POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii – Marines with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment’s “Black Sheep,” prepare their M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzer for a direct fire training exercise as part of Lava Viper 17.1, a staple in the battalion’s pre-deployment training on Oct. 16, 2016, at Range 13 aboard Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii. Lava Viper Provides the Hawaii-based Marines with an opportunity to conduct various movements, live-fire and tactical, integrating combined arms exercises. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jesus Sepulveda Torres) - POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii – Marines with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment’s “Black Sheep,” prepare their M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzer for a direct fire training exercise as part of Lava Viper 17.1, a staple in the battalion’s pre-deployment training on Oct. 16, 2016, at Range 13 aboard Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii. Lava Viper Provides the Hawaii-based Marines with an opportunity to conduct various movements, live-fire and tactical, integrating combined arms exercises. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jesus Sepulveda Torres)
MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS – Lance Cpl. Justin Rumphrey, a team leader with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and a Loganville, Georgia native, patrols through a simulated village during Exercise Island Viper aboard Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Sept. 29, 2016. Exercise Island Viper is a 3-week-long battalion level training evolution workup that focuses on sharpening the infantry skills of the individual, team and squad. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Jesus Sepulveda Torres) - MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS – Lance Cpl. Justin Rumphrey, a team leader with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and a Loganville, Georgia native, patrols through a simulated village during Exercise Island Viper aboard Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Sept. 29, 2016. Exercise Island Viper is a 3-week-long battalion level training evolution workup that focuses on sharpening the infantry skills of the individual, team and squad. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Jesus Sepulveda Torres)
KAHUKU TRAINING FACILITY – Lance Cpl. Rick Mercer, a rifleman with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and a St. Clair Shores, Michigan, native, loads his M240 Machine Gun for a patrol as part of a training exercise aboard the Kahuku Training Facility, Sept. 20, 2016. The exercise is part of a 7-week-long training event known as the Advance Infantry Course. The Advance Infantry Course, which is conducted by the Advance Infantry Battalion, Detachment Hawaii, is an advanced 0311 (Rifleman) Military Occupational Specialty course for squad leaders who are currently serving in the operating field. Originally only for 3rd Marine Division, the course here has opened up to various infantry units throughout the Marine Corps. Marines start with a week of proofing their prerequisites that are required for the course, confirming their basic skill sets, and then spend two weeks in a garrison environment doing course work and physical training routines geared toward the squad leader. Towards the second half of the course, Marines conduct one live fire week, followed by three consecutive weeks in the field, progressing from an urban exercise to a patrolling exercise, with offensive and defensive tactics. Marines trained in multiple areas on the island, from high in the mountains of the Kahuku Training Facility to the Military Operation in Urban Terrain facilities on Marine Corps Training Area Bellows. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Jesus Sepulveda Torres) - KAHUKU TRAINING FACILITY – Lance Cpl. Rick Mercer, a rifleman with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and a St. Clair Shores, Michigan, native, loads his M240 Machine Gun for a patrol as part of a training exercise aboard the Kahuku Training Facility, Sept. 20, 2016. The exercise is part of a 7-week-long training event known as the Advance Infantry Course. The Advance Infantry Course, which is conducted by the Advance Infantry Battalion, Detachment Hawaii, is an advanced 0311 (Rifleman) Military Occupational Specialty course for squad leaders who are currently serving in the operating field. Originally only for 3rd Marine Division, the course here has opened up to various infantry units throughout the Marine Corps. Marines start with a week of proofing their prerequisites that are required for the course, confirming their basic skill sets, and then spend two weeks in a garrison environment doing course work and physical training routines geared toward the squad leader. Towards the second half of the course, Marines conduct one live fire week, followed by three consecutive weeks in the field, progressing from an urban exercise to a patrolling exercise, with offensive and defensive tactics. Marines trained in multiple areas on the island, from high in the mountains of the Kahuku Training Facility to the Military Operation in Urban Terrain facilities on Marine Corps Training Area Bellows. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Jesus Sepulveda Torres)
Sgt. Mark Berger, a cyber network operator with Headquarters Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, and a Sulligent, Ala., native, fireman carries a simulated casualty during Sergeants Course aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii Aug 19, 2015. The squad Berger was in was ambushed resulting in a Marine becaming a simulated casualty in the scenario. Sergeants Course is a vital part of professional military education for any Marine and helps to maintain the standards amongst the NCOs of the Marine Corps. The course supports MCB Hawaii’s mission, which is to provide facilities, programs and services in direct support of units, individuals and families to enhance and sustain combat readiness for all operating forces and tenant organizations aboard the installation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Khalil Ross/Released) - Sgt. Mark Berger, a cyber network operator with Headquarters Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, and a Sulligent, Ala., native, fireman carries a simulated casualty during Sergeants Course aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii Aug 19, 2015. The squad Berger was in was ambushed resulting in a Marine becaming a simulated casualty in the scenario. Sergeants Course is a vital part of professional military education for any Marine and helps to maintain the standards amongst the NCOs of the Marine Corps. The course supports MCB Hawaii’s mission, which is to provide facilities, programs and services in direct support of units, individuals and families to enhance and sustain combat readiness for all operating forces and tenant organizations aboard the installation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Khalil Ross/Released)
Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets with the Hawaii Leadership Academy are shown a Shadow RQ-7B unmanned aerial vehicle June 17, 2015, in Hangar 102. The cadets arrived to Marine Corps Base Hawaii on June 13 to build their leadership skills so they could return to their units with billets such as a commanding officer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Orr/Released) - Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets with the Hawaii Leadership Academy are shown a Shadow RQ-7B unmanned aerial vehicle June 17, 2015, in Hangar 102. The cadets arrived to Marine Corps Base Hawaii on June 13 to build their leadership skills so they could return to their units with billets such as a commanding officer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Orr/Released)
Amphibious assault vehicles, launched from the USS Rushmore, demonstrated amphibious landings as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s joint sea-basing exercise, Culebra Koa 15, May 19, 2015. Observed by local-based military and representatives from 22 countries within the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, the landing was made in conjunction with the inaugural U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific-hosted U.S. Pacific Command Amphibious Leaders Symposium. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brittney Vella/Released) - Amphibious assault vehicles, launched from the USS Rushmore, demonstrated amphibious landings as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s joint sea-basing exercise, Culebra Koa 15, May 19, 2015. Observed by local-based military and representatives from 22 countries within the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, the landing was made in conjunction with the inaugural U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific-hosted U.S. Pacific Command Amphibious Leaders Symposium. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brittney Vella/Released)
Lance Cpl. Matthew Whitfield, a machine gunner with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, pays respects to his fallen comrade by clutching his dog tags in his hand at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, May 19, 2015. Whitfield gave his personal reflection in the ceremony as well. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Khalil Ross/Released) - Lance Cpl. Matthew Whitfield, a machine gunner with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, pays respects to his fallen comrade by clutching his dog tags in his hand at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, May 19, 2015. Whitfield gave his personal reflection in the ceremony as well. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Khalil Ross/Released)
Brock Pulliam, a Waiahole, Hawaii, native, paints one of the rooms in the Wounded Warrior Battalion West-Detachment Hawaii, May 16, 2015, aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The volunteers dedicated a portion of their weekend in honor of National Painting Week, a time spent focusing on giving back to the community and supporting community development. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Harley Thomas/Released) - Brock Pulliam, a Waiahole, Hawaii, native, paints one of the rooms in the Wounded Warrior Battalion West-Detachment Hawaii, May 16, 2015, aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The volunteers dedicated a portion of their weekend in honor of National Painting Week, a time spent focusing on giving back to the community and supporting community development. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Harley Thomas/Released)
Petty Officer 3rd Class Lawrence Montoya, an aviation electronics technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24, soars throught the air as he conducts a standing long jump for distance May 18, 2015, at Pop Warner Field. Lawrence attempted the jump three times and used the longest jump of the three as his assessment score. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Khalil Ross/Released) - Petty Officer 3rd Class Lawrence Montoya, an aviation electronics technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24, soars throught the air as he conducts a standing long jump for distance May 18, 2015, at Pop Warner Field. Lawrence attempted the jump three times and used the longest jump of the three as his assessment score. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Khalil Ross/Released)