This 1985 photo of a Columbian marine participating in an amphibious/jungle assault during the joint US/South American Exercise UNITAS XXV, complete with his M1 helmet and M14 rifle, could almost be mistaken for a U.S. Marine in 1965 South Vietnam.
NARA photo DN-ST-85-08732
For reference:
1965: Marines from the 3d Battalion, 4th Marines take cover near Phu Bai Their patrol had just been fired upon by the VC USMC Photo A185701
US Marines come ashore as part of a small landing party, c. 1836, [although its unlikely the leatherneck would be armed with a Colt Patterson revolver as shown, since they only just came out that year and very few were used in military service outside the Texas Navy] only a few years after the Marine Corps had been put under the organization of the US Navy. Prior to the American Civil War – and beyond it as well – the Marine Corps remained a very small force, with one of their main duties being the detachments assigned to the various ships of the Navy. Despite the small size of the Corps – only a handful of battalions – they nevertheless contributed some notable successes during the first half of the 19th century, most famously when they stormed “the Halls of Montezuma” (Chapultepec) during the Mexican-American War.
(Anne S. K. Brown Collection)
Marine Scout Snipers from Weapons Company 2nd Battalion 6th Marines, conduct a week long class to sharpen Afghan soldiers’ marksmanship with the M24 Sniper Weapon System. The ANA soldiers belong to the 1st Kandak 1st Brigade 215th Corps. The M24 is a bolt-action sniper rifled that is in used by US Army Snipers and is chambered in 7.62x51mm with an effective range of 800 meters. Video by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo.
May 3rd, 2012 – Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a boat raid during Exercise Balikatan in the Philippine Islands. The exercise was comprised of bilateral training in infantry tactics, patrolling, amphibious assaults and jungle survival. The aim was to improve the interoperability of U.S. Marines and the Philippine Armed Forces. The completion of this exercise marks the end of 1/4’s time as the BLT of the 31st MEU.