An official website of the United States Government 
Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Photos

Snapshots of what’s happening in the Defense Department.

Marines prepare their gear before participating in a simulation of Operation Gothic Serpent, a 1993 operation in Somalia, at Westfield landing zone, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Dec. 10, 2016. The Marines are assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. U.S. special operations forces conducted the actual military operation in Africa, with the primary mission of capturing faction leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron S. Patterson

Preparing Gear

Marines prepare their gear before participating in a simulation of Operation Gothic Serpent, a 1993 operation in Somalia, at Westfield landing zone, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Dec. 10, 2016. The Marines are assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. U.S. special operations forces conducted the actual military operation in Africa, with the primary mission of capturing faction leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron S. Patterson

Photo Gallery