News Stories Archive

Soldiers with 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade and Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment devise a reaction strategy in case of simulated Improvised Explosive Device attacks during exercise Valiant Mark aboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 6, 2014. Valiant Mark enhances U.S. and Singaporean forces’ combined combat readiness through live-fire and urban terrain training as well as amphibious operations familiarization. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Danielle Rodrigues) - Soldiers with 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade and Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment devise a reaction strategy in case of simulated Improvised Explosive Device attacks during exercise Valiant Mark aboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 6, 2014. Valiant Mark enhances U.S. and Singaporean forces’ combined combat readiness through live-fire and urban terrain training as well as amphibious operations familiarization. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Danielle Rodrigues)

Marines check the GPS coordinates of their M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzers Oct. 30 during a command post exercise for Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-3. “Camp Fuji provides that cold weather training environment that artillery units need to be familiar with,” said Sgt. Maj. Marvin M. Magcale, the battalion sergeant major for 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines. “The Marines and sailors in this battalion will be better prepared to accomplish the mission involving cold weather. Austere conditions obviously affect not only the Marines and sailors, but their equipment as well.” The Marines are with Battery B, 1st Bn., 12th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and are currently assigned to 3rd Bn., 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program. - Marines check the GPS coordinates of their M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzers Oct. 30 during a command post exercise for Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-3. “Camp Fuji provides that cold weather training environment that artillery units need to be familiar with,” said Sgt. Maj. Marvin M. Magcale, the battalion sergeant major for 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines. “The Marines and sailors in this battalion will be better prepared to accomplish the mission involving cold weather. Austere conditions obviously affect not only the Marines and sailors, but their equipment as well.” The Marines are with Battery B, 1st Bn., 12th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and are currently assigned to 3rd Bn., 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program.

Erin Vasselian holds a Bronze Star Medal following a ceremony where her husband, Sgt. Daniel Vasselian, was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, Oct. 13, in front of the American Legion’s Lewis V. Dorsey Post 112 War Memorial in Abington, Mass. Daniel was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for combat actions while on his third deployment to Afghanistan. Erin Vasselian, and parents, Karen and Mark Vasselian, each were presented with medals during the ceremony. Daniel was killed in action Dec. 23, 2013 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. (Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein) - Erin Vasselian holds a Bronze Star Medal following a ceremony where her husband, Sgt. Daniel Vasselian, was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, Oct. 13, in front of the American Legion’s Lewis V. Dorsey Post 112 War Memorial in Abington, Mass. Daniel was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for combat actions while on his third deployment to Afghanistan. Erin Vasselian, and parents, Karen and Mark Vasselian, each were presented with medals during the ceremony. Daniel was killed in action Dec. 23, 2013 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. (Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein)

Col. Matthew G. St. Clair, commanding officer, Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, presents 1st Lt. Benjamin Sheldon, platoon commander, Company A, GCEITF, with a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat "V" distinguishing device at the task force headquarters, Oct. 10, 2014. Sheldon was awarded for actions during a deployment to Afghanistan with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, from September 2013 to May 2014. From October 2014 to July 2015, the GCEITF will conduct individual and collective level skills training in designated ground combat arms occupational specialties in order to facilitate the standards based assessment of the physical performance of Marines in a simulated operating environment performing specific ground combat arms tasks. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez/Released) - Col. Matthew G. St. Clair, commanding officer, Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, presents 1st Lt. Benjamin Sheldon, platoon commander, Company A, GCEITF, with a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat "V" distinguishing device at the task force headquarters, Oct. 10, 2014. Sheldon was awarded for actions during a deployment to Afghanistan with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, from September 2013 to May 2014. From October 2014 to July 2015, the GCEITF will conduct individual and collective level skills training in designated ground combat arms occupational specialties in order to facilitate the standards based assessment of the physical performance of Marines in a simulated operating environment performing specific ground combat arms tasks. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez/Released)

Marines with Charley Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, render honors to Brig. Gen. Daniel D. Yoo, commander, Regional Command and Marine Expeditionary Brigade–Afghanistan, during the battalion’s transfer of authority ceremony aboard Tactical Base Dwyer, Afghanistan, Oct. 1, 2014. The ceremony signified the battalion’s transfer of authority of the base and their area of responsibility to 3rd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, a U.S. Army command based out of Fort Hood, Texas. The ceremony also meant the end of combat operations for 7th Marines – a regiment which has been actively supporting Operation Enduring Freedom for several years. - Marines with Charley Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, render honors to Brig. Gen. Daniel D. Yoo, commander, Regional Command and Marine Expeditionary Brigade–Afghanistan, during the battalion’s transfer of authority ceremony aboard Tactical Base Dwyer, Afghanistan, Oct. 1, 2014. The ceremony signified the battalion’s transfer of authority of the base and their area of responsibility to 3rd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, a U.S. Army command based out of Fort Hood, Texas. The ceremony also meant the end of combat operations for 7th Marines – a regiment which has been actively supporting Operation Enduring Freedom for several years.

Marine infantrymen make their way to a compound held by Guam Army National Guard who are acting as an opposing force Sept. 20 during the island seizure portion of Exercise Valiant Shield 2014 at Tinian’s North Field. The Marines were transported from Okinawa to Guam and from there to Tinian. Valiant Shield is a U.S.-only exercise integrating Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps assets, offering real-world joint operational experience to develop capabilities that provide a full range of options to defend U.S. interests and those of its allies and partners. The Marines are with Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. D. A. Walters/ Released) - Marine infantrymen make their way to a compound held by Guam Army National Guard who are acting as an opposing force Sept. 20 during the island seizure portion of Exercise Valiant Shield 2014 at Tinian’s North Field. The Marines were transported from Okinawa to Guam and from there to Tinian. Valiant Shield is a U.S.-only exercise integrating Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps assets, offering real-world joint operational experience to develop capabilities that provide a full range of options to defend U.S. interests and those of its allies and partners. The Marines are with Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. D. A. Walters/ Released)

First Sgt. Brian Moody, first sergeant, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, patrols through southern Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 3, 2014. The operation was designed to deter enemy insurgents from operating in the southern area of Helmand province. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released) - First Sgt. Brian Moody, first sergeant, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, patrols through southern Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 3, 2014. The operation was designed to deter enemy insurgents from operating in the southern area of Helmand province. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released)

General James F. Amos, left, the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Sgt. Maj. Micheal Barrett, the 17th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, speak to Marines and sailors with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment; 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, 2014. Gen. Amos and Sgt. Maj. Barrett visited Marines and sailors serving with Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan in Helmand province for the final time, thanking them for their service and sacrifice. - General James F. Amos, left, the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Sgt. Maj. Micheal Barrett, the 17th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, speak to Marines and sailors with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment; 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, 2014. Gen. Amos and Sgt. Maj. Barrett visited Marines and sailors serving with Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan in Helmand province for the final time, thanking them for their service and sacrifice.