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A Marine with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division places a set of identification tags on the grip of the memorial stand of Lance Cpl. Franklin N. Watson, during the 1st Bn., 6th Marines, memorial service held in honor of eight of the battalion's fallen heroes in the base theater aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 24. - A Marine with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division places a set of identification tags on the grip of the memorial stand of Lance Cpl. Franklin N. Watson, during the 1st Bn., 6th Marines, memorial service held in honor of eight of the battalion's fallen heroes in the base theater aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 24.

Family members and friends of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, have been participating in the Miles to Afghanistan program since December 2011. Participants earn miles through physical activities and use this chart to convert their exercises into miles. The competition is between the battalion’s company’s family members and friends. The first company to reach 14,400 miles, the round trip distance from Camp Lejeune, N.C., to Afghanistan, wins a welcome home pizza party for the troops when then they come back. - Family members and friends of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, have been participating in the Miles to Afghanistan program since December 2011. Participants earn miles through physical activities and use this chart to convert their exercises into miles. The competition is between the battalion’s company’s family members and friends. The first company to reach 14,400 miles, the round trip distance from Camp Lejeune, N.C., to Afghanistan, wins a welcome home pizza party for the troops when then they come back.

Second Lieutenant Chad Grasmuck, 33, from Angels Camp, Calif., has been writing for most of his life, but while attending college through the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program he says it helped him find relief and satisfaction. Grasmuck, supply officer with Regimental Combat Team 6, found that writing poetry and stories greatly helped him deal with the stresses he has faced during his deployments. - Second Lieutenant Chad Grasmuck, 33, from Angels Camp, Calif., has been writing for most of his life, but while attending college through the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program he says it helped him find relief and satisfaction. Grasmuck, supply officer with Regimental Combat Team 6, found that writing poetry and stories greatly helped him deal with the stresses he has faced during his deployments.

Marines working out in the newly constructed gym aboard Camp Delaram II. Even when deployed physical training is a huge part of being a Marine, they pride themselves on endurance, strength and toughness. Whether carrying 70 pounds of gear on the march or completing a 10-mile conditioning run, Marines give everything they have into staying in shape. - Marines working out in the newly constructed gym aboard Camp Delaram II. Even when deployed physical training is a huge part of being a Marine, they pride themselves on endurance, strength and toughness. Whether carrying 70 pounds of gear on the march or completing a 10-mile conditioning run, Marines give everything they have into staying in shape.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines from 5th Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, recently graduated from an in-house Corporal's Course held on base. Graduates must consistently achieve a mastery level of 80 percent or higher on all graded events. - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines from 5th Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, recently graduated from an in-house Corporal's Course held on base. Graduates must consistently achieve a mastery level of 80 percent or higher on all graded events.

1st Tanks supported 2/4 during Operation Alekhine’s Gun, a heliborne and motorized raid into an area known for corruption and enemy occupation. Marines made use of their mobilized speed and night vision capability to disrupt and confuse enemy operations in the city of Shah Karez. - 1st Tanks supported 2/4 during Operation Alekhine’s Gun, a heliborne and motorized raid into an area known for corruption and enemy occupation. Marines made use of their mobilized speed and night vision capability to disrupt and confuse enemy operations in the city of Shah Karez.

Cpl. Casey Chang, 21, dog handler, Detroit, Mich., takes care of Tank. Tank is a military working dog that is trained to detect military and home made explosives. Chang completed a 6-week training course in order to understand the needs and training for his dog. - Cpl. Casey Chang, 21, dog handler, Detroit, Mich., takes care of Tank. Tank is a military working dog that is trained to detect military and home made explosives. Chang completed a 6-week training course in order to understand the needs and training for his dog.

– Sgt. Patrick Lynch, assistant operations chief, from Harrisburg, Penn., watches members of the Afghan National Army as they prepare to practice a dismounted patrol after receiving a class from him aboard Forward Operating Base Delaram I, Feb. 14. Marines with Embedded Training Team, Regimental Combat Team 6 have a mission of training and advising members of the ANA. - – Sgt. Patrick Lynch, assistant operations chief, from Harrisburg, Penn., watches members of the Afghan National Army as they prepare to practice a dismounted patrol after receiving a class from him aboard Forward Operating Base Delaram I, Feb. 14. Marines with Embedded Training Team, Regimental Combat Team 6 have a mission of training and advising members of the ANA.

Lt. Safiullah Ahmidi, 22, executive officer Now Zad company, from Kabul, Afghanistan, says, “We are very happy to have the Marines here. Before them, we didn’t have good training or coordination. Now we can do these things on our own. It helps us a lot to have good training, we see the Marines next to us everyday. It shows what they are willing to do for us. It’s very good.” The Afghan National Security Forces in Now Zad are partnered with four-man teams from 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines who eat, live, patrol and guide them constantly. - Lt. Safiullah Ahmidi, 22, executive officer Now Zad company, from Kabul, Afghanistan, says, “We are very happy to have the Marines here. Before them, we didn’t have good training or coordination. Now we can do these things on our own. It helps us a lot to have good training, we see the Marines next to us everyday. It shows what they are willing to do for us. It’s very good.” The Afghan National Security Forces in Now Zad are partnered with four-man teams from 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines who eat, live, patrol and guide them constantly.

Petty Officer 1st Class Kekoa J. Cortez, a gunner's mate aboard the USS Kearsarge, prepares a 25mm cannon for firing during a drill, Feb. 6. As a gunner's mate, Cortez's job is to defend the ship and ensure personnel are properly trained and equipped to defend the ship.(courtesy photo) - Petty Officer 1st Class Kekoa J. Cortez, a gunner's mate aboard the USS Kearsarge, prepares a 25mm cannon for firing during a drill, Feb. 6. As a gunner's mate, Cortez's job is to defend the ship and ensure personnel are properly trained and equipped to defend the ship.(courtesy photo)