A Marine with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, waits in the back of a 7-ton vehicle to start the assault on an objective during a dry run exercise of the battalion assault course, Sept. 15, 2013 at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Calif., training area. The battalion has been conducting the combat center's Integrated Training Exercise since Aug. 18 and will be returning home soon. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Sarah Dietz) - A Marine with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, waits in the back of a 7-ton vehicle to start the assault on an objective during a dry run exercise of the battalion assault course, Sept. 15, 2013 at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Calif., training area. The battalion has been conducting the combat center's Integrated Training Exercise since Aug. 18 and will be returning home soon. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Sarah Dietz)
A mortarman with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepares to load an 81 mm mortar tube to provide supporting fire for the infantry platoons taking out simulated enemy targets, Sept. 11, 2013, as part of the air assault course at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. The AAC is part of the month-long Integrated Training Exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Sarah Dietz) - A mortarman with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepares to load an 81 mm mortar tube to provide supporting fire for the infantry platoons taking out simulated enemy targets, Sept. 11, 2013, as part of the air assault course at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. The AAC is part of the month-long Integrated Training Exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Sarah Dietz)
Lance Cpl. Jeremy Coulon, machine gunner and squad leader, weapons platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force Darwin, and a San Marcos, Texas, native, patrols through a Tongan village on his way to a vehicle checkpoint training evolution as part of Exercise Tafakula 2013 in Tongatapu, Kingdom of Tonga, Sept. 10, 2013.(U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Nathan Knapke) - Lance Cpl. Jeremy Coulon, machine gunner and squad leader, weapons platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force Darwin, and a San Marcos, Texas, native, patrols through a Tongan village on his way to a vehicle checkpoint training evolution as part of Exercise Tafakula 2013 in Tongatapu, Kingdom of Tonga, Sept. 10, 2013.(U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Nathan Knapke)
Marines with Marine Rotational Force Darwin run with logs over their shoulders alongside infantry platoons from the Tongan Defence Service and the French Armed Forces New Caledonia during a log-run competition as part of Exercise Tafakula 2013 at Taliai Military Camp, Kingdom of Tonga, Sept. 2, 2013. The purpose of the exercise is to enhance interoperability and improve U.S. military-to-military relations with the Tongan Defence Service and the French Armed Forces New Caledonia.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nathan Knapke) - Marines with Marine Rotational Force Darwin run with logs over their shoulders alongside infantry platoons from the Tongan Defence Service and the French Armed Forces New Caledonia during a log-run competition as part of Exercise Tafakula 2013 at Taliai Military Camp, Kingdom of Tonga, Sept. 2, 2013. The purpose of the exercise is to enhance interoperability and improve U.S. military-to-military relations with the Tongan Defence Service and the French Armed Forces New Caledonia.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nathan Knapke)
Marines with Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, make landing in F470 Zodiac Combat Rubber Raid Craft on Pyramid Rock Beach, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 30, 2013. The boat company secured the beach, allowing follow-on forces to conduct an amphibious assault. The battalion is attached to the 13th MEU on a deployment to the Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew Callahan) - Marines with Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, make landing in F470 Zodiac Combat Rubber Raid Craft on Pyramid Rock Beach, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 30, 2013. The boat company secured the beach, allowing follow-on forces to conduct an amphibious assault. The battalion is attached to the 13th MEU on a deployment to the Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew Callahan)
Clay Patterson, a batter for Combat Logistics Battalion 3, runs across third base on his way to the home plate during a softball match between 3rd Marine Regiment #2 and CLB-3 at Annex Field aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 19, 2013. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Bragg) - Clay Patterson, a batter for Combat Logistics Battalion 3, runs across third base on his way to the home plate during a softball match between 3rd Marine Regiment #2 and CLB-3 at Annex Field aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 19, 2013. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Bragg)
Sgt. Maj. Justin LeHew, outgoing regimental sergeant major (left), and Sgt. Maj. Vincent Santiago, incoming regimental sergeant major (right), salute the National Ensign during a relief and appointment ceremony for 3rd Marines at Dewey Square aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 20, 2013. After serving a 27-month tour with 3rd Marines, LeHew will travel to Quantico, Va., and assume his new duties at Training and Education Command. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Bragg) - Sgt. Maj. Justin LeHew, outgoing regimental sergeant major (left), and Sgt. Maj. Vincent Santiago, incoming regimental sergeant major (right), salute the National Ensign during a relief and appointment ceremony for 3rd Marines at Dewey Square aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 20, 2013. After serving a 27-month tour with 3rd Marines, LeHew will travel to Quantico, Va., and assume his new duties at Training and Education Command. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Bragg)
Australian Army Pvt. Jenelle Fletcher, a 28-year-old soldier with 1 Military Police Battalion, talks with the citizens of Waratah Village as she posts security during Exercise Talisman Saber 2013, July 22, 2013. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Bragg) - Australian Army Pvt. Jenelle Fletcher, a 28-year-old soldier with 1 Military Police Battalion, talks with the citizens of Waratah Village as she posts security during Exercise Talisman Saber 2013, July 22, 2013. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Bragg)
Australian Army Capt. Andrew Carlile, the civil military organization liaison officer for 1 Armored Cavalry Regiment, (right), explains the benefits of befriending Australian forces to the mayor of Waratah village. The mock village housed more than 40 Australian soldiers and U.S. Marines training to establish a successful relationship with a community not accustomed to foreign aid. Talisman Saber is a biennial exercise that enhances multilateral collaboration between U.S. and Australian forces in support of future combined operations, humanitarian assistance and natural disaster response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Bragg) - Australian Army Capt. Andrew Carlile, the civil military organization liaison officer for 1 Armored Cavalry Regiment, (right), explains the benefits of befriending Australian forces to the mayor of Waratah village. The mock village housed more than 40 Australian soldiers and U.S. Marines training to establish a successful relationship with a community not accustomed to foreign aid. Talisman Saber is a biennial exercise that enhances multilateral collaboration between U.S. and Australian forces in support of future combined operations, humanitarian assistance and natural disaster response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Bragg)
Marines with Transportation Service Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, drive 7-ton vehicles across the barren, volcanic terrain of Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, July 23, 2013. The unit supported 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment during Exercise Lava Viper. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew Callahan) - Marines with Transportation Service Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, drive 7-ton vehicles across the barren, volcanic terrain of Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, July 23, 2013. The unit supported 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment during Exercise Lava Viper. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew Callahan)