Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Austin, a dental technician with 1st Dental Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, stands in front the 13 Area Dental Clinic aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 23, 2014. Dental technicians provide much needed assistance to dentists by setting up and maintaining equipment, putting the patients at ease, preparing them for treatment and performing X-ray scans and administrative tasks. “As dental technicians, we need to take care of patients’ needs,” said Austin. “We work hand-in-hand with the dentists for eight hours a day to provide those needs and maintain combat readiness.” - Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Austin, a dental technician with 1st Dental Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, stands in front the 13 Area Dental Clinic aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 23, 2014. Dental technicians provide much needed assistance to dentists by setting up and maintaining equipment, putting the patients at ease, preparing them for treatment and performing X-ray scans and administrative tasks. “As dental technicians, we need to take care of patients’ needs,” said Austin. “We work hand-in-hand with the dentists for eight hours a day to provide those needs and maintain combat readiness.”

A Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, attempts to secure a medical aid station while surrounded by an increasingly belligerent crowd of role-players during a humanitarian aid exercise as part of CLB-15’s pre-deployment training with the Special Operations Training Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 16, 2014. The exercise took place over the course of three days, and provided CLB-15 with a realistic and immersive experience. The simulation, set up by SOTG with the help of the USAID, put CLB-15’s Marines and sailors in the middle of a typhoon-ravaged rural Philippine area where they were tasked with providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief, similar to the situation faced by Marines with the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force during the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. CLB-15 is slated to deploy with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. - A Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, attempts to secure a medical aid station while surrounded by an increasingly belligerent crowd of role-players during a humanitarian aid exercise as part of CLB-15’s pre-deployment training with the Special Operations Training Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 16, 2014. The exercise took place over the course of three days, and provided CLB-15 with a realistic and immersive experience. The simulation, set up by SOTG with the help of the USAID, put CLB-15’s Marines and sailors in the middle of a typhoon-ravaged rural Philippine area where they were tasked with providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief, similar to the situation faced by Marines with the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force during the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. CLB-15 is slated to deploy with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

Amphibious assault vehicles with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, line the deck of the USNS Montford Point, a Mobile Landing Platform, as a Landing Craft Air Cushion with Assault Craft Unit 5, offloads more AAVs onto the vessel during the testing of a seabasing capability, July 9, 2014. The MLP is a new type of Maritime Pre-Positioning Ship that facilitates the transfer of military equipment and personnel from large ships to small landing craft. - Amphibious assault vehicles with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, line the deck of the USNS Montford Point, a Mobile Landing Platform, as a Landing Craft Air Cushion with Assault Craft Unit 5, offloads more AAVs onto the vessel during the testing of a seabasing capability, July 9, 2014. The MLP is a new type of Maritime Pre-Positioning Ship that facilitates the transfer of military equipment and personnel from large ships to small landing craft.

Four Marines and one sailor with 1st Marine Logistics Group color guard stand at parade rest during a battle colors anniversary ceremony in honor of the unit’s 67 years of dedicated service aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 15, 2014. - Four Marines and one sailor with 1st Marine Logistics Group color guard stand at parade rest during a battle colors anniversary ceremony in honor of the unit’s 67 years of dedicated service aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 15, 2014.

Marines with 1st Marine Logistics Group and 1st Marine Expeditionary Force participate in a motor transportation conference aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 10, 2014. The event provided its participants with a overview of the logistics and motor transportation side of the Marine Corps, and how the processes apply in a forward environment, where 1st MLG complements IMEF’s expeditionary capabilities. In addition, the forum gave its participants a dynamic environment where they could communicate with each other freely and discuss current issues, improvements and solutions within the field of motor transport. “It’s important to keep everyone at all levels well-informed,” said 1st Lt. Dominic Svatos, motor transportation platoon commander with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st MLG, and a Kansas City, Mo., native. “The more junior NCOs can disseminate the information effectively to their platoons and the information can filter down to the lower levels, keeping them updated.” - Marines with 1st Marine Logistics Group and 1st Marine Expeditionary Force participate in a motor transportation conference aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 10, 2014. The event provided its participants with a overview of the logistics and motor transportation side of the Marine Corps, and how the processes apply in a forward environment, where 1st MLG complements IMEF’s expeditionary capabilities. In addition, the forum gave its participants a dynamic environment where they could communicate with each other freely and discuss current issues, improvements and solutions within the field of motor transport. “It’s important to keep everyone at all levels well-informed,” said 1st Lt. Dominic Svatos, motor transportation platoon commander with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st MLG, and a Kansas City, Mo., native. “The more junior NCOs can disseminate the information effectively to their platoons and the information can filter down to the lower levels, keeping them updated.”

Sgt. Thanhtam Nguyen, micro miniature repair technician, Reparable Management Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, originally from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, moved to Lancaster, Penn., at a young age. As an eight-year-old boy, Nguyen witnessed more gruesome things than any child ever should. Yet, somehow, Nguyen used his past experience to fuel his desire to always be there for his Marines. The stress-free work environment he provides coupled with his sense of humor allows his Marines to feel like they can go to him for anything. - Sgt. Thanhtam Nguyen, micro miniature repair technician, Reparable Management Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, originally from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, moved to Lancaster, Penn., at a young age. As an eight-year-old boy, Nguyen witnessed more gruesome things than any child ever should. Yet, somehow, Nguyen used his past experience to fuel his desire to always be there for his Marines. The stress-free work environment he provides coupled with his sense of humor allows his Marines to feel like they can go to him for anything.