Welcome 5th PSC!

waiting...

It just isn't a celebration without Tapatio...

HQ Party Crew gathers once again...
still waiting...

"Instant Nirvana"

"It was a long anticipated wait well into the warm September evening that kept us motivated. 'There's the plane!' someone exclaimed and a roar of approval echoed throughout the dimly lit camp. The banded crew had waited their turn and this moment to arrive - very patiently and stretched over 186 days and nights. When the lights of the first bus turned the corner and shone upon the waiting faces, it could be said that the smiles upon the many joined there in that moment were far brighter and far more meaningful then had been previously witnessed. The voices all yelled as one and the realization that a changing of the guard was at hand began to finally sink in - and finally we were the ones who turn had come - we were the ones about to go home" - The Lion on the gathering crowd and frenzy that ensued when 5th PSC finally arrived...

Doc Coleman's Birthday in Djibouti

The "birthday boy" at his birthday feast

"Best beer - best friends - best moments - for these truly are the best of times..."

"Oh man! I didn't see that coming!"

Shared circumstances make friends for a lifetime...

Supposedly it's better than beer....

"I love you, man"

The HQ Party Crew of 4th PSC after another successful night patrol in Djibouti

"The day which we fear as our last is but the birthday of eternity." - Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Squad Leaders Course- Field Day II

on patrol in a rocky ravine...

a good rest...

morning call and "turn-to"...

class in session...

obstacle avoidance and tactical squad movement...

resting in the shade...

our "home" for three days...

dusk at the extraction LZ...

waiting for the night and the "birds" to arrive...

4th PSC Squad Leaders Course, Djibouti - Horn of Africa

Squad Leaders Course - Field Day I

To the airfield...

pre-flight briefing...

painting-up...

moving out...

getting ready...

in the air...

maneuvering into a tactical 360 degree perimeter at the Primary LZ...

call for fire class...

a peaceful sunset to end a busy "first day" of class...

4th PSC Squad Leaders Course, Djibouti - Horn of Africa

"Leadership is intangible, and therefore no weapon ever designed can replace it." - General Omar N. Bradley

Pit Fun

Simulated battle tactics at the 4th PSC Squad Leaders Course - The Warriors Pit, Camp Lemonier, Djibouti - Horn of Africa

"The scenarios came from real battles fought in wars long past - the terrain models assisted in overseeing the scope of the fighting, but the real battles were fought with live combatants in which nary an ego was spared the bitter taste of defeat." - The Lion

Allo Pizza

Allo Pizza - Djibouti City, Djibouti - Horn of Africa

"Never in my life had I ever endulged in a pizza with capers upon it....t'was good, though!" - The Lion remarking on a pizza he endulged upon containing capers.

Juice

Mid-afternoon at the downtown juice bar, Djibouti City, Djibouti - Horn of Africa

6th Section .50 Caliber Machine Gun Fam-Fire Range

2nd Platoon, 6th Section headed by Gunnery Sergeant Lopez - he and his crew at TC-12 Range for .50 caliber machine gun familiarization fire.

"Granted it was a day belonging to Murphy and his lousy "laws" of mishap and ill-fortune. Never the less, the Marines pressed-on, adapted, overcame and defeated the demons which previously delayed the range day from becoming a rousing success. Such is the measure of the tenacity and drive of the modern day Marine Corps - present them with an obstacle and they'll surely beat it!" - The Lion remarking on the flexibility of the Marines during range day mishaps.