Stories

Brigadier Gen. Daniel D. Yoo, left, commander, Regional Command (Southwest) and Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan, pins the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device onto Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Van Horn, a corpsman with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, during an award ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Sept. 17, 2014. Van Horn received the award for heroic achievement while being a first responder to Marine casualties after their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. - Brigadier Gen. Daniel D. Yoo, left, commander, Regional Command (Southwest) and Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan, pins the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device onto Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Van Horn, a corpsman with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, during an award ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Sept. 17, 2014. Van Horn received the award for heroic achievement while being a first responder to Marine casualties after their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.

Mr. Naeem Baloch, governor of Helmand province, cuts the ribbon during a ceremony officially opening New Camp Garm Ser, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sep. 1, 2014. New Camp Garm Ser was officially opened for the ANA as a southern post to sustain their forces in the operating area without having to come back to their central location on Camp Shorabak on a regular basis. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Darien J. Bjorndal, Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan/ Released) - Mr. Naeem Baloch, governor of Helmand province, cuts the ribbon during a ceremony officially opening New Camp Garm Ser, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sep. 1, 2014. New Camp Garm Ser was officially opened for the ANA as a southern post to sustain their forces in the operating area without having to come back to their central location on Camp Shorabak on a regular basis. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Darien J. Bjorndal, Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan/ Released)

Lance Cpl. Christian Chevez, MV-22 crew chief with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, and a native of Dallas, Texas, speaks to distinguished visitors from El Salvador about his ties with the country during a key leader engagement (KLE) aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Sept. 8, 2014. The KLE consisted of a tour, a formal lunch and a leadership conference discussing the importance of partnership and cooperation between the U.S Naval forces and the Nation of El Salvador. Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South are embarked aboard America in support of her maiden transit, “America Visits the Americas.” The transit demonstrates the unparalleled capabilities that the Navy-Marine Corps team brings to our Nation and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Joshua Pena / Released) - Lance Cpl. Christian Chevez, MV-22 crew chief with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, and a native of Dallas, Texas, speaks to distinguished visitors from El Salvador about his ties with the country during a key leader engagement (KLE) aboard the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Sept. 8, 2014. The KLE consisted of a tour, a formal lunch and a leadership conference discussing the importance of partnership and cooperation between the U.S Naval forces and the Nation of El Salvador. Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force South are embarked aboard America in support of her maiden transit, “America Visits the Americas.” The transit demonstrates the unparalleled capabilities that the Navy-Marine Corps team brings to our Nation and partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Joshua Pena / Released)

Marines, sailors and coalition partners with Regional Command (Southwest) salute while the American flag is raised at the RC(SW) headquarters during a 9/11 memorial ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Sept. 11, 2014. “For Americans, 9/11 evokes a very special meaning. It’s a memory of the world as we knew it on that day changing forever. Today’s simple but solemn ceremony is a tribute to those innocent young men, women and children who were killed by a cowardly and heartless act of terror,” said Brig. Gen. Daniel D. Yoo, commander, RC(SW) and Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan. - Marines, sailors and coalition partners with Regional Command (Southwest) salute while the American flag is raised at the RC(SW) headquarters during a 9/11 memorial ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Sept. 11, 2014. “For Americans, 9/11 evokes a very special meaning. It’s a memory of the world as we knew it on that day changing forever. Today’s simple but solemn ceremony is a tribute to those innocent young men, women and children who were killed by a cowardly and heartless act of terror,” said Brig. Gen. Daniel D. Yoo, commander, RC(SW) and Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan.

General James F. Amos, left, the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Sgt. Maj. Micheal Barrett, the 17th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, speak to Marines and sailors of Marine Aircraft Group - Afghanistan aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, 2014. Gen. Amos and Sgt. Maj. Barrett visited Marines and sailors serving with Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan in Helmand province for the final time, thanking them for their service and sacrifice. - General James F. Amos, left, the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Sgt. Maj. Micheal Barrett, the 17th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, speak to Marines and sailors of Marine Aircraft Group - Afghanistan aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, 2014. Gen. Amos and Sgt. Maj. Barrett visited Marines and sailors serving with Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan in Helmand province for the final time, thanking them for their service and sacrifice.

Peruvian distinguished guests are hosted for an evening reception in the hangar bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Sept. 1, 2014. The reception was hosted by the Marines, Sailors aboard the ship and U.S. Ambassador to Peru Brian A. Nichols. The formal evening consisted of food, music and dancing, concluding with the presentation of the colors and speeches from Rear Adm. Frank L. Ponds, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, and Ambassador Nichols. Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marines Air Ground Task Force South are currently embarked aboard America in support of her maiden transit, "America Visits the Americas." The transit is a clear example of our nation's commitment to our regional partners and allies. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Donald Holbert/ Released) - Peruvian distinguished guests are hosted for an evening reception in the hangar bay of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Sept. 1, 2014. The reception was hosted by the Marines, Sailors aboard the ship and U.S. Ambassador to Peru Brian A. Nichols. The formal evening consisted of food, music and dancing, concluding with the presentation of the colors and speeches from Rear Adm. Frank L. Ponds, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, and Ambassador Nichols. Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marines Air Ground Task Force South are currently embarked aboard America in support of her maiden transit, "America Visits the Americas." The transit is a clear example of our nation's commitment to our regional partners and allies. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Donald Holbert/ Released)

Brigadier Gen. Joaquin F. Malavet, the commanding general of 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, inspects Marines passing in review during the 1st MEB change of command ceremony aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 29, 2014. Malavet was previously assigned as the principal director, South and Southeast Asia for the Office of the Secretary of Defense-Policy at Washington, D.C. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carson Gramley) - Brigadier Gen. Joaquin F. Malavet, the commanding general of 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, inspects Marines passing in review during the 1st MEB change of command ceremony aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 29, 2014. Malavet was previously assigned as the principal director, South and Southeast Asia for the Office of the Secretary of Defense-Policy at Washington, D.C. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carson Gramley)

A CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 lands on the flight deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Aug. 24, 2014. Four helicopters with the squadron arrived aboard America ending the exercise Partnership of the Americas 2014. POA was based on a simulated humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenario in Chile. Multiple nations came together to plan and execute a multi-lateral exercise in response to the HA/DR scenario. Exercises like POA allow the U.S. and our partners in the region to respond to and address transnational and global challenges. America is currently transiting through the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility on her maiden transit “America Visits the Americas.” (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Donald Holbert/ Released) - A CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 lands on the flight deck of the future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), Aug. 24, 2014. Four helicopters with the squadron arrived aboard America ending the exercise Partnership of the Americas 2014. POA was based on a simulated humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenario in Chile. Multiple nations came together to plan and execute a multi-lateral exercise in response to the HA/DR scenario. Exercises like POA allow the U.S. and our partners in the region to respond to and address transnational and global challenges. America is currently transiting through the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility on her maiden transit “America Visits the Americas.” (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Donald Holbert/ Released)