Category Archives: Photo of the Day

Combat doesn’t only take place with a rifle placed high and tight in your shoulder pocket. There will be times when Marines must engage in close quarters combat to protect themselves and their fellow Marines. The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program was established to train Marines how to effectively fight hand to hand. MCMAP uses a belt system much like other martial arts disciplines to group skill sets and identify the training level of individual Marines. All Marines are required to earn their Tan Belt during Recruit Training (enlisted) or The Basic School (officers), and also continue progressing through additional belt levels throughout their military career.

I was stationed with Gunnery Sergeant Rivera (pictured below with the scowl of death) in Beaufort, SC a couple of years ago. She is a Martial Arts Instructor Trainer and could very easily break your face with just a glance. Don’t mess with her if you like having all of your bones unbroken.

Gunnery Sergeant Sigrid Rivera (rear) and Staff Sergeant Diana Bacolod demonstrate one of the many take downs in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program's arsenal. Photo courtesy LtCol Maria A. Marte

From New York Harbor to Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan, Lady Liberty shines a light of hope for the world.

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
-Emma Lazarus, 1883 

U.S. Army Capt. John Stehulak (left), Optometry Clinic optometrist, and Staff Sgt. Joseph Hagan, Optometry Clinic Detachment sergeant, stand in front of their creation of a snow version of the Statue of Liberty on Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2012. Stehulak and Hagan are attached to the 124th Medical Detachment based out of Fort Shafter, Hawaii. Photo by Staff Sgt. Amanda Dick

U.S. Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicles maneuver back to USS Tortuga after completing training at Hat Yao Beach, during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012, Feb. 10. Cobra Gold is an annual multinational, multilateral training exercise held throughout the Kingdom of Thailand. It is the largest multilateral exercise in the Asia Pacific region and offers more than 20 participating countries critical training opportunities to improve interoperability in conducting multinational operations. The amphibious assault vehicles are with 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Courtney White.

On July 30, 1942, Public Law 689 went into effect establishing the Women’s Reserves of the Armed Forces. The purpose of the law was “to expedite the war effort by releasing officers and men for duty at sea and their replacement by women in the shore establishment of the Navy.” This was a big step at the time because many members of society and Congress were reluctant about giving women a larger role in the military. But, no one could deny the benefits that passage of this law ensured for this country.

Before Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) was established, the U.S. Army had already started incorporating women through the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC). However, as the name indicates, this was merely an auxiliary corps at first. WAVES, on the other hand, was at its inception a part of the Navy – an important distinction.

At the end of the war, the WAVES weren’t disbanded. Instead, they were incorporated into the regular Navy. In this photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) Christina M. Shaw, a former WAVES celebrates her 100th birthday. Thanks for your service, ma’am!

Retired Lt. Cmdr. Kathryn Barclay a former Navy nurse and a Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service(WAVE), opens her final gift of the night from long time friend Carolyn Long before concluding her 100th birthday celebration at the Lydia Roper home Feb. 9th.

I have always been in awe of aircraft carriers. Growing up as a Navy brat of a father who was constantly deployed on them, I got to experience their awesomeness up close. My favorite memories from childhood involve going on Tiger Cruises with my dad. I learned to appreciate early on what our Sailors do for this country and the sacrifices they make while at sea. Come to think of it, I’m not really sure why I didn’t join the Navy instead, but that’s for another conversation. This is just an impressive photo from PO3 Jonathan Idle.

F/A-18F Super Hornets, assigned to the Bounty Hunters of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2, fly in formation above the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom

As the country begins to look towards crack addicts like Whitney Houston to gush over, there are real heroes and role models that walk amongst us. It doesn’t escape me that I labor among an impressive group of heroes every day. These are people that I marvel at frequently. When I joined the military, it was a time of relative peace. The citizens who have joined the military over the past few years have no illusions that they’ll be able to spend their careers safely at home and never have to worry about getting shot at. It’s an honor to serve amongst them.

Brig. Gen. Daniel D. Yoo, commanding general, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region, pins a Silver Star on Sgt. Phillip A. McCulloch Jr., drill instructor, Company M, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, during the morning colors ceremony aboard MCRD, Feb 10. McCulloch was awarded the medal for his actions during a six-hour engagement with insurgent forces in the Sangin district in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Jan. 8, 2011.

While performing a route reconnaissance in the Sangin district, Afghanistan, Sgt. Phillip A. McCulloch Jr. and his squad heard an explosion off to the northeast as they were crossing the Helmand River. Moments later, his team was ambushed by three machine gun positions and they took cover in the riverbank.

The coming engagement resulted in McCulloch, squad leader for 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Afghanistan, having to make many critical decisions to ensure the safe return of his 21-man team, Jan. 8, 2011.

“I’ve always had aggressive leaders in charge of me who accepted nothing less than perfection,” said McCulloch, 23. “I never second-guessed myself.”

McCulloch personally led his squad on the counter-attack, even taking time to destroy an enemy fighting position with an AT-4 anti-armor weapon. His squad then forced them to fall back by maintaining constant pressure and by making use of their air support and indirect fire capabilities.

“I was just doing my job. I wanted to make sure my Marines were safe,” said McCulloch, who was born in Arizona but raised in Texas. “It was just another day on the job.”

Only after six hours of fighting and with his squad low on ammunition did he return to friendly lines. During the engagement he was wounded in the leg while trying to draw fire to reunite his squad.

For these actions, McCulloch was presented a Silver Star by Brig. Gen. Daniel D. Yoo, commanding general, MCRD San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region, during a morning colors ceremony aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Feb. 10.

“He absolutely deserves that medal. He’ll probably see more medals like that in the future. His courage under fire is unwavering,” said 1st Sgt. Christopher M. Carlisle, company first sergeant, Company M, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. “He’s the future of the Corps.”

The Silver Star is the third highest military decoration and can be awarded to service members who show extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy of the United States.

“He was one of my [privates first class] as a staff sergeant. He stood amongst his peers since day one, always striving for more information, always wanting to learn as much as he possibly could,” said Carlisle. “I saw he had natural leadership skills.”

Now, McCulloch is using his combat experience to train the next generation of Marines as a drill instructor for Company M, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion.

“I came down here to give back to the Marine Corps, as a drill instructor,” said McCulloch. “I think my combat leadership as a whole, not just that one day, has definitely impacted my leadership and the way I look at things and down here at MCRD as well.”

McCulloch has been a drill instructor at the depot since December 2011 and is in his first recruit training cycle.

“With this combat experience, maturity and understanding of the way the Marine Corps works, he is definitely a person I want in front of recruits,” said Carlisle.

Throughout his time in the Marine Corps, McCulloch has proven he has what it takes to get the job done.

“His nickname was ‘Prodigy.’ He stood above his peers,” said Carlisle. “He really was made to be an infantry squad leader.”

Although McCulloch is the Marine being awarded, it’s his squad he would like to recognize for their actions.

“I don’t think I earned it. My Marines earned it,” said McCulloch. “I wish they could all have one. I recognize them. They definitely earned it in my eyes.”

Story by LCpl Eric Quintanilla.

Few things sicken me more than ignorant people who say that we’re over here killing “innocent women and children.” It chaps my hide. It ruffles my feathers. It grinds my gears. It rubs me the wrong way. It really fries my pickle. American troops have so much respect for the civilians of the countries in which we end up, it’s beyond explanation. And we absolutely love interacting with children.

U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Force Protection Team member Sgt. David Brown from Myrtle Creek, Ore., watches as Spc. Trevor Simmons from Roseburg, Ore., with the 1186th MP Company out of Salem, Ore., shares a high-five with an Afghan boy during a Presence Patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 9, 2012. Presence Patrols establish a coalition presence and help maintain positive community relationships and open lines of communication with Afghan residents to deter insurgent activity and address supply and equipment needs of local Afghan National Police.

Back when I went through what used be called the Basic Non-commissioned Officers Course (BNCOC) and Advanced Non-commissioned Officers Course (ANCOC), you couldn’t get promoted to the next grade without it. There was a timeframe in which NCOs had to complete these resident courses or they risked losing their rank. Because of the drawn-out nature of sustained combat, it became increasingly difficult to attend these courses. Parts of the courses were placed online and then Soldiers were allowed to get promoted as long as they attended the course in a particular amount of time. Now, called the Advanced Leaders Course (ALC) and Senior Leaders Course (SLC), respectively, we’re going back to the days of old. Sergeant Edward Garibay details the changes.

Continue reading →

It was for a good cause. A dozen troops braved more than just the cold weather by plunging into water that was at near-freezing temperatures. An entire truckload of ice was brought in and allowed to melt in the pool to help get the temperatures low enough to qualify as a “Polar Bear Plunge.”

Our troops do a lot throughout every year to raise money for various causes. I guess depending on the cause, I’d jump in freezing cold water too! Maybe…

Maj. Matthew Heffron, a Saint Paul, Minn., native, jumps into a blibet of ice water during a 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Red Bulls, hosted Polar Bear Plunge event Feb. 4 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Twelve soldiers from the 1/34th Brigade Special Troops Battalion connected with Special Olympics Minnesota to raise money and awareness for their participants. Although the soldiers were not plunging into one of the many frozen lakes of Minnesota, the event was similar in the fact that the pool was filled with ice bringing the overall temperature close to 32 degrees.

This post is my personal opinion and not representative of the Army, the Department of Defense, The United States Government, the 82nd Airborne Division, the 3rd Infantry Division, III Corps, the 101st Airborne Division, the 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, the 511th MI Company, the School of the Americas, ISAF, RC(S), RC(E), RC(N), RC(W), CENTCOM, TRADOC, FORSCOM, Recruiting Command, The United States Marine Corps, the United States Air Force, the United States Navy, The United States Coast Guard, The Boy Scouts of America, the Department of Education, or any other unit, department, office, Section, squad, platoon, company battalion, brigade, division, Corps, any branch of service, rank, MOS, or any other segment of official military or government, real or imagined.

Kinda makes you forget you’re in a combat zone.

Marines with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 8, patrol through a poppy field in the Kajaki green zone, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 19. An artillery unit by doctrine, Bravo Battery has served as a provisional infantry rifle company for the last several months while protecting the area around the Kajaki Dam.

This post is my personal opinion and not representative of the Army, the Department of Defense, The United States Government, the 82nd Airborne Division, the 3rd Infantry Division, III Corps, the 101st Airborne Division, the 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, the 511th MI Company, the School of the Americas, ISAF, RC(S), RC(E), RC(N), RC(W), CENTCOM, TRADOC, FORSCOM, Recruiting Command, The United States Marine Corps, the United States Air Force, the United States Navy, The United States Coast Guard, The Boy Scouts of America, the Department of Education, or any other unit, department, office, Section, squad, platoon, company battalion, brigade, division, Corps, any branch of service, rank, MOS, or any other segment of official military or government, real or imagined.