Photos

Sgt. Nathan Thul, Marine Attack Squadron 311 powerline mechanic, sprays down the engine intake of an AV-8B Harrier as its pilot, Capt. Michael Lippert, prepares to exit the aircraft after flying it onto the USS Peleliu from the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., April 16, 2010. Six AV-8B Harriers and approximately 80 squadron Marines left Yuma April 15 to participate in their third and final predeployment training evolution off the coast of California. The exercise, which began April 16 and is scheduled to end April 27, included the entire 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The squadron is slated to deploy to the Pacific and Indian Oceans with the 15th MEU in May. The remainder of the squadron deployed to Japan aboard the USS Essex with the 31st MEU in January. The last time the squadron deployed with the 15th MEU was in 2008.

Photo by Cpl. Austin Hazard

Lance Cpl. Mark Ridoloso, Marine Attack Squadron 311 powerline mechanic, watches Maj. Jason Egan, squadron pilot, land on the flight deck of the USS Peleliu April 16, 2010, during the squadron’s final predeployment exercise off the coast of California. Six AV-8B Harriers and approximately 80 squadron Marines left Yuma April 15 to participate in their third and final predeployment training evolution. The exercise, which began April 16 and is scheduled to end April 27, included the entire 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The squadron is slated to deploy to the Pacific and Indian Oceans with the 15th MEU in May. The remainder of the squadron deployed to Japan aboard the USS Essex with the 31st MEU in January. The last time the squadron deployed with the 15th MEU was in 2008.

Photo by Cpl. Austin Hazard

Sgt. Jensen Depue, Marine Attack Squadron 211 powerline mechanic, waits for Capt. Colin Newbold, squadron pilot, to take off in an AV-8B Harrier on the flight line of Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, April 16, 2010. More than 160 Marines from VMA-211 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 flew north to participate in Exercise Red Flag-Alaska, one of the largest joint-service exercises in the U.S. military. The exercise is meant to increase pilots' survivability, running them through combat missions including ordnance delivery, enemy evasion and aerial refueling.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Sean Dennison

Cpl. William Holly, Marine Attack Squadron 211 powerline mechanic, inspects a squadron AV-8B Harrier at the flight line of Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, April 15, 2010. More than 160 Marines from VMA-211 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 flew north to participate in Exercise Red Flag-Alaska, one of the largest joint-service exercises in the U.S. military. The mission goal as stated in the welcome brief on April 15 is for the squadron's to leave "more educated, better trained, more capable, and more prepared for combat."

Photo by Lance Cpl. Sean Dennison

Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 211 unload their gear from a KC-10 on the flight line of Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska after a seven-hour flight from Yuma April 13, 2010. More than 160 Marines from VMA-211 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 flew north to participate in Exercise Red Flag-Alaska, one of the largest joint-service exercises in the U.S. military. The Avengers’ eight AV-8B Harriers comprise part of the 100 aircraft participating in the exercise.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Sean Dennison

Lance Cpl. David Checrallah hugs and kisses his wife Christina in front of the Marine Attack Squadron 513 hangar at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., April 13, 2010. Approximately 100 VMA-513 Marines deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit for a seven-month deployment touring the Middle East and Horn of Africa. While on deployment the squadron participated in eight exercises with other nations providing close-air support and escorting helicopters for a majority of the exercises.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jakob Schulz

Gunnery Sgt. Nathaniel Cosby, Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 explosive ordnance disposal staff noncomissioned officer in charge, fires his M-9 pistol at a target during close-quarter battle marksmanship training at Camp Billy Machen, Calif., April 12, 2010. MWSS-373’s EOD team is being trained in Yuma by MWSS-371’s EOD team for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. The training was conducted by Master Gunnery Sgt. Carl Holden, MWSS-371’s EOD staff noncommissioned officer in charge, who is a former Marine Special Operations Command close-quarter battle instructor. The training used both M-4 carbines and M-9 pistols, with emphasis on transitioning from the rifle to the pistol in CQB situations. “When your rifle runs dry, you’ve got another loaded weapon with you. Use it!” said Holden.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Diamant

Warrant Officer Kent Crawley, Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 explosive ordnance disposal officer in charge, fires a hammer pair from his M-4 carbine at a target during close-quarter battle marksmanship training at Camp Billy Machen, Calif., April 12, 2010. MWSS-373’s EOD team is being trained in Yuma by MWSS-371’s EOD team for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. The training was conducted by Master Gunnery Sgt. Carl Holden, MWSS-371’s EOD staff noncommissioned officer in charge, who is a former Marine Special Operations Command close-quarter battle instructor. The training used both M-4s and M-9 pistols, with emphasis on transitioning from the rifle to the pistol in CQB situations. “When your rifle runs dry, you’ve got another loaded weapon with you. Use it!” said Holden.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Diamant

Gunnery Sgt. Nathaniel Crosby, Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 explosive ordnance disposal technician, fires his M-4 carbine at a target during close-quarter battle marksmanship training at Camp Billy Machen, Calif., April 12, 2010. MWSS-373’s EOD team is being trained in Yuma by MWSS-371’s EOD team for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. The training was conducted by Master Gunnery Sgt. Carl Holden, MWSS-371’s EOD staff noncommissioned officer in charge, who is a former Marine Special Operations Command close-quarter battle instructor. The training used both M-4s and M-9 pistols, with emphasis on transitioning from the rifle to the pistol in CQB situations. “When your rifle runs dry, you’ve got another loaded weapon with you. Use it!” said Holden.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Diamant

Warrant Officer Kent Crawley, Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 explosive ordnance disposal officer in charge, fires his M-4 carbine at a target during close-quarter battle marksmanship training at Camp Billy Machen, Calif., April 12, 2010. MWSS-373’s EOD team is being trained in Yuma by MWSS-371’s EOD team for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. The training was conducted by Master Gunnery Sgt. Carl Holden, MWSS-371’s EOD staff noncommissioned officer in charge, who is a former Marine Special Operations Command close-quarter battle instructor. The training used both M-4s and M-9 pistols, with emphasis on transitioning from the rifle to the pistol in CQB situations. “When your rifle runs dry, you’ve got another loaded weapon with you. Use it!” said Holden.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Diamant

Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 explosive ordnance disposal technicians from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., zero their M-4 carbines during close-quarter battle marksmanship training at Camp Billy Machen, Calif., April 12, 2010. MWSS-373's EOD team is being trained by Yuma's MWSS-371 EOD team for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. The training was conducted by Master Gunnery Sgt. Carl Holden, MWSS-371's EOD staff noncommissioned officer in charge, who is a former Marine Special Operations Command close-quarter battle instructor. The training used both M-4s and M-9 pistols, with emphasis on transitioning from the rifle to the pistol in CQB situations. "When your rifle runs dry, you've got another loaded weapon with you. Use it!" said Holden.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Diamant

Tawni Crossan, Marine Attack Squadron 214 spouse, climbs up a rope during VMA-214’s Jane Wayne Day at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., April 9, 2010. Jane Wayne Day allows Corps dependents to spend a day as Marines, learning about what they do and how they train. Thirty-three spouses spent the day doing activities such as weapons training, Marine Corps martial arts, watching Harriers deliver ordnance and running the obstacle course. Crossan was the only spouse to complete the rope climb.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Sean Dennison

Debbie Schroder, Marine Attack Squadron 214 spouse, practices Marine Corps martial arts with Dolores Carver, VMA-214 spouse, for the squadron’s Jane Wayne Day at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., April 9, 2010. Jane Wayne Day allows Corps dependents to spend a day as Marines, learning about what they do and how they train. Thirty-three spouses spent the day doing activities such as weapons training, Marine Corps martial arts, watching Harriers deliver ordnance and running the obstacle course. “It’s an opportunity to say thank you to the spouses, thank them for all their sacrifices on their end of the Marine Corps family,” said Lt. Col. Robert Schroder, VMA-214 commanding officer.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Sean Dennison

Vanessa Fordoski, Marine Attack Squadron 214 spouse, sights in with an M-16A4 service rifle on the station range at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., during VMA-214’s Jane Wayne Day April 9, 2010. Jane Wayne Day allows Corps dependents to spend a day as Marines, learning about what they do and how they train. Thirty-three spouses spent the day doing activities such as weapons training, Marine Corps martial arts, watching Harriers deliver ordnance and running the obstacle course.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Sean Dennison

Lance Cpl. Danial Castaneda, Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 heavy equipment operator, stands on a medium crawler tractor awaiting instructions on what to clear next at Auxiliary Airfield 6 on April 3, 2010. The range is located 7 miles south of Gila Bend, Ariz. Castaneda, along with 13 other Marines from the squadron, worked for four days clearing 36,000 square feet of runway in support of the upcoming Weapons and Tactics Instructor course.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jakob Schulz

Lance Cpl. Danial Castaneda, Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 heavy equipment operator, checks to ensure the bucket of a John Deere four-wheel loader is clear of tree branches and shrubs at Auxiliary Airfield 6 on April 3, 2010. The range is located 7 miles south of Gila Bend, Ariz. The squadron had 14 of its Marines work for four days clearing 36,000 square feet of runway in support of the upcoming Weapons and Tactics Instructor course.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jakob Schulz

Maj. Casey Elam, Marine Attack Squadron 211 pilot and maintenance officer, practices in an AV-8B Harrier flight simulator at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., April 2, 2010. Elam was one of nine Marines selected in 2010 for the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Md. “This has been a dream of mine since I was a young person,” said Elam. “It’s my honor to have this opportunity to learn and grow as an aviator.” The yearlong school tests pilots on their handling of multiple aircraft and understanding of various weapons and navigation systems.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Sean Dennison

Lance Cpl. Clinton Basoco, Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 combat engineer, hacks through a tree trunk at Auxiliary Airfield 6 on the Barry M. Goldwater Range April 3, 2010. The range is located 7 miles south of Gila Bend, Ariz. Basoco, along with 13 other Marines from the squadron, worked for four days clearing 36,000 square feet of runway in support of the upcoming Weapons and Tactics Instructor course.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jakob Schulz

Staff Sgt. Byron Keys, left, heavy equipment platoon operations chief, tells Lance Cpl. Sean King, squadron heavy equipment operator, where to begin clearing foliage at Auxiliary Airfield 6 on April 3, 2010. The range is located 7 miles south of Gila Bend, Ariz. The Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 Marines worked for four days clearing 36,000 square feet of runway in support of the upcoming Weapons and Tactics Instructor course.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jakob Schulz

A Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 John Deere four-wheel loader drops debris into a dump truck at Auxiliary Airfield 6 on the range April 3, 2010. The range is located 7 miles south of Gila Bend, Ariz. Fourteen of the squadron's Marines worked for four days clearing 36,000 square feet of runway in support of the upcoming Weapons and Tactics Instructor course.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jakob Schulz