Lance Cpl. Marcus McMurray, a command-operations-center journal clerk with Headquarters Company, Regimental Combat Team 8, decides to take a donated shirt from the chapel annex here. Marines and sailors enjoy the ability to leisurely stroll through the well organized store, sifting through free hygiene items and other donated goods. - Lance Cpl. Marcus McMurray, a command-operations-center journal clerk with Headquarters Company, Regimental Combat Team 8, decides to take a donated shirt from the chapel annex here. Marines and sailors enjoy the ability to leisurely stroll through the well organized store, sifting through free hygiene items and other donated goods.

Families of Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division await the battalion’s return from a deployment to Iraq here, Feb. 17. The Marines of 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines were deployed throughout Iraq during their seventh month tour and concentrated on stabilization. (Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian M. Woodruff) (RELEASED) - Families of Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division await the battalion’s return from a deployment to Iraq here, Feb. 17. The Marines of 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines were deployed throughout Iraq during their seventh month tour and concentrated on stabilization. (Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian M. Woodruff) (RELEASED)

(Left to right) Capt. Roy Bechtold, Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Support Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, supervises Lance Cpl. Michael Cummings as he prepares to fire an AT-4 anti-tank rocket while Lance Cpl. Jason Barts provides security during the reconnaissance assault course here. The training included simulated ambushes, setting up ambushes and familiarization with M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel mines. The training allowed the men to practice necessary skill sets to hone their basic infantry tactics and skills. Elements of the battalion are scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David A. Weikle) (RELEASED) - (Left to right) Capt. Roy Bechtold, Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Support Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, supervises Lance Cpl. Michael Cummings as he prepares to fire an AT-4 anti-tank rocket while Lance Cpl. Jason Barts provides security during the reconnaissance assault course here. The training included simulated ambushes, setting up ambushes and familiarization with M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel mines. The training allowed the men to practice necessary skill sets to hone their basic infantry tactics and skills. Elements of the battalion are scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David A. Weikle) (RELEASED)

Maj. Todd Peppe (left), the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment’s Headquarters and Service Company commander and camp commandant for Camp Korean Village, Iraq, inspects the outer perimeter of the base’s security with Gunnery Sgt. Trent Narra, the company gunny and assistant camp commandant Jan. 30. Camp Korean Village, located in the western region of Iraq’s Al Anbar Province, is a key Coalition logistics hub and base of operations for service members from the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps. (Official USMC photo by Capt. Paul L. Greenberg) - Maj. Todd Peppe (left), the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment’s Headquarters and Service Company commander and camp commandant for Camp Korean Village, Iraq, inspects the outer perimeter of the base’s security with Gunnery Sgt. Trent Narra, the company gunny and assistant camp commandant Jan. 30. Camp Korean Village, located in the western region of Iraq’s Al Anbar Province, is a key Coalition logistics hub and base of operations for service members from the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps. (Official USMC photo by Capt. Paul L. Greenberg)

Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter, from Sag Harbor, N.Y., is scheduled to receive a Navy Cross medal, posthumously, at a ceremony February 20 at the National Museum of the Marine Corps near Quantico, Va. Haerter was an infantryman assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, and was killed in action while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. - Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter, from Sag Harbor, N.Y., is scheduled to receive a Navy Cross medal, posthumously, at a ceremony February 20 at the National Museum of the Marine Corps near Quantico, Va. Haerter was an infantryman assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, and was killed in action while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sergeant Alejandro Castellano, the utilities maintenance chief for 1st Civil Engineering Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, proudly displays a mixture of sushi he created for Marines within his unit. Castellano enjoys cooking for his Marines saying, "It's a morale booster." (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Eric C. Schwartz) - Sergeant Alejandro Castellano, the utilities maintenance chief for 1st Civil Engineering Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, proudly displays a mixture of sushi he created for Marines within his unit. Castellano enjoys cooking for his Marines saying, "It's a morale booster." (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Eric C. Schwartz)

Capt. Justin Martell (front, left), the battalion judge advocate for 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, and an Iraqi police officer make their way on a foot patrol to the courthouse in Rutbah, Iraq, Feb. 5. For the past several months, Martell met almost weekly with an Iraqi judge to help successfully coordinate efforts of Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces in apprehending and prosecuting those suspected of insurgent activity. (Official USMC photo by Capt. Paul L. Greenberg) - Capt. Justin Martell (front, left), the battalion judge advocate for 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, and an Iraqi police officer make their way on a foot patrol to the courthouse in Rutbah, Iraq, Feb. 5. For the past several months, Martell met almost weekly with an Iraqi judge to help successfully coordinate efforts of Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces in apprehending and prosecuting those suspected of insurgent activity. (Official USMC photo by Capt. Paul L. Greenberg)

Marines from 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, fire the M777A2 lightweight 155mm Howitzer cannon during a five-day battalion-sized training operation here, Feb. 2 - 6. One of the highlights for the Marines during the training was re-familiarizing themselves with the M777A2 and blasting off live rounds. - Marines from 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, fire the M777A2 lightweight 155mm Howitzer cannon during a five-day battalion-sized training operation here, Feb. 2 - 6. One of the highlights for the Marines during the training was re-familiarizing themselves with the M777A2 and blasting off live rounds.

Lance Cpl. Bryan Vasquez, a 21-year-old from Orange County, Calif., and a reconnaissance Marine with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, stands proudly in front his photograph inside the 2nd Recon Bn. headquarters Feb. 2. Vasquez recently won the Division Marine of the Quarter award. Vasquez said he was surprised to be nominated for the award and was honored to actually win. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Casey Jones) (RELEASED) - Lance Cpl. Bryan Vasquez, a 21-year-old from Orange County, Calif., and a reconnaissance Marine with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, stands proudly in front his photograph inside the 2nd Recon Bn. headquarters Feb. 2. Vasquez recently won the Division Marine of the Quarter award. Vasquez said he was surprised to be nominated for the award and was honored to actually win. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Casey Jones) (RELEASED)

Lance Cpl. Sam Genovese, a 24-year-old Reserve Marine with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, enjoys his first ride in a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter over Iraq’s al-Anbar desert Jan. 22. Genovese, a Plymouth, Mass., native, is serving as an operations clerk in the battalion’s command operations center. Minnesota National Guardsmen from Company C., 2nd Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, co-located with the Reserve Marines of 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment at Camp Korean Village, routinely give their Marine counterparts the opportunity to experience flight in the nimble Blackhawk. The Marine Corps currently has no operational UH-60 aircraft in their inventory. (Official Marine Corps photo by Capt. Paul L. Greenberg) - Lance Cpl. Sam Genovese, a 24-year-old Reserve Marine with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, enjoys his first ride in a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter over Iraq’s al-Anbar desert Jan. 22. Genovese, a Plymouth, Mass., native, is serving as an operations clerk in the battalion’s command operations center. Minnesota National Guardsmen from Company C., 2nd Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, co-located with the Reserve Marines of 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment at Camp Korean Village, routinely give their Marine counterparts the opportunity to experience flight in the nimble Blackhawk. The Marine Corps currently has no operational UH-60 aircraft in their inventory. (Official Marine Corps photo by Capt. Paul L. Greenberg)