U.S. Marines fire an 81 mm mortar during an adversarial force exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, Dec. 3, 2024. The AFX is the primary readiness-building event prior to Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division’s upcoming deployment to Okinawa, Japan, in support of the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program. This deployment is significant for the Reserve battalion, which is spread out across the U.S., and to the Reserve force contributing units to support exercises and operations outside of the continental U.S. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Madisyn Paschal)