Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division and 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, conducted a week long explosive training package for Marines with the units aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., November 5-7. Marines with the units set explosives in a tree, a part of a timber charge that can be used to clear trees to make a path. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Phillip R. Clark) - Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division and 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, conducted a week long explosive training package for Marines with the units aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., November 5-7. Marines with the units set explosives in a tree, a part of a timber charge that can be used to clear trees to make a path. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Phillip R. Clark)

Cpl. Ronald Carreathers, a field artillery canoneer with Golf battery, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, shakes hands with fellow Marines after being awarded the Purple Heart, Oct. 31 at Camp Lejeune. All ranks passed by Carreathers to congratulate him on the award and wished him the best of luck on his recovery process. - Cpl. Ronald Carreathers, a field artillery canoneer with Golf battery, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, shakes hands with fellow Marines after being awarded the Purple Heart, Oct. 31 at Camp Lejeune. All ranks passed by Carreathers to congratulate him on the award and wished him the best of luck on his recovery process.

Lance Cpl. David Corderman of Richmond, Va., sings in front of hundreds of high school students. He and two other Marines within the band took the initiative to come together and form the 2nd Marine Division rock band. - Lance Cpl. David Corderman of Richmond, Va., sings in front of hundreds of high school students. He and two other Marines within the band took the initiative to come together and form the 2nd Marine Division rock band.

Manitowoc, Wis., native Cpl. Jeffery Clapper plays the trumpet during a concert at the Topsfield Fair. The all-Marine band serenaded the large audience with classical tunes ranging from John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” to their own rendition of “The Saints.” - Manitowoc, Wis., native Cpl. Jeffery Clapper plays the trumpet during a concert at the Topsfield Fair. The all-Marine band serenaded the large audience with classical tunes ranging from John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” to their own rendition of “The Saints.”

Staff Sgt. Steven Williams, a trumpet player with the 2nd Marine Division Band, greets local fairgoers before the band’s performance. The Lancaster, Pa., native will be taking on the challenge of leading the Marine musicians as the assistant drum major for The President’s Own. - Staff Sgt. Steven Williams, a trumpet player with the 2nd Marine Division Band, greets local fairgoers before the band’s performance. The Lancaster, Pa., native will be taking on the challenge of leading the Marine musicians as the assistant drum major for The President’s Own.

The winners of the kickball tournament, the Lejeunatics, and the runners-up, the Lady Raiders, pose for a photo. Spouses of Marines and sailors competed in the Spouses Lejeune Area Kickball Association or SLAKA Oct. 13-14. Most of the spouses were wives of Marines and sailors aboard Camp Lejeune, but husbands and spouses from other commands could also share in the camaraderie. - The winners of the kickball tournament, the Lejeunatics, and the runners-up, the Lady Raiders, pose for a photo. Spouses of Marines and sailors competed in the Spouses Lejeune Area Kickball Association or SLAKA Oct. 13-14. Most of the spouses were wives of Marines and sailors aboard Camp Lejeune, but husbands and spouses from other commands could also share in the camaraderie.

Dan Shannon, president and founder of Operation Homelink, gives a speech to the families of service members Saturday morning at the USO North Carolina Jacksonville. Before giving the families a laptop and webcam donated by supporting corporations, Shannon, explained why it was important for these families to communicate with their loved ones. Also he gave brief history of the organization and re-stated how much, the families and service members are appreciated for their sacrifices being made on behalf of the 99 percent of Americans who aren’t serving. - Dan Shannon, president and founder of Operation Homelink, gives a speech to the families of service members Saturday morning at the USO North Carolina Jacksonville. Before giving the families a laptop and webcam donated by supporting corporations, Shannon, explained why it was important for these families to communicate with their loved ones. Also he gave brief history of the organization and re-stated how much, the families and service members are appreciated for their sacrifices being made on behalf of the 99 percent of Americans who aren’t serving.

Marines with Combined Anti-Armor Team-1 fire a Javelin Missile at an enemy target during Company I, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division’s company-sized attack, Oct. 7. 3/6 is in Yuma supporting the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course taught by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1 located at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. - Marines with Combined Anti-Armor Team-1 fire a Javelin Missile at an enemy target during Company I, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division’s company-sized attack, Oct. 7. 3/6 is in Yuma supporting the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course taught by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1 located at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.