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Sgt. Maj. Juan M. Hidalgo Jr. (center), outgoing sergeant major of 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, salutes Col. Christopher D. Taylor (left), commanding officer of 13th MEU, during a relief and appointment ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 15. The incoming sergeant major is Sgt. Maj. William S. Slade (right), who served 15 months as the squadron sergeant major of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39, Marine Aircraft Group 39. - Sgt. Maj. Juan M. Hidalgo Jr. (center), outgoing sergeant major of 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, salutes Col. Christopher D. Taylor (left), commanding officer of 13th MEU, during a relief and appointment ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 15. The incoming sergeant major is Sgt. Maj. William S. Slade (right), who served 15 months as the squadron sergeant major of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39, Marine Aircraft Group 39.

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marine reservist Lance Cpl. Sungwoo Hur, translator and riflemen with 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, translates for the Japan Ground Self Defense Force as part of Exercise Iron Fist 2013 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Jan. 28 2013. During Exercise Iron Fist 2013, the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Japan Ground Self Defense Force spent three weeks participating in bilateral training which improved their interoperability, enhanced military-to-military relations, and sharpened skills essential to crisis response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/ Released) - MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marine reservist Lance Cpl. Sungwoo Hur, translator and riflemen with 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, translates for the Japan Ground Self Defense Force as part of Exercise Iron Fist 2013 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Jan. 28 2013. During Exercise Iron Fist 2013, the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Japan Ground Self Defense Force spent three weeks participating in bilateral training which improved their interoperability, enhanced military-to-military relations, and sharpened skills essential to crisis response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/ Released)

130215-M-OH054-61313th MEU, JGSDF conclude Iron Fist 2013 at Camp Pendleton beach MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON – Members with the Western Army Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self Defense Force, perform a Taiko drum demonstration to Marines and Sailors of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit on the Del Mar Beach at the conclusion of Exercise Iron Fist 2013, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. Feb. 15, 2013. During Exercise Iron Fist, the 13th MEU and members of JGSDF spent three weeks participating in bilateral training which improved their interoperability, enhanced military-to-military relations, and sharpened skills essential to crisis response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released) - 130215-M-OH054-613 13th MEU, JGSDF conclude Iron Fist 2013 at Camp Pendleton beach MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON – Members with the Western Army Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self Defense Force, perform a Taiko drum demonstration to Marines and Sailors of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit on the Del Mar Beach at the conclusion of Exercise Iron Fist 2013, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. Feb. 15, 2013. During Exercise Iron Fist, the 13th MEU and members of JGSDF spent three weeks participating in bilateral training which improved their interoperability, enhanced military-to-military relations, and sharpened skills essential to crisis response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Col. Christopher D. Taylor, commanding officer of 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, speaks during the closing ceremony of Exercise Iron Fist 2013 at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb 15 2013. During Exercise Iron Fist 2013, the 13th MEU and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force spent three weeks participating in bilateral training, which improved their interoperability, enhanced military-to-military relations, and sharpened skills essential to crisis response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/ Released) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Col. Christopher D. Taylor, commanding officer of 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, speaks during the closing ceremony of Exercise Iron Fist 2013 at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb 15 2013. During Exercise Iron Fist 2013, the 13th MEU and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force spent three weeks participating in bilateral training, which improved their interoperability, enhanced military-to-military relations, and sharpened skills essential to crisis response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/ Released)

(Left) Lance Cpl. Vince Perez, a team leader and (Right) Lance Cpl. Aaron Lende, a grenadier both from 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit rush toward an objective, during Exercise Iron Fist 2013 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Jan. 31, 2013. During Iron Fist 2013, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and JGSDF will spend three weeks participating in bilateral training to improve their interoperability, enhance military-to-military relations and sharpen skills essential. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/Released) - (Left) Lance Cpl. Vince Perez, a team leader and (Right) Lance Cpl. Aaron Lende, a grenadier both from 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit rush toward an objective, during Exercise Iron Fist 2013 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Jan. 31, 2013. During Iron Fist 2013, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and JGSDF will spend three weeks participating in bilateral training to improve their interoperability, enhance military-to-military relations and sharpen skills essential. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Demetrius Morgan/Released)

MARINE CORPS CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – (Right) Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, deputy commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force and (Center) Col. Christopher D. Taylor, commanding officer of 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, welcome Col. Matsushi Kunii after the Exercise Iron Fist 2013 opening ceremony, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. During Iron Fist 2013, the 13th MEU and Western Army Infantry Regiment, JGSDF will spend three weeks participating in bilateral training to improve their interoperability, enhance military-to-military relations and sharpen skills essential to crisis response.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Demetrius A Morgan/Released) - MARINE CORPS CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – (Right) Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, deputy commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force and (Center) Col. Christopher D. Taylor, commanding officer of 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, welcome Col. Matsushi Kunii after the Exercise Iron Fist 2013 opening ceremony, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. During Iron Fist 2013, the 13th MEU and Western Army Infantry Regiment, JGSDF will spend three weeks participating in bilateral training to improve their interoperability, enhance military-to-military relations and sharpen skills essential to crisis response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Demetrius A Morgan/Released)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 13, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, search Marines role playing as American civilians during noncombatant evacuation operations training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, July 12, 2012. Marines and Sailors searched, identified and prepared role players for transportation just like in a real world situation. For more than a week, CLB-13 practiced providing humanitarian assistance, mass casualty evacuation, and noncombatant evacuation operations in preparation for next year’s deployment with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Gonzalez/Released) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 13, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, search Marines role playing as American civilians during noncombatant evacuation operations training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, July 12, 2012. Marines and Sailors searched, identified and prepared role players for transportation just like in a real world situation. For more than a week, CLB-13 practiced providing humanitarian assistance, mass casualty evacuation, and noncombatant evacuation operations in preparation for next year’s deployment with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Gonzalez/Released)

(Right) Cpl. Samuel Gray, a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear specialist with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, relaxes with his wife (Center Right) Katie and their friends after the Anaheim Independence Day Parade, July 4, 2012. The 13th MEU Color Guard and a platoon-size formation of Marines and Sailors marched throughout the streets, led by Col. Christopher D. Taylor, commanding officer of the 13th MEU and Grand Marshall of the Parade. The City of Anaheim adopted the unit in October 2007 and its Adoption Committee has since supported the MEU in numerous ways including, gift baskets for new parents, ball fundraising and their annual Christmas party. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released) - (Right) Cpl. Samuel Gray, a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear specialist with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, relaxes with his wife (Center Right) Katie and their friends after the Anaheim Independence Day Parade, July 4, 2012. The 13th MEU Color Guard and a platoon-size formation of Marines and Sailors marched throughout the streets, led by Col. Christopher D. Taylor, commanding officer of the 13th MEU and Grand Marshall of the Parade. The City of Anaheim adopted the unit in October 2007 and its Adoption Committee has since supported the MEU in numerous ways including, gift baskets for new parents, ball fundraising and their annual Christmas party. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Sgt. Michael T. Carradine, a student with 1st Platoon, Class 4-12, Sergeant’s Course, Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Camp Pendleton, disassembles a M249 Light Machine Gun during the Course’s culminating event aboard the base, June 6, 2012. The culminating event tested the sergeants on many of the topics and portions of the course curriculum to include, land navigation, call for fire and tactical evacuation of wounded. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Sgt. Michael T. Carradine, a student with 1st Platoon, Class 4-12, Sergeant’s Course, Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Camp Pendleton, disassembles a M249 Light Machine Gun during the Course’s culminating event aboard the base, June 6, 2012. The culminating event tested the sergeants on many of the topics and portions of the course curriculum to include, land navigation, call for fire and tactical evacuation of wounded. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Christopher O’Quin/Released)