A Reconnaissance Sniper Course student sights in on his target during stalking training March 1. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
Seventeen military veterans traveled to eastern Montana’s vast swath of public lands Nov. 6 through 10 for an inaugural event hosted by Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA), a nonprofit committed to preserving North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting through education and advocacy on behalf of wild public lands and waters. After launching its Armed Forces Initiative in June, BHA developed its first-ever Veteran Dual Skill Acquisition Camp, where BHA mentors covered skills such as e-scouting, shot placement, field-dressing, meat considerations, carcass disposal, and education about public lands and related legislative issues. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine
100205-M-3819R-Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment honored four of their fallen brothers during a memorial ceremony at the battalion's parade deck on Camp Pendleton. Sgt. William J. Cahir and Lance Corporals Donald J. Hogan, David R. Baker, and Justin J. Swanson were all killed in action during combat operations in Afghanistan's Helmand Province last year. (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Staff Sgt. Ethan E. Rocke) Cpl. Trevor Simpson (tallest), Lance Cpl. Kyle Skeels
Senior Drill Instructor Staff Sgt. Amber Staroscik trained the first platoon of female Marine recruits ever trained on Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Platoon 3241, Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, completed recruit training in May. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
A recruit from Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, makes his way through an assault course during the Crucible, a 54-hour field training exercise, which is the culminating event of Marine recruit training. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
A recruit from Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, was treated for a bloody nose sustained while body-sparring training during the Crucible, a 54-hour field training exercise, which is the culminating event of Marine recruit training. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
A recruit from Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, prepares for pugil-stick training during the Crucible, a 54-hour field training exercise, which is the culminating event of Marine recruit training. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
Seventeen military veterans traveled to eastern Montana’s vast swath of public lands Nov. 6 through 10 for an inaugural event hosted by Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA), a nonprofit committed to preserving North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting through education and advocacy on behalf of wild public lands and waters. After launching its Armed Forces Initiative in June, BHA developed its first-ever Veteran Dual Skill Acquisition Camp, where BHA mentors covered skills such as e-scouting, shot placement, field-dressing, meat considerations, carcass disposal, and education about public lands and related legislative issues. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine
Staff Sgt. Carmen Medinaponce, a drill instructor with Platoon 3241, Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, during the Crucible, a 54-hour field training exercise, which is the culminating event of Marine recruit training. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
100205-M-3819R-Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment honored four of their fallen brothers during a memorial ceremony at the battalion's parade deck on Camp Pendleton. Sgt. William J. Cahir and Lance Corporals Donald J. Hogan, David R. Baker, and Justin J. Swanson were all killed in action during combat operations in Afghanistan's Helmand Province last year. (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Staff Sgt. Ethan E. Rocke) Lance Cpl. Josh Gainey
A student in the Reconnaissance Sniper Course sights in on an M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS) during known-distance marksmanship training on Camp Pendleton Feb. 10. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
Staff Sgt. Ayesha Zantt, a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego waits to receive busloads of recruits in front of the iconic yellow footprints outside the receiving barracks at the depot Feb. 9. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
A Reconnaissance Sniper Course student engages targets with the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS) during marksmanship training on Camp Pendleton Feb. 25. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
A Reconnaissance Sniper Course student gathers vegetation to improve his camouflage during stalking training March 1. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
100205-M-3819R-Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment honored four of their fallen brothers during a memorial ceremony at the battalion's parade deck on Camp Pendleton. Sgt. William J. Cahir and Lance Corporals Donald J. Hogan, David R. Baker, and Justin J. Swanson were all killed in action during combat operations in Afghanistan's Helmand Province last year. (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Staff Sgt. Ethan E. Rocke)
Seventeen military veterans traveled to eastern Montana’s vast swath of public lands Nov. 6 through 10 for an inaugural event hosted by Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA), a nonprofit committed to preserving North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting through education and advocacy on behalf of wild public lands and waters. After launching its Armed Forces Initiative in June, BHA developed its first-ever Veteran Dual Skill Acquisition Camp, where BHA mentors covered skills such as e-scouting, shot placement, field-dressing, meat considerations, carcass disposal, and education about public lands and related legislative issues. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine
Marine veteran Aaron Newsom, co-founder of the Santa Cruz Veterans Alliance, with his mature cannabis plants at SCVA's cultivation and distribution facility in Santa Cruz County. Photo courtesy of Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
A cannabis flower grown by the Santa Cruz Veterans Alliance. Photo courtesy of Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
Santa Cruz Veterans Alliance Chief Compliance Officer Seth Smith smokes a joint. After leaving the Navy, Smith, who served as a linguist, completed a master's from Princeton University. He joined SCVA in January 2017. Photo courtesy of Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
100205-M-3819R-Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment honored four of their fallen brothers during a memorial ceremony at the battalion's parade deck on Camp Pendleton. Sgt. William J. Cahir and Lance Corporals Donald J. Hogan, David R. Baker, and Justin J. Swanson were all killed in action during combat operations in Afghanistan's Helmand Province last year. (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Staff Sgt. Ethan E. Rocke)
Team 8, consisting of Basic Reconnaissance Course Instructor Staff Sgt. Andy Meltz (left) and RTC Executive Officer Capt. Benjamin Lowring, emerged well ahead of the pack after the 1,000-meter ocean swim, the first event of the 2021 Recon Challenge on Camp Pendleton April 30. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
A TACP specialist prepares to step off on a land navigation course at Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet, Texas, during the 2020 Lightning Challenge. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine
A student in the Reconnaissance Sniper Course adjusts his ATACR 5-25x56 SFP ENHANCED Riflescope on the .50 caliber M107 Special Application Sniper Rifle (SASR) during known-distance marksmanship training on Camp Pendleton Feb. 11. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
A Reconnaissance Sniper Course student during stalking training Feb. 26. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.
In Alaska, hockey-mom nurses are all strapped with .45s and would not hesitate to shoot Russian invaders with a nice “Welcome to Alaska” smile. Photo by Ethan E. Rocke/Coffee or Die Magazine.