Photos

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ja’sean E. Walker, a rifleman with Guard Company at Marine Barracks Washington, fires his M-18 pistol during a training session on March 26, 2025, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. Marines with Guard Co. are preparing for the upcoming 2025 Parade Season by conducting a pistol qualification in their Dress Blue Alphas, the uniform for Friday Evening Parades at 8th & I. As the elite unit entrusted with the critical mission of safeguarding both civilians and fellow Marines at ceremonial events, Guard Co. Marines conducted realistic training to prepare for unexpected security challenges during parades. The decision to conduct this training while wearing the prestigious Dress Blue Alphas underscores the unit's commitment to maintaining readiness in even the most formal attire. 8th & I drill routines evolved alongside modern warfighting strategies, incorporating tactical movements and ensuring that precision on the parade deck directly supports operational responsiveness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brynn L. Bouchard)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Brynn Bouchard

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kevona Kelly, trainee in the Marine Corps Enlisted Aide Program, garnishes a salad for a luncheon hosted by the Marine Corps Enlisted Aide Program on March 28, 2025 at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. Marine Corps Enlisted Aide trainees are currently attending the Bullock Estate Training Service (B.E.S.T.) course, and must successfully host a luncheon in order to graduate the course. Each luncheon features a different guest list, ranging from staff noncommissioned officers to commissioned officers and civilians. These luncheons are a key part of their training curriculum, allowing Marines to plan, execute, and present formal meals for official military events. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle

U.S. Marines with Alpha Company, Marine Barracks Washington, celebrate their victory in the championship game of the basketball championship hosted at 8th & I, Washington, D.C., on March 28, 2025. MBW hosted the tournament to reinforce essential military values such as teamwork, discipline, and leadership. The event also aimed to strengthen bonds amongst Marines, fostering unity and cohesion. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brynn L. Bouchard)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Brynn Bouchard

Marines with the U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard present the colors during a Sunset Parade at Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington, Virginia, July 9, 2024. The hosting official for the evening was Mr. Mark A. Romano, Counsel for the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the guest of honor was the Honorable Ted Budd, United States Senator for North Carolina. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Chloe N. McAfee)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Chloe McAfee

The official U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard, Marine Barracks Washington, prepare to march on the colors during a ceremony at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, March 7, 2025. The Battle Color Detachment’s West Coast Tour demonstrates our enduring values of honor, courage, and commitment as we commemorate our Corps’ 250th birthday. The BCD is comprised of The Commandant’s Own, the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, the Silent Drill Platoon, and the official Marine Corps Color Guard out of Marine Barracks Washington. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Sarah M. Grawcock)

Photo by Cpl. Sarah Grawcock

U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. David Cox, assistant drum major, “The Commandant’s Own” U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, conducts his musicians while the Official United States Marine Corps Color Guard marches into position during the Bull of the Desert Strongman Competition in Yuma, Arizona, Feb. 15, 2025. The Commandant’s Own visits Yuma annually for its ideal weather to begin training for their upcoming performances. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christian Radosti)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christian Radosti

The 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric M. Smith and the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Carlos A. Ruiz, stand beside the 41st Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Steven Sexton, left, 42nd Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Daniel Vazquez-Colon, right, for a photo after the Color Sergeant relief and appointment ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., April 4, 2025. The Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps serves as the senior sergeant of the Corps, entrusted with carrying the national ensign in ceremonies throughout the National Capital Region and across the nation. The Color Sergeant leads the official United States Marine Corps Color Guard at MBW and is responsible for training and preparing Marines for future service in the operating forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brynn L. Bouchard)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Brynn Bouchard

The arcades of Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., photographed March 25, 2025. Located around the parade deck providing coverage to portions of the quadrangle, the arcades are a distinctive architectural feature of the barracks. Built in the early 19th century, the arcades serve as covered walkways with columns and arches, adding to the stateliness of the barracks. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle

The ceremonial guns facing the parade deck at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., photographed March 25, 2025. Located on the south side of the parade deck, the ceremonial guns used in Friday Evening Parades are 40mm canons to render honors to distinguished guests. These blank-firing saluting guns are maintained by Marine Barracks Washington armory Marines, ensuring they continue to play an essential role in formal military pageantry. Their thunderous reports, synchronized with the precision drill movements on the parade deck, reinforce the historic and ceremonial prestige of 8th & I. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle

The Center Walk of the parade deck at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., photographed March 25, 2025. Center Walk is the ceremonial pathway leading through the middle of the parade deck during Friday Evening Parades and official functions. Flanked by historic buildings and gardens of the "Oldest Post of the Corps", it provides an impressive setting for dignitaries, guests of honor, and Marine Corps leadership. The Official Party processes along Center Walk, making the pathway a focal point of formal events, symbolizing of the legacy and tradition upheld at 8th & I. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle

A ceremonial gun on the parade deck at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., photographed March 25, 2025. Located on the south side of the parade deck, the ceremonial guns used in Evening and Sunset Parades are 40mm canons to render honors to distinguished guests. These blank-firing saluting guns are maintained by Marine Barracks Washington armory Marines, ensuring they continue to play an essential role in formal military pageantry. Their thunderous reports, synchronized with the precision drill movements on the parade deck, reinforce the historic and ceremonial prestige of 8th & I. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle

The parade deck at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., photographed March 25, 2025. The parade deck is the centerpiece of Marine Barracks Washington, hosting Evening Parades since 1957. The 280-foot-long deck serves as the stage for precision drill performances, promotions, and ceremonies that reflect Marine Corps discipline and professionalism. It features The Silent Drill Platoon, "The Commandant’s Own" Drum & Bugle Corps, and "The President’s Own" Marine Band, with historic buildings framing the site. The deck remains a symbol of excellence, preserving the Corps’ traditions of military precision and ceremony. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle

The steps leading to the Home of the Commandants at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., photographed March 25, 2025. Located at on the north side of the MBW quadrangle, the Home of the Commandants is the oldest continuously occupied public building in Washington, D.C., serving as the residence of every Marine Corps Commandant since 1806. Built in the Federal architectural style, the home has undergone renovation while maintaining its historic character. During the War of 1812, the British burned much of Washington but spared the Barracks and the Home of the Commandants. Some believe it was left untouched out of respect for the Marines’ defense at the Battle of Bladensburg, while others suggest British leaders planned to use it as a headquarters. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976, the home remains a symbol of Marine Corps leadership and tradition. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle

The Home of the Commandants at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., photographed March 25, 2025. Located at on the north side of the MBW quadrangle, the Home of the Commandants is the oldest continuously occupied public building in Washington, D.C., serving as the residence of every Marine Corps Commandant since 1806. Built in the Federal architectural style, the home has undergone renovation while maintaining its historic character. During the War of 1812, the British burned much of Washington but spared the Barracks and the Home of the Commandants. Some believe it was left untouched out of respect for the Marines’ defense at the Battle of Bladensburg, while others suggest British leaders planned to use it as a headquarters. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976, the home remains a symbol of Marine Corps leadership and tradition. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle

A memorial plaque honoring U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Chesty IX, retired, the Marine Barracks Washington mascot from 1989to 1992, is photographed March 25, 2025, at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. Located behind the flagpole and ceremonial bell on the Marine Barracks Washington quadrangle, memorial plaques honor three of the beloved Marine Barracks Washington mascots: Sgt. Chesty XIV, retired; Sgt Chesty VII, retired; Cpl. Chesty IX, retired. The beloved English bulldog mascot represents Marine toughness and esprit de corps, attending parades, ceremonies, and official functions. Following the death of Chesty VI, a Marine unit in Tennessee offered Lance Cpl. Bodacious Little as a replacement. Upon arrival at MBW, he was ceremoniously renamed Chesty VII, continuing the tradition of Marine mascots. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle

A memorial plaque honoring U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Chesty VII, retired, the Marine Barracks Washington mascot from 1979 to 1992, is photographed March 25, 2025, at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. Located behind the flagpole and ceremonial bell on the Marine Barracks Washington quadrangle, a memorial plaque honors the beloved Marine Barracks Washington mascots: Sgt. Chesty XIV, retired; Sgt Chesty VII, retired; Cpl. Chesty IX, retired. The beloved English bulldog mascot represents Marine toughness and esprit de corps, attending parades, ceremonies, and official functions. Following the death of Chesty VI, a Marine unit in Tennessee offered Lance Cpl. Bodacious Little as a replacement. Upon arrival at MBW, he was ceremoniously renamed Chesty VII, continuing the tradition of Marine mascots. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle

The ceremonial bell with names inscribed under its rim at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., photographed March 25, 2025. The ceremonial bell at Marine Barracks Washington holds deep significance in military and naval traditions, marking the start of parades, the arrival of distinguished guests, and memorial ceremonies for fallen Marines. Carefully maintained, its resonant tone symbolizes both solemnity and celebration. Bells have long been an important part of naval tradition, historically used on ships to signal time, events, and important transitions. The bell at MBW continues this practice, connecting the present to the long-standing customs of the Navy and Marine Corps. The bell originated from the USS Nicholas, a U.S. Navy destroyer commissioned in 1942 that served as an escort for the USS Missouri during Japan's surrender in WWII. Named after Major Samuel Nicholas, the first commissioned Marine officer and regarded as the first Commandant of the Marine Corps, the original bell cracked after a Marine, challenging its durability, struck it. As a result, the bell was replaced with a new one from the USS Nicholas, which now hangs on the flagpole. The original cracked bell remains inside Center House, and the names of babies christened at the bell are inscribed under its rim, further linking it to Marine Corps traditions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle

The ceremonial bell with the Home of the Commandants in the background at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., photographed March 25, 2025. The ceremonial bell at Marine Barracks Washington holds deep significance in military and naval traditions, marking the start of parades, the arrival of distinguished guests, and memorial ceremonies for fallen Marines. Carefully maintained, its resonant tone symbolizes both solemnity and celebration. Bells have long been an important part of naval tradition, historically used on ships to signal time, events, and important transitions. The bell at MBW continues this practice, connecting the present to the long-standing customs of the Navy and Marine Corps. The bell originated from the USS Nicholas, a U.S. Navy destroyer commissioned in 1942 that served as an escort for the USS Missouri during Japan's surrender in WWII. Named after Major Samuel Nicholas, the first commissioned Marine officer and regarded as the first Commandant of the Marine Corps, the original bell cracked after a Marine, challenging its durability, struck it. As a result, the bell was replaced with a new one from the USS Nicholas, which now hangs on the flagpole. The original cracked bell remains inside Center House, and the names of babies christened at the bell are inscribed under its rim, further linking it to Marine Corps traditions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle

The Center Walk cannons at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., photographed March 25, 2025. The ceremonial cannons at the "Oldest Post of the Corps" are prominent symbols of the Marine Corps’ rich history, each with its own story of military engagement. One of the cannons was captured during the Boxer Rebellion, where Marines played a pivotal role in the international effort to restore order in China. The cannon was seized by Marines under the command of Major L.W.T. Waller on 3 July 1900, during the conflict's pivotal moments. Another cannon, a larger field piece, was captured at Peking on 15 August 1900, during the same operation. These cannons, along with others from the rebellion, were later displayed at Marine Barracks Washington as reminders of the Marines' contributions to global peacekeeping efforts. Another cannon was captured during the Spanish-American War, marking the Marines' involvement in the United States' military action in Cuba. These cannons stand as solemn tributes to the sacrifices made by Marines in these historic rebellions and continue to serve as a reminder of the Corps' longstanding commitment to duty and honor. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle

The Center Walk cannons at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., photographed March 25, 2025. The ceremonial cannons at the "Oldest Post of the Corps" are prominent symbols of the Marine Corps’ rich history, each with its own story of military engagement. One of the cannons was captured during the Boxer Rebellion, where Marines played a pivotal role in the international effort to restore order in China. The cannon was seized by Marines under the command of Major L.W.T. Waller on 3 July 1900, during the conflict's pivotal moments. Another cannon, a larger field piece, was captured at Peking on 15 August 1900, during the same operation. These cannons, along with others from the rebellion, were later displayed at Marine Barracks Washington as reminders of the Marines' contributions to global peacekeeping efforts. Another cannon was captured during the Spanish-American War, marking the Marines' involvement in the United States' military action in Cuba. These cannons stand as solemn tributes to the sacrifices made by Marines in these historic rebellions and continue to serve as a reminder of the Corps' longstanding commitment to duty and honor. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle