Marine Corps Installations West

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The Camp Pendleton fire Department conducted a hazard reduction burn here, May 21. The hazard reduction burn was conducted to improve firefighter and public safety, protect property and minimize smoke impacts in the 52 Area, San Clemente and the I-5 Freeway. The burn aims to protect base property and the natural habitat by decreasing the possibility of human caused ignitions and limiting the severity and size of potential wildfires.

Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 371, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, perform shooting drills with their M16A4 service rifles during a squadron field exercise at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground training facility in Yuma, Ariz., Wednesday, March 9, 2016.

Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter answers questions from Marines during his visit aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Feb. 3. During his time aboard station, he also conducted a troop talk and handed out challenge coins. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alissa P. Schuning/Released)

Camp Pendleton hosts the Wildland Firefighting Exercise 2016 at Las Pulgas Lake, May 5. The Wildland Firefighting Exercise 2016 combines elements of aviation and ground units from Camp Pendleton, 3rd Marine Air Wing, Navy Region Southwest, The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the San Diego's Sheriff's Department. (Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Emmanuel Necoechea/RELEASED)

Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 prepare the Bambi bucket for the 2016 Wildland Firefighting Exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 5. The exercise was a multiaircraft operation with both ground and air units working together for maximum firefighting efforts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Harley Robinson/Released)

Marines fire a High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System in support of Steel Knight aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 4, 2015. Steel Knight is a 1st Marine Division led exercise which enables the Marines and sailors to operate in a realistic combined-arms environment to develop skill sets necessary to operate as a fully capable Marine Air Ground Task Force. The Marines are assigned to Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Mar. Div.

An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 takes off to load the bucket while performing firefighting training while the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters watch from below aboard Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base, Calif., Feb. 11. The Marines with VMM-165 flew out to Diamond Valley Lake on Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base to perform bucket dips in an effort to prove the aircraft was capable of such training while supporting Cal Fire.

Marines with Search and Rescue, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., wait as a casualty is rushed to their HH-1N “Huey” helicopter during simulated medical and casualty evacuations in support of the Special Operations Terminal Air Control Course at Yuma Proving Ground, Friday, March 4, 2016.

Amphibious Assault Vehicles assault the beach after launching from the USS Essex (LHD 2) during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation Feb. 25, 2016. The MCCRE evaluates the readiness of the Marines of Company A, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion prior to their deployment to Okinawa, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Timothy Valero/ Released)

An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 takes off from Red Beach on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 10. This is the first time that the F-35 conducted close air support missions in support of exercise Steel Knight. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian Marion/Released)

Active duty members along with their spouses speak regarding the importance of the school liaison program. Its mission is to identify and coordinate community resources that reduce the impact surrounding the mobile military lifestyle of military school-aged children. Additionally, other initiatives facilitate support services that assist children/youth with relocation, life transitions and achieving academic success.