Exercise Distant Fury Stallion 23

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Richard Padilla, left, a training noncommissioned officer, and Sgt. Chase Boyd, a radio operator, both with 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, secure an Ultra Light Tactical Vehicle to the deck of an Air Force HC-130J Combat King II aircraft assigned to the 39th Rescue Squadron, 920th Rescue Wing, during a mission rehearsal exercise as part of Exercise Steel Knight 23.2 and in conjunction with Exercise Distant Fury Stallion 23 at Laguna Army Airfield, Yuma, Arizona, Dec. 4, 2023. Steel Knight maintains and sharpens I Marine Expeditionary Force as America’s expeditionary force in readiness – organized, trained and equipped to respond to any crisis, anytime, anywhere. This exercise provides unique opportunities to conduct joint training to improve interoperability and test the integration of technologies and systems critical for responding to global contingencies and crises. Padilla is a native of Roswell, New Mexico. Boyd is a native of Richfield, Utah. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kedrick Schumacher)