U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Alex Allred, left, and Sgt. Parker Mathys, right, confirm with their platoon that buildings are clear during an adversary force exercise at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, Dec. 11, 2024. Allred is a platoon commander from Ogden, Utah and Mathys is a squad leader from Logan, Utah. The AFX is the primary readiness-building event prior to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment’s upcoming deployment to Okinawa, Japan, in support of the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program. The exercise serves as an opportunity to receive training across all warfighting functions in a realistic and fully resourced environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Orion Stpierre)