Stories

Corporal Frank McDermott, poses for a photo, July 7, 2012, by some of the gym equipment he built during his downtime in Afghanistan. Mcdermott, of Deleran, N.J., used his hobby of building things to help his hobby of working out. - Corporal Frank McDermott, poses for a photo, July 7, 2012, by some of the gym equipment he built during his downtime in Afghanistan. Mcdermott, of Deleran, N.J., used his hobby of building things to help his hobby of working out.

Marines with Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, pay their respects to a fallen comrade during a memorial ceremony, July 8, 2012. During the ceremony, Marines paid tribute to Pfc. Steven P. Stevens II, Lance Cpl. Niall W. Coti-Sears, Lance Cpl. Hunter D. Hogan and Lance Cpl. Eugene C. Mills III. Stevens and Mills were killed in action June 22 while participating in Operation Jaws in the Sangin Valley District, Afghanistan. Hogan and Coti-Sears were killed in action the following day during the same operation. Stevens was a combat engineer with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion supporting Weapons Company. Coti-Sears was a rifleman with Weapons Co. Hogan and Mills were riflemen with Bravo Co. attached to Weapons Co. - Marines with Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, pay their respects to a fallen comrade during a memorial ceremony, July 8, 2012. During the ceremony, Marines paid tribute to Pfc. Steven P. Stevens II, Lance Cpl. Niall W. Coti-Sears, Lance Cpl. Hunter D. Hogan and Lance Cpl. Eugene C. Mills III. Stevens and Mills were killed in action June 22 while participating in Operation Jaws in the Sangin Valley District, Afghanistan. Hogan and Coti-Sears were killed in action the following day during the same operation. Stevens was a combat engineer with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion supporting Weapons Company. Coti-Sears was a rifleman with Weapons Co. Hogan and Mills were riflemen with Bravo Co. attached to Weapons Co.

Javelin Thrust 2012/Large Scale Exercise-1 is underway at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif. More than 5,000 Marines from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, part of I Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Forces Reserve are participating in the exercise. The large-scale exercise is the first in a three-part continuum, culminating with a Navy and Marine Corps led amphibious exercise Dawn Blitz in 2013. Javelin Thrust is the largest annual Marine Corps Reserve and active duty training exercise, comprised of reserve Marines from 38 states, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 9th Communication Battalion, and the newly activated 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force. The 33 Canadian Brigade Group from Ottawa, Canada is participating as a coalition force, with a higher headquarters based at Camp Pendleton. - Javelin Thrust 2012/Large Scale Exercise-1 is underway at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif. More than 5,000 Marines from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, part of I Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Forces Reserve are participating in the exercise. The large-scale exercise is the first in a three-part continuum, culminating with a Navy and Marine Corps led amphibious exercise Dawn Blitz in 2013. Javelin Thrust is the largest annual Marine Corps Reserve and active duty training exercise, comprised of reserve Marines from 38 states, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 9th Communication Battalion, and the newly activated 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force. The 33 Canadian Brigade Group from Ottawa, Canada is participating as a coalition force, with a higher headquarters based at Camp Pendleton.

Pfc. Tim M. Byers, a motor transport mechanic with 9th Communication Battalion, operates levers on a vehicle during Large Scale Exercise 1, Javelin Thrust 2012, July 6, 2012. Javelin Thrust is an annual large-scale exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., which allows active and reserve Marines and sailors from 38 different states to train together as a seamless Marine Air Ground Task Force. - Pfc. Tim M. Byers, a motor transport mechanic with 9th Communication Battalion, operates levers on a vehicle during Large Scale Exercise 1, Javelin Thrust 2012, July 6, 2012. Javelin Thrust is an annual large-scale exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., which allows active and reserve Marines and sailors from 38 different states to train together as a seamless Marine Air Ground Task Force.

Military working dog handlers with 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force hold their dogs during Large Scale Exercise-1, Javelin Thrust 2012, July 8. Javelin Thrust is an annual large-scale exercise with 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., which allows active and reserve Marines and sailors from 38 different states to train together as a seamless Marine Air Ground Task Force. - Military working dog handlers with 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force hold their dogs during Large Scale Exercise-1, Javelin Thrust 2012, July 8. Javelin Thrust is an annual large-scale exercise with 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., which allows active and reserve Marines and sailors from 38 different states to train together as a seamless Marine Air Ground Task Force.

Cpl. Steven Kessler, disbursing agent, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), passes money thorough window in his office, June 30, 2012. Kessler, a native of Cottage Grove, Minn., is the only disbursing agent in the area around Forward Operating Base Sabit Qadam, Afghanistan. - Cpl. Steven Kessler, disbursing agent, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), passes money thorough window in his office, June 30, 2012. Kessler, a native of Cottage Grove, Minn., is the only disbursing agent in the area around Forward Operating Base Sabit Qadam, Afghanistan.

News default image. - News default image.

U.S. Marine Col. Roger B. Turner Jr. and Sgt. Maj. Alberto Ruiz, the commanding officer and sergeant major of Regimental Combat Team 5, case the regimental colors during a transfer of authority ceremony here, July 5, 2012. Since their activation in 1917, 5th and 6th Marine Regiments have courageously fought for America, most notably in World War I when they fought side-by-side in the bloody Battle of Belleau Wood. In December 2011, Regimental Combat Team 6 arrived in northern Helmand province to support Operation Enduring Freedom, joining RCT-5 on the same battlefield for the first time in 94 years. This historic partnership is now coming to a close. Turner and Ruiz, the commanding officer and sergeant major of RCT-5, cased the colors of “Fighting Fifth” and transferred authority of their area of operations to Col. John R. Shafer and Sgt. Maj. Jamie Deets, the commanding officer and sergeant major of RCT-6 here, July 5. - U.S. Marine Col. Roger B. Turner Jr. and Sgt. Maj. Alberto Ruiz, the commanding officer and sergeant major of Regimental Combat Team 5, case the regimental colors during a transfer of authority ceremony here, July 5, 2012. Since their activation in 1917, 5th and 6th Marine Regiments have courageously fought for America, most notably in World War I when they fought side-by-side in the bloody Battle of Belleau Wood. In December 2011, Regimental Combat Team 6 arrived in northern Helmand province to support Operation Enduring Freedom, joining RCT-5 on the same battlefield for the first time in 94 years. This historic partnership is now coming to a close. Turner and Ruiz, the commanding officer and sergeant major of RCT-5, cased the colors of “Fighting Fifth” and transferred authority of their area of operations to Col. John R. Shafer and Sgt. Maj. Jamie Deets, the commanding officer and sergeant major of RCT-6 here, July 5.

Sergeant Bryan Ross, (right) squad leader, Bravo Company, Light Armored Reconnaissance Platoon, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, helps his Marines fill sandbags during Operation Stronghold, June 29. Ross, a Fairfield, Calif., native has his sights set on becoming a career Marine and hopes to one day become a master gunnery sergeant. - Sergeant Bryan Ross, (right) squad leader, Bravo Company, Light Armored Reconnaissance Platoon, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, helps his Marines fill sandbags during Operation Stronghold, June 29. Ross, a Fairfield, Calif., native has his sights set on becoming a career Marine and hopes to one day become a master gunnery sergeant.

Corporal Christopher K. Wood, heavy equipment mechanic, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, is the sole heavy equipment mechanic on Patrol Base Gherdai. Wood, a 30-year-old Jackson, Mich., native maintains every heavy equipment vehicle at the patrol base so the combat engineers can continue their mission. - Corporal Christopher K. Wood, heavy equipment mechanic, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, is the sole heavy equipment mechanic on Patrol Base Gherdai. Wood, a 30-year-old Jackson, Mich., native maintains every heavy equipment vehicle at the patrol base so the combat engineers can continue their mission.