U.S. Marines and sailors assigned to Task Force Southwest are greeted by friends and family after returning from a nine-month deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan Jan. 21, 2018 on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. The Task Force of roughly 300 personnel from II Marine Expeditionary Force deployed in Spring of 2017 in support of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission. Led by Brig. Gen Roger B. Turner, the Task Force trained and advised key leaders within the Afghan National Army 215th Corps and the 505th Zone National Police. The redeployment of the Marines and sailors is the largest since 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines concluded the Marine Corps’ combat role in Afghanistan in late 2014. They transferred authority to a new rotation of Marines, led by Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, at Camp Shorab, January 15, 2018. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew Callahan) - U.S. Marines and sailors assigned to Task Force Southwest are greeted by friends and family after returning from a nine-month deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan Jan. 21, 2018 on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. The Task Force of roughly 300 personnel from II Marine Expeditionary Force deployed in Spring of 2017 in support of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission. Led by Brig. Gen Roger B. Turner, the Task Force trained and advised key leaders within the Afghan National Army 215th Corps and the 505th Zone National Police. The redeployment of the Marines and sailors is the largest since 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines concluded the Marine Corps’ combat role in Afghanistan in late 2014. They transferred authority to a new rotation of Marines, led by Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, at Camp Shorab, January 15, 2018. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew Callahan)
Marines with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division secure M1A1 Abrams battle tanks and M88 recovery vehicles to train cars for transport to Fort Stewart, Ga., for a training exercise Jan. 22, 2017 on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. The battalion is transporting 24 M1A1 Abrams battle tanks and over 70 support vehicles for the exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew Callahan) - Marines with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division secure M1A1 Abrams battle tanks and M88 recovery vehicles to train cars for transport to Fort Stewart, Ga., for a training exercise Jan. 22, 2017 on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. The battalion is transporting 24 M1A1 Abrams battle tanks and over 70 support vehicles for the exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew Callahan)
Leading from the front: 3/6 Marines train to become small unit leaders - A Marine with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division ejects a spent round from an M203 40mm grenade launcher during a Tactical Small Unit Leaders Course at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 16, 2017. The 10-day course provides small unit leaders with the confidence, knowledge and ability to effectively lead Marines in combat situations. The course aimed to make the Marines team leaders and increase proficiency with various weapon systems and tactics so they can mentor their Marines and become a more effective team. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Henson)
A Marine with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion focuses downrange through the optic of an M249 light machine gun in a supported firing position during a live-fire range at Fort Stewart, Ga., Dec. 12, 2017. The Marines practiced different shooting drills and used fire and maneuver, as well as supportive fire positions to sharpen their marksmanship and ability to work cohesively with their squads. The range was part of a pre-deployment training exercise designed to prepare the Recon Marines for future operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Taylor W. Cooper) - A Marine with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion focuses downrange through the optic of an M249 light machine gun in a supported firing position during a live-fire range at Fort Stewart, Ga., Dec. 12, 2017. The Marines practiced different shooting drills and used fire and maneuver, as well as supportive fire positions to sharpen their marksmanship and ability to work cohesively with their squads. The range was part of a pre-deployment training exercise designed to prepare the Recon Marines for future operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Taylor W. Cooper)
Charging forward: 1/2 assaults the objective, completes live-fire range - Lance Cpl. Kevin Perez, an automatic rifleman with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment provides suppressive fire during a live-fire range at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 13, 2017. During the training, a fire team of Marines exited the tree line and began providing suppressive fire on their objective while the rest of the squad dispersed to take on the target. The Marines then traversed through an open field where they bounded to secure their objective. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Henson)
Maj. Gen. John Love speaks with Marines during his visit with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment during the unit’s deployment for training exercise at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., Dec. 4, 2017. The visit allowed Love to observe the battalion’s readiness for an upcoming deployment to Japan. Love is the commanding general of 2nd Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ashley McLaughlin) - Maj. Gen. John Love speaks with Marines during his visit with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment during the unit’s deployment for training exercise at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., Dec. 4, 2017. The visit allowed Love to observe the battalion’s readiness for an upcoming deployment to Japan. Love is the commanding general of 2nd Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ashley McLaughlin)
A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment throws an M69 training grenade at a grenade range during a deployment for training exercise at Fort A.P. Hill, V.A., Dec. 1, 2017. The range consisted of the Marines reacting to enemy contact, buddy rushing, using M69 training grenades and M67 fragmentation grenades. The Marines are conducting the DFT to maintain proficiency at the squad, platoon, company, and battalion-level of warfighting in preparation for an upcoming deployment to Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ashley McLaughlin) - A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment throws an M69 training grenade at a grenade range during a deployment for training exercise at Fort A.P. Hill, V.A., Dec. 1, 2017. The range consisted of the Marines reacting to enemy contact, buddy rushing, using M69 training grenades and M67 fragmentation grenades. The Marines are conducting the DFT to maintain proficiency at the squad, platoon, company, and battalion-level of warfighting in preparation for an upcoming deployment to Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ashley McLaughlin)
A Marine carries a 104lb artillery round for an M777 A2 howitzer during a direct-fire exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 4, 2017. The M777 provides timely, accurate and continuous indirect fire support, while having the capability to engage targets directly in the event of enemy contact. The Marines are with 1st Battalion 10th Marine Regiment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Luke Hoogendam) - A Marine carries a 104lb artillery round for an M777 A2 howitzer during a direct-fire exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 4, 2017. The M777 provides timely, accurate and continuous indirect fire support, while having the capability to engage targets directly in the event of enemy contact. The Marines are with 1st Battalion 10th Marine Regiment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Luke Hoogendam)