moment's notice.

Lance Cpl. Joshua B. Gilmore sets his azimuth to the next point during a land navigation course at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Jan. 13, 2016. During the 19-point course, 20 Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274’s Engineer Company, Heavy Equipment Platoon headed to the field to re-experience the basic land navigation process. The course was a refresher for most of the Marines, who have not used land navigation since Marine Combat Training. Gilmore is an engineer equipment operator with MWSS-274. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released) - Lance Cpl. Joshua B. Gilmore sets his azimuth to the next point during a land navigation course at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Jan. 13, 2016. During the 19-point course, 20 Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274’s Engineer Company, Heavy Equipment Platoon headed to the field to re-experience the basic land navigation process. The course was a refresher for most of the Marines, who have not used land navigation since Marine Combat Training. Gilmore is an engineer equipment operator with MWSS-274. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/Released)

Gen. John F. Kelly relinquished command of United States Southern Command Jan. 14, 2016. He will soon retire after more than 45 years of service. - Gen. John F. Kelly relinquished command of United States Southern Command Jan. 14, 2016. He will soon retire after more than 45 years of service.

A Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, F/A-18D Hornet descends to Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido, Japan, after traveling from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Jan. 12, 2016. VMFA (AW)-224, homebased at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., is temporarily based in Iwakuni on a unit deployment program and deployed to Northern Japan to participate in the Chitose Aviation Training Relocation Exercise, Jan. 12-22. During the exercise, the squadron conducted dissimilar air combat training with and against the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to further support combined interoperability and Pacific theater security cooperation. - A Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, F/A-18D Hornet descends to Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido, Japan, after traveling from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Jan. 12, 2016. VMFA (AW)-224, homebased at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., is temporarily based in Iwakuni on a unit deployment program and deployed to Northern Japan to participate in the Chitose Aviation Training Relocation Exercise, Jan. 12-22. During the exercise, the squadron conducted dissimilar air combat training with and against the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to further support combined interoperability and Pacific theater security cooperation.

COMBINED ARMS TRAINING CENTER, GOTEMBA, Japan — Marines’ tents stand in below Mt. Fuji during Exercise Fuji Samurai at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Gotemba, Japan, Jan. 7, 2016. Exercise Fuji Samurai is held at CATC Fuji during the month of January and includes countless fire and maneuver drills and other combat-based training evolutions that take place over a period of approximately two weeks. During this time, Marines must face the chill and challenge of Mt. Fuji, as they spend night after night subject to the winter elements. The tents provided Marines with shelter from the unforgiving Mt. Fuji chill as they rested between training events. - COMBINED ARMS TRAINING CENTER, GOTEMBA, Japan — Marines’ tents stand in below Mt. Fuji during Exercise Fuji Samurai at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Gotemba, Japan, Jan. 7, 2016. Exercise Fuji Samurai is held at CATC Fuji during the month of January and includes countless fire and maneuver drills and other combat-based training evolutions that take place over a period of approximately two weeks. During this time, Marines must face the chill and challenge of Mt. Fuji, as they spend night after night subject to the winter elements. The tents provided Marines with shelter from the unforgiving Mt. Fuji chill as they rested between training events.

Sgt. Caleb Renner, the chief chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear instructor with II Marine Headquarters Group, gives an hour-long class on how to properly wear and function in a M50 gas mask at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 8, 2016. The chamber is a routine exercise to ensure the durability of each Marines gear while exposed to chlorobenzylidene malononitrile, or CS gas, which is a bi-annual qualification requirement for Marines. - Sgt. Caleb Renner, the chief chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear instructor with II Marine Headquarters Group, gives an hour-long class on how to properly wear and function in a M50 gas mask at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 8, 2016. The chamber is a routine exercise to ensure the durability of each Marines gear while exposed to chlorobenzylidene malononitrile, or CS gas, which is a bi-annual qualification requirement for Marines.