Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, put their thumbs up after securing themselves into an MV-22B Osprey during egress training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 18. Marines conducted the training drills as part of predeployment training for the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Lillian Stephens/Released) - Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, put their thumbs up after securing themselves into an MV-22B Osprey during egress training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 18. Marines conducted the training drills as part of predeployment training for the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Lillian Stephens/Released)

Incoming Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 commanding officer, Lt. Col. James Bardo, recieves the squadron colors from outgoing commanding officer, Lt. Col. Steve Gillette, during the squadron's change of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Friday, Aug. 14, 2015. The passing of the colors is the ceremony's most solemn moment, signifying the physical transfer of command from one Marine to the other. - Incoming Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 commanding officer, Lt. Col. James Bardo, recieves the squadron colors from outgoing commanding officer, Lt. Col. Steve Gillette, during the squadron's change of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Friday, Aug. 14, 2015. The passing of the colors is the ceremony's most solemn moment, signifying the physical transfer of command from one Marine to the other.

Cpl. Estanislao Alvarez, a UH-1Y Huey crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), checks his gun before responding to a call for help from a small Danish ground unit July 25. Alvarez was wounded about two months ago conducting an emergency resupply mission for special operations Marines. Alvarez was offered a chance to leave Afghanistan after he was wounded, but refused. Instead, he chose to remain with his unit and fellow Marines for the duration of HMLA-369's deployment. - Cpl. Estanislao Alvarez, a UH-1Y Huey crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), checks his gun before responding to a call for help from a small Danish ground unit July 25. Alvarez was wounded about two months ago conducting an emergency resupply mission for special operations Marines. Alvarez was offered a chance to leave Afghanistan after he was wounded, but refused. Instead, he chose to remain with his unit and fellow Marines for the duration of HMLA-369's deployment.

Lance Cpl. Felipe Pech, an entry control point sentry for 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), secures a splint on a simulated casualty May 21 during his test in the Combat Lifesavers Course here. The leg injury was one of several injuries his simulated casualty was suffering as he worked quickly to tend to the worst injuries first. - Lance Cpl. Felipe Pech, an entry control point sentry for 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), secures a splint on a simulated casualty May 21 during his test in the Combat Lifesavers Course here. The leg injury was one of several injuries his simulated casualty was suffering as he worked quickly to tend to the worst injuries first.

Lance Cpl. Victor Powell, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. native serving as a heavy equipment mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, watches as Lance Cpl. Jason Savankinus lifts a cement barrier from Camp Leatherneck's old VIP landing pad. Savankinus, a Cape Coral, Fla. native serving as a heavy equipment operator with MWSS-274, relied on Powell as a ground guide while moving and loading the barriers. - Lance Cpl. Victor Powell, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. native serving as a heavy equipment mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, watches as Lance Cpl. Jason Savankinus lifts a cement barrier from Camp Leatherneck's old VIP landing pad. Savankinus, a Cape Coral, Fla. native serving as a heavy equipment operator with MWSS-274, relied on Powell as a ground guide while moving and loading the barriers.

Marines with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) wait in combat gear to file off a military transport aircraft to begin their one-year deployment aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A transfer of authority is scheduled for April. - Marines with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) wait in combat gear to file off a military transport aircraft to begin their one-year deployment aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A transfer of authority is scheduled for April.