Stories

Brig. Gen. Robert S. Walsh, commanding general, 2nd Marine Air Wing (Forward), addresses service members in attendance at a transfer of authority ceremony held aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Nov. 2, 2009. Walsh relinquished responsibilities to Col. James S. O'Meara, commanding officer, Marine Aircraft Group 26 (Reinforced), to mark the end of wing-level operations in Iraq. - Brig. Gen. Robert S. Walsh, commanding general, 2nd Marine Air Wing (Forward), addresses service members in attendance at a transfer of authority ceremony held aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Nov. 2, 2009. Walsh relinquished responsibilities to Col. James S. O'Meara, commanding officer, Marine Aircraft Group 26 (Reinforced), to mark the end of wing-level operations in Iraq.

Brigadier General Joseph L. Osterman, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade Commanding General, salutes the colors while the national anthem plays during the 1st MEB Reactivation Ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., on Oct. 2. The 1st MEB officially stood-up today in preparation for its scheduled 12-month deployment in the spring of 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. During the upcoming deployment, the Marines and sailors of the 1st MEB will be conducting counterinsurgency operations and training Afghan national security forces. - Brigadier General Joseph L. Osterman, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade Commanding General, salutes the colors while the national anthem plays during the 1st MEB Reactivation Ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., on Oct. 2. The 1st MEB officially stood-up today in preparation for its scheduled 12-month deployment in the spring of 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. During the upcoming deployment, the Marines and sailors of the 1st MEB will be conducting counterinsurgency operations and training Afghan national security forces.

MARINE CORPS BASE, CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., (June 6, 2009) -- Marines, friends and family of I Marine Expeditionary Force, enjoy grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and sausages as part of I Marine Expeditionary Force, MEF Headquarters Group Family Festival at Camp Del Mar, June 6. ::r::::n::::r::::n::Nearly 450 Marines, friends and family of the I MEF command showed up to enjoy the sun and fun, which featured pony rides, bounce houses and a magic show. - MARINE CORPS BASE, CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., (June 6, 2009) -- Marines, friends and family of I Marine Expeditionary Force, enjoy grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and sausages as part of I Marine Expeditionary Force, MEF Headquarters Group Family Festival at Camp Del Mar, June 6. ::r::::n::::r::::n::Nearly 450 Marines, friends and family of the I MEF command showed up to enjoy the sun and fun, which featured pony rides, bounce houses and a magic show.

MARINE CORPS BASE, CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., (June 5, 2009) -- The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James T. Conway, addresses the Marines and sailors of Camp Pendleton at the mainside football field, June 5.::r::::n::General Conway addressed concerns about continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, highlighting the operational shift in the Central Command area of operations. While advisory groups will continue training the fledgling Iraqi Marine Corps, most Marine Corps efforts will be aimed at Afghanistan in the near future, Conway said.::r::::n::Conway's senior enlisted advisor, Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, called on Marine noncommissioned officers to listen and take action regarding their junior Marines, citing an unacceptable number of suicides in recent years. - MARINE CORPS BASE, CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., (June 5, 2009) -- The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James T. Conway, addresses the Marines and sailors of Camp Pendleton at the mainside football field, June 5.::r::::n::General Conway addressed concerns about continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, highlighting the operational shift in the Central Command area of operations. While advisory groups will continue training the fledgling Iraqi Marine Corps, most Marine Corps efforts will be aimed at Afghanistan in the near future, Conway said.::r::::n::Conway's senior enlisted advisor, Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, called on Marine noncommissioned officers to listen and take action regarding their junior Marines, citing an unacceptable number of suicides in recent years.

Cmdr. Robert Gherman, battalion surgeon for 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines (top right) and his corpsman, Petty Officer 2nd Class Tad Conklin, explain to the parents of a young Iraqi boy how to properly use medical supplies donated by the University of Cincinnati. Their 5-year-old son, Abdulrahman, is diagnosed with congenital epidermolysis bullosa, a rare skin condition that produces painful sores and blisters and affects one in 5 million people. The family was inside the Camp Mejid clinic Feb. 16, 2009, where corpsmen and doctors from MNF-W and the Iraqi army delivered medical supplies and instructions on how to provide long-term care to help ease the boy's suffering. - Cmdr. Robert Gherman, battalion surgeon for 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines (top right) and his corpsman, Petty Officer 2nd Class Tad Conklin, explain to the parents of a young Iraqi boy how to properly use medical supplies donated by the University of Cincinnati. Their 5-year-old son, Abdulrahman, is diagnosed with congenital epidermolysis bullosa, a rare skin condition that produces painful sores and blisters and affects one in 5 million people. The family was inside the Camp Mejid clinic Feb. 16, 2009, where corpsmen and doctors from MNF-W and the Iraqi army delivered medical supplies and instructions on how to provide long-term care to help ease the boy's suffering.

Lt. Cmdr. James L. Johnson, chaplain for 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion kneels before a lighted cross before an evening prayer service here. 'The honor, privilege and challenge of serving with the Marines are things that truly make for an amazing occupation, and I am here to assist them and be a counsel for them wherever they may go,' said Johnson. - Lt. Cmdr. James L. Johnson, chaplain for 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion kneels before a lighted cross before an evening prayer service here. 'The honor, privilege and challenge of serving with the Marines are things that truly make for an amazing occupation, and I am here to assist them and be a counsel for them wherever they may go,' said Johnson.

Lt. Col. Andrew J. Drake, plans officer, Jump command point, Multi National Force - West, speaks to an Iraqi man and his family in the countryside outside Al-Ba'aj, during a visit to promote good relationships and security for the Marines and Iraqis. - Lt. Col. Andrew J. Drake, plans officer, Jump command point, Multi National Force - West, speaks to an Iraqi man and his family in the countryside outside Al-Ba'aj, during a visit to promote good relationships and security for the Marines and Iraqis.

After patrolling through a wadi and searching its caves for evidence of smuggling, scouts from Company C, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion move back toward their vehicles to conduct further Reconnaissance in the area west of Mosul. Task Force Ninewa, the ground-combat element for Operation Defeat Al Qaeda in the North II, is built around 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (Task Force Highlander). It is comprised of Marines from 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Battalion 2nd Marine Regiment, as well as augments from ANGLICO, Explosive Ordinance Disposal, and other combat assets of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, and now controls the open areas of northern Iraq near Mosul. - After patrolling through a wadi and searching its caves for evidence of smuggling, scouts from Company C, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion move back toward their vehicles to conduct further Reconnaissance in the area west of Mosul. Task Force Ninewa, the ground-combat element for Operation Defeat Al Qaeda in the North II, is built around 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (Task Force Highlander). It is comprised of Marines from 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Battalion 2nd Marine Regiment, as well as augments from ANGLICO, Explosive Ordinance Disposal, and other combat assets of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, and now controls the open areas of northern Iraq near Mosul.