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U.S. and Philippine Marines run through a jungle obstacle course during Amphibious Landing Exercise 2014 (PHIBLEX 14) at Marine Barracks Gregorio Lim, Ternate, Cavite, Republic of the Philippines, Sept. 18, 2013. PHIBLEX is a bilateral training exercise that demonstrates the commitment of the United States and Republic of the Philippines to mutual security and their long-term partnership. It also ensures the readiness of a bilateral force to rapidly respond to regional humanitarian crises. The U.S. Marines are with Force Reconnaissance Platoon, Maritime Raid Force, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Philippine Marines are with Force Reconnaissance Battalion. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ammon W. Carter, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Combat Camera/Released) - U.S. and Philippine Marines run through a jungle obstacle course during Amphibious Landing Exercise 2014 (PHIBLEX 14) at Marine Barracks Gregorio Lim, Ternate, Cavite, Republic of the Philippines, Sept. 18, 2013. PHIBLEX is a bilateral training exercise that demonstrates the commitment of the United States and Republic of the Philippines to mutual security and their long-term partnership. It also ensures the readiness of a bilateral force to rapidly respond to regional humanitarian crises. The U.S. Marines are with Force Reconnaissance Platoon, Maritime Raid Force, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Philippine Marines are with Force Reconnaissance Battalion. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ammon W. Carter, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Combat Camera/Released)

Fighting 13th raids through Devil Dog days of summer

Marines and Sailors of 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit marked the end of a rigorous summer, Sept. 22, as it concluded its first foreign bilateral training exercise with the Republic of the Philippine Army and Marine Corps during Amphibious Landing Exercise 14.1. They can now cross more than 30 days off their calendars as they count down the

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Cpl. Dwayne Donato, 3rd Squad Leader, 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Kansas City, Mo., native, fires on his final target during a competition shoot aboard Naval Base Guam, Guam Sept. 12, 2013. Marines and Sailors with 13th MEU will deploy for several months in support of theater requirements of Geographic Combatant Commanders. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O'Quin/Released) - Cpl. Dwayne Donato, 3rd Squad Leader, 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Kansas City, Mo., native, fires on his final target during a competition shoot aboard Naval Base Guam, Guam Sept. 12, 2013. Marines and Sailors with 13th MEU will deploy for several months in support of theater requirements of Geographic Combatant Commanders. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O'Quin/Released)

Bravo 1/4 competes in marksmanship

From Sept. 12-13, 2013, the “China Marines” took turns shooting their M16-A4’s, M-4 Carbines and M249 squad automatic weapons at targets ranging in distances of 200 to 500 meters. Instead of merely sighting in shooting, Bravo Company added other challenges to the training. Groups of half a dozen Marines, made their way to a starting position behind

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Cpl. Jose I. Navarrette a metal worker with Maintenance Detachment, Combat Logistics Battalion 13, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, works out of an amphibious assault vehicle-R7, with other members of his maintenance crew while on ship or in the field during their 2013 Western Pacific Deployment. Marines and Sailors with 13th MEU will deploy for several months in support of theater requirements of Geographic Combatant Commanders. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo illustration by Sgt. Christopher O'Quin/Released) - Cpl. Jose I. Navarrette a metal worker with Maintenance Detachment, Combat Logistics Battalion 13, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, works out of an amphibious assault vehicle-R7, with other members of his maintenance crew while on ship or in the field during their 2013 Western Pacific Deployment. Marines and Sailors with 13th MEU will deploy for several months in support of theater requirements of Geographic Combatant Commanders. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo illustration by Sgt. Christopher O'Quin/Released)

CLB-13 Marine keeps 13th MEU metal together

It is Sept. 4, 2013 on the Pacific Ocean. Temperatures are peaking in the mid 80’s, humidity is very high. Aboard USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), it feels extra hot and muggy inside the well deck, a large hollow chamber built to hold vehicles, vessels and cargo for amphibious operations.Toward the back of the well deck, remains a lone amphibious

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Two Reconnaissance Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide security while a Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) vehicle drives off a Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) at Bellows Beach on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, during sustainment training Aug. 31, 2013. The Marines provided security while the rest of his team secured Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft (CRRC’s) in the underbrush a short distance from the waterline. Three teams left the USS Boxer on CRRC’s just after sunrise with the objective of securing an area of Bellows Beach thus allowing Landing Craft Air Cushion’s (LCAC’s) to land and transport military vehicles ashore. The Marines and Sailors with 13th MEU will deploy for several months in support of theater requirements of Geographic Combatant Commanders. (USMC Photo by SSgt. Matt Orr/Released) - Two Reconnaissance Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide security while a Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) vehicle drives off a Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) at Bellows Beach on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, during sustainment training Aug. 31, 2013. The Marines provided security while the rest of his team secured Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft (CRRC’s) in the underbrush a short distance from the waterline. Three teams left the USS Boxer on CRRC’s just after sunrise with the objective of securing an area of Bellows Beach thus allowing Landing Craft Air Cushion’s (LCAC’s) to land and transport military vehicles ashore. The Marines and Sailors with 13th MEU will deploy for several months in support of theater requirements of Geographic Combatant Commanders. (USMC Photo by SSgt. Matt Orr/Released)

BLT 1/4 Bravo Company trains in paradise

In the early morning of August 30, 2013, Marines and Sailors with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit sit on the ramp of USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) lined up waiting to launch in Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7's, from the ship's well deck. Waiting for them on the shore of Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, are

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ABOARD MARINE CORPS BASE KANEOHE BAY, HAWAII., - Marines with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, get on line and prepare to assault forward during an amphibious training raid as part of Exercise Tropic Thunder at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii., Aug. 30, 2013. Marines and Sailors with 13th MEU recently left San Diego for their 2013 Western Pacific Deployment. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released) - ABOARD MARINE CORPS BASE KANEOHE BAY, HAWAII., - Marines with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, get on line and prepare to assault forward during an amphibious training raid as part of Exercise Tropic Thunder at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii., Aug. 30, 2013. Marines and Sailors with 13th MEU recently left San Diego for their 2013 Western Pacific Deployment. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released)

13th MEU conducts Tropic Thunder, showcases Ospreys

Marines and Sailors of 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Boxer Amphibious Ready Group headed to paradise to conduct Exercise Tropic Thunder in Hawaii, Aug. 30 through Sept. 1, 2013.Tropic Thunder marked the first exercise of the unit’s Western Pacific Deployment. The exercise provided an opportunity to sustain operability and demonstrate

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PACIFIC OCEAN ABOARD USS HARPERS FERRY (LSD49) – (Left) Lance Cpl. Josh P. Barnett, a medium machine gunner with 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Houston, Tx. native and Cpl. Joseph P. Harding, his assistant gunner with the same squad and Lawton Okla., native, provide security and observation support as members of the USS Harpers Ferry (LSD49) Small Craft Action Team(SCAT) during training as part of Certification Exercise aboard USS Harpers Ferry July 28, 2013. The purpose of this drill was to utilize Navy and Marine personnel to maintain a defensive posture against possible threats from small boats. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released) - PACIFIC OCEAN ABOARD USS HARPERS FERRY (LSD49) – (Left) Lance Cpl. Josh P. Barnett, a medium machine gunner with 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Houston, Tx. native and Cpl. Joseph P. Harding, his assistant gunner with the same squad and Lawton Okla., native, provide security and observation support as members of the USS Harpers Ferry (LSD49) Small Craft Action Team(SCAT) during training as part of Certification Exercise aboard USS Harpers Ferry July 28, 2013. The purpose of this drill was to utilize Navy and Marine personnel to maintain a defensive posture against possible threats from small boats. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released)

13th MEU SCA Team brings security to Boxer Amphibious Ready Group

More than 200 years ago, United States Marines deftly and bravely fought with muskets and swords to repel their boarders and ensure no enemy, pirate or military could seize their ships. Now in the 21st Century, Marines from Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit carry on their forefathers’ legacy as part of the Small Craft

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The four-hour "Introduction to Non-Lethal Weapons Course" consists of nine modules and concludes with an exam. The modules' content includes history; strategic impacts; tactical employment; escalation-of-force; counter-personnel and counter-materiel capabilities; fielded and future non-lethal weapons, munitions and devices; characteristics and usage and operational vignettes. - The four-hour "Introduction to Non-Lethal Weapons Course" consists of nine modules and concludes with an exam. The modules' content includes history; strategic impacts; tactical employment; escalation-of-force; counter-personnel and counter-materiel capabilities; fielded and future non-lethal weapons, munitions and devices; characteristics and usage and operational vignettes.

Enrollment in DoD Non-Lethal Weapons course on the rise

Non-lethal weapons provide our operating forces escalation-of-force options, minimizing casualties and collateral damage.Enrollment in DoD's Non-Lethal Weapons course has jumped to a 65 percent increase during 3rd quarter, Fiscal Year 2013. The free, online course launched in 2012 by the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate, provides U.S.

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Marines with Tank Detachment, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit maneuver their M1A1 Abrams Tank into a defensive posture at an assembly area after a training raid during PHIBRON-MEU Integration aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 26, 2013. PMINT is a three week long pre-deployment training event focusing on the combined Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Ready Group capabilities and the strengthening of the Navy and Marine Corps team. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released) - Marines with Tank Detachment, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit maneuver their M1A1 Abrams Tank into a defensive posture at an assembly area after a training raid during PHIBRON-MEU Integration aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 26, 2013. PMINT is a three week long pre-deployment training event focusing on the combined Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Ready Group capabilities and the strengthening of the Navy and Marine Corps team. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released)

“Fighting Thirteenth” flexes muscles during PMINT Exercise

When one evokes the image of a Marine, one often thinks of the typical grunt storming beaches from the sea. While this image rings true for the Corps after all these years, many types of battlefields have evolved since the days of John Wayne’s “Sands of Iwo Jima”. PHIBRON MEU Integration or PMINT required the Marines and Sailors of the 13th Marine

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Lance Cpl. Kevin Londono, a transmissions operator and Middletown, N.Y. native, with Command Element, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, acquires a satellite acquisition for the Ground Antenna Transmit Receive system (GATR) during Ground Realistic Urban Training at Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif. May 13, 2013. The Marines with the Communications Section set up the GATR for the exercise that took place from May 5-14, 2013. The system enhances the MEU's expeditionary capabilities through its portable and lightweight functionality. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O'Quin/Released) - Lance Cpl. Kevin Londono, a transmissions operator and Middletown, N.Y. native, with Command Element, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, acquires a satellite acquisition for the Ground Antenna Transmit Receive system (GATR) during Ground Realistic Urban Training at Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif. May 13, 2013. The Marines with the Communications Section set up the GATR for the exercise that took place from May 5-14, 2013. The system enhances the MEU's expeditionary capabilities through its portable and lightweight functionality. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O'Quin/Released)

13th MEU tests new communication game changer for approaching deployment

The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit will be first MEU to bring GATR’s with them on their Western Pacific Deployment in 2013. No, not the fearsome jagged toothed reptilians and apex predators, but a state-of-the-art communication tool able to rapidly transmit and receive data. Though actual gators would be an epic mascot for the MEU deployment.The

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Cpl. Michael Vorpahl, a motor transport operator with Motor Transportation Support Detachment, Combat Logistics Battalion 13, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, plays with his daughter Sairi, during the “Lucky 13” Warrior Pentathlon aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton March 28, 2013. The event featured family activities for children to include a jump house, an Easter egg hunt, an appearance by an Easter Bunnyand a barbeque. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released) - Cpl. Michael Vorpahl, a motor transport operator with Motor Transportation Support Detachment, Combat Logistics Battalion 13, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, plays with his daughter Sairi, during the “Lucky 13” Warrior Pentathlon aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton March 28, 2013. The event featured family activities for children to include a jump house, an Easter egg hunt, an appearance by an Easter Bunnyand a barbeque. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released)

“Lucky 13” Marines, Sailors compete in Warrior Pentathlon

Before the long Easter Weekend began, Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics 13, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, gathered near their unit’s barracks, March 28, 2013 for the “Lucky 13” Warrior Pentathlon. The event pitted Marines from each Detachment within the Battalion against each other in a series of physical challenges that included, treating a simulated casualty, transporting the simulated casualty, programing a field radio, dueling with pugil sticks, sumo suit wrestling and racing on an obstacle course.

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