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CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq - First Lieutenant Dana Sanford, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment's motor transport section assistant officer-in-charge, knocks down Petty Officer 3rd Class Iridious Ruise, the battalion's preventive medicine technician, while demonstrating a technique during a martial arts training session here July 29. The 24-year-old Sterling, Mass. native is a green belt instructor in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, and is currently teaching several Marines and sailors in his unit self-defense. - CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq - First Lieutenant Dana Sanford, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment's motor transport section assistant officer-in-charge, knocks down Petty Officer 3rd Class Iridious Ruise, the battalion's preventive medicine technician, while demonstrating a technique during a martial arts training session here July 29. The 24-year-old Sterling, Mass. native is a green belt instructor in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, and is currently teaching several Marines and sailors in his unit self-defense.

AR RAMADI, Iraq (July 31, 2005) - Corporal Grant R. Birtcher, a rifleman with the Combine Action Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and a member of the Iraqi Security Forces run across an open area to a safer position during a mission in the city here July 31. Birtcher, a 20-year-old half Navajo American Indian from Window Rock, Ariz., leads newly trained members of the ISF on missions in the city to hone their military skills. The 2002 Window Rock High School graduate conducts daily missions in the city with his ISF counterparts. Birtcher and between 12 and 24 ISF accompany Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. Photo by: Cpl. Tom Sloan - AR RAMADI, Iraq (July 31, 2005) - Corporal Grant R. Birtcher, a rifleman with the Combine Action Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and a member of the Iraqi Security Forces run across an open area to a safer position during a mission in the city here July 31. Birtcher, a 20-year-old half Navajo American Indian from Window Rock, Ariz., leads newly trained members of the ISF on missions in the city to hone their military skills. The 2002 Window Rock High School graduate conducts daily missions in the city with his ISF counterparts. Birtcher and between 12 and 24 ISF accompany Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. Photo by: Cpl. Tom Sloan

CAMP HURRICANE POINT Ar Ramadi, Iraq (Aug. 2, 2005) - Petty Officer 3rd Class Francis P. Manaloto, a hospitalman with 3rd Platoon, Company W, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, recently earned his Fleet Marine Force pin and was awarded it during a ceremony here July 24. The 21-year-old from Sinjana, Guam used every chance he had to study the FMF books so he could pass the test. When he wasn't on missions in the Al Anbar capital with his Marine comrades, he devoted three hours of his time each day for a month to studying. Earning the FMF pin symbolizes his knowledge of Navy and Marine Corps history, customs and courtesies and Marine Corps and amphibious operations. Manaloto enlisted in the Navy after graduating from John F. Kennedy High School in 2002 so he could see the world and someday attend college. This is his second deployment to Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom in as many years. Photo by: Cpl. Tom Sloan - CAMP HURRICANE POINT Ar Ramadi, Iraq (Aug. 2, 2005) - Petty Officer 3rd Class Francis P. Manaloto, a hospitalman with 3rd Platoon, Company W, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, recently earned his Fleet Marine Force pin and was awarded it during a ceremony here July 24. The 21-year-old from Sinjana, Guam used every chance he had to study the FMF books so he could pass the test. When he wasn't on missions in the Al Anbar capital with his Marine comrades, he devoted three hours of his time each day for a month to studying. Earning the FMF pin symbolizes his knowledge of Navy and Marine Corps history, customs and courtesies and Marine Corps and amphibious operations. Manaloto enlisted in the Navy after graduating from John F. Kennedy High School in 2002 so he could see the world and someday attend college. This is his second deployment to Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom in as many years. Photo by: Cpl. Tom Sloan

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq -- Lance Cpl. Daniel McCawley, a 21-year-old Light Armored Vehicle crewman and scout with the division's Personal Security Detachment, is one of the few Marines who volunteered to become specially trained to protect the general and his staff on convoys in the Al Anbar Province area of operations. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Stephen D'Alessio (RELEASED) - CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq -- Lance Cpl. Daniel McCawley, a 21-year-old Light Armored Vehicle crewman and scout with the division's Personal Security Detachment, is one of the few Marines who volunteered to become specially trained to protect the general and his staff on convoys in the Al Anbar Province area of operations. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Stephen D'Alessio (RELEASED)

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq -- Catinella, a 20-year old, Smithtown, N.Y. native from Long Island is a trumpeter in the 2nd Marine Division Band based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Nearly one year ago, he set his brass aside and picked up a rifle to train as a fire team leader for the division's forward deployed headquarters. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Stephen D'Alessio (RELEASED) - CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq -- Catinella, a 20-year old, Smithtown, N.Y. native from Long Island is a trumpeter in the 2nd Marine Division Band based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Nearly one year ago, he set his brass aside and picked up a rifle to train as a fire team leader for the division's forward deployed headquarters. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Stephen D'Alessio (RELEASED)

Hit, Al Anbar, Iraq (August 6, 2005)--An Iraqi man reads handbill given to him by multi-national forces. (Official USMC Photo by Lance Cpl. Shane S. Keller) - Hit, Al Anbar, Iraq (August 6, 2005)--An Iraqi man reads handbill given to him by multi-national forces. (Official USMC Photo by Lance Cpl. Shane S. Keller)

Hit, Al Anbar, Iraq (August 6, 2005)--An IIF soldiers hands out handbills during a patrol. (Official USMC Photo by Corporal Ken Melton) - Hit, Al Anbar, Iraq (August 6, 2005)--An IIF soldiers hands out handbills during a patrol. (Official USMC Photo by Corporal Ken Melton)

CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters prepare for a medical evacuation in the Al Anbar Province. The 2nd Marine Division's Patient Evacuation Team constantly keeps tabs on how many beds are available, what necessary life-saving machines there are and what type of medical personnel work at each of the facilities throughout the province. This kind of information saves time and lives as it prevents unnecessary trips to facilities that may already be filled with patients or ones with broken equipment. photo courtesey of Lt. James Morris. - CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters prepare for a medical evacuation in the Al Anbar Province. The 2nd Marine Division's Patient Evacuation Team constantly keeps tabs on how many beds are available, what necessary life-saving machines there are and what type of medical personnel work at each of the facilities throughout the province. This kind of information saves time and lives as it prevents unnecessary trips to facilities that may already be filled with patients or ones with broken equipment. photo courtesey of Lt. James Morris.

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq - Navy Lt. James Morris, a 32-year-old Kearny, Ariz. native who coordinates all medical evacuations in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq trained to become one of the few who have earned the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program black belts. Photo courtesy Lt. Col. B. K. Bower. (RELEASED) - CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq - Navy Lt. James Morris, a 32-year-old Kearny, Ariz. native who coordinates all medical evacuations in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq trained to become one of the few who have earned the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program black belts. Photo courtesy Lt. Col. B. K. Bower. (RELEASED)

AR RAMADI, Iraq (July 25, 2005) - Lance Cpl. Shawn M. Gallagher, a military dog handler attached to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and Youry, a four-year-old Belgium Malinois, search a vehicle for explosives during a mission in the city here July 25. Twenty-one-year-old Gallagher from Fairfax, Va., and Youry deployed to Iraq from their duty station in Iwakuni, Japan in May and were attached to Camp Pendleton, Calif., -based 1st Battalion, 5th Marines in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Photo by: Cpl. Tom Sloan - AR RAMADI, Iraq (July 25, 2005) - Lance Cpl. Shawn M. Gallagher, a military dog handler attached to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and Youry, a four-year-old Belgium Malinois, search a vehicle for explosives during a mission in the city here July 25. Twenty-one-year-old Gallagher from Fairfax, Va., and Youry deployed to Iraq from their duty station in Iwakuni, Japan in May and were attached to Camp Pendleton, Calif., -based 1st Battalion, 5th Marines in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Photo by: Cpl. Tom Sloan