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BGen Roger B. Turner, right, talks with Beth Bogue, left, Field Representative for California State Assemblyman Chad Mayes, and Jim Schooler, Field Representative for California State Sen. Jean Fuller, during live-fire training conducted by India Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, in the Galway Lake Training Area in the Johnson Valley Exclusive Military Use Area, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 24, 2018. (Marine Corps photo by Kelly O'Sullivan) - BGen Roger B. Turner, right, talks with Beth Bogue, left, Field Representative for California State Assemblyman Chad Mayes, and Jim Schooler, Field Representative for California State Sen. Jean Fuller, during live-fire training conducted by India Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, in the Galway Lake Training Area in the Johnson Valley Exclusive Military Use Area, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 24, 2018. (Marine Corps photo by Kelly O'Sullivan)

Marines conduct live-fire training exercise in Johnson Valley

A decision by the Federal Aviation Administration to establish a Controlled Firing Area over the Johnson Valley Exclusive Military Use Area paved the way for Marines of India Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, to make history Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, when they conducted a live-fire training exercise in the area.

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Brig. Gen. Roger Turner, Combat Center Commanding General, cuts the ribbon during the ribbon cutting ceremony and live-fire demonstrations of the newly opened Johnson Valley Exclusive Military Use Area aboard the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 24, 2018. The EMUA is open to all Marine Corps units and will allow for a more realistic level training that is capable of accommodating an entire Marine Air Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Medina Ayala-Lo) - Brig. Gen. Roger Turner, Combat Center Commanding General, cuts the ribbon during the ribbon cutting ceremony and live-fire demonstrations of the newly opened Johnson Valley Exclusive Military Use Area aboard the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 24, 2018. The EMUA is open to all Marine Corps units and will allow for a more realistic level training that is capable of accommodating an entire Marine Air Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Medina Ayala-Lo)

Ribbon cutting, life-fire demo held for Johnson Valley EMUA

Government and External Affairs hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony and live-fire demonstrations of the newly opened Johnson Valley Exclusive Military Use Area aboard the Combat Center, Aug. 24, 2018.

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Lance Cpl. Skyler Schopf, team leader, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, fires a M136 AT4 anti-tank weapon during a live-fire training exercise as part of Tactical Small-Unit Leadership Course aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 18, 2016. The purpose of the course was to focus on the training of small-unit leadership within “Darkside.” (Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dave Flores/Released) - Lance Cpl. Skyler Schopf, team leader, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, fires a M136 AT4 anti-tank weapon during a live-fire training exercise as part of Tactical Small-Unit Leadership Course aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 18, 2016. The purpose of the course was to focus on the training of small-unit leadership within “Darkside.” (Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dave Flores/Released)

‘Darkside’ Marines conduct TSULC

Marines from 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, participated in the Tactical Small-Unit Leadership Course aboard the Combat Center, July 7 through July 22, 2016.

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James Middleton, 7, attempts to hit a target with a ball to dunk his father, Lt. Col. Brian Middleton, battalion commander, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, during the battalion’s Family Day at Desert Winds Golf Course April 29, 2016. (Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Levi Schultz/Released) - James Middleton, 7, attempts to hit a target with a ball to dunk his father, Lt. Col. Brian Middleton, battalion commander, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, during the battalion’s Family Day at Desert Winds Golf Course April 29, 2016. (Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Levi Schultz/Released)

‘Darkside’ bonds over family day

Marines, sailors and their families bonded over a variety of activities during 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment’s Family Day at the Desert Winds Golf Course April 29, 2016.

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Lt. Col. Jeff Kenney, commanding officer, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, and Sgt. Maj. Michael Miller, battalion sergeant major, 3/4, prepare to case the battalion's colors during its deactivation ceremony at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field, May 30, 2014. The battalion was the most deployed Marine Corps battalion in the past decade, seeing five deployments to Iraq, one unit deployment program, and three deployments to Afghanistan. - Lt. Col. Jeff Kenney, commanding officer, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, and Sgt. Maj. Michael Miller, battalion sergeant major, 3/4, prepare to case the battalion's colors during its deactivation ceremony at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field, May 30, 2014. The battalion was the most deployed Marine Corps battalion in the past decade, seeing five deployments to Iraq, one unit deployment program, and three deployments to Afghanistan.

‘Darkside’ cases colors until next call of duty

As the adjutant’s command echoed throughout Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field, hundreds of spectators silently watched as the Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, conducted their final pass and review. The battalion, ordered deactivated by the Marine Corps, drew a crowd of distinguished guests and veterans of the unit, which holds a reputation as the most deployed Marine Corps battalion this past decade. They and the Marines and sailors before them knew this wasn’t the battalion’s first deactivation, nor would it be the last.

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A joint Navy-Marine Corps color guard marches with the colors during their appearance at a military appreciation ceremony at a San Diego Padres baseball game at Petco Park, May 25, 2014. "It was a great time for camaraderie and reflection," said Navy Lt. Travis Jewell, chaplain, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment. - A joint Navy-Marine Corps color guard marches with the colors during their appearance at a military appreciation ceremony at a San Diego Padres baseball game at Petco Park, May 25, 2014. "It was a great time for camaraderie and reflection," said Navy Lt. Travis Jewell, chaplain, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment.

‘Darkside’ Marines support community

Every Marine a rifleman. These words have no truer meaning to the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, which is currently known as the most deployed Marine Corps battalion throughout Operation Enduring Freedom. These Marines underwent a different mission in the early hours on May 25, 2014, one that afforded them the opportunity to serve the community in between their periods of serving the nation.

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