Brigadier Gen. James W. Lukeman, the commanding general of 2nd Marine Division, talks to members of the Second Marine Division Association about the Division during the celebration of its 73rd birthday aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Jan. 31, 2014. Past and present Marines of 2nd Marine Division joined to celebrate the Division’s 73rd birthday. The 2nd Marine Division was officially activated Feb. 1, 1941 at Camp Elliot, Calif., dropping its earlier designation as the 2nd Brigade. - Brigadier Gen. James W. Lukeman, the commanding general of 2nd Marine Division, talks to members of the Second Marine Division Association about the Division during the celebration of its 73rd birthday aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Jan. 31, 2014. Past and present Marines of 2nd Marine Division joined to celebrate the Division’s 73rd birthday. The 2nd Marine Division was officially activated Feb. 1, 1941 at Camp Elliot, Calif., dropping its earlier designation as the 2nd Brigade.

Corporal David S. Corderman, a guitarist with the 2nd Marine Division Band, sings during the 2nd Marine Division Holiday Concert presented by the 2nd Marine Division Band at the base theatre aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Dec. 15, 2013. The concert also streamed live to Marines and sailors supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. “I hope it means a lot to the deployed Marines, just so they know that we are still thinking about them because I know they may feel as if sometimes the rest of the world forgets about them,” said Lance Cpl. Matthew Ramirez, a pianist from Burleson, Texas. “So I hope it brought them some holiday cheer and made them feel a little bit closer to home.” - Corporal David S. Corderman, a guitarist with the 2nd Marine Division Band, sings during the 2nd Marine Division Holiday Concert presented by the 2nd Marine Division Band at the base theatre aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Dec. 15, 2013. The concert also streamed live to Marines and sailors supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. “I hope it means a lot to the deployed Marines, just so they know that we are still thinking about them because I know they may feel as if sometimes the rest of the world forgets about them,” said Lance Cpl. Matthew Ramirez, a pianist from Burleson, Texas. “So I hope it brought them some holiday cheer and made them feel a little bit closer to home.”

Lieutenant Col. Joel F. Schmidt receives the unit’s colors from Lt. Col. Steven M. Wolf, as Schmidt assumes control of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Dec. 10, 2013. Wolf is departing 2nd Bn., 2nd Marines and will attend the College of Naval Warfare in Newport, R.I., and Schmidt is coming from Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command. - Lieutenant Col. Joel F. Schmidt receives the unit’s colors from Lt. Col. Steven M. Wolf, as Schmidt assumes control of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Dec. 10, 2013. Wolf is departing 2nd Bn., 2nd Marines and will attend the College of Naval Warfare in Newport, R.I., and Schmidt is coming from Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.

Master Chief Petty Officer Shawn Isbell, the command master chief of the USS New York, leads Marines and sailors from the ship in the Veterans Day parade in New York City Nov. 8, 2013. The large parade went right through Manhattan, with thousands lining the sides of the streets yelling, chanting and cheering on the service members as they marched by. - Master Chief Petty Officer Shawn Isbell, the command master chief of the USS New York, leads Marines and sailors from the ship in the Veterans Day parade in New York City Nov. 8, 2013. The large parade went right through Manhattan, with thousands lining the sides of the streets yelling, chanting and cheering on the service members as they marched by.

Brigadier Gen. James W. Lukeman, the 2nd Marine Division commanding general, Sgt. Maj. Bryan K. Zickefoose, the 2nd Marine Division sergeant major, and Master Gunnery Sgt. Anthony Butler, the food technician for G-4 Food Services observe a cake during the 2013 Marine Corps birthday cake competition aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Nov. 6, 2013. Food service Marines were tasked with creating a cake for celebrating the Marine Corps’ 238th birthday. - Brigadier Gen. James W. Lukeman, the 2nd Marine Division commanding general, Sgt. Maj. Bryan K. Zickefoose, the 2nd Marine Division sergeant major, and Master Gunnery Sgt. Anthony Butler, the food technician for G-4 Food Services observe a cake during the 2013 Marine Corps birthday cake competition aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Nov. 6, 2013. Food service Marines were tasked with creating a cake for celebrating the Marine Corps’ 238th birthday.

A Marine with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, loads his gear onto a 7-ton truck aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 19, 2013. Third Bn., 6th Marines recently conducted an activation and personnel movement drill for II Marine Expeditionary Force and executed a movement to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point to test how quickly the unit can mobilize if a crisis occurs. - A Marine with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, loads his gear onto a 7-ton truck aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 19, 2013. Third Bn., 6th Marines recently conducted an activation and personnel movement drill for II Marine Expeditionary Force and executed a movement to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point to test how quickly the unit can mobilize if a crisis occurs.

– Sergeant Justin Vandertang (right), mortarman, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, loads a 60 millimeter, high-explosive round into the M224A1 mortar system his unit trained with during a range exercise. The Black River, N.Y., native with 2nd Marine Division said he loves the changes that have been made to the M224A1 over its predecessor, the M224 Legacy. He said his favorite change is the new weight of the system which, at 35 pounds, if a full nine pounds lighter than the M224 Legacy, an important feature considering Marines carry them on their backs during patrols lasting several hours. - – Sergeant Justin Vandertang (right), mortarman, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, loads a 60 millimeter, high-explosive round into the M224A1 mortar system his unit trained with during a range exercise. The Black River, N.Y., native with 2nd Marine Division said he loves the changes that have been made to the M224A1 over its predecessor, the M224 Legacy. He said his favorite change is the new weight of the system which, at 35 pounds, if a full nine pounds lighter than the M224 Legacy, an important feature considering Marines carry them on their backs during patrols lasting several hours.

Staff Sgt. Peryck Smith (right), tank commander and platoon sergeant for 3rd platoon, Company A, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, sits atop Blue 4, the fourth M1A1 Abrams tank in 3rd platoon, as it moves into position during the company’s recent Gunnery Qualifications. The Jacksonville, Fla., native and his crew won’t know their score until the conclusion of the entire event, but said they believe they did well. At one point, they even hit two separate tank targets perfectly in less than 10 seconds while barreling down the track road, an admirable feat for any tank crew. - Staff Sgt. Peryck Smith (right), tank commander and platoon sergeant for 3rd platoon, Company A, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, sits atop Blue 4, the fourth M1A1 Abrams tank in 3rd platoon, as it moves into position during the company’s recent Gunnery Qualifications. The Jacksonville, Fla., native and his crew won’t know their score until the conclusion of the entire event, but said they believe they did well. At one point, they even hit two separate tank targets perfectly in less than 10 seconds while barreling down the track road, an admirable feat for any tank crew.