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A Marine instructor from 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, observes Iraqi Commandos from the 7th Iraqi Army, loading their weapons and preparing to fire, March 20, 2009. The live-fire exercise concluded the six-day weapons training exercise the Commandos conducted with RCT-8’s 2nd Recon Platoon. - A Marine instructor from 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, observes Iraqi Commandos from the 7th Iraqi Army, loading their weapons and preparing to fire, March 20, 2009. The live-fire exercise concluded the six-day weapons training exercise the Commandos conducted with RCT-8’s 2nd Recon Platoon.

Lance Cpl. Adam B. Monroe, a scout with 3rd Platoon, Company D, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, provides security during a patrol near a house in northern Iraq. As the Marine Corps is known for its expeditionary prowess, maybe one of its best examples can be found patrolling the terrain of northern Iraq as Marines of 3rd Platoon, Company D interdict smuggling and have remained outside the wire for the majority of their deployment. - Lance Cpl. Adam B. Monroe, a scout with 3rd Platoon, Company D, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, provides security during a patrol near a house in northern Iraq. As the Marine Corps is known for its expeditionary prowess, maybe one of its best examples can be found patrolling the terrain of northern Iraq as Marines of 3rd Platoon, Company D interdict smuggling and have remained outside the wire for the majority of their deployment.

Replacing an air filter on a Logistics Vehicle System, Cpl. Matthew Adams, LVS operator, 1st Light Armor Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, ensures his vehicle is ready for the next resupply mission. Operators and mechanics continuously work on their vehicles to keep them ready for the next mission. - Replacing an air filter on a Logistics Vehicle System, Cpl. Matthew Adams, LVS operator, 1st Light Armor Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, ensures his vehicle is ready for the next resupply mission. Operators and mechanics continuously work on their vehicles to keep them ready for the next mission.

Marines watch as Iraqi Soldiers from the Iraqi Army’s 7th Field Engineering Regiment remove buried munitions from a trench during a cache sweep. Marines from 1st Combat Engineer, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance, and 1st Reconnaissance Battalions participated in the cache sweep conducted March 12-16, 2009. - Marines watch as Iraqi Soldiers from the Iraqi Army’s 7th Field Engineering Regiment remove buried munitions from a trench during a cache sweep. Marines from 1st Combat Engineer, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance, and 1st Reconnaissance Battalions participated in the cache sweep conducted March 12-16, 2009.

Lance Cpl. Gabriel Aguilar, an ammo man with Fox Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance, Regimental Combat Team 8, inspects mortars inside a Light Armored Vehicle during a night exercise here. Aguilar is an intrinsic part of the vehicle’s three-man team, carefully inspecting each mortar before handing it off to mortarmen, making sure the proper round is sent downrange. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Eric C. Schwartz) - Lance Cpl. Gabriel Aguilar, an ammo man with Fox Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance, Regimental Combat Team 8, inspects mortars inside a Light Armored Vehicle during a night exercise here. Aguilar is an intrinsic part of the vehicle’s three-man team, carefully inspecting each mortar before handing it off to mortarmen, making sure the proper round is sent downrange. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Eric C. Schwartz)

Packed into the belly of a CH-53E helicopter at the Camp Korean Village Airfield March 10, 2009, Reserve Marines from 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, begin their long journey home, with many stops along the way. This has been the battalion’s third mobilization and second overseas deployment in support of Global War on Terror. - Packed into the belly of a CH-53E helicopter at the Camp Korean Village Airfield March 10, 2009, Reserve Marines from 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, begin their long journey home, with many stops along the way. This has been the battalion’s third mobilization and second overseas deployment in support of Global War on Terror.

Marines from Multi National Force-West’s Quick Reaction Force wait to exit a CH-53E helicopter during a quick reaction exercise at Camp Ripper, Iraq. Marines from Bravo Company, 1st tank Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, assume responsibilities of the QRF March 12, 2009. - Marines from Multi National Force-West’s Quick Reaction Force wait to exit a CH-53E helicopter during a quick reaction exercise at Camp Ripper, Iraq. Marines from Bravo Company, 1st tank Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, assume responsibilities of the QRF March 12, 2009.

Lt. Cdr. Kobena Arthur, the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment chaplain, and imam Mahmoud Ahmed Nudin Obid, a religious leader in western Al Anbar Province, pray together during a meeting at the Rutbah City Council Feb. 18, 2009. They are assisted by Arabic linguist Dani Morjan. Arthur and Obid have been working together for the past six months to improve the quality of life for more than 200 widows and their families in the town of 20,000, which was wracked by insurgent violence from 2005-2007. - Lt. Cdr. Kobena Arthur, the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment chaplain, and imam Mahmoud Ahmed Nudin Obid, a religious leader in western Al Anbar Province, pray together during a meeting at the Rutbah City Council Feb. 18, 2009. They are assisted by Arabic linguist Dani Morjan. Arthur and Obid have been working together for the past six months to improve the quality of life for more than 200 widows and their families in the town of 20,000, which was wracked by insurgent violence from 2005-2007.

Sgt. Maj. Ernest Hoopii, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade sergeant major, presents the 2nd MEB colors to Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik (left) during the brigade’s assumption of command ceremony March 9. Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson received the colors from Hejlik, symbolizing the authority and accountability of command vested in Nicholson by naming him the 2nd MEB commanding general. - Sgt. Maj. Ernest Hoopii, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade sergeant major, presents the 2nd MEB colors to Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik (left) during the brigade’s assumption of command ceremony March 9. Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson received the colors from Hejlik, symbolizing the authority and accountability of command vested in Nicholson by naming him the 2nd MEB commanding general.

Under the tutelage of Reserve Marines from Company E, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team-8, a squad of Iraqi Army soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 29th Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division perform fire and movement techniques at H3 Airfield in a remote location in western Al Anbar desert Feb. 23. - Under the tutelage of Reserve Marines from Company E, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team-8, a squad of Iraqi Army soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 29th Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division perform fire and movement techniques at H3 Airfield in a remote location in western Al Anbar desert Feb. 23.