Macon, Ga., native Sgt. Stephen M. Smith, the armory maintenance chief for 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, is a left leg, below-the-knee amputee. He survived an Improvised Explosive Device blast in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006, but didn’t let it stop him from being a Marine. He re-enlisted as an armorer after recovering from his injury, and requested to be deployed to Afghanistan. - Macon, Ga., native Sgt. Stephen M. Smith, the armory maintenance chief for 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, is a left leg, below-the-knee amputee. He survived an Improvised Explosive Device blast in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006, but didn’t let it stop him from being a Marine. He re-enlisted as an armorer after recovering from his injury, and requested to be deployed to Afghanistan.

Honolulu, native Petty Officer 1st Class Flo Baltazar (center), a civil engineer corps chief, walks through the construction site of Sangin High School during a recent visit. Baltazar is responsible for inspecting the integrity and quality of the school throughout its construction. - Honolulu, native Petty Officer 1st Class Flo Baltazar (center), a civil engineer corps chief, walks through the construction site of Sangin High School during a recent visit. Baltazar is responsible for inspecting the integrity and quality of the school throughout its construction.

Pittsburgh native Cpl. Zachary Beamer, an assaultman with the Personal Security Detachment of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, recently survived an Improvised Explosive Device blast while on patrol. Beamer was hit with shrapnel in his left arm and torso, but was back with his unit in two weeks. - Pittsburgh native Cpl. Zachary Beamer, an assaultman with the Personal Security Detachment of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, recently survived an Improvised Explosive Device blast while on patrol. Beamer was hit with shrapnel in his left arm and torso, but was back with his unit in two weeks.

Scarborough, Maine, native Lance Cpl. Chris Ventura sits outside his tent during a recent break. The 23-year-old assaultman with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, said he is looking forward to heading home and is most excited to see his seven-month old daughter when he returns to the United States. Marines with the company spent the deployment setting up local security and clearing the insurgency from the area of Trek Nawa. - Scarborough, Maine, native Lance Cpl. Chris Ventura sits outside his tent during a recent break. The 23-year-old assaultman with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, said he is looking forward to heading home and is most excited to see his seven-month old daughter when he returns to the United States. Marines with the company spent the deployment setting up local security and clearing the insurgency from the area of Trek Nawa.

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division prepare to rush toward their targets while participating in a live fire exercise July 27, 2011 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. During the exercise, Marines with machine guns laid suppressive fire while other Marines with M-16’s and M-4’s moved closer to engage their respective targets. - Marines with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division prepare to rush toward their targets while participating in a live fire exercise July 27, 2011 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. During the exercise, Marines with machine guns laid suppressive fire while other Marines with M-16’s and M-4’s moved closer to engage their respective targets.

Marines in Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, tug-of-war during the Headquarters Battalion field meet aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 29, 2011. The field meet was the closing to a year-long competition between the companies within the battalion. - Marines in Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, tug-of-war during the Headquarters Battalion field meet aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 29, 2011. The field meet was the closing to a year-long competition between the companies within the battalion.

Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, performed squad attacks and live fire exercises as part of their training for future deployments, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 26, 2011. The Marines were observed and told what they did well and what they made mistakes on after the objective. (U.S. Marine Corps photograph by Pfc. Phillip R. Clark) - Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, performed squad attacks and live fire exercises as part of their training for future deployments, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 26, 2011. The Marines were observed and told what they did well and what they made mistakes on after the objective. (U.S. Marine Corps photograph by Pfc. Phillip R. Clark)

Lance Cpl. Kevin D. Drosos, a data network specialist with Cyber Platoon, Communications Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, types commands on a network computer while troubleshooting for fellow specialists aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 27, 2011. Lance Cpl. Andres E. Roybal (right), a fellow data network specialist, follows along with him as well as Pvt. Javier Gonzalez. - Lance Cpl. Kevin D. Drosos, a data network specialist with Cyber Platoon, Communications Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, types commands on a network computer while troubleshooting for fellow specialists aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 27, 2011. Lance Cpl. Andres E. Roybal (right), a fellow data network specialist, follows along with him as well as Pvt. Javier Gonzalez.

Seaman Joshua Shoemake, a hospital corpsman with Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, finishes taking a Marine’s blood pressure at the Headquarters Battalion Aid Station aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. July 22, 2011. The 24-year-old Shoemake hopes to use the experience he is gaining at the BAS and apply it in theater during a potential deployment to Afghanistan. - Seaman Joshua Shoemake, a hospital corpsman with Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, finishes taking a Marine’s blood pressure at the Headquarters Battalion Aid Station aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. July 22, 2011. The 24-year-old Shoemake hopes to use the experience he is gaining at the BAS and apply it in theater during a potential deployment to Afghanistan.

Dennis Douthett, the II MEF training officer, is awarded the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, July 21, 2011, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. For almost a decade, Douthett has worked with the II MEF Communications Security Office, which works to protect our nation’s secrets from our adversaries. - Dennis Douthett, the II MEF training officer, is awarded the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, July 21, 2011, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. For almost a decade, Douthett has worked with the II MEF Communications Security Office, which works to protect our nation’s secrets from our adversaries.