Stories

Prepare, Respond, Recover Exercise Semper Durus 2026 tests regional readiness - U.S. Marines, Sailors and staff with Marine Corps Installations West conduct a tabletop exercise outbrief during Semper Durus 26 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 22, 2026. Semper Durus is a Marine Corps Installations West full-scale regional command training and interagency exercise designed to enhance emergency preparedness and rapid response capabilities across multiple Marine Corps installations in the southwestern United States. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Noah Martinez)

MCICOM Enlisted of the Year - U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Linwood Hinton, operations chief at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, poses for a photo at MCAS Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 20, 2026. Hinton was recognized as the 2026 Marine Corps Installations Command Enlisted Marine of the Year. This award highlights the outstanding achievements of the Corps' top-performing Marines and units in the Installations and Logistics community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Martinez)

MCB Camp Pendleton Conducts CPX II - Members of the Camp Pendleton Fire Department prepare for a hazmat training exercise during Command Post Exercise II at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 28, 2026. CPX II combined the efforts of various agencies across MCIWEST to exercise staff actions in response to a simulated food supply contamination, including verifying the safety and security of food sources, assessing the impact of food delivery interruptions, identifying response actions to restore safe food deliveries, and exercising the Camp Pendleton Fire Department’s procedures for hazardous materials incidents. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Akamelu)

Special agents with the FBI’s San Diego and Los Angeles field offices post security as part of the exercise Semper Durus 2025 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 21, 2025. Semper Durus is an MCIWEST full-scale regional command training and interoperability exercise designed to enhance emergency preparedness and rapid response capabilities across multiple Marine Corps installations in the southwestern United States. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Noah Martinez) - Special agents with the FBI’s San Diego and Los Angeles field offices post security as part of the exercise Semper Durus 2025 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 21, 2025. Semper Durus is an MCIWEST full-scale regional command training and interoperability exercise designed to enhance emergency preparedness and rapid response capabilities across multiple Marine Corps installations in the southwestern United States. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Noah Martinez)

U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Nick Brown and Sgt. Maj. Sherri Cook, the commanding general and senior enlisted leader of Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, pose for a photo with Lance Cpl. Marcus Benson, a military police augment with Provost Marshal Office, MCIW, MCB Camp Pendleton, center, on MCB Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 15, 2025. Benson, a Texas native, received an award for ending an active police pursuit on March 3, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacqueline Akamelu) - U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Nick Brown and Sgt. Maj. Sherri Cook, the commanding general and senior enlisted leader of Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, pose for a photo with Lance Cpl. Marcus Benson, a military police augment with Provost Marshal Office, MCIW, MCB Camp Pendleton, center, on MCB Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 15, 2025. Benson, a Texas native, received an award for ending an active police pursuit on March 3, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacqueline Akamelu)

U.S. Marines gather for a group photo with Retired Col. George Newton at the Silvergate Assisted Living Center in Fallbrook, Calif., April 27, 2025. Silvergate Assisted Living Center hosted a surprise celebration for Newton’s 100th birthday with over 20 active duty and retired Marines. Newton is a World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veteran. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacqueline Akamelu) - U.S. Marines gather for a group photo with Retired Col. George Newton at the Silvergate Assisted Living Center in Fallbrook, Calif., April 27, 2025. Silvergate Assisted Living Center hosted a surprise celebration for Newton’s 100th birthday with over 20 active duty and retired Marines. Newton is a World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veteran. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacqueline Akamelu)

Luis Murrieta, a chief cook with Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, participates in the Culinary Team of the Quarter competition at the 31 Area Mess Hall on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 7, 2025. The two-day event included a knowledge-based elimination round followed by a live cooking challenge using a mystery basket of ingredients. The competition aims to enhance MOS proficiency, foster teamwork, and recognize excellence among food service professionals across Marine Corps Installations West. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Patrick King) - Luis Murrieta, a chief cook with Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, participates in the Culinary Team of the Quarter competition at the 31 Area Mess Hall on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 7, 2025. The two-day event included a knowledge-based elimination round followed by a live cooking challenge using a mystery basket of ingredients. The competition aims to enhance MOS proficiency, foster teamwork, and recognize excellence among food service professionals across Marine Corps Installations West. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Patrick King)

U.S. Marines and aircraft with Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct a formation flight as part of Project Legacy off the coast of San Diego, March 4, 2025. The Project Legacy flight was a unique opportunity for all aircraft platforms across MAG-11 to fly as one team, practice tight formations, and take part in the documentation of a historical flight. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez) - U.S. Marines and aircraft with Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct a formation flight as part of Project Legacy off the coast of San Diego, March 4, 2025. The Project Legacy flight was a unique opportunity for all aircraft platforms across MAG-11 to fly as one team, practice tight formations, and take part in the documentation of a historical flight. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Joshua Joseph R. Camacho, a maintenance management chief with Headquarters Battalion, I Marine Intelligence Group, poses for a photo after installing a portable AC unit in his barracks room at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 21, 2025. AC units were provided to Marines and Sailors living in barracks on Camp Pendleton as part of Operation Clean Sweep, a larger Barracks 360 Reset initiative, which aims to improve the living conditions and operational readiness of Marines and Sailors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Noah Martinez) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Joshua Joseph R. Camacho, a maintenance management chief with Headquarters Battalion, I Marine Intelligence Group, poses for a photo after installing a portable AC unit in his barracks room at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 21, 2025. AC units were provided to Marines and Sailors living in barracks on Camp Pendleton as part of Operation Clean Sweep, a larger Barracks 360 Reset initiative, which aims to improve the living conditions and operational readiness of Marines and Sailors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Noah Martinez)

U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Nick I. Brown, left, the commanding general of Marine Corps Installations West Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, receives an M119 105 mm howitzer casing during a change of command ceremony at MCB Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 27, 2024. The casing was presented to Brown by the 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division to commemorate his first ceremonial gun salute and assumption of command as a general officer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mhecaela J. Watts) - U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Nick I. Brown, left, the commanding general of Marine Corps Installations West Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, receives an M119 105 mm howitzer casing during a change of command ceremony at MCB Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 27, 2024. The casing was presented to Brown by the 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division to commemorate his first ceremonial gun salute and assumption of command as a general officer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mhecaela J. Watts)