On Duty: March 11th – March 17th

Cpl David M. Hernandez, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, uses a burner to activate tear gas particles in a chamber at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Mar. 10, 2011, during training in which approximately 100 unit members drilled with XM50 joint-service general purpose masks.

Cpl Anthony Blumenthal, 11th MEU, drinks from a canteen attached to his XM50 joint-service general-purpose mask in a tear gas filled chamber at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Mar. 10, 2011.

MSgt Kevin Buckles, drum major with the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., directs more than 80 Marine musicians during the annual Battle Color Ceremony at Camp Pendleton's Paige Fieldhouse, Mar. 11, 2011. Also known as “The Commandant's Own,” the Drum and Bugle Corps is comprised of more than 80 Marine musicians and is currently the only one of its kind in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Silent Drill Platoon performs during the annual Battle Color Ceremony at Camp Pendleton's Paige Fieldhouse, Mar.11, 2011. The 24-man platoon displayed its precise, calculated drill movements by throwing 10-pound M1 rifles from Marine-to-Marine without commands.

Marcus Miller, a member of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton's men's basketball team, jumps for a rebound during the 2011 West Coast Regional Basketball Championship at Camp Pendleton's Paige Fieldhouse, Mar. 14, 2011. The men's basketball teams competing in this year's tournament are: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.; 1st Marine Division; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.; Marine Corps Base Hawaii; and Marine Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.

A Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Japan-based CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, First Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), flies over Sendai, Japan, Mar. 14, 2011, during Operation Tomodachi. Personnel with III MEF (Fwd) established a humanitarian assistance center to assist the Government of Japan-led relief efforts following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck mainland Japan, Mar. 11, 2011.

Marines from III MEF (Fwd) disembark from a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter in Sendai, Japan, Mar. 14, 2011, during Operation Tomodachi.

LCpl Brandon McCormick, left, and Sgt Tony Hinds set up a satellite system in Sendai, Japan, Mar. 14, 2011, as part of Operation Tomodachi. Personnel with III MEF (Fwd) established a humanitarian assistance center here to assist Government of Japan-led relief efforts following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck mainland Japan, Mar. 11, 2011.

Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd) command element load meals ready to eat headed to Sendai, Japan, onto a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, First Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF, at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Mar. 15, 2011.

A CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter with HMM 265, MAG 36, 1st MAW, III MEF, lands at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, to pick up supplies headed for Sendai, Japan Mar. 15, 2011.