Stories

Maj. David J. Palka, assistant battalion inspector-instructor, 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, addresses the audience during a Bronze Star Presentation on Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 1, 2017. Maj. Palka received the Bronze Star for heroic service in connection with combat operations against the enemy while serving as a Commander, Battery E, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion 6th Marine Regiment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve from 12 March to 25 May 2016. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Brandon Martinez) - Maj. David J. Palka, assistant battalion inspector-instructor, 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, addresses the audience during a Bronze Star Presentation on Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 1, 2017. Maj. Palka received the Bronze Star for heroic service in connection with combat operations against the enemy while serving as a Commander, Battery E, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion 6th Marine Regiment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve from 12 March to 25 May 2016. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Brandon Martinez)

Lt. Col. Esteban Beamon (left), the commander of Detachment 2, 4th Civil Affairs Group, Marine Forces Reserve, stands by Capt. Ismael Lopez (right), the civil military operations planner for Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Southern Command 17, who holds up the 2016 Colonel Justice Marion “Jumping Joe” Chambers Award at the Marine Corps Association and Foundation Ground Awards Dinner in Arlington, Va., May 4, 2017. The award recognized Lopez as the Marine Corps Reserve company grade officer of the year for demonstrating outstanding leadership qualities during the transition of Detachment 4, 4th Tank Battalion to 4th Civil Affairs Group. (Courtesy Photo by Marine Corps Association and Foundation/Released) - Lt. Col. Esteban Beamon (left), the commander of Detachment 2, 4th Civil Affairs Group, Marine Forces Reserve, stands by Capt. Ismael Lopez (right), the civil military operations planner for Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Southern Command 17, who holds up the 2016 Colonel Justice Marion “Jumping Joe” Chambers Award at the Marine Corps Association and Foundation Ground Awards Dinner in Arlington, Va., May 4, 2017. The award recognized Lopez as the Marine Corps Reserve company grade officer of the year for demonstrating outstanding leadership qualities during the transition of Detachment 4, 4th Tank Battalion to 4th Civil Affairs Group. (Courtesy Photo by Marine Corps Association and Foundation/Released)

TIFNIT, Morocco - Multinational platoons consisting of personnel from the Moroccan Armed Forces, U.S. Marines and U.S. Army practice riot-control techniques at the training area in Tifnit, Morocco during Exercise African Lion 2017. African Lion is a combined, multilateral exercise designed to improve interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation’s tactics, techniques and procedures while demonstrating the strong bond between the nation’s militaries. (Photo by Thomas Flatley) - TIFNIT, Morocco - Multinational platoons consisting of personnel from the Moroccan Armed Forces, U.S. Marines and U.S. Army practice riot-control techniques at the training area in Tifnit, Morocco during Exercise African Lion 2017. African Lion is a combined, multilateral exercise designed to improve interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation’s tactics, techniques and procedures while demonstrating the strong bond between the nation’s militaries. (Photo by Thomas Flatley)

Col. Ricardo Player (center), the Force Headquarters Group chief of staff, Marine Forces Reserve, speaks to the family of Cpl. Nathan Bryson (left), a Marine Corps veteran who most recently served as a motor transport operator for Headquarters and Support Battalion, School of Infantry East, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, after he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in Brook Park, Ohio, April 13, 2017. Bryson was awarded the medal for his actions in 2014 when he and a fellow Marine saved a man from a burning vehicle. The medal is considered the highest medal one can achieve outside of combat and is often times given for daring and selfless acts that put a person in harm’s way. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Dallas Johnson/Released) - Col. Ricardo Player (center), the Force Headquarters Group chief of staff, Marine Forces Reserve, speaks to the family of Cpl. Nathan Bryson (left), a Marine Corps veteran who most recently served as a motor transport operator for Headquarters and Support Battalion, School of Infantry East, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, after he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in Brook Park, Ohio, April 13, 2017. Bryson was awarded the medal for his actions in 2014 when he and a fellow Marine saved a man from a burning vehicle. The medal is considered the highest medal one can achieve outside of combat and is often times given for daring and selfless acts that put a person in harm’s way. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Dallas Johnson/Released)

Lance Cpl. Scott Kesler, a rifleman with Company C, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, poses for a photo during exercise Riley Xanten in Ontario, Canada, Feb. 6, 2017. Kesler and his fellow Marines joined soldiers with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, Wentworth Regiment, Canadian Armed Forces, to train in an arctic environment and exchange knowledge on cold weather tactics, survival skills, shelter building, ice fishing, and more. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sara Graham/released) - Lance Cpl. Scott Kesler, a rifleman with Company C, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, poses for a photo during exercise Riley Xanten in Ontario, Canada, Feb. 6, 2017. Kesler and his fellow Marines joined soldiers with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, Wentworth Regiment, Canadian Armed Forces, to train in an arctic environment and exchange knowledge on cold weather tactics, survival skills, shelter building, ice fishing, and more. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sara Graham/released)

Sgt. Gabriel R. McInnis, engineer equipment mechanic with Bulk Fuel Company C, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, poses for a photo after receiving a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 7, 2017. McInnis received the medal for his actions in preventing an assault of a family in Tempe, Ariz., Dec. 27, 2016. (Courtesy photo) - Sgt. Gabriel R. McInnis, engineer equipment mechanic with Bulk Fuel Company C, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, poses for a photo after receiving a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 7, 2017. McInnis received the medal for his actions in preventing an assault of a family in Tempe, Ariz., Dec. 27, 2016. (Courtesy photo)

Lt. Gen. Rex C. McMillian, commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North, stands with the Marine Corps Reserve Centennial team in front of the Marine Corps Reserve Centennial wall display at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., Nov. 9, 2016. The Centennial team did the leg work to design, research and coordinate the installation of the display in the Pentagon in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the Marine Corps Reserve, which was celebrated Aug. 29, 2016. For more information on the history and heritage of the Marine Corps Reserve as well as current Marine stories and upcoming Centennial events, please visit www.marines.mil/usmcr100. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ian Leones) - Lt. Gen. Rex C. McMillian, commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North, stands with the Marine Corps Reserve Centennial team in front of the Marine Corps Reserve Centennial wall display at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., Nov. 9, 2016. The Centennial team did the leg work to design, research and coordinate the installation of the display in the Pentagon in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the Marine Corps Reserve, which was celebrated Aug. 29, 2016. For more information on the history and heritage of the Marine Corps Reserve as well as current Marine stories and upcoming Centennial events, please visit www.marines.mil/usmcr100. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ian Leones)

Roughly 500 current and past Marines stand in formation at Times Square for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Centennial celebration, Aug. 29, 2016. For 100 years the Marine Corps Reserve has answered the call, serving as our nation’s crisis response force and expeditionary force in readiness. The centennial celebration is a way to honor years of selfless service and celebrate the Marine Corps’ rich history, heritage and esprit de corps. The celebration brings awareness to the Reserve’s essential role as a crisis response force and expeditionary force in readiness that is always prepared to augment the active component. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sara Graham) - Roughly 500 current and past Marines stand in formation at Times Square for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Centennial celebration, Aug. 29, 2016. For 100 years the Marine Corps Reserve has answered the call, serving as our nation’s crisis response force and expeditionary force in readiness. The centennial celebration is a way to honor years of selfless service and celebrate the Marine Corps’ rich history, heritage and esprit de corps. The celebration brings awareness to the Reserve’s essential role as a crisis response force and expeditionary force in readiness that is always prepared to augment the active component. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sara Graham)