U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, participate in a simulated air assault and decontamination during Steel Knight 2019 (SK19) on Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 05, 2018. SK19 is an annual training exercise and assesses the 1st Marine Division’s ability to conduct ground combat operations against a peer or near-peer adversary. The exercise challenges the division’s commanders, staff, and units in a dynamic scenario against a reactive and opposing force to refine the units’ command and control, interoperability, and fundamental warfighting skills. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Zachery Laning)

MCAS Cherry Point Marines send their love to friends and family during this holiday season.

The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) completes Realistic Urban Training (RUT) exercise across the Southwestern United States, in Nov. 2018. RUT is the final shore-based training exercise for the 11th MEU before deployment next year. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Staff Sgt. Donald Holbert, Cpl. Matthew Teutsch and Lance Cpl. Israel Chincio)

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Wes Faulk, executive officer, and Master Sgt. Richard Plummer, communications chief, both with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Peru, participate in the Devil Dog Ultras at Base Naval De Infanteria De Marina in Ancon, Peru, Dec. 1, 2018. The Devil Dog Ultras is a 100 mile or 100 kilometer race that takes place annually in Triangle, Virginia the first week of December. SPMAGTF-Peru is part of U.S. Southern Command’s Enduring Promise initiative and reflects the United States’ enduring promise of friendship, partnership and solidarity with the Americas. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Brett Norman)

Families gather for the 19th annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Nov. 30, 2018. Among the Christmas lights, elves and holiday spirit in the air, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Brass Band provided live music throughout the festivities. The celebration included activities such as a Christmas themed beanbag toss, holiday selfie station, a holiday cookie making station and reindeer antler ring toss. Santa Claus even made a special appearance for the children to come and tell him their Christmas wish list. This celebration is an event hosted by Marine Corps Community Services every year to kick off the Christmas spirit by bringing families together during the holiday season.

U.S. Marines and sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Peru and Littoral Combat Group One demonstrate readiness capabilities while deployed board the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) as it sails through the Pacific Ocean toward South America and while working with Peruvian naval forces, Nov. 29, 2018. SPMAGTF-Peru is part of U.S. Southern Command’s Enduring Promise initiative and reflects the United States’ enduring promise of friendship, partnership and solidarity with the Americas.(U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Andre Heath)

U.S. Marines and sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Peru and Littoral Combat Group ONE demonstrate integration capabilities while deployed board the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) as it sails through Pacific Ocean toward South America, Nov. 22, 2018. SPMAGTF-Peru is part of U.S. Southern Command’s Enduring Promise initiative and reflects the United States’ enduring promise of friendship, partnership and solidarity with the Americas. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Brett Norman)

U.S. military members from Marine Forces Pacific Command, American officials and distinguished guests from partner nations gather for a memorial ceremony in Betio, Tarawa Atoll, Republic of Kiribati, Nov. 20, 2018. The ceremony marks the 75th anniversary of the landings in Betio that initiated the Battle of Tarawa. It was held to memorialize the shared sacrifice of all who fought there and showcase combined commitment to sustaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Alexia Lythos and Lance Cpl. Brennan Priest)

U.S. Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Peru and Littoral Combat Group ONE wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 20, 2018. USS Somerset is part of LCG-ONE, which is deployed in support of the Enduring Promise initiative to reaffirm U.S. Southern Command's longstanding commitment to the nations of the Western Hemisphere. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Brett Norman)

Cherry Point service members put their arms, legs and hearts into the 2018 Combined Federal Campaign tug-of-war tournament at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Oct. 19, 2018. The tournament is hosted annually to raise awareness about how the CFC provides opportunities to donate to various nonprofit organizations. This year saw 11 teams compete for glory, with “Corpsman up!,” the Naval Health Clinic team, ultimately rising to the top of the pack to take home the trophy. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Morgan Collett and Sgt. Cody Shepard)

U. S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, take advantage of training with coalition forces during Red Flag-Alaska (RF-A) 19-1 over Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Oct. 18. RF-A 19-1 is a series of U.S. Pacific Air Force commander-directed field training exercise for U.S. and coalition forces to provide a realistic joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support and large-force employment training in a simulated combat environment. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Charnelle A. Smith)

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society was founded in 1904 and has been aiding service members and their families ever since. The society provides financial assistance and education, as well as other programs and services, to members of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, their eligible family members, widows, and survivors. The Society also receives and manages donated funds to administer these programs and services. Their main goal is to help each person who comes to them get support for their immediate needs. Their long-term mission is to help Sailors and Marines become financially self-sufficient by learning how to better manage their personal finances and prepare for unplanned expenses. The MCAS Cherry Point NMCRS provided over 1,000 clients with $569,035 in financial assistance in 2017. This assistance ranged from basic living expenses and transportation expenses to family emergency and funeral expenses, with much more in between. The relief society is comprised mostly of volunteers who work daily to give back to service members in need. Whether a Marine needs budget counseling or a Sailor needs a home visit from a nurse, the volunteers at MCAS Cherry Point NMCRS worked a tireless 14,878 hours in the past year providing assistance to our Marines and Sailors aboard the Cherry Point air station.

U.S. Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 11, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, support Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232 by building ordnance to load onto F/A-18C Hornets during Red Flag-Alaska (RF-A) 19-1 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Oct. 12, 2018. RF-A 19-1 is a series of U.S. Pacific Air Force commander-directed field training exercise for U.S. and coalition forces to provide a realistic joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support and large-force employment training in a simulated combat environment. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sergeant Charnelle A. Smith)

U. S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, perform maintenance checks and corrosion control on an F/A-18C Hornet during exercise Red Flag-Alaska (RF-A) 19-1 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Oct. 9, 2018. Red Flag is a series of U.S. Pacific Air Force commander-directed field training exercise for U.S. and coalition forces to provide a realistic joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support and large-force employment training in a simulated combat environment. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sergeant Charnelle A. Smith)

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 conduct exercise Kamoshika Wrath 18-2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Haramura Maneuver Area, Hiroshima, Japan, Sept. 27, 2018. Exercise Kamoshika Wrath increases combat readiness in a forward-operating environment, tests mission performance and meets annual requirements for Marines and Sailors of MWSS-171. (U.S. Marine Corps Motion Imagery by Lance Cpl. Richard Limone)