Archipelago Endeavor 24

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Diego Corcoles, left, and Cpl. Troy G. Santos, right, prepare to fire an 81 mm mortar during an adversarial force exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, Dec. 3, 2024. Corcoles and Santos are both gunners, and are from Little Rock, Arkansas and Bakersfield, California, respectively. This AFX is the primary readiness-building event prior to Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment’s upcoming deployment to Okinawa, Japan, in support of the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Madisyn Paschal)