OCTOBER 17, 2025 – Staff noncommissioned officers and officers with 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force and 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force hosted a Warrior’s Night to celebrate the end of Service Level Training Exercise 4-25 at The Combat Center Brass & Rockers restaurant, Aug. 26, 2025. In participating both regiments honored the legacy of Marines before them, specifically those Marines who fought in World War I.
The history between the 5th and 6th Regiments goes all the way back to the Battle of Belleau Wood. Marines from both regiments fought with a vigor that earned the Marines the name “Devil Dog”. The French government awarded both regiments the French Fourragère, a braided cord worn around the left shoulder, for the Marines’ actions in Belleau Wood and other battles throughout France. Since then, the regiments have very rarely trained together. This year they trained at the premier warfighting installation, The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center during SLTE.
“(The Warrior’s Night) is a celebration of the completion of the mission for those who were part of SLTE,” said Col. Neil R. Berry, commanding officer of 6th Marines, 2nd MARDIV, II MEF. “We also take the opportunity to recognize exemplary performance, provide awards, and recognize certain Marines and Sailors who performed well during the mission or exercise.”
The 5th Regiment was activated June 8, 1917, while the 6th Regiment was formed July 11, 1917, as part of America’s mobilization for World War I. In March 1918, the 5th Regiment moved into the trenches opposite the German lines where it soon engaged an enemy for the first time. The 6th Regiment joined the 5th Regiment shortly after that. From June until the Armistice, Nov. 11, 1918, both regiments were involved in heavy fighting with the Germans, participating in notable battles such as Blanc Mont and Belleau Wood.
During Belleau Wood, the regiments fought day and night without relief, without sleep, often without water, and for days without hot rations.
“The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle,” asserted Army Gen. John J. Pershing, the Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces after the conclusion of The Battle of Belleau Wood.
Every year, The Combat Center conducts SLTE, a 60-day long training event comprised of five different exercises designed to be a challenging, realistic training environment that produces combat-ready forces capable of operating as an integrated Marine Air Ground Task Force across all domains of military operations. Among these exercises is the culminating event, the Marine Air Ground Task Force Warfighting Exercise. This exercise is a full-scale, force-on-force, all-domain unscripted wargame between two regiment-sized forces.
MWX, the final exercise of SLTE, is designed to enhance the operational readiness and combat effectiveness of all MAGTF elements by simulating complex and dynamic battle scenarios while refining tactics. The challenges of MWX and SLTE create camaraderie through teamwork. This reinforces the strength of the total force mentally, preparing them for tomorrow’s war, even as they honor yesterday’s wars. This solidarity is reflected during ceremonies like the Warrior’s Night.
“We’re able to come and go from different units working together to make sure that the Marines and everybody are good to go,” said Chief Petty Officer Liliana Barrera, a field medical service technician with 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines. “The heat was challenging not just for me but for a lot of us. It brought extra challenges I think a lot of us didn’t consider – from the overheating radios to overheating casualties.”
During this Warrior’s Night, the Marines sat down and enjoyed the company of their fellow Marines from different coasts. They partook in refreshments while playing games like billiards and enjoyed a slice of cake cut by the commanding officers of the units present.
While the large simulation style training of MWX is being conducted, Marines see each other as notional adversaries. When they step off the sand of the training area they are viewed as a unified fighting force – the same type of force that defeated the Germans in World War I.
Story by Lance Cpl. Virginia Williams
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center