Observation Post

Columns of Marines stood at the position of attention, at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray field, Jan. 9, with sunlight glinting off their ribbons and badges. They stood in formation representing the Marines of 1st Battallion, 7th Marine Regiment during the relief and appointment ceremony of their sergeant major.

 As 2014 comes to a close and 2015 peeks around the corner, the Combat Center prepares itself for a new year of hard work and dedication to the Corps. This past year has had its challenges and triumphs as Marines have gone through the training they need to stay prepared for the missions they will be tasked with. The ranges aboard the Combat Center are always ready to support the next task the Marine Corps has in store with the goal of maintaining a force of readiness. Although the Combat Center’s mission is still the same, the installation’s training command is always expanding its knowledge and ability. With 2014 slowly coming to its end, the Combat Center stands ready for all the challenges and opportunities the New Year has to offer.

Marines have been fighting our nation’s wars for more than 200 years. A Marine’s fierce warfighting is rooted in the Corps’ ability to prepare unit’s for “any climb or place.” It takes places like the Combat Center to facilitate the training and keep Marines at their best at all times. The Installation does training year-round to ensure the readiness of Marines for any combat situation they may encounter. The environment here tests every Marine with its harsh conditions and mountainous terrain. Units come to keep themselves one step ahead of the rest and conduct pre-deployment training. Units partake in vigorous Integrated Training Exercises that test the knowledge and capabilities of every member of the team from the commanding officers to the fire team leaders. The Combat Center is the only base of its kind in the Marine Corps and it continues to train Marines for any mission.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. – As 19 expectant mothers walked into the ballroom, their faces lit up with appreciation when they saw a stage lined with gifts meant for them, and their soon-to-be born babies.

There is a festive feel at Smith’s Ranch. Christmas lights hang from the rafters, illuminating the room. Whimsical notes of holiday music fill the air as volunteers prepare the final touches for the night’s events.

>I joined the Marine Corps in 2010 and I reached my end of active service last month.

A Marine finishes a bottle of water and in front of him is a decision. He can choose to throw his bottle in the trash can and leave, or he could throw his the bottle into the recycle bin. He chose to recycle his bottle, here is why.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Marines with Company A, Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, embarked onto amphibious assault vehicles from Company B, GCEITF, and splashed across the New River en route to the Verona Loop training area, Dec. 2.

On a bright and sunny day, children from around the Combat Center could be heard running and playfully laughing across Felix Field during the Lifestyle Insights Networking Knowledge Skills’ Combined Arms Exercise for Kids at Felix Field, Nov. 25.

As Marines enter the mess hall, the savory aroma of bacon fills their nostrils. A clatter of cooking utensils and murmurs of hungry anticipation can be heard. As time progresses, the line of Marines grows longer and each one is there for one thing, Pink’s gourmet hot dogs.

MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER BRIDGEPORT — At approximately 6,000 feet above sea level, the sun begins to crest over the mountain tops of northern California as Marines demonstrate different mountain survival skills to Tajik delegates during an international visit to the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeportf.

The air was filled with anticipation as service members and civilians stood, waiting as Sgt. Maj. Karl Villalino, Combat Center sergeant major, aims an M14 service rifle from the 1,000-yard firing line. After a few seconds, the sergeant major pulled slowly on the trigger and fired the first round of the 55th Annual High Desert Regional Shooting Competition and with it, an explosion at the target line to start the competition off with a bang.

From the main gate of the Combat Center to Shadow Mountain housing, Marines lined the streets. Some held welcome home posters and others waved miniature American flags, all waited for one person. The sound of approaching motorcycles grew louder. He was getting closer.

YUCCA VALLEY — The sun shined on a picturesque day as the National Anthem was sung and the Combat Center color guard presented the American flag. A sense of patriotism and pride was felt over the crowd of veterans, active-duty service members and civilians at the 15th Annual Morongo Basin Veterans Day Tribute at the Yucca Valley community center in Yucca Valley, Tuesday. The event alternates where it is held each year between Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms. It offered static displays of military vehicles and equipment like the Logistics Vehicle System Replacement, a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacemenwwt and a High Mobility Multi-purposed Wheeled Vehicle from the Combat Center and other vehicles from law-enforcement agencies in the area along with a free barbecue lunch.

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK -— The sun shines bright over a mountainous landscape as one-by-one, Marines ascend the rock face. As they climb higher, they look for natural grooves in the rock to better anchor them on their way to the top. Joshua Tree Uprising in association with Mil-Tree, a non-profit organization, hosted a rock-climbing event for Marines at Joshua Tree National Park, Sunday.

The sun rests low in the sky as families gather at Del Valle Field. Across the field, miniature princesses, monsters, and superheroes gather for the festivities. Marine Corps Community Services held their annual Family Fall Festival, Oct. 24.

Sounds of laughter and music filled the air as people gathered at the Felix Field track. Children played in bounce houses while participants waited, donning pink attire, ready for the festivities to begin at the first Combat Center Pink Walk for breast cancer awareness.

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — The final United States Marine Corps command and service members from the United Kingdom have departed Regional Command (Southwest) in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Monday.

The Marines and sailors of 7th Marine Regimental Headquarters were welcomed home by family and friends at Del Valle Field, Oct. 13.

WASHINGTON — Gen. James F. Amos, the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps, relinquished command of the Marine Corps to Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., Oct. 17 at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C.

School districts provide programs and purchase supplies for their schools with funding provided by local property taxes and business taxes. For some school districts, it poses a challenge to meet the No Child Left Behind Act because of boundaries that encroach into federally owned land that is exempt from federal and state tax.

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Lance Cpl. Johnson has been in the Marine Corps for almost two years and plans on pursuing a career in music when she gets out. She draws her musical inspiration from artists such as Tupac, Missy Elliot and Mark Morrison.

>I wrote a lot of poetry when I was younger. My mom has all the poems that I’ve ever written; she always encouraged me to go with it. My little sister would always ask me to write her a song. My older siblings are grown so they didn’t live with us but they were always supportive of everything that I did.

>It was just a school project at first. 

>In my junior year of high school, I was in this media class and my teacher had equipment to record on. I was doing a project for this contest, so I used my imagination and came up with this song. I created the beat and I won first place. From that point, I started writing random songs. 

>My first song was about equality. To me, it had a message because back then I never used profanity in my music. I wanted people to get the message without me having to get angry or express myself in that type of way.

>A lot of my music was about my life, situations I’d been in or situations I’d seen my friends go through.

>I make all my beats. At first, they were horrible. Then my teacher showed me some things and I thought, ‘I don’t like his idea that much.’ Yeah it’s cool, but I want it to be my own. 

>I still write. I pick and choose beats from YouTube because I don’t have a laptop to create my own but I still write songs to them. 

>My mood impacts my words; people around me could impact my words. Life impacts my words. I could read a story and want to write about it. It’s kind of crazy how my mind works, it’s the little things. It’s the character of the person I respect, that’s where my writing comes from.

>I listen to all types of music. I listen to rap, country, rock, gospel, I listen to everything. My favorite type of music would have to be old-school rap. 

>They actually are speaking about life and it’s real. It’s not about money or sex or cars. They’re saying you made me feel this type of way, this is how I feel and I’m going to express this through a song. Or I went through this as a kid but it doesn’t matter because I’m here now and I’m making music for people who haven’t made it yet. Stuff like that inspires me, it motivates me.

>A lot of my music is old and soulful. I like to chill, I think a lot. I use my brain a lot because I write a lot. 

>I’m in college. I’m learning about music history and how to mix things. Kind of like a producer type stuff. 

>I love basketball. I played basketball from the time I was in elementary school all the way up until middle school and high school. I was a starter all four years of my high school basketball team.

>I’m a point guard ... can’t touch me from the three point line. 

>With me being in school and being in the Marine Corps, it motivates me a little bit more to study harder or to actually go on and do my classes. 

>Music and writing, all the togetherness of it, is my safe zone. It is my golden era. 

>In the Marine Corps, if you want something you have to work for it. Nothing is given, everything is earned. What the Marine Corps has taught me so far is if I want to pursue something, I have to go get it myself.

>If I look back 20 years from now on my life and I get my music degree, I know that was my golden era because, I did that.

Forty Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 374, amidst the desert heat, finished replacing the approach section of an expeditionary runway on the Strategic Expeditionary Landing Field at Camp Wilson, Monday.

The Single Marine Program held its monthly Texas Hold’em poker tournament at The 5th Street Zone, Sept. 26.