Photos

Two UH-1 helicopters carry members of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, from an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids.

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon

Members of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, move toward waiting UH-1 helicopters in order to be extracted from an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids.

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon

Lance Cpl. Mark W. Briggs, assaultman with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, waits to be extracted in UH-1 helicopters from an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Briggs, 25, is a Salt Lake City native.

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon

Sgt. Patrick R. Stephens, right, squad leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, signals Lance Cpl. Mark W. Briggs before extraction by in UH-1 helicopters from an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Stephens, 25, is a native of Austin, Texas, and Briggs, 25, is a Salt Lake City native.

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon

Sgt. Patrick R. Stephens, right, squad leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, signals Lance Cpl. Mark W. Briggs before extraction by in UH-1 helicopters from an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Stephens, 25, is a native of Austin, Texas, and Briggs, 25, is a Salt Lake City native.

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon

Members of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, run toward a landing site where they will be extracted in UH-1 helicopters from an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids.

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon

Lance Cpl. Mark W. Briggs, left, Lance Cpl. Tyson G. Bainum and Lance Cpl. Tyler Steffins with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, halt behind a wall moments before rushing to a landing site where they will be extracted in UH-1 helicopters from an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Briggs, 25, is Salt Lake City-native, Bainum, 20, is a native of Canyon, Texas, and Steffins, 21, is from Marysville, Wash.

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon

Sgt. Patrick R. Stephens, right, squad leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, hands a map of the village he seized from a mock insurgent to Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Huebsch in an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Stephens, 25, is a native of Austin, Texas, and Huebsch, 23, is a native of St. Ansgar, Iowa.

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon

2nd Lt. Lucky Prak, 2nd platoon commander, right, watches as two Marines from E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, detain role player Lance Cpl. Timothy Buckley during a helicopter-borne raid on a mock Middle Eastern village on U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Oct. 12, 2009. The Marines landed in four different locations via UH-1N Huey helicopters around the area with the intent to clear the town and extract three high-value individuals.

Photo by Cpl. Pete Zrioka

Sgt. Patrick R. Stephens, squad leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, halts members of his squad behind a wall before deciding his next move in an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Stephens, 25, is a native of Austin, Texas. (Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon)

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon

Sgt. Patrick R. Stephens, right, squad leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, calls in his position while Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Huebsch watches his back in an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Stephens, 25, is a native of Austin, Texas, and Huebsch, 23, is a native of St. Ansgar, Iowa.

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon

Lance Cpl. Timothy Buckley, an insurgent role player, peeks around the corner of a building as Marines from E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, search for him in the midst of a helicopter-borne raid on a mock Middle Eastern village on U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Oct. 12, 2009. Buckley, along with two other role players, acted as high-value individuals, who were targeted for extraction from the village. The Marines landed in four different locations via UH-1N Huey helicopters around the area and proceeded to clear houses and courtyards in search of their targets.

Photo by Cpl. Pete Zrioka

Lance Cpl. Carlos Batista, a rifle team leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, keeps watch for enemy on the roof of a building in an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Batista, 20, is a Miami-native.

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon

Cpl. Keith A. Nuckles, left, and Lance Cpl. Carlos Batista, with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, prepare to climb to the roof of a building to take out a mortar position in an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Nuckles, 21, is a native of Pacoima, Calif., and Batista, 20, is a Miami-native.

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon

Lance Cpl. Tyler Steffins, left, and Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Huebsch, with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, keep watch on an alley in an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Steffins, 21, is a native of Marysville, Wash., and Huebsch, 23, is a native of St. Ansgar, Iowa.

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon

Marines with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, are covered in desert dust as they wait for an Army CH-47 Chinook to land on the Barry M. Goldwater Range east of the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 10, 2009. The Marines were dropped off by the Chinook and CH-46E Sea Knights for an assault training exercise. Army officers, using their aircraft, also participate in the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course taught by Yuma-based Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1. The 2/7 Marines are based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., and are here training for an upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Josue Aguirre

A CH-46E Sea Knight approaches its landing zone to pick up Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, after they performed an assault training exercise, Oct. 10, 2009. The exercise was part of the Weapons and Tactics Instructors course at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., and also afforded the helicopter's crew an opportunity to practice firing at targets while in flight. The battalion is based at Twentynine Palms, Calif., and scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Okinawa, Japan in early 2010.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Josue Aguirre

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, seek cover as they assault toward a structure in the Barry M. Goldwater Range east of the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 10, 2009. The assault exercise was held in preparation for the battalion's deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit based out of Okinawa, Japan in early 2010.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Josue Aguirre

While ready to operate the mounted M-240 machine gun, Sgt. Jeffrey McCarstle, CH-46E Sea Knight crew chief, looks out of the back of the aircraft Oct. 10, 2009, as it transports Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, approximately 70 miles east of the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., for an assault. Along the way, McCarstle and two other crew members operated the three machine guns on the helicopter, firing at makeshift enemy targets resembling automobiles. The battalion is based at Twentynine Palms, Calif., and scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, which is based in Okinawa, Japan.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Josue Aguirre

Following a helicopter raid exercise, platoon commander, 2nd Lt. Mitchell Steen, reviews the lessons learned with 1st Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, near the flight line at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., on Oct. 10, 2009. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids.

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon