U.S. Marine Sgt. Ioan Cardos, left, shows Col. Vance

U.S. Marine Sgt. Ioan Cardos, left, shows Col. Vance L. Cryer how they operate the M777A2 Lightweight Howtizer during MEU Exercise 14 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 20, 2014. Carlos is a gun chief with India Battery, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Cryer is the commanding officer for the 15th MEU. The purpose of MEUEX is to train the different elements of the 15th MEU to work together to complete a wide variety of missions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Elize McKelvey/Released)