School of Infantry-West trains Riflemen and Infantrymen in MOS skills across the infantry training continuum and produces Combat Instructors who train Marines here and throughout their careers to dominate and control any battlespace.
U.S. Marines and guests attend an MMA Fight Night held at the School of Infantry-West parade deck at Marine Corps Camp Pendleton, California, March 15, 2024. The MMA Fight Night consisted of amateur fighters going head-to-head in eight sanctioned bouts. This event was coordinated by Marine Corps Community Services Camp Pendleton to promote base cohesion, increase morale, provide entertainment, and to prioritize quality of life for Marines, Sailors, and families. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mhecaela J. Watts)
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U.S. Marines with the Marine Corps Base Quantico Color Guard present the colors during the Fiscal Year 2023 Commandant’s Combined Awards Ceremony at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, Virginia, Feb. 8, 2024. The ceremony recognized and awarded eight Marines with the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for their exceptional performance in their respective special duty assignments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Brandes)
A U.S. Marine with Advanced Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry-West, Hawaii Detachment, establishes communications with the command operations during urban operations training, Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, July 11, 2023. The training was conducted as part of the Advanced Infantry Marine Course. AIMC is designed to enhance and test Marines’ skills with a focus on reinforcing proper patrols and operational procedures. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Chandler Stacy)
U.S. Marines with Advanced Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry-West, Hawaii Detachment, climb a hill to set up a patrol base during an Advanced Infantry Marine Course, Kahuku Training Area, Hawaii, June 26, 2023. AIMC is advanced infantry training designed to enhance and test Marines’ skills with a focus on reinforcing proper patrols and operational procedures. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Terry Stennett III)
A U.S. Marine with Advanced Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry-West, Hawaii Detachment, head to an equipment staging area during an Advanced Infantry Marine Course, Kahuku Training Area, Hawaii, June 26, 2023. AIMC is advanced infantry training designed to enhance and test Marines’ skills with a focus on reinforcing proper patrols and operational procedures. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Terry Stennett III)
U.S. Marine, Cpl. Anthony Nikac, a lateral move student with Infantry Marine Course 2-23, Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry-West, suppresses an enemy position with a M240B medium machine gun during a fire and maneuver range at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 24, 2023. IMC is the Marine Corps’ 14-week entry-level training course for enlisted infantry Marines. Nikac is a native of New York City. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Willow Marshall)
U.S. Marines with Infantry Marine Course 1-23, Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry - West, step out for the culminating event of the course’s final training exercise on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 27, 2023. IMC is the Marine Corps’ 14-week entry-level training course for enlisted infantry Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Earik Barton)
U.S. Marines with Alpha Company, Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry - West, hike up a hill during a night patrol as part of the tenth week of the Infantry Marine Course on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, April 1, 2021. IMC is a 14-week pilot course designed to create better trained and more lethal entry-level infantry Marines prepared for near-peer conflicts. The course uses a redesigned learning model for students intended to develop their capabilities for independent and adaptive thought and action. The program of instruction for IMC has been in development for a year and follows guidance from the 2019 Commandant's Planning Guidance and Force Design 2030. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kerstin Roberts)
U.S. Marine Pfc. Luke Newcomb, a student with Infantry Marine Course 1-23, Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry - West, posts security during the final training exercise on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 23, 2023. IMC is the Marine Corps’ 14-week infantry training course designed to make better trained and more lethal entry-level Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Earik Barton)
The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit began MV-22B osprey reintegration training March 21, 2024, transporting a platoon of Marines across Camp Pendleton to train foundational skills for pilots and infantry Marines. The photo of the week was taken by 1st Lt. Robert Nanna, showing U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Gerardo Gonzalez, a motor transport technician assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion with the 15th MEU, helping paint a mural at a community relations event during exercise Tiger Triumph in Visakhapatnam, India, March 22, 2024. (U.S Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Sadiel Cortes Guevara)
U.S. Marines 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, alongside Republic of Korea Marines conducted exercise Warrior Shield 24. This field training exercise provides the ROK Marines and U.S. Marines the opportunity to rehearse combined operations, exchange knowledge, and demonstrate the strength and capabilities of the ROK-U.S. Alliance. The photo of the week was taken by Lance Cpl. Matthew Morales featuring a ROK Marine firing a U.S. M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle during Warrior Shield 24. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Madison Santamaria and Cpl. Alexis French)
Marines with I and III Marine Expeditionary Force participate in exercise Freedom Shield 24 in Pohang, South Korea Mar. 04 to Dec. 14, 2024. Freedom Shield 24 ensures the United States and Korean Forces work together to strengthen their ability to cooperate and build cohesion, ensuring a secure Indo-Pacific. The photo of the week was taken by Lance Cpl. Emma Gray, featuring U.S. Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2d Marine Division (MARDIV) and Dutch Marines with Marine Squadron Carib Netherlands Marine Corps set security during Exercise Caribbean Urban Warrior on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Mar. 4, 2024. Exercise Caribbean Urban Warrior is a bilateral training evolution designed to increase global interoperability between 2d MARDIV and Marine Squadron Carib. (U.S Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Diana Salgado and Lance Cpl. Steven Wells)
U.S. Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force participate in exercise Nordic Response 24 in Norway. Exercise Nordic Response, formerly known as Cold Response, is a biennial NATO training exercise designed to advance Arctic security, boost global readiness, and promote interoperability among U.S. Forces, Allied, and partner forces. The photo of the week was taken by Cpl. Aidan Hekker, featuring U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, firing a Mark-19 40mm grenade machine gun at a simulated enemy vehicle during exercise Cobra Gold 24, Chanthaburi province, Thailand, March 3, 2024. Cobra Gold is the longest running international exercise in the world. Now in its 43rd iteration, exercise Cobra Gold demonstrates ongoing readiness to operate throughout the region in support of allies and partners to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps Video by Lance Cpl. Steven Wells and Lance Cpl. Diana Salgado)
U.S. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Japan Ground Self Defense Force service members unite to initiate exercise Iron Fist 24. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral exercise designed to increase teamwork and strengthen the relationships between the United States and Japanese Forces. Our photo of the week was taken by 2nd Lt. Duncan Stoner featuring two U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, taxi on a runway after landing in preparation for Exercise Nordic Response 24 at Andenes, Norway, Feb. 21, 2024. Exercise Nordic Response, formerly known as Cold Response, is a NATO training event conducted every two years to promote military competency in arctic environments and to foster interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and allied nations. (U.S Marine Corps video by Sgt. Madison Santamaria)
U.S. Marines from 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force participate in the Korean Marine Exchange Program 24.1 at Chinhae Naval Base, South Korea, Feb. 15, 2024. The 24th MEU is a premier crisis response force capable of deploying and landing at a moment’s notice. The photo of the week was taken by Lance Cpl. Ryan Ramsammy showing Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), firing an M3E1 Multi-purpose Anti-armor Anti-personnel Weapon System (MAAWS) during a small arms and MAAWS range on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Feb. 14, 2024. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Sadiel Cortes Guevara)
U.S. Marines with the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 542, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, introduces its first F-35B Lightning II aircraft squadron at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The photo of the week is brought to you by Cpl. Thomas Sheng showing U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, extinguishing a controlled fire during a live fire training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Madison Santamaria)
U.S. Marines, Sailors arrive in Darwin for 13th iteration of MRF-D