Stories

Maj. Samuel Johnson, second from left, executive officer, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, presents the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award to his civilian employer Duke Energy at the Pentagon, Aug. 24, 2018. The Freedom award is presented annually to the nation's 15 most supportive employers who have demonstrated exceptional support. It is the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to civilian employers for their support of employees who serve in the Reserve or National Guard. (Courtesy photo) - Maj. Samuel Johnson, second from left, executive officer, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, presents the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award to his civilian employer Duke Energy at the Pentagon, Aug. 24, 2018. The Freedom award is presented annually to the nation's 15 most supportive employers who have demonstrated exceptional support. It is the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to civilian employers for their support of employees who serve in the Reserve or National Guard. (Courtesy photo)

Cpl. Chandler Jones, a team leader with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, communicates with his Marines during a live-fire range at Camp Grayling, Mich., Aug. 8, 2018. Exercise Northern Strike is a National Guard Bureau-sponsored training exercise that unites service members from multiple branches, states and coalition countries to conduct combined ground and air combat operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Niles Lee) - Cpl. Chandler Jones, a team leader with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, communicates with his Marines during a live-fire range at Camp Grayling, Mich., Aug. 8, 2018. Exercise Northern Strike is a National Guard Bureau-sponsored training exercise that unites service members from multiple branches, states and coalition countries to conduct combined ground and air combat operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Niles Lee)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. James Ellis, the 3rd squad leader representing 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, directs his Marines while setting up an ambush during the 4th Marine Division Super Squad Competition at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 4, 2018. During the competition, squads from 1st and 3rd Battalions, 23rd Marine Regiment and 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, exercised their technical and tactical proficiencies by competing in events that highlighted offensive/defensive operations, patrolling techniques, combat marksmanship, physical endurance and small unit leadership. Ellis is a native of Eldon, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Alejandro Peña) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. James Ellis, the 3rd squad leader representing 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, directs his Marines while setting up an ambush during the 4th Marine Division Super Squad Competition at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 4, 2018. During the competition, squads from 1st and 3rd Battalions, 23rd Marine Regiment and 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, exercised their technical and tactical proficiencies by competing in events that highlighted offensive/defensive operations, patrolling techniques, combat marksmanship, physical endurance and small unit leadership. Ellis is a native of Eldon, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Alejandro Peña)

Lance Cpl. Dylan Hunt, a combat engineer with Engineer Services Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 23, Combat Logistics Regiment 4, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve, helps prepare the foundation for an ATV storage shed during Exercise Forest Rattler in Bend, Ore., July 20, 2016. This opportunity to train with the U.S. Forest Service provides realistic, cost-effective training, and allows the Marine Corps to give back to the community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sara Graham/ Released) - Lance Cpl. Dylan Hunt, a combat engineer with Engineer Services Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 23, Combat Logistics Regiment 4, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve, helps prepare the foundation for an ATV storage shed during Exercise Forest Rattler in Bend, Ore., July 20, 2016. This opportunity to train with the U.S. Forest Service provides realistic, cost-effective training, and allows the Marine Corps to give back to the community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sara Graham/ Released)

Col. Charles Moses, the commanding officer of Marine Air Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing lands a C-130 onto the newly extended runway for the first time during Innovative Readiness Training Old Harbor, Alaska, Aug. 7, 2018. This year marks the completion of the 2,000-foot extension of Old Harbor’s runway. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tessa D. Watts) - Col. Charles Moses, the commanding officer of Marine Air Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing lands a C-130 onto the newly extended runway for the first time during Innovative Readiness Training Old Harbor, Alaska, Aug. 7, 2018. This year marks the completion of the 2,000-foot extension of Old Harbor’s runway. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tessa D. Watts)

Lance Cpl. Joel Carrizales, with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, plots his shots at the 25-yard-line while zeroing his weapon, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska, August 1, 2018. Super Squad Competitions were designed to evaluate a 14-man infantry squad throughout an extensive field and live-fire evolution. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samantha Schwoch/released) - Lance Cpl. Joel Carrizales, with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, plots his shots at the 25-yard-line while zeroing his weapon, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska, August 1, 2018. Super Squad Competitions were designed to evaluate a 14-man infantry squad throughout an extensive field and live-fire evolution. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samantha Schwoch/released)

Cpl. Joseph R. Manganaro, a Marine Corps Reserve mortarman and forward observer with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, poses by a firetruck while on duty as a firefighter and paramedic with the Stoughton Fire Department in Stoughton, Massachusetts, June 29, 2018. On June 13, 2018, Manganaro was on his way to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms to conduct training with his unit at Integrated Training Exercise 4-18, when he provided critical emergency medical care to a passenger aboard an American Airlines flight. - Cpl. Joseph R. Manganaro, a Marine Corps Reserve mortarman and forward observer with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, poses by a firetruck while on duty as a firefighter and paramedic with the Stoughton Fire Department in Stoughton, Massachusetts, June 29, 2018. On June 13, 2018, Manganaro was on his way to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms to conduct training with his unit at Integrated Training Exercise 4-18, when he provided critical emergency medical care to a passenger aboard an American Airlines flight.

Lance Cpl. Victor Barrios, a food service Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 473, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, begins preparing food for The Major General W. P. T. Hill Memorial Awards competition for food service excellence on June 22, 2018 in Twentynine Palms, California, during Integrated Training Exercise 4-18. This competition encourages excellence in garrison and field food service. (United States Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alexis B. Rocha/released) - Lance Cpl. Victor Barrios, a food service Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 473, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, begins preparing food for The Major General W. P. T. Hill Memorial Awards competition for food service excellence on June 22, 2018 in Twentynine Palms, California, during Integrated Training Exercise 4-18. This competition encourages excellence in garrison and field food service. (United States Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alexis B. Rocha/released)

Tech. Sgt. Andria Allmond, a 111th Attack Wing photojournalist, stares in confusion at her computer screen while working in the Defense Travel System (DTS) at Horsham Air Guard Station, Aug. 8, 2016. - Tech. Sgt. Andria Allmond, a 111th Attack Wing photojournalist, stares in confusion at her computer screen while working in the Defense Travel System (DTS) at Horsham Air Guard Station, Aug. 8, 2016. DTS is a is the travel system that handles all military travel plans and travel pay for all temporary duty, or in some cases, home station training for members outside the commuting area. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Botzum)

Lance Cpl. Austin A. Haneline, an unmanned aerial vehicle operator with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, based in Camp Pendleton, California, not only flies UAVs with the Marine Corps, but also in his civilian career. UAVs are aircrafts operated without a human pilot aboard, and instead are operated by a ground-based controller and a system of communication between the two. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alexis B. Rocha/released) - Lance Cpl. Austin A. Haneline, an unmanned aerial vehicle operator with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, based in Camp Pendleton, California, not only flies UAVs with the Marine Corps, but also in his civilian career. UAVs are aircrafts operated without a human pilot aboard, and instead are operated by a ground-based controller and a system of communication between the two. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alexis B. Rocha/released)