Stories

Lt. Gen. John A. Toolan Jr., the commanding officer of I Marine Expeditionary Force, views a medical display at Field Medical Training Battalion West, following a graduation ceremony for Navy corpsmen at Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 22. - Lt. Gen. John A. Toolan Jr., the commanding officer of I Marine Expeditionary Force, views a medical display at Field Medical Training Battalion West, following a graduation ceremony for Navy corpsmen at Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 22.

Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, the deputy commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, salutes the Honorable Robert O. Work, Under Secretary of the Navy, during Spiese’s retirement ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 1. Spiese, from Chicago, has been awarded three Legion of Merit awards, the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and the Joint Service Achievement Medal during his 36 years of honorable service. - Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, the deputy commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, salutes the Honorable Robert O. Work, Under Secretary of the Navy, during Spiese’s retirement ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 1. Spiese, from Chicago, has been awarded three Legion of Merit awards, the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and the Joint Service Achievement Medal during his 36 years of honorable service.

Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, outgoing commanding general of 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, addresses Marines during a change-of-command ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Dec. 13. During the ceremony, Spiese passed the unit’s colors to Brig. Gen. John J. Broadmeadow, incoming commander of 1st MEB, symbolizing the transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability of command from one officer to another. The 1st MEB, which was reactivated October 2009, is a task-organized crisis response force of I Marine Expeditionary Force trained to respond expeditiously to conduct self-sustained combat and humanitarian operations. - Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, outgoing commanding general of 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, addresses Marines during a change-of-command ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Dec. 13. During the ceremony, Spiese passed the unit’s colors to Brig. Gen. John J. Broadmeadow, incoming commander of 1st MEB, symbolizing the transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability of command from one officer to another. The 1st MEB, which was reactivated October 2009, is a task-organized crisis response force of I Marine Expeditionary Force trained to respond expeditiously to conduct self-sustained combat and humanitarian operations.

Major Gen. Sayed Malook, 215th Corps commanding general and Maj. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) and Regional Command Southwest commanding general, share a laugh during the I MEF (Fwd) farewell dinner at the Afghan Cultural Center here, Feb. 24. Major Gen. Gurganus, in his farewell speech to distinguished coalition and Afghan officials which included the Nimroz province Governor Muhammad Sawar Sabet, said, "There will certainly be challenges in the future, but it will take courage on behalf of all Afghans. During my last year, I've seen no shortage of courage." Major Gen. Gurganus will be replaced by Maj. Gen. W. Lee Miller, the II MEF (Fwd) commanding general, during the Regional Command Southwest Transfer of Authority, Feb. 27. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Bryan A. Peterson) - Major Gen. Sayed Malook, 215th Corps commanding general and Maj. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) and Regional Command Southwest commanding general, share a laugh during the I MEF (Fwd) farewell dinner at the Afghan Cultural Center here, Feb. 24. Major Gen. Gurganus, in his farewell speech to distinguished coalition and Afghan officials which included the Nimroz province Governor Muhammad Sawar Sabet, said, "There will certainly be challenges in the future, but it will take courage on behalf of all Afghans. During my last year, I've seen no shortage of courage." Major Gen. Gurganus will be replaced by Maj. Gen. W. Lee Miller, the II MEF (Fwd) commanding general, during the Regional Command Southwest Transfer of Authority, Feb. 27. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Bryan A. Peterson)

Soldiers as part of the Afghanistan National Army's 8th Corps, 199th Recruit Battalion, made up of approximately 600 personnel, take their placement exams at the Regional Military Training Center. In a manner similar to how the U.S. military tests an applicant's aptitude to place their skill sets with a military occupational specialty; the Afghan Army administers a similar test to assess a soldier's ability to function in certain jobs. Pictured above, one of the RMTC battalion commanders monitors soldiers taking the test to prevent cheating. - Soldiers as part of the Afghanistan National Army's 8th Corps, 199th Recruit Battalion, made up of approximately 600 personnel, take their placement exams at the Regional Military Training Center. In a manner similar to how the U.S. military tests an applicant's aptitude to place their skill sets with a military occupational specialty; the Afghan Army administers a similar test to assess a soldier's ability to function in certain jobs. Pictured above, one of the RMTC battalion commanders monitors soldiers taking the test to prevent cheating.

Maj. Tom Chhabra, from Silver Lake, Kan., and a development officer with I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), walks to his car with his wife, Janelle, after his homecoming at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 6. The Chhabra’s were married shortly before Tom deployed to Afghanistan and haven’t seen each other for one year. The homecoming marks the first wave for I MEF (FWD) to return from Afghanistan. The entire unit is scheduled to return by mid-March. - Maj. Tom Chhabra, from Silver Lake, Kan., and a development officer with I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), walks to his car with his wife, Janelle, after his homecoming at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 6. The Chhabra’s were married shortly before Tom deployed to Afghanistan and haven’t seen each other for one year. The homecoming marks the first wave for I MEF (FWD) to return from Afghanistan. The entire unit is scheduled to return by mid-March.

Marines and sailors with 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Expeditionary Strike Group-3 joined forces during Exercise Dawn Blitz 13.1, aboard the USS Boxer, Jan. 28-31, 2013. Dawn Blitz is a 1st MEB and ESG-3 combined, two-part exercise to conduct brigade-sized amphibious operations and develop a stronger working relationship between the Navy and Marine Corps. The second portion of Dawn Blitz, 13.2, will take place in June. - Marines and sailors with 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Expeditionary Strike Group-3 joined forces during Exercise Dawn Blitz 13.1, aboard the USS Boxer, Jan. 28-31, 2013. Dawn Blitz is a 1st MEB and ESG-3 combined, two-part exercise to conduct brigade-sized amphibious operations and develop a stronger working relationship between the Navy and Marine Corps. The second portion of Dawn Blitz, 13.2, will take place in June.

Colonel James Stopa, right, commanding officer, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (Forward), and Sgt. Maj. Joseph Shaw, sergeant major, II MHG (Fwd), uncase the unit's Battle Colors during a transfer of authority ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Jan 24, 2013. The unit takes over for I MHG (Fwd) in Helmand province, Afghanistan. - Colonel James Stopa, right, commanding officer, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (Forward), and Sgt. Maj. Joseph Shaw, sergeant major, II MHG (Fwd), uncase the unit's Battle Colors during a transfer of authority ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Jan 24, 2013. The unit takes over for I MHG (Fwd) in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Lance Cpl. Lawrence Begnoche, a motor transport operator with 1st Intelligence Battalion prepares to embark on a convoy to support Exercise Dawn Blitz 13.1, at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 23. The Marines with 1st Intel Bn., and 9th Communication Battalion, will establish communications and an intelligence operations center for the nine-day exercise to validate their readiness and ability to support 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade in the event of a contingency. Begnoche, 25, is from West Palm Beach, Fla. - Lance Cpl. Lawrence Begnoche, a motor transport operator with 1st Intelligence Battalion prepares to embark on a convoy to support Exercise Dawn Blitz 13.1, at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 23. The Marines with 1st Intel Bn., and 9th Communication Battalion, will establish communications and an intelligence operations center for the nine-day exercise to validate their readiness and ability to support 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade in the event of a contingency. Begnoche, 25, is from West Palm Beach, Fla.

Brian W. Cavolt, CEO of JBC Corp., shows Marines and sailors with I Marine Expeditionary Force and 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, new tactical combat casualty care equipment at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 15. The new gear is available to the service members for an upcoming humanitarian mission to Vietnam. - Brian W. Cavolt, CEO of JBC Corp., shows Marines and sailors with I Marine Expeditionary Force and 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, new tactical combat casualty care equipment at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 15. The new gear is available to the service members for an upcoming humanitarian mission to Vietnam.