U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kaleb Aikens, a military working dog handler, watches as his partner, Rudy, goes over an obstacle at the kennel on Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Dec. 10, 2021. To be effective, MWD’s require a qualified and dedicated handler. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kaleb Aikens, a military working dog handler, watches as his partner, Rudy, goes over an obstacle at the kennel on Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Dec. 10, 2021. To be effective, MWD’s require a qualified and dedicated handler.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Andrew House, a firefighter with Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, drops a charged hose during an initial Firefighter Assessment conducted at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Jan 6, 2022. The Firefighter Assessment is an annual requirement to ensure all firefighters are able to perform their duties safely and properly. Firefighters were given the opportunity to run an intial assessment in order to ensure success when they conduct the real thing during their birth month. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Andrew House, a firefighter with Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, drops a charged hose during an initial Firefighter Assessment conducted at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Jan 6, 2022. The Firefighter Assessment is an annual requirement to ensure all firefighters are able to perform their duties safely and properly. Firefighters were given the opportunity to run an intial assessment in order to ensure success when they conduct the real thing during their birth month.

F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, arrive aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as they prepare to deploy alongside the Navy as an integrated part of Carrier Strike Group 3. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, led by Carrier Strike Group 3, deployed from San Diego, Jan. 3, in support of global maritime security operations. An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to flawlessly execute our Navy's role across the full spectrum of military operations-from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with our allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region. - F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, arrive aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as they prepare to deploy alongside the Navy as an integrated part of Carrier Strike Group 3. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, led by Carrier Strike Group 3, deployed from San Diego, Jan. 3, in support of global maritime security operations. An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to flawlessly execute our Navy's role across the full spectrum of military operations-from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with our allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Marines with Blackfoot Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance, and Airmen with 4th Airlift Squadron, 62nd Airlift Wing, load light armored vehicles in an U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, stationed out of Kadena Air Base, to transport service members from Okinawa to Wake Island as part of exercise Iron Sky 22.2 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 4, 2021. IIron Sky is a joint integration and operational mobility exercise that allowed Marines to participate in an Expeditionary Advanced Base Operation in the Pacific region. - U.S. Marines with Blackfoot Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance, and Airmen with 4th Airlift Squadron, 62nd Airlift Wing, load light armored vehicles in an U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, stationed out of Kadena Air Base, to transport service members from Okinawa to Wake Island as part of exercise Iron Sky 22.2 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 4, 2021. IIron Sky is a joint integration and operational mobility exercise that allowed Marines to participate in an Expeditionary Advanced Base Operation in the Pacific region.

Staff Sgt. Joseph Maldonado, a recruiter with Recruiting Sub-Station Fullerton, Recruiting Station Orange County, poses for a photo in Fullerton, Calif. on December 10, 2021. Maldonado’s actions resulted in him saving a stranger's life during a three-car pile-up near San Juan Capistrano on Highway 5 Interstate. - Staff Sgt. Joseph Maldonado, a recruiter with Recruiting Sub-Station Fullerton, Recruiting Station Orange County, poses for a photo in Fullerton, Calif. on December 10, 2021. Maldonado’s actions resulted in him saving a stranger's life during a three-car pile-up near San Juan Capistrano on Highway 5 Interstate.

Col. Victor Pastor, Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3/5, 4th Marine Division, discusses force design and establishing a crisis response force Dec. 15, 2021, at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans. II MEF and MARFORRES are the Marine Corps’ service-retained forces administratively and operationally controlled by the Marine Corps instead of a combatant command, such as most Marines stationed in California and Japan who are aligned to support U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The importance of these operational planning teams is to establish the process needed to create an effective service-retained crisis response force to respond to global threats outside of USINDOPACOM area of responsibility. MARFORRES and II MEF are the Marine Corps’ service-retained forces, which means they are administratively and operationally controlled by the Marine Corps. - Col. Victor Pastor, Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3/5, 4th Marine Division, discusses force design and establishing a crisis response force Dec. 15, 2021, at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans. II MEF and MARFORRES are the Marine Corps’ service-retained forces administratively and operationally controlled by the Marine Corps instead of a combatant command, such as most Marines stationed in California and Japan who are aligned to support U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The importance of these operational planning teams is to establish the process needed to create an effective service-retained crisis response force to respond to global threats outside of USINDOPACOM area of responsibility. MARFORRES and II MEF are the Marine Corps’ service-retained forces, which means they are administratively and operationally controlled by the Marine Corps.

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz and local community members pose for a group photo during a Toys for Tots toy transfer event to local charities on Guam, Dec. 17, 2021. This year marks the 74th year of the national Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign and its 12th year on Guam. The mission of the Toys for Tots program is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children during Christmas. - U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz and local community members pose for a group photo during a Toys for Tots toy transfer event to local charities on Guam, Dec. 17, 2021. This year marks the 74th year of the national Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign and its 12th year on Guam. The mission of the Toys for Tots program is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children during Christmas.

U.S. Marine Corps officer candidates with Lima Company participate in a close order drill competition at Officer Candidates School on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Aug. 9, 2021. Close order drill instills discipline by increasing precision, response to orders and confidence within the candidates. - U.S. Marine Corps officer candidates with Lima Company participate in a close order drill competition at Officer Candidates School on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Aug. 9, 2021. Close order drill instills discipline by increasing precision, response to orders and confidence within the candidates.