Sgts. Ryan Loya (left), Tyrone Evans (rear) and Jonathon Lopez (right), drill instructors from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, correct Levi Hopkins, a poolee from Recruiting Substation Everett, during Recruiting Station Seattle’s annual west side pool function at Foster High School in Tukwila, Wash., Sept. 13, 2014. During the event, Washington-based recruiters teamed with drill instructors to physically and mentally prepare enlistees for boot camp. The enlistees, part of the Marine Corps delayed entry program, are awaiting their ship dates. Loya, 29, is from Bellevue, Wash. Evans, 25, is from Kokomo, Ind. Lopez, 28, is from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Hopkins, 17, is a senior at Lake Stevens High School and was recruited by Sgt. Jeff Otterson. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Reece Lodder)
140915-N-MW819-017 ARABIAN GULF (Sept. 15, 2014) Sailors conduct flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian Stephens/Released)
The Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition kicked off this morning here at Camp Robinson. Arkansas National Guard's Spc. Ryan Montgomery is one of 14 Guardsmen who earned a spot to compete in the national level competition. This is the fourth year that the Arkansas National Guard has had a competitor in the event. The Best Warrior Competition is an annual competition to determine the best of the best of the 350,000 Army National Guardsmen nationwide. Of the 14, two will emerge victorious; one as the Soldier of the Year, and one as the Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. These two Guardsmen will move on to compete against active and reserve component Soldiers in the Army's Best Warrior Competition in October at Fort Lee, Va. (U.S. Army Photo)
Carsey Meredith performs a choke-hold on her fiance, Lance Cpl. Nick Passopulo, as part of a Marine Corps Martial Arts demonstration during a Jane Wayne Day hosted by Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Sept. 12, 2014. Meredith is a dental assistant and Passopulo is a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specialist with MWHS-2. Both are graduates of Prince George High School, Prince George, Va. During the event, spouses and other extended MWHS-2 family toured portions of the air station to learn more about the day-to-day lives of their Marines. The day included familiarization classes with Marine Corps weapon systems at an Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer; aircraft simulators; and a MCMAP demonstration.
U.S. Army and Polish special operations forces conduct close-quarters combat training Sept. 10, 2014, during Jackal Stone 2014 at a training site at Smith Barracks in Baumholder, Germany. Jackal Stone is an annual joint special operations exercise designed to enhance capabilities and interoperability among the participating special operations forces as well as to build mutual respect while sharing doctrinal concepts, training concepts and various tactics, techniques and procedures. (DoD photo by Spc. Benjaman Pollhein, U.S. Army/Released)
Paratroopers of 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade depart Lielvarde Airbase, Latvia, Sept. 8, 2014, at the conclusion of NATO Exercise Steadfast Javelin II. NATO paratroopers occupied the airbase for several days to launch follow-on operations after seizing it the night of Sept. 5. Steadfast Javelin II is a NATO exercise involving over 2,000 troops from 10 nations, and takes place across Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The exercise focuses on increasing interoperability and synchronizing complex operations between allied air and ground forces through airborne and air assault missions. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael T. Crawford/Released)
U.S. Soldiers and cadre members conduct physical readiness training at the Noncommissioned Officer Academy in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Sept. 10, 2014. (DoD photo by Markus Rauchenberger, U.S. Army/Released)
Sgt. Rico L. Rose simulates firing a PL-87 Stinger missile during a 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion’s section leader course and team leader course at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Sept. 11, 2014. Rose is a gunner with the battalion and a native of Appomattox, Va.
The U.S. and Royal Marines, along with their Navy counterparts, conduct a live-fire range near Inverness, Scotland during Exercise Tartan Eagle 2014. Tartan Eagle brings U.S. Marine Security Forces and Royal Marine Fleet Protection Group together to continue a 20-year partnership of cooperation in the tactical training procedures and recovery of nuclear weapons. The three-week exercise puts each nation side-by-side in close quarter battle exercises, live fire competition, room clearing and a vertical assault course.
A Harpoon missile is launched from the guided missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) during Valiant Shield 2014 in the Pacific Ocean Sept. 15, 2014. Valiant Shield is a biennial U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps exercise held in Guam, focusing on real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces at sea, in the air, on land and in cyberspace. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin V. Cunningham, U.S. Navy/Released)
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 17: Soldiers reach out to greet U.S. President Barack Obama during a visit to the U.S. Central Command at the MacDill Air Force Base on September 17, 2014 in Tampa, Florida. Obama visited the base to receive a briefing from his top commanders at CENTCOM, on the strategy to degrade and destroy ISIL. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)