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Detroit native Staff Sgt. Raymond German Jr., the legal chief for the office of the Staff Judge Advocate for 2nd Marine Division (Forward), rows five kilometers as part of a 1,000-mile goal. German decided to complete 1,000 miles by running, rowing and cross training during his year-long deployment. - Detroit native Staff Sgt. Raymond German Jr., the legal chief for the office of the Staff Judge Advocate for 2nd Marine Division (Forward), rows five kilometers as part of a 1,000-mile goal. German decided to complete 1,000 miles by running, rowing and cross training during his year-long deployment.

Lance Cpl. Adam Ridgeway, a Chicago native and an infantryman with Echo Company, provides security for his fellow Marines as the sun begins to set. Ridgeway and other Marines belonging to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, participated in Operation Double Check, in which they helped their Afghan counterparts clear the western side of the southern Musa Qal’eh riverbed to establish the presence of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan there. - Lance Cpl. Adam Ridgeway, a Chicago native and an infantryman with Echo Company, provides security for his fellow Marines as the sun begins to set. Ridgeway and other Marines belonging to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, participated in Operation Double Check, in which they helped their Afghan counterparts clear the western side of the southern Musa Qal’eh riverbed to establish the presence of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan there.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kimberley Ryan, team leader, Female Engagement Team, Marine Headquarters Group, holds hands with the local children just before a local shura near Forward Operating Base Jackson. Shura is the word for consultation or class. The children’s shuras are held once a week and are geared toward educating the children. - Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kimberley Ryan, team leader, Female Engagement Team, Marine Headquarters Group, holds hands with the local children just before a local shura near Forward Operating Base Jackson. Shura is the word for consultation or class. The children’s shuras are held once a week and are geared toward educating the children.

Atlanta Marine Sgt. Mamadee Toure, the maintenance management chief for Headquarters Battalion (Forward), is on his third combat tour. He grew up in Liberia during its civil war in the 1990s, where he saw U.S. Marines as a child, and always wanted to be a Marine after seeing them help people there. Toure moved to the United States in 2001, pursued a college degree, secured a good-paying job, and dropped everything to follow his dream of being a U.S. Marine. - Atlanta Marine Sgt. Mamadee Toure, the maintenance management chief for Headquarters Battalion (Forward), is on his third combat tour. He grew up in Liberia during its civil war in the 1990s, where he saw U.S. Marines as a child, and always wanted to be a Marine after seeing them help people there. Toure moved to the United States in 2001, pursued a college degree, secured a good-paying job, and dropped everything to follow his dream of being a U.S. Marine.

Cpl. Courtney J. Meyers, practices his Greco-Roman wrestling skills at the 185-pound category aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 13, 2012. Meyers is on the Marine Corps wrestling team and is currently ranked 8th in the U.S. for 185-pound Greco-Roman wrestling. Meyers has wrestled since the age of 13-years old and is working to make the Olympic team. - Cpl. Courtney J. Meyers, practices his Greco-Roman wrestling skills at the 185-pound category aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 13, 2012. Meyers is on the Marine Corps wrestling team and is currently ranked 8th in the U.S. for 185-pound Greco-Roman wrestling. Meyers has wrestled since the age of 13-years old and is working to make the Olympic team.

A Marine with I Co., 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, talks with children from a small village near Sangin, Afghanistan, during a routine security Patrol. The Marines of I Co. maintain a good relationship with the local villagers by conducting security patrols along with members of the Afghan National Army. - A Marine with I Co., 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, talks with children from a small village near Sangin, Afghanistan, during a routine security Patrol. The Marines of I Co. maintain a good relationship with the local villagers by conducting security patrols along with members of the Afghan National Army.

A Marine with Company C, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, adjust his diving mask during the team dive training held aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 10. The team dive training was conducted in preparation of the upcoming amphibious training exercise “BOLD ALLIGATOR 2012. (U.S. Marine Corps photograph by Lance Cpl. Joshua J. Hines) - A Marine with Company C, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, adjust his diving mask during the team dive training held aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 10. The team dive training was conducted in preparation of the upcoming amphibious training exercise “BOLD ALLIGATOR 2012. (U.S. Marine Corps photograph by Lance Cpl. Joshua J. Hines)

Sgt. Jacob Smith, a scout squad leader with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and founder of Comics 4 Heroes, poses holding white covered Marvel Comic books in front of the LAR Battalion sign aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 19. Depending on how well the auction goes, Smith says he would like to make Comics 4 Heroes a yearly event. - Sgt. Jacob Smith, a scout squad leader with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and founder of Comics 4 Heroes, poses holding white covered Marvel Comic books in front of the LAR Battalion sign aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 19. Depending on how well the auction goes, Smith says he would like to make Comics 4 Heroes a yearly event.

Cpl. Alfonzo Ruiz, a field wireman with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, wraps his hands before practicing his boxing skills at a gym aboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 8. 2012. Ruiz is currently training five to six days a week to prepare for a tryout for the Marine Corps boxing team. - Cpl. Alfonzo Ruiz, a field wireman with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, wraps his hands before practicing his boxing skills at a gym aboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 8. 2012. Ruiz is currently training five to six days a week to prepare for a tryout for the Marine Corps boxing team.