News

Lance Cpl. Christian Ponte (left), a team leader with Company B, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, sights in with Pfc. Victor Levy (right), a basic rifleman, as they prepare for any enemy attacks on their position. Marines from 1/9 set up positions along a gridded area through which simulated enemy troops and vehicles would be trying to escape as part of their training Oct.1-4. - Lance Cpl. Christian Ponte (left), a team leader with Company B, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, sights in with Pfc. Victor Levy (right), a basic rifleman, as they prepare for any enemy attacks on their position. Marines from 1/9 set up positions along a gridded area through which simulated enemy troops and vehicles would be trying to escape as part of their training Oct.1-4.

Lance Cpl. Tyler Stoneman, a fireteam leader with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, maneuvers toward a trench during a training exercise as part of the Forge Academy Sept. 18 on base. The Forge Academy is an approximately four-week long course designed to improve the proficiency of 1/6’s fireteam leaders. Throughout the course, the students were educated on troop welfare, the psychological and physiological effects of combat, infantry tactics and the responsibilities of being a fireteam leader. - Lance Cpl. Tyler Stoneman, a fireteam leader with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, maneuvers toward a trench during a training exercise as part of the Forge Academy Sept. 18 on base. The Forge Academy is an approximately four-week long course designed to improve the proficiency of 1/6’s fireteam leaders. Throughout the course, the students were educated on troop welfare, the psychological and physiological effects of combat, infantry tactics and the responsibilities of being a fireteam leader.

Lieutenant Col. Kevin Clark of Smithville, Mo., and the commanding officer for 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, presents the 2/8 Olympics trophy to a representative for Headquarters and Support Company. The unit gave their weathered camouflage utilities a week-long break to carry out a battalion size Olympics promoting unit cohesion and competitive spirits. - Lieutenant Col. Kevin Clark of Smithville, Mo., and the commanding officer for 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, presents the 2/8 Olympics trophy to a representative for Headquarters and Support Company. The unit gave their weathered camouflage utilities a week-long break to carry out a battalion size Olympics promoting unit cohesion and competitive spirits.

Marines from Headquarters Company, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, secure a landing zone Sept. 12 during a regimental field exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Steve Cushman) - Marines from Headquarters Company, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, secure a landing zone Sept. 12 during a regimental field exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Steve Cushman)

1st Lt. Robert Palumbo, is awarded a Purple Heart Medal August 31 by Brig. Gen. James W. Lukeman, the commanding general of 2nd Marine Division. Palumbo, a Killingworth, Conn., native, earned the award for his actions in combat on January 10, 2012 while leading his section in support of Operation Enduring Freedom while serving as a team leader for Border Advisory Team 2, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, 2nd Marine Division (Forward). (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Phillip R. Clark) - 1st Lt. Robert Palumbo, is awarded a Purple Heart Medal August 31 by Brig. Gen. James W. Lukeman, the commanding general of 2nd Marine Division. Palumbo, a Killingworth, Conn., native, earned the award for his actions in combat on January 10, 2012 while leading his section in support of Operation Enduring Freedom while serving as a team leader for Border Advisory Team 2, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, 2nd Marine Division (Forward). (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Phillip R. Clark)

Sergeant Major Raymond Mackey (middle) stands amongst the Marine volunteers with the Semper Fi Fund, who helped renovate his house, Aug. 30. Mackey, who lost both legs to an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, 2009, had difficulty moving about his house on prosthetic legs. The Semper Fi Fund and the Home Depot Foundation renovated his house to help alleviate some of the new obstacles he now encounters in a daily life. - Sergeant Major Raymond Mackey (middle) stands amongst the Marine volunteers with the Semper Fi Fund, who helped renovate his house, Aug. 30. Mackey, who lost both legs to an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, 2009, had difficulty moving about his house on prosthetic legs. The Semper Fi Fund and the Home Depot Foundation renovated his house to help alleviate some of the new obstacles he now encounters in a daily life.

1st Sgt. Jose Guerreiro-Pereira, the company first sergeant of the Ground Combat Element for Security Cooperation Task Force, Africa Partnership Station 2012 has spent over 16 years rising through the ranks of the United States Marine Corps, gaining a greater understanding of courage and the traits which define a leader. - 1st Sgt. Jose Guerreiro-Pereira, the company first sergeant of the Ground Combat Element for Security Cooperation Task Force, Africa Partnership Station 2012 has spent over 16 years rising through the ranks of the United States Marine Corps, gaining a greater understanding of courage and the traits which define a leader.

Philadelphia native, Cpl. Jason M. Hassinger (center right), receives the Silver Star Medal from Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, the outgoing commanding general of 2nd Marine Division during the 2nd Marine Division change of command ceremony Aug. 23 aboard Camp Lejeune. Hassinger received the Silver Star for his actions during an ambushed patrol in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, in which he led his section through intense fire to rescue a group of fellow Marines pinned down by the enemy. Hassinger was shot four times during the incident but continued to fight until the enemy retreated. The Silver Star is the third-highest award a U.S. service member can receive for valor in combat. - Philadelphia native, Cpl. Jason M. Hassinger (center right), receives the Silver Star Medal from Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, the outgoing commanding general of 2nd Marine Division during the 2nd Marine Division change of command ceremony Aug. 23 aboard Camp Lejeune. Hassinger received the Silver Star for his actions during an ambushed patrol in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, in which he led his section through intense fire to rescue a group of fellow Marines pinned down by the enemy. Hassinger was shot four times during the incident but continued to fight until the enemy retreated. The Silver Star is the third-highest award a U.S. service member can receive for valor in combat.

Staff Sgt. Matthew E.Faircloth, the section leader with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with a combat distinguishing device Aug. 23 during the 2nd Marine Division change of command ceremony. Faircloth, a Hedgesville, W. Va., native, earned the award for his actions in combat on February 16, 2011. - Staff Sgt. Matthew E.Faircloth, the section leader with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with a combat distinguishing device Aug. 23 during the 2nd Marine Division change of command ceremony. Faircloth, a Hedgesville, W. Va., native, earned the award for his actions in combat on February 16, 2011.