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Large quantities of opium recovered during a recent Afghan National Security Forces-led counter-narcotics operation in the Marjah district of Helmand province, Afghanistan. The total amount of suspected narcoti More

A Marine’s cover sits on a bleacher during a question and answer portion of a three-day Committed and Engaged Leadership Indoctrination Course aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., June 3-5. Maj. Gen More

Marines with Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Calif., practice parachute operations over San Diego in the early 1940s. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11, originally Flight 1, 2nd Air Squadron, Marine Flyin More

During a charity luncheon aboard the USS Peleliu at Naval Base San Diego, President Jimmy Carter speaks about today’s military and how it has changed since he served as a submariner in the late 1940s and 1950s. More

Cpl. Hayley Myroup, left, an avionic technician with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 214, joins other tourists visiting the USS Arizona Memorial and Museum and pauses to remember the service members that lost thei More

Sean D. Tucker, pilot of the Oracle Challenger, glides above the flight line during the 2016 MCAS Miramar Air Show aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Sept. 23. Tucker has flown more than 1,200 per More

A CH-53D Sea Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), waits for its crew to arrive for a routine mission on which the aircraft will reach its 10,000th flight hour. More

The team that worked to restore the “Easter Egg” A-4M Skyhawk stands in front of the finished aircraft aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., July 19. The A-4M Skyhawk was built in 1979 and only 2,690 More

Alford L. McMichael, 14th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps retired, was the first African-American Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps on July 1, 1999. He later served as the senior enlisted advisor to NATO in More

The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum displays several portraits, including this painting of World War II Marine Corps fighter pilot Col. James E. Swett, a Medal of Honor recipient. The Flying Leatherneck is t More

A CH-53E Super Stallion is displayed during the 70th anniversary celebration of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., April 26. The squadron displayed the Super S More

This is the postage stamp from a letter my great-grandfather, Leo Morgenstern, wrote from Nazi-occupied France to his son in America asking for bribe money to facilitate his escape. The letter arrived in Januar More

Sidney Walton, a World War II veteran, visits Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., during the 2016 MCAS Miramar Air Show, Sept. 24. Walton has visited to the Miramar Air Show since the 1960s. He was born i More

Photographs, official documents and other memorabilia rest in a display case Marine Air Control Group (MACG) 38’s heritage room aboard Marine Corps Air Station, Calif., March 16. Marines with MACG-38 hosted thr More

The Breitling Jet Team performs during the 2016 MCAS Miramar Air Show aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Sept. 23. Breitling is a European team that performs aerobatic maneuvers in seven L-39C Alb More

Firefighters with the Miramar Fire Department look over a 1944 International Harvester FFN-3 fire and crash crew engine at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum warehouse aboard Marine Corps Air Station Mirama More

Marines, following the rapid Japanese retreat northward on Okinawa, pause for a moment's rest at the base of a Japanese war memorial during the Battle of Okinawa, April 12, 1945. They are (on steps) Pfc. F. O. More

AL ASAD, Iraq (June 18, 2006) - Lance Cpl. Deek B. Beachman checks oil pressure on an EA-6B Prowler belonging to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine More

AL ASAD, Iraq (May 6, 2006) -Lance Cpl. Christopher B. Lampson works late into the night keeping the administrative records of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 533, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Mari More

1st Lt. Mike Montellano prepares for an operational check flight of a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter at Al Taqaddum, Iraq, June 7. To maintain their readiness for casualty evacuation missions, the pilots and crews More

Lance Cpl. Dawson K. Hargett carries a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter engine intake to the flight line at Al Taqaddum, Iraq, June 8. The Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 16 More

Runners from across station run 13 miles to celebrate 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing's halfway point in their yearlong deployment July 23 at Al Asad, Iraq. 1st Lt. Kaleb J. Harkema, signals intelligence officer, Mari More

Lance Cpl. Kyler Buckner directs an AV-8B Harrier into a position to arm the weapons on the aircraft at Al Asad, Iraq, July 10. Kyler, an ordnance technician with Marine Attack Squadron 513, Marine Aircraft Gro More

The new dining facility, which opened July 16, at Al Asad, Iraq, has more than twice the seating room as the previous chow halls. The new DFAC can seat nearly a quarter of the base population in it at any given More

Brad White (left) and Lance Cpl. Jonathan N. Alphin inspect the arresting gear during a daily inspection at Al Asad, Iraq, July 14. White and Alphin, both expeditionary airfield Marines, Marine Wing Support Squ More

Denver Bronco cheerleaders perform on the stage of the base theater July 20, at Al Asad, Iraq. The cheerleaders traveled to bases throughout Iraq and Kuwait to entertain deployed service members.

Alternative rock band, Hollowell, plays for service members at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation building at Al Asad, Iraq, June 29. The Orange County, Calif., rock band played at several different bases in Ir More

A piece of cake is cut and dished out during Chief Warrant Officer 4 Wayne H. Silva's 40th anniversary with the Marine Corps at Al Asad, Iraq, July 8. Silva is a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear d More

Dressed in random uniforms and clothing as part of their maintenance day, 11 Marines pose as a group in front of their commanding officer's CH-53D Sea Stallion at Al Asad, Iraq, July 8. The 11 Marines are with More

Sgt. Maj. Don W. Gallagher swings to hit the ball at Al Asad, Iraq, July 10, during a softball game between the champions of softball league B, Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, and the runners up in soft More

Cpl. Andrew J. Cegla removes the lug nuts off of a humvee tire July 11, 2006, at Al Asad, Iraq. Cegla is an organizational automotive mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Re More

Logistics Vehicle Systems line up at a gravel pit July 21, outside Al Qaim, Iraq. The LVS's were being used by Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 to haul large amounts of gravel to be used during the installation More

Lance Cpl. Jonathan W. Chaline verifies his inventory of 782 gear in the supply lot July 29, at Al Asad, Iraq. The mission of a supply Marine is to ensure that all the service members in their unit are equipped More

Lance Cpl. Kirstin Rawlins stages her bags on the flight line at Al Asad, Iraq, July 31, before flying to Camp Korean Village, Iraq, to train with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and begin her 30-da More

Gunnery Sgt. Stuart M. Saylor receives a Meritorious Service Medal from Col. John Kennedy, commanding officer, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, during his retirement ceremony at More

Sgt. Carlos I. Castillo (left) and Lance Cpl. Castulo Lopez decompress the fuel lines, gather the information on fuel used and check their equipment after fueling a UH-1N Huey Aug. 9, at Al Asad, Iraq. Castillo More

Cpl. Johnpaul Beringuel shows a soldier with the 1st Iraqi Army Division how to use the Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit July 27, at Camp Habbaniya, Iraq. The ROWPU training is being done with the Iraqis More

Marines from HMM-166 (REIN), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit fly into Bawfal, Bangladesh to deliver food to the Bangladeshi people on a CH-46E. The USS Tarawa and the embarked 11th MEU (SOC) are conducting Huma More

Soldiers with Charlie Company (Air Ambulance), 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment, unload equipment and medical supplies from their UH-60 Black Hawk, during the company's administrative flight and to Al Qai More

Sgt. Eric Hernandez, KC-130J Hercules crew chief, Marine Aerial Refueler Transportation Squadron 352, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (left), and Cpl. Jared R. Fowler, loadmaster, VMGR-352 (right), keep their eyes tra More

Lance Cpl. William T. Schultz, a CH-53E Super Stallion engine mechanic with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 361, reassembles the wiring on a gear box on the flight line March 3, 2008. The flight line crew of More

Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing prepare to leave the wire on the early morning of Jan. 31. MWSS-372 is in charge of entry control points, guard towers and interior securi More

Capt. Elizabeth A. Okoreeh-Baah, the first female MV-22 Osprey pilot, stands on the flight line after a combat operation March 12, 2008. The Nashville, Tenn., native spent five years flying the CH-46E Sea Knigh More

Sgt. Dameon Lyons, an aviation ordnance technician with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115, uses a forklift to load an AGM-65 'maverick' missile as his fellow ordnance Marines, Lance Cpl. Michael Janeiro, cente More

A Marine from 3rd Battalion, 23rd. Regiment, walks with members of Iraqi security forces during an assault today. A UH-1N Huey, belonging to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773, provided close-air suppo More

The Marine Corps tiltrotor aircraft, the MV-22 Osprey, which belongs to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, was involved in transporting and inserting members of the 27th Iraqi Infantry Brigade, 7th Iraqi Div More

A CH-53E Super Stallion arrives on the flight line March 17, 2008 to transport supplies to the Marines at Combat Outpost Timberwolf. Because of the mountainous terrain surrounding the outpost, airlifting suppli More

Gunnery Sgt. Manuel Crisologo, the staff non-commissioned officer-in-charge of quality assurance for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 sweeps Sgt. Jason Castro, a ground support equipment mechanic from VMFA-11 More

Detachment Alpha, Marine Air Control Squadron 1, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), is responsible for providing all-weather air traffic control services to civilian, tactical and non-tactical aircraft operati More

A Marine assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), test fires his weapon from his seat aboard a UH-1N Huey before an aerial-reconnaissance mission.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Christina M. Williams, the medical officer for Marine Wing Support Squadron, assigned to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), hands out stuffed animals to the children of a schoo. The children suf More

Four CH-53-E Super Stallions fuel up after completing missions at Al Asad Air Base April 5. The Super Stallions refuel after every mission insuring the aircrafts are ready to fly at a moment's notice.

Iraqi Pvt. Kalieph Qayes, military policeman with Military in Transition Team 0720, 7th Iraqi Army Division, searches an Iraqi national before coming aboard Al-Asad Air Base Apr. 6. All local national coming on More

Ali Faris, left, the owner of al Folatheya, an Iraqi construction company, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Paul Pritchard, right, the anti-terrorism force protection officer for Marine Wing Support Group 37, break More

Two Army chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive specialists use their equipment to detect any threats before entering a house in a simulated contamination scenario. The soldiers check all win More

Iraqi Staff Brig. Gen. Abdullah Mohammad Bayder al-Jabouri, the commanding general of the 7th Iraqi Infantry Division, completes the ceremonial first dig during a ground breaking ceremony for a new divisional t More

Members of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees survey the living conditions of the Palestinian refugee camp April 17. Marines from the Border Transition Team of the 5th Iraqi Brigade, 2nd Region p More

These two multi-channel radio antennas aboard Al Asad Air Base serve as a communication link between service members here and other forward operating bases in the western Anbar province. Marine Wing Communicati More

The Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, maintain and create helicopter-landing zones at various locations in Iraq. Surveying the area to determine distance, elevation and an More

Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Hurst, the intelligence chief for the Border Transition Team of the 5th Iraqi Brigade, 2nd Region, an augment of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, assists one of the Desert Wolves during a More

Cpl. Alan C. Hicks, a Marine with Marine Wing Communication Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, removes dirt from a location during a dig project here today. The Outside Plant Ma More

Sgt. Miguel Zepeda, a HMLA 169, UH-1N "Huey" crew chief, performes a maintanence check on the mini gun beforre flying a close air support mission. The mini gun allows the Huey to provide overhead protection whi More

Master Gunnery Sgt. Sean P. Jevning and son, Cpl. Robert S. Jevning, are deployed together with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16. Sean, on his tenth deployment, and Robert, on his first, both work in the a More

Warrant Officer Christopher Harden, avionics officer and Cpl. Falesia Gorski, aerial observer with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), pause for a photo after a mission May More

For more than two years, 3rd Battalion, 27th Brigade, 7th Iraqi Infantry Division, has occupied the town's school house here while maintaining security and controlling traffic in the local area. A recent constr More

Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), shut down an MV-22 Osprey after a mission, July 10. The "Golden Eagles" recently celebrated their 57th birthday June 30th, More

A Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 374, Marine Wing Support Group 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) uses a bulldozer Aug. 15, 2008 level an area near the Euphrates River for the ramp and service r More

Sgt. Karter Elliott, a platoon leader with 3rd platoon, Company C, Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, hands out gifts to Iraqi children. The children swarmed the Marines during a security patrol. "The Iraqi chil More

Cpl. John Turpin (right), combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) reviews the schematics of the courtroom project with fellow comb More

A CH-46E Sea Knight lands here to refuel during a reconnaissance mission in the area, Sept. 12. Marine Wing Support Squadron 374 turned an abandoned Iraqi air base into a forward arming and refueling point in j More

Marine Air Control Squadron 1 commanding officer, Lt. Col. Jeff Kojac, hands a Certificate of Completion to Chicago native Petty Officer 1st Class Jose Diaz, an air traffic controller with MACS-1, for earning a More

Sgt. Emilio N. Lunaflores, a West Wendover, Nev., native and Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructor with Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), demonstrates the proper way to execut More

Hospital administrators here showcased the Haditha Nursing School during a key leader engagement between Haditha Hospital personnel and Army medical officers from the 345th Combat Support Hospital at Al Asad Ai More

Students at the Iraqi Army Senior Non-commissioned Officers' Academy listen during a class on after action reports Nov. 3. The senior enlisted came to the academy from various units in the Iraqi army and Iraqi More

Lance Cpl. Yeral Frontela stands holding his citizenship certificate with Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commanding general of Multi National Forces-Iraq, and The Honorable Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq, More

Cpl. Lisa M. Bodenburg, a 20-year-old Buffalo N.Y. native, currently serves as a UH-1N Huey crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

An Iraqi child demonstrates push-ups to Sgt. Karter Elliott, a patrol leader with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274. Elliott believes that fostering warm relationships with the locals will lead to a successful f More

While deployed to Iraq, Cpl. Christopher Loftin, an armorer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 and a Valley Mills, Texas native, conducts an inspection on an M-249 squad automatic weapon in the squadron's ar More

Lance Cpls. Kyle Barry and Jerome Balogna, mortarmen, rehearse responding to misfires, adjusting the weapon after a shot, and the safety conditions on their weapon. "You can never go through these procedures en More

Spectators witness the sights and sounds of the 2009 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show in San Diego while sitting in the grand-stands Oct. 4, 2009. Operations and logistics Marines spend months in advan More

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Alvin Williams holds his daughter Makhayla during a family reunion photo shoot in San Diego, Calif., Jan. 25, 2010. Makhayla, excited by her fathers uniform, reaches for his medals.

Two MV-22 "Osprey" aircraft from Marine Tiltrotor Squadron 161 take off from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Feb. 12. Almost a dozen CH-53E "Super Stallion" aircraft preceded the Osprey aircraft as part of Th More

Iwo Jima veterans gather at The Flying Leatherneck Marine Aviation Museum aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Feb. 18. The veterans perused the museum before enjoying lunch at the station chow hall and expl More

A tornado forms from hot and cold vapor at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego, March 14. Visitors can touch the tornado and experiment with changing air pressure by moving around the whirling cyclo More

Wounded Warriors at the neurologic music therapy group at Naval Medical Center San Diego learn the harmonica Feb. 28. Music therapy helps improve motor skills, memory retention and relieves stress.

Lt. Gen. Dennis Hejlik, commanding general of Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic, addresses service members at the 24th-annual Joint Women's Leadership Symposium in San Diego March 16. More than 1,300 women from the More

An Air Force C-17 Globemaster sits on the runway aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar March 18. After refueling, service members will upload supplies and board the aircraft to travel to Japan to aid with ear More

U.S. Army Spc. Valeria Green and Pfc. Demetruis Relaford, veterinary technicians at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, calm the nervous Scooter as they take his heart rate at the veterinary clinic aboard MCAS Mi More

Sgt. David Street, a flute player for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band, demonstrates the music of a flute for students of Crown Point Junior Music Academy in San Diego, April 15. School officials invited the b More

Marines from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar act as a color guard during a ceremony at the recent unveiling of a public military working dog memorial at the Rancho Costal Humane Society in Encinitas, Calif. Th More

Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), remove AM2 matting, used to construct expeditionary air fields, from the main fueling point at Camp Dwyer's flight line. The Ma More

Maj. Gen. Andrew O’Donnell Jr., the assistant commander of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, presents a letter of appreciation to Jack Ensch, the recently retired director of military marketing for the San Diego Pa More

Maj. Gen. Thomas Conant, the commanding general of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, pins a Distinguished Flying Cross to Maj. Tres Smith, a UH-1Y Huey pilot, who flew with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 3 More

The 3rd Low Altitutde Aerial Defense Battalion unveils a new “Wall of Warriors” at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 27. The wall features 3rd LAAD Marines who’ve distinguished themselves valorously More

Students at the Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training program discuss organic soils at Archi’s Acres in Escondido, Calif., June 2. VSAT is open to veterans and civilians and offers a professional certificat More

Marines push one of Marine Heavy Helicopter 363's refurbished CH-53D helicopters on the flight line after rolling it out of an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. The squadron is now preparing to redeploy to Marine More

The Union Flag of the United Kingdom waves in the Afghanistan breeze between the Afghanistan and United States flags June 1 after 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) raised it in a morning colors ceremony to sig More

A landing craft air cushion assigned to Beach Master Unit 1 navigates Red Beach at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., during Dawn Blitz 10. Dawn Blitz is a series of amphibious operations involving More

Lt. Col. John B. Barranco (left), the incoming commanding officer of Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 here, takes the VMU-1 colors from Lt. Col. Richard E. Jordan (center), the former CO of the squadro More

After climbing into the cockpit of an F-22 “Raptor” to perform a system’s check, Lt. Col. David R. Berke, the Marine Corps F-22 exchange pilot, 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., g More