U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Troy G. Santos calibrates an 81 mm mortar during an adversarial force exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, Dec. 3, 2024. Santos is a gunner from Bakersfield, California. The AFX is the primary readiness-building event prior to 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division’s upcoming deployment to Okinawa, Japan, in support of the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program. The exercise serves as an opportunity to receive comprehensive training across all warfighting functions in a realistic and fully resourced environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Madisyn Paschal)