Readiness

Cpl. Jesse Bieksza, a machine gunner with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, based out of Buffalo, N.Y., performs a function check on a Canadian Forces weapon system, similar to the U.S. Marine Corps’ M240B automatic machine gun during a friendly competition April 22 with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, Canadian Forces. The purpose of friendly competition, at the close of the exercise, was to develop camaraderie between the U.S and Canadian military components. The small-scale, 48-hour, bilateral exercise was conducted to exchange infantry strategies and tactics as well as further enhance relationships and interoperability between the two military components. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Lucas Vega)