U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Bobby Philips Jr., motor transport chief, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division poses for a photo after a meritorious promotion ceremony in Jacksonville, North Carolina, April 2, 2026. Philips was selected for meritorious promotion spanning across Marine Forces Reserve. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alexander Lesko)
U.S. Marines with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Royal Australian Armored Corps and Royal Canadian Armored Corps, conduct training exercises during the 2026 Bushmaster challenge at5 camp Pendleton, CA IOT March 25, 2026. The Bushmaster challenge is a series of events that include a physical fitness test, mounted land navigation, rucking, training simulations, and live fire range, to evaluate LAV-26 crews from around the Marine Corps and allies and partners in their tactical and technical expertise. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Owen Long)
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. – Gunnery Sgt. Bobby G. Philips Jr., a Marine in the Reserve previously honored for his civilian heroism, was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in a ceremony on April 2, 2026. The event was held at the Beirut Memorial, in front of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor statue.
T-minus 3, 2, 1… We have liftoff! The ground rumbled as the engines roared to life. Smoke and flames erupted out of the bottom as it began to lift into the sky, ascending higher until it was finally out of sight. There are some kids who see a rocket take off and begin to dream of becoming astronauts; there are some kids who make that dream come true.
