An animated graphic that highlights the ease of transmission of COVID19 and encourages service members to take appropriate preventative measures, April 16, 2020. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Mackenzie Binion)

U.S. Marines with 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers with Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade participate in the opening ceremony of Exercise Iron Fist 2020 on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 17. Iron Fist has been an annual exercise since 2006. Iron Fist 20 will build on more than a decade of demonstrated interoperability. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. David Luckey)

180628-M-JO645-1004 MARINE CORPS CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (June 28, 2018) U.S. Marines assigned to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion and 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, conduct assault amphibious vehicle familiarization training with Canadian Armed Forces during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise at Camp Pendleton, California, June 28, 2018. Marines training with partner nations from around the world enhances prowess. RIMPAC provides high-value training for task-organized, highly-capable Marine Air-Ground Task Force and enhances the critical crisis response capability of U.S. Marines in the Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps motion media by Cpl. Desiree King)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit hosted a combined change of command and relief and appointment ceremony on the Camp Del Mar parade deck, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, June 21, 2018. During the ceremony, Col. Joseph R. Clearfield and Sgt. Maj. Dennis K. Campbell, outgoing commanding officer and sergeant major respectively, transferred their duties and responsibilities to Col. Jay M. Holtermann and Sgt. Maj. Daniel E. Mangrum. A change of command is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority one commanding officer to another. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Desiree King)

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Battalion Landing Team started their portion of Alligator Dagger 17, a two-week combat rehearsal in Djibouti, to increase proficiency and readiness in the 5th Fleet area of operation, by reintroducing basic marksmanship skills and weapons familiarization. “This basic sustainment training keeps the Marines’ edges sharp so we maintain that constant force of readiness,” said Staff Sgt. Rogan Nichols, the platoon sergeant for third platoon, Company A. “This is why we are known as the force in readiness, and it’s what our MEU is prepared for.” The BLT culminated the training by conducting squad supported live-fire, fire-and-movement attacks, which incorporated company organic assets as wells scout snipers exercising the combat orders process. The BLT successfully completed all training expectations and reinforced the strength of their teams from the bottom up making the BLT as a whole fundamentally more effective and responsive. “This training helped the Marines get to the next tier of confidence in their weapons systems, intimately learning about their day and night optics and how to use both in low-light and other harsh situations, as well as built a familiarity with rest of their gear issued for deployment,” Nichols added. The Battalion Landing Team worked in extreme conditions to prepare themselves as well as the rest of the 15th MEU for seamless and quick response to crises situations even in the most unforgiving terrain and climate. “This exercise acclimated us to operating in 5th Fleet’s environment,” said 1st Lt. Patrick Neichter, the platoon commander of 2nd platoon, Company B. “Alligator Dagger was necessary so we are prepared to respond to any type of crises situation while the 15th MEU is operating in the 5th Fleet area of operation.” From heat acclamation and building and using terrain models to conduct live-fire squad attacks, the BLT built their confidence of the key leaders as well as the small unit leaders perfecting readiness, the Marines’ leadership skills and the overall abilities of the 15th MEU.

In this week's Corps Report episode, the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepares for deployment with the USS America (LHA-6).

Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct a live-fire “point-man” course aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 7, 2016. The course gives Marines, from the command element basic combat training in order to maintain their marksmanship skills and reinforce basic warfighter skills. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Frank Cordoba)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, California. — U.S. Marine Col. Joseph Clearfield speaks about the overall experience of the Southern California portion of the Rim of the Pacific 2016 aboard Camp Pendleton, Aug. 5, 2016. Clearfield is the commanding officer of 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Angel Serna/Released)

U.S. Marines with India company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, conduct a raid during military operations in urban terrain training, along with the Canadian and Chilean service members during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2016 aboard Camp Pendleton, July 19, 2016.Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Marine Corps Video by Lance Cpl. Frank Cordoba/Released)