U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jose Martinez, a field artillery cannoneer with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, pulls security during a convoy halt during Exercise Alligator Dagger 2017 in the Arta region of Djibouti, Africa, on September 6th 2017. Alligator Dagger is a two-week exercise that prepares incoming Naval Amphibious Forces and Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Amphibious Readiness Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit teams to integrate and synchronize warfighting capabilities for missions in the U.S. Central Command's area of operations. Through cooperation with U.S. Africa Command, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, and the Djiboutian government, these Sailors and Marines made use of ranges near Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, as well as used the camp's facilities and resources, to exercise amphibious assault capabilities and coordinate their efforts for successful joint operations.