Stories

Corporal Daniel Medley, a fireteam leader with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, attached to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, takes a break from assembling tents at Forward Operating Base Sher Wali, Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 6, 2010. The large tents, complete with electricity, lighting and air-conditioning, are the latest structures the engineers have built since arriving to Afghanistan back in January. - Corporal Daniel Medley, a fireteam leader with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, attached to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, takes a break from assembling tents at Forward Operating Base Sher Wali, Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 6, 2010. The large tents, complete with electricity, lighting and air-conditioning, are the latest structures the engineers have built since arriving to Afghanistan back in January.

Lance Cpl. Angel Morocrespo, 23, a grenadier from Bridgeport, Conn. provides security during a patrol at the Kilo 2 Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility. Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment spent a week at the facility as a part of their preparation for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. - Lance Cpl. Angel Morocrespo, 23, a grenadier from Bridgeport, Conn. provides security during a patrol at the Kilo 2 Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility. Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment spent a week at the facility as a part of their preparation for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

A role player acting as an Afghan National Police officer draws his weapon after hearing gunshots during a patrol at the Infantry Immersion Trainer (IIT) facility. Marines from 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment took part in training at the IIT and the Mobile Counter-IED Interactive Trainer (MCIT) to gain a better understanding of what IEDs look like, how they are made and what signs to look for once in a combat zone. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. John M. McCall) - A role player acting as an Afghan National Police officer draws his weapon after hearing gunshots during a patrol at the Infantry Immersion Trainer (IIT) facility. Marines from 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment took part in training at the IIT and the Mobile Counter-IED Interactive Trainer (MCIT) to gain a better understanding of what IEDs look like, how they are made and what signs to look for once in a combat zone. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. John M. McCall)

Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills, commanding general for I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD), and Sgt. Maj. Michael P. Barrett, sergeant major for I MEF (FWD), uncase the unit’s colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Monday. - Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills, commanding general for I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD), and Sgt. Maj. Michael P. Barrett, sergeant major for I MEF (FWD), uncase the unit’s colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Monday.

Maj. Chris Messineo (right), the logistics and supply officer for II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (Forward), talks with 1st Lt. Sean Knapp (left) and 1st Lt. Robert Caldwell, both platoon commanders with Company B, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Jan. 11, 2009. Knapp and Caldwell were two of Messineo’s students at the U.S. Naval Academy, and the three were reunited aboard Al Asad while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. - Maj. Chris Messineo (right), the logistics and supply officer for II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (Forward), talks with 1st Lt. Sean Knapp (left) and 1st Lt. Robert Caldwell, both platoon commanders with Company B, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Jan. 11, 2009. Knapp and Caldwell were two of Messineo’s students at the U.S. Naval Academy, and the three were reunited aboard Al Asad while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Marines from Company B, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, play a game of table tennis aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Dec. 16, 2009. Between route clearance missions, the CEB Marines find time to bond with one another through games and bonfires. - Marines from Company B, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, play a game of table tennis aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Dec. 16, 2009. Between route clearance missions, the CEB Marines find time to bond with one another through games and bonfires.

Petty Officer 1st Class Tracy Roach’s grandmother (second from left) sits on the porch during a family member’s engagement ceremony in the small city of Adukrom Akwapin, Ghana, Africa, March 23, 2003. Roach, a religious program specialist with United States Force - West, was born in Ghana, came to the U.S. just before she turned 17, and returned to visit her family in Ghana in 2003. - Petty Officer 1st Class Tracy Roach’s grandmother (second from left) sits on the porch during a family member’s engagement ceremony in the small city of Adukrom Akwapin, Ghana, Africa, March 23, 2003. Roach, a religious program specialist with United States Force - West, was born in Ghana, came to the U.S. just before she turned 17, and returned to visit her family in Ghana in 2003.

Lt. Gen. Dennis Hejlik, commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, speaks with Marines during a town hall meeting at the theater aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Jan. 6, 2010. During the meeting, Hejlik expressed his gratitude for the hard work of the Marines deployed with II MEF (Forward). - Lt. Gen. Dennis Hejlik, commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, speaks with Marines during a town hall meeting at the theater aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Jan. 6, 2010. During the meeting, Hejlik expressed his gratitude for the hard work of the Marines deployed with II MEF (Forward).

Iraqi soldiers with the 7th Iraqi Army Division hand out gifts and school supplies to Iraqi children near Baghdadi, Iraq, Dec. 31, 2009. Marines from 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, gave their excess supplies and care package items to the Iraqi soldiers for distribution to the community. - Iraqi soldiers with the 7th Iraqi Army Division hand out gifts and school supplies to Iraqi children near Baghdadi, Iraq, Dec. 31, 2009. Marines from 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, gave their excess supplies and care package items to the Iraqi soldiers for distribution to the community.