A U.S. Marine with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, conducts tactical site exploitation during a vertical assault course at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 14, 2026. Expeditionary Operations Training Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, hosts vertical assault and raid training to develop advanced tactical skills and maintain readiness for future deployments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jordan Searls)
U.S. Marines with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct multiple airlifts with support from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 364 (Rein.) during an artillery raid at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 12, 2026. An artillery raid is the rapid insertion of long-range firing assets to set conditions in the battlespace and enable maneuver. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Martha Linares)
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — First Sergeant’s Hill serves as a prominent memorial site where Marines honor the fallen through a physically grueling hike. The crosses at the top of the hill represent Marines who gave their lives in service, turning the climb into a reflection on sacrifice, leadership and legacy.
