Marine Corps fireteam clearing insurgent position

Notice the general movement of the team; moving from the AAV on the street, breaching the garden wall, moving through the courtyard, breaching the front door, killing a waiting insurgent, then moving past him, onto the stairs, and to the second floor and roof.  Another armed insurgent waits just beyond the squad’s reach, taking cover behind the doorjamb leading to the stairs. This insurgent, like the rest, will retreat to the second floor to engage the Marines as they move up the stairs. The stairs depicted here represent one of the most difficult and deadly parts of the clearing process as insurgents could shoot and throw explosives downwards from cover. An enemy weapons cache is accessible through a mouse hole on the bottom right. The Battle of Jolan Park is noted by the smoke, water tank, and ferris wheel above the AAV

Notice the architecture and the dense concrete, narrow spaces, and rubble at every turn. Notice the very rich residents and very poor residents living in very close proximity. The two room hovel being cleared and the mansion across the street illustrates the social complexity of Fallujah that influenced this battle.

Notice the array of weapons and how the M-16 with ACOG sight and M203 grenade launcher at the center of the group of Marines. You can see here the full assortment of weapons of a typical team from the K-Bar to the Barretta shotgun 

Most importantly, notice the close proximity of the Marines to one another. Each in physical contact with the other, this is represented by hands resting on other’s shoulders, two feet barely touching, an elbow touching an arm, etc. This is a cohesive team, comfortable and confident in each other’s security, yet relying on each other to give them what they need in the assault, whether it’s encouragement, compassion, or motivation. This is the essence of America’s Marines and the young people it sends to defend freedom around the world.