Photos

Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command jump off a tower into a training pool during the basic swim qualification course at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 11, 2020. The basic swim qualification course requires Marines to shed personal protective gear underwater, swim and float in full utilities for 4 minutes, jump from a tower, and swim 25 meters with their pack. Marines and Sailors with SPMAGTF-SC are conducting a variety of pre-deployment training events and qualifications prior to deploying in order to enhance crisis response readiness in and around Central America, South America and the Caribbean. These events are held at Camp Lejeune and will assist the Marines and Sailors with providing security cooperation training and engineering projects alongside partner nation military forces in the Latin American and Caribbean region, as well as remaining ready to respond to crises in the event of an emergency within the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Andy O. Martinez)