U.S. Marines. M3E1 MAAWS multi-role grenade launcher. Training in Australia. - YouTube - MIL 3010

U.S. Marines from the 1st Marine Divison,the oldest Marine Corps Division,Marine Rotational Force-Darwin,and Australian troops practise with the M3E1 (MAAWS) Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapons System in the Northern Territory,Australia.Also there are automatic weapons practise and dismounted patrols.*Text by MIL 3010 and edited by Andrew Taylor

Pacific Perspective:1st MARDIV Certifies for Australia Deployment

Marines and Sailors of 1st Marine Division and Expeditionary Strike Group 3 recently concluded Exercise Steel Knight 23.It certified the participants for deployment with the upcoming Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D) in Australia's Northern Territory as I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF).Thousands of Marines and Sailors enhanced naval integration,joint planning and expeditionary advanced base operations.The drills took place in two phases:a command post exercise (CPX) and a mission rehearsal exercise (MRX).In the CRX,each subordinate command was tested to collect intelligence on enemy forces;coordinate joint fires;and simulate strikes while sustaining the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with supplies across dispersed locations.CPX also enabled all-domain operations including cyber,space and information operations to complement kinetic operations in the operational environment.* MRX involved manoeuvring warships,Marine aviation squadrons and staging amphibious landings.Marines and Sailors responded to simulated crises and contingency scenarios in a contested environment.Said USN Rear Admiral James Kirk,commander,Expeditionary Strike Group 3:Simulated combat operations are ongoing to execute sea denial operations so that the joint force can then control and have freedom of movement,and can manoeuvre in a combat scenario to refine operational capabilities and tactics,techniques and procedures (TTPs).* Marines and Sailors also rehearsed the EABO (Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations),meaning employing forces in isolated environments and contested maritime areas.They tested their ability to plan,communicate and operate on small island chains;sea lanes;and aboard ships scattered across vast areas while still synchronised with one another.This took place across multiple locales in Southern and Central California.It's about working together to gain an advantage over a very challenging adversary (such as China,Russia or North Korea) while outpacing an enemy and achieving sea control,according to USMC Major General Benjamin Watson,commanding general of 1st MARDIV,I MEF and Rear Admiral Kirk.* In the course of the exercise,America-class Amphibious Assault Ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) played a significant role,as did Marine Aircraft Group 3,3rd Marine Aircraft Wing,which conducted an air assault on San Clemente island,California.A US Navy landing craft air cushion with Assault Craft Unit 5 carried an AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar.* The Tripoli allows the operation of both the MV-22 Osprey and F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.The warship is armed with 2 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers;2 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile launchers;2x20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts;and 7 x twin .50 BMG machine guns.It also carries electronic warfare devices such as 2 Mk53 Nulka decoy launchers.The Tripoli's complement is 102 officers;1102 enlisted;and 1687 Marines (plus 184 surge).It is the second America-class AAS,commissioned in July 2020.Its homeport is San Diego.*

India Company Salutes Comrade

India Company,3rd Battalion,5th Marine Regiment,lost their brother in arms,machine gunner Lance Corporal John T. Sparks,23,who was killed in action in Afghanistan on 8 October.Marines and sailors from the unit honored Lance Corporal Sparks with a simple yet moving ceremony on 16 October in Sangin,Afghanistan,which is located in Helmand Province,in the Helmand River valley,at elevation 888 meters/2913 feet.
They gave testimonials to their fallen comrade,read prayers and bible verses.Final Roll was called three times for him,and three times his name went unanswered.The ceremony ended with the playing of taps.
Lance Corporal Sparks' roomate,Corporal Jeffery Holsey,said John always carried his own weight,and when others couldn't,John would pick up their slack.He was a selfless person.He always gave everything and never asked for anything in return.
Survived by his mother Lenora,the Chicago native had an Associate's degree in criminal justice from Westwood College.He had joined the Marine Corps in February,2008.
The 3rd Battalion,5th Marine Regiment is part of the 1st Marine Division,America's 9-1-1 Force in Readiness.Major General Richard P. Mills has command of the historic organization.