Desert Operations and Combat Readiness

Diverse scenes of soldiers engaged in combat and training exercises in desert environments, emphasizing readiness and tactical movement.

Equipped and armed special forces soldier with rifle in the desert during a military operation.

Equipped and armed special forces soldier with rifle in the desert during a military operation.

Paratroopers from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division run through yellow obscuration smoke during their Company live fire exercise conducted Tuesday, February 26 on Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait-U.S. Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, 1-124 Infantry Regiment fire a M-240B at the range during the U.S. Army Central Best Squad Competition. BSC 2022 measures the abilities of squads to perform physical and mental challenges as a cohesive team.

Smoke curls off the end of a barrel after a Soldier from the 833rd Engineer Company, Iowa National Guard, successfully fired a .50-caliber machine gun during Western Strike 22, June 5, 2022, at Orchard Combat Training Center, Idaho. Western Strike 22 is an eXportable Combat Training Capabilities exercise led by the Utah National Guards 65th Field Artillery Brigade, that provides National Guard Soldiers immersed training similar to a Combat Training Center and aims to increase participating unit's readiness and lethality.

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team maneuver to engage targets during a combined arms live fire exercise at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Sept. 22, 2022. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance.

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, perform for the Joint Base Andrews Air Show and Open House, at Joint Base Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, Sept. 17, 2022. The Thunderbirds are simultaneously celebrating the Air Force's 75th Anniversary and the team's 69th Anniversary.

U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Dye, from Jacksonville, Florida, a fire support liaison chief assigned to Force Reconnaissance Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division observes the impact of a high explosive round from an M777 A2 Howitzer during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 1-23 at Observation Point Sunkist (OP Sunkist), Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, California, Oct. 4, 2022. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, providing standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine aviation training and readiness, and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics.

220604-N-PG340-1043 SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND, Calif. (June 4, 2022) U.S. Navy Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 and Marines, with 7th Engineering Support Battalion, conduct a patrol during Operation Turning Point, also known as their Field Training Exercise, at San Clemente Island. Operation Turning Point is an around-the-clock exercise that focuses on constructing advanced bases while maintaining proficiency in tactics and survivability. NMCB-5 is homeported out of Port Hueneme, California. They train on high-quality construction, expeditionary logistics, and combat operations to execute construction and engineering projects for major combat operations, disaster response, and humanitarian assistance.

DM-ST-88-06890. Base: Quantico State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Army Soldiers with Task Force Sinai, participate in a Best Squad Competition at South Camp, Egypt, April 11-12, 2022; culminating in an awards ceremony April 14, 2022. The Soldiers conducted a series of events to measure their physical fitness, military discipline and team cohesion to include an Army Combat Fitness Test, stress shoot, medical lane, forced march, obstacle course and squad board.

Jagdkommando soldier of the Austrian special forces in the smoke.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. James Thurman, an ammo technician, left, Lance Cpl. Andrew Cunningham, center, a loader and Cpl. Fernando Requesen Ruiz, right, a gun chief, Marines with 10th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, participate in a Presidents Day celebration on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina Feb. 19, 2024. The 21 Gun Salute, held in honor of Presidents Day in accordance with Naval Regulations, in which each saluting ship, naval station and installation having a saluting battery shall fire a national salute of 21- guns. Marine Corps photo illustration by Cpl. Megan Ozaki)

A Soldier from the 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 18th Field Artillery Brigade gets a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) ready during the U.S. Air Force Weapons School Integration training. 3-27 FAR partnered with members of the U.S. Air Forces weapons school as part of its semi-annual training exercise.

Armed Soldiers, Taken During an Exercise of the Bundeswehr with Armed Forces From Norway and the Czech Republic During the Wettiner Schwert Exercise As part of the Quadriga 2024 in the training Town of Schnoeggersburg, 08 04 2024 Schnoeggersburg Germany

U.S. Marines with 3d Battalion, 3d Marines fire an M224 60 mm mortar system while conducting squad attacks during a live-fire range at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, July 28, 2022. This training improved the Marines proficiency at the tactical level and developed small-unit leadership. 3/3 is forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

PEARL HARBOR (July 13, 2022) U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Nolan Ebert, assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force, prepares for the arrival of distinguished visitors at a helicopter landing zone (HLZ) during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, at Ford Island, Hawaii, July 13, 2022. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

U.S. Air Force Robert Powers, Lightweight Machine Gun Course instructor, left, instructs students on range safety prior to a live nighttime firing exercise as part of the LMGC at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Texas, Oct. 5, 2022. The two-week LMGC culminates in a three-day live-fire weapons familiarization designed to ready students for mission demands on day-one of assignment at their new base where this training is not available.

A member of the 50th Security Police Squadron dressed in chemical warfare gear stands guard around the perimeter during the chemical warfare exercise Salty Mace. Subject Operation/Series: SALTY MACE Base: Hahn Air Base Country: Federal Republic Of Germany (FRG)

ARMY AMMUNITION DEPOT HAWTHORNE, Nev. - Cpl. Robert Chavarria, a motor transportation mechanic with Headquarters and Services Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment secures a palette of food to the back of a 7-ton truck during an air drop resupply exercise aboard the depot here Tuesday. The battalion, based out of Marine Corps Camp Pendleton, Calif., is currently going through the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., Mountain Warriors Course, a three-week training evolution designed to teach Marines essential survival techniques and how to maneuver throughout mountainous regions like Afghanistan.

U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire a Javelin shoulder-fired anti-tank missile in a combined arms live-fire event during KAMANDAG 6 at Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base, Philippines, Oct. 13, 2022. KAMANDAG is an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences.

040814-M-3658J-022. Base: Mcb Pendleton State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Juan Gutierrez from Revere, Massachusetts, a crew chief assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing fires an M240D 7.62mm machine gun at ground targets during Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTI) course 1-23 at Yodaville, near Yuma, Arizona, Oct. 5, 2022. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, providing standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine aviation training and readiness, and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics.

FORT STEWART, Ga., April 27, 2017 - Georgia Army National Guardsman Sgt. Michael Romeo, a parachute rigger of the 165th Quartermaster Company, walks back to the hanger after an accomplished jump during the Parachute Operational Mishap Preventative Orientation Course. POMPOC is tailored for the airborne community with a special emphasis on mishap trends and prevention, jumpmaster duties or procedures and effective airborne program management.(Georgia Army National Guard

Jagdkommando soldier of the Austrian special forces in the smoke.

Squad of soldier evacuate the injured fellow in arms hiding in the smoke. Evacuation in the desert

DN-ST-88-00584. Country: Unknown

Aerial port Airmen secure supplies after an airdrop during Agile Rage 22, at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Mich., June 10, 2022. Agile Rage is a new Air National Guard exercise designed to test a unit's ability to implement Agile Combat Employment and work in an austere combat environment.

U.S. Marines with 3d Littoral Combat Team, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, fire an M252 81 mm mortar system during Marine Littoral Regiment Training Exercise (MLR-TE) at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Jan. 28, 2023. MLR-TE is a large-scale, service-level exercise designed to train, develop, and experiment with the 3d MLR as part of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force, led by 3d Marine Division, operating as a Stand-in Force across a contested and distributed maritime environment.

U.S. Marines with 3d Battalion, 3d Marines fire an M252 81 mm mortar system during combat rehearsals at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 8, 2022. This training improved the Marines' proficiency at the tactical level and developed small-unit leadership. 3/3 is forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

030303-M-5150A-010. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Camp Coyote Country: Kuwait (KWT)

U.S. Army soldiers carrying M-16A1 rifles sprint from a UH-60 Black Hawk (Blackhawk) helicopter after it landed in the Egyptian desert during BRIGHT STAR '83, the joint U.S. and Egyptian military training exercise. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Subject Operation/Series: BRIGHT STAR '83 Country: Egypt (EGY)

U.S. Marines with various units across 2nd Marine Division prepare to fire at targets during a sniper training range on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Dec. 7, 2022. This exercise demonstrates the training capabilities of Range Training Area Management (RTAM), Marine Corps Installations East, as RTAM supports II Marine Expeditionary Force in producing the next generation of warfighters.

DF-ST-89-09396. Base: Little Rock State: Arkansas (AR) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Special Tactics operators with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla., treat a simulated improvised explosive device blast patient during a scenario as part of Emerald Warrior 19.1 at Avon Park, Fla. Jan. 16, 2019. Special Tactics Teams have the ability to conduct personnel recovery missions, from rapid planning to technical rescue, treatment and exfiltration.

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division conduct a movement to a training area at Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan, April 28, 2022. This exercise tested and strengthened the Marines ability to conduct distributed operations, while demonstrating their readiness to rapidly secure and defend key terrain to maintain regional security. 1/3 is forward-deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines as a part of the Unit Deployment Program.

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 483rd Area Clearance Platoon, survey the effects of a drop-stop demolition after an all-clear announcement at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, July 26, 2022. The 483rd ACP hands-on demolition operations and training increases the combat engineers readiness and confidence needed in austere environments.

041118-N-1464F-007. Base: Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay Country: Cuba (CUB)

Two Marines of Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 (MWSS-171), 1ST Marine Aircraft Wing (1ST MAW), uses AN/PSS-11 metallic mine detectors to sweep a road during the squadron's battle skills testing. Base: Marine Corps Base, Camp Fuji State: Honshu Country: Japan (JPN)

A combat-ready Marine fire team runs and hits the deck as they assault an enemy position. This is part of Operation CAX 1-2-82, held at the Marine Air-to-Ground Combat Center. Subject Operation/Series: CAX 1-2-82 Base: Twentynine Palms State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Lucas Wentlandt, diagnostics and competitive technology noncommissioned officer in charge with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, treats a notional casualty during a demonstration of lifesaving care as part of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Commands Capability Days event, Fort Detrick, Md., April 6, 2023. Medical development industry representatives joined the USAMRDC team here to learn about the continuum of combat casualty care, from moment of injury through aerial medical evacuation, and the capabilities USAMRDC and its subordinate units are currently developing for the U.S. Joint Force. The USAMRDC Capability Days event is the culmination of months of planning between the command and teams with its subordinate units and is an opportunity for the U.S. Armys premier medical development commands - under the USAMRDC umbrella - to showcase the latest technologies under development for Americas Warfighters.

DA-SC-89-08416. Base: Fort Monmouth State: New Jersey (NJ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

040301-M-3980Y-017. Subject Operation/Series: BALIKATAN 2004 Base: Clark Field State: Luzon Country: Philippines

A machine gun team with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit fire at targets during a live-fire, combined arms training range with members of the Lebanese Army May 12, 2012, during exercise Eager Lion 12. Eager Lion 12 is scheduled to take place throughout the month of May and is designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships of more than 15 participating partner nations. This is the second major exercise for the 24th MEU who, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed to the Central Command area of operations as a theater reserve and crisis response force.

A U.S. Marine with 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, bounds forward during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, June 14, 2022. This type of training evolution is a culminating event designed to formally evaluate a unit's combat readiness and operation abilities.

U.S. Marines with 3d Battalion, 3d Marines conduct fire team attack drills on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 8, 2022. This training improved the Marines proficiency at the tactical level and developed small-unit leadership. 3/3 is forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

France, Brittany, Morbihan, Saint-Pierre-Quiberon on 2022-03-30. Students from the Ecole Militaire Interarmes (EMIA), the military academy responsible for training army officers recruited internally, i.e. from the ranks of non-commissioned officers and other ranks, take part in a training course at Fort de Penthievre, a fortified structure on the Quiberon peninsula that has become a training base. Photograph by Martin Bertrand.France, Bretagne, Morbihan, Saint-Pierre-Quiberon le 2022-03-30. Les eleves de l' ecole militaire interarmes ( EMIA ), l' ecole militaire chargee de la formation des officiers de l' armee de Terre issus du recrutement interne, c'est-a-dire issus des rangs des sous-officiers et des militaires du rang, participe a un stage d'aguerrissment au Fort de Penthievre, un ouvrage fortifie sur la presqu'ile de Quiberon devenu une base d'entrainement. Photographie de Martin Bertrand.

U.S. Marines with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a patrol as part of Rear Area Security training during Realistic Urban Training exercise at Marine Corp Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms on June 6, 2022. The 13th MEU is currently conducting RUT exercise to enhance the integration and collective capability of the MEUs command, air, ground, and logistics elements and prepare the 13th MEU to meet the nations crisis response needs during its upcoming overseas deployment.

Marines from Landing Support Team and Somalis hired by Irish Concern build slings at Bardera for a grain lift to Garbaharre Somalia. Base: Bardera Country: Somalia (SOM)

Soldiers carrying backpacks, walking on muddy terrain.

Pfc. Emily Pacheco, assigned to the Medical Readiness Battalion from Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, dons Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) during the Army Warrior Tasks portion of their brigade level best leader competition Feb. 27, 2024, at Fort Cavazos, TX. Soldiers are competing in the best leader competition for an opportunity to be selected for a spot on a team consisting of a junior officer, two noncommissioned officers, and three junior enlisted Soldiers, who will compete at the Medical Readiness Command, West: Best Leader Competition in April 2024. Army

A U.S. Marine Corps V-22 Osprey aircraft prepares to land at Forward Operating Base Nawa in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Dec. 17, 2010.

Soldiers in camouflage military uniforms carrying weapons, Reconnaissance missions in rugged mountains, Assault infantry battle training. Soldiers in camouflage military uniforms carrying weapons, Reconnaissance missions in rugged mountains, Assault infantry battle training. ,model released, Symbolfoto Copyright: xZoonar.com/WosunanxPhotostoryx 21538161 ,model released, Symbolfoto ,property released

060219-A-5745M-082. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Liberty State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 10TH MNT 2ND BDE

Group of Jagdkommando soldiers of the Austrian special forces .

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (Aug. 3, 2022) Seabees measure locations for construction operations during Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 18s Field Training Exercise (FTX). FTX is designed to analyze a battalions construction capability, expeditionary logistics, and combat operations to support major combat operations, disaster response, and humanitarian assistance.

U.S. Soldiers with the 1-110th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division fire a mortar system during an exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap.

A special reaction team from US Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, feel the violent force of a detonating explosive charge while training in the use of a Breechers Blanket. Base: Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Members of Detachment 3, 5th Weather Squadron, practice their parachute landing technique prior to a jump. Base: Fort Bragg State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Marines with 2d Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, fire an M240B machine gun during a regimental field exercise on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Nov. 30, 2022. Marines conducted the FEX to enhance combat capabilities while maintaining operational readiness throughout the regiment.

U.S. Army Soldiers with Cutthroat Company, 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (3-4 ABCT) prepare to breach an obstacle during a platoon live-fire exercise at Pabradė Training Area, Lithuania, Oct. 13, 2022. The 3-4 ABCT is among other units assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, proudly working alongside NATO allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America's forward deployed corps in Europe.

980622-F-1108F-016. Base: Mcchord Air Force Base State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Navy Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) team members wearing chemical-biological masks train in the Southern California desert. State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MSOC) teach the Nigerian Navy Special Forces tactical movements during a Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) in Lagos, Nigeria April 28, 2022. The teams focused on honing basic skills such as close quarters battles, small unit tactics and mission planning.

An Air Force tactical air control party member assigned to Detachment 1, 3rd Air Support Operations Squadron, moves to the rally point after airborne operations at Geronimo Drop Zone, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 31, 2022. Air Force special warfare and combat weather Airmen and Army paratroopers, supported by Alaska Army National Guard aircrew from the 207th Aviation Troop Command, conducted the training to demonstrate airborne and mission-readiness skills in austere conditions.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nathan Phillips, a grenadier with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, sets security on Range 400 during Integrated Training Exercise (ITX) on Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, May 16, 2022. ITX creates a challenging, realistic training environment that produces combat-ready forces capable of operating as an integrated MAGTF.

U.S. Marines with 3d Battalion, 3d Marines fire an M224 60 mm mortar system while conducting squad attacks during a live-fire range at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, July 28, 2022. This training improved the Marines proficiency at the tactical level and developed small-unit leadership. 3/3 is forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 2d Marines fire M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles during a combat marksmanship range as part of Fuji Viper 23.1 at Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan, Nov. 22, 2022. Exercise Fuji Viper exemplifies a commitment to realistic training that produces lethal, ready, and adaptable forces capable of decentralized operations across a wide range of missions. 1/2 is forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

Spc. Brock Cerneka of Youngstown, Ohio, a Military Police with the Ohio National Guards 838th Military Police Company reacts to chemical attack during the CBRN event of the Region IV Best Warrior Competition on May 14, 2022. He is one of twelve National Guard Soldiers competing in the Region IV Best Warrior Competition May 11-15, 2022, at Camp Ripley, Minnesota. The annual competition tests the military skills, physical strength and endurance of the top Soldiers and noncommissioned officers from the Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio National Guards. The winners will move on to compete in the National Guards competition on July 20-30, 2022, at Camp Smyrna, Tennessee. (Minnesota National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sydney Mariette.)

060128-A-2277C-028. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: International Zone State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ)

060405-N-4097B-019. Base: Fort Jackson State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: Task Force Marshall

A member of the Pathfinder Platoon collapses his parachute after a HALO jump

A U.S. Marine with 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, conducts fire team attack drills on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, August 9, 2022. This training improved the Marines proficiency at the tactical level and developed small-unit leadership. 3/3 is forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

U.S. Marines with command element, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, sprint before engaging their targets during a shooting drill at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Mar. 30, 2023. The drills were held to hone Marines skills in close quarters combat while testing Marines marksmanship. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a ready and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region.

220429-N-PK355-1004 ATLANTIC OCEAN - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Adma Parker-Chan, assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), installs decoy flares on an AV-8B Harrier on the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) April 29, 2022. Kearsarge, flagship of the Kearsarge ARG/MEU team, is on a scheduled deployment under the command and control of Task Force 61/2 while operating in U.S. Sixth Fleet in support of U.S., Allied and partner interests in Europe and Africa.

A U.S. Marine with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, guides in a CH-57 Chinook helicopter with the United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard for landing during Exercise Intrepid Maven 22.4 in the UAE, Sept. 26, 2022. Intrepid Maven is a bilateral exercise between U.S. and UAE armed forces to train with and strengthen our relationships with allied nations in the CENTCOM area of operations.

Pvt. Moreno, a combat engineer with Alpha Co., 578th Brigade Engineer Battalion, clears a path to the point-of-breach during company-level breach and assault training at Fort Hunter Liggett on June 16, 2015.

United States Army rangers during a military operation in the smoke and fire.

U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers with 1-111th General Support Aviation Battalion, South Carolina National Guard, perform sling load training with a UH-60L Black Hawk, Army Aviation Flight Facility (Loc. 1), Eastover, South Carolina, Jun. 7, 2020.

U.S. Marine Corps recruits with Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion participate in pugil sticks at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, June 27, 2023. Pugil sticks gives the recruits the chance to practice the skills they learn in Marine Corps Martial Arts Program classes ensuring recruits have a basic understanding of hand-to-hand combat.

000511-F-5009P-021. Subject Operation/Series: COBRA GOLD 2000 Base: Thung Song Country: Thailand (THA)

MOAMBA, Mozambique (3 AUGUST 2010) The Marines of 2nd Marine Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, and Soldiers with the Armed Forces for the Defense of Mozambique (FADM) participate in the military ceremony that marked the start of Exercise SHARED ACCORD 2010, here, Aug. 3.SHARED ACCORD is an annual, scheduled, bi-lateral field training exercise aimed at conducting small unit infantry and staff training with partner nations for the purpose of peace and stability operations. This year’s SA is being held in Mozambique. The exercise is scheduled to conclude on Aug. 13. All U.S. forces will return to their home bases in Europe and the U.S. at the end of the exercise.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jordan Leslie with 3d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, conducts anti-aircraft training with a simulated FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missile during Stand-in Force Exercise on Okinawa, Japan, Dec 7, 2022. SiF-EX is a Division-level exercise involving all elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force focused on strengthening multi-domain awareness, maneuver, and fires across a distributed maritime environment. This exercise serves as a rehearsal for rapidly projecting combat power in defense of allies and partners in the region. Leslie is a native of Alpharetta, GA.

Members of the 88th Element, Light ADA Battery, Fuldatal, Germany, prepare a camouflage cover for their Command Post at Roving Sands '96, the US military's largest annual joint air defense training exercise. Subject Operation/Series: ROVING SANDS '96 Base: Mcgregor Range State: New Mexico (NM) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Two U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys perform a flyover during the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) Partner Appreciation Day 2022 event at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, November 10, 2022. The event included multinational aircraft static displays; an aerial demonstration of U.S. capabilities; and equipment exhibits from CJTF-HOA partner nations.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dalton Hamby from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a parachute rigger assigned to 2nd Landing Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group exits the rear of a KC-130J Hercules during static line airborne operations during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 1-23 over Yuma, Arizona, Sept. 30, 2022. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, providing standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine aviation training and readiness, and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics.

DN-SC-87-05835. Base: Eglin Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Camp Corregidor, Ramadi, Iraq, May 20, 2006 - Links from his ammo belt and brass fly as a soldier lays down a vicious barrage of gun fire on insurgent positions to cover U.S. Marines movements while on patrol in the city of Ramadi.

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