Marines with Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, reload their M777 howitzer during a call for fire for Operation Urban Thunder, at the Combat Center’s training area May 17, 2011. Operation Urban Thunder, a combined arms exercise held by local units and those from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., is led by Regimental Combat Team 7. - Marines with Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, reload their M777 howitzer during a call for fire for Operation Urban Thunder, at the Combat Center’s training area May 17, 2011. Operation Urban Thunder, a combined arms exercise held by local units and those from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., is led by Regimental Combat Team 7.
A Marine attempts to crack climb during the Assault Climbers Rehearsal Course May 18, 2011 at the Mountain Warfare Training Center Gym May 18, 2011. The course was a precursor to the official Assault Climbers course being conducted the following week. - A Marine attempts to crack climb during the Assault Climbers Rehearsal Course May 18, 2011 at the Mountain Warfare Training Center Gym May 18, 2011. The course was a precursor to the official Assault Climbers course being conducted the following week.
An instructor with the Instructor Qualification Course, shows students the proper method of placing anchoring hooks before scaling a rock face May 11, 2011. - An instructor with the Instructor Qualification Course, shows students the proper method of placing anchoring hooks before scaling a rock face May 11, 2011.
Frank Santiago, a rider coach for base safety, flies around a corner of Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, practicing what he has learned from classes during a Jason Pridmore’s Star School class sponsored by the Combat Center’s Base Safety May 13, 2011. - Frank Santiago, a rider coach for base safety, flies around a corner of Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, practicing what he has learned from classes during a Jason Pridmore’s Star School class sponsored by the Combat Center’s Base Safety May 13, 2011.
Yellow caution tape marks the perimeter of a simulated vehicle accident scene on Adobe Road May 18, 2011. The mock accident between a 7-ton truck and van was part of the state-wide exercise Golden Guardian, which evaluated the Combat Center’s response to natural disasters. - Yellow caution tape marks the perimeter of a simulated vehicle accident scene on Adobe Road May 18, 2011. The mock accident between a 7-ton truck and van was part of the state-wide exercise Golden Guardian, which evaluated the Combat Center’s response to natural disasters.