ITX 4-24

Sgt. Justin Cortez, a civil affairs specialist with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command, speaks with a simulated disaster event evacuee during a general exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, April 15, 2020. Cortez was a part of the team at the debriefing station portion of the evacuation control center responsible for speaking with disaster relief evacuees to gain their knowledge of the event, while discerning false information that could be given out. The GENEX includes training events such as engineering projects and evacuation control center training scenarios that will help build the SPMAGTF-SC for their final certification exercise. These training events also provide the Marines and Sailors with real-world scenarios to prepare them for their deployment to assist partner nation militaries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Cortez is a native of Miami, Florida. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Benjamin D. Larsen)