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Two Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, reach shore during their annual surf qualification Sept. 12, 2013 at Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. To qualify the Marines had to swim 500 meters after evacuating an amphibious assault vehicle. - Two Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, reach shore during their annual surf qualification Sept. 12, 2013 at Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. To qualify the Marines had to swim 500 meters after evacuating an amphibious assault vehicle.

A Light Armored Vehicle with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division prepares to fire during annual gunnery qualification training Sept. 3, 2013 at training range SR-7 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. “To qualify they have to pass a certain amount of engagements. There are 10 engagements and they have to pass seven,” said Gunnery Sgt. Travis W. Jaakkola, the battalion master gunner, from Chassell, Mich. - A Light Armored Vehicle with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division prepares to fire during annual gunnery qualification training Sept. 3, 2013 at training range SR-7 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. “To qualify they have to pass a certain amount of engagements. There are 10 engagements and they have to pass seven,” said Gunnery Sgt. Travis W. Jaakkola, the battalion master gunner, from Chassell, Mich.

An Anniston Army Depot employee unscrews a wheel on an assault breaching vehicle belonging to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, in order to upgrade the vehicle aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Sept. 5, 2013. The tracks and wheels needed to be removed to upgrade the body frame of the vehicle with improved suspension. - An Anniston Army Depot employee unscrews a wheel on an assault breaching vehicle belonging to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, in order to upgrade the vehicle aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Sept. 5, 2013. The tracks and wheels needed to be removed to upgrade the body frame of the vehicle with improved suspension.

– Brigadier Gen. James Lukeman, commanding general of 2nd Marine Division, pins the Silver Star onto Sgt. Ryan Steinkamp’s chest during his award ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Aug. 28, 2013. Steinkamp earned the Silver Star for leading his squad through a hostile village and engaging the enemy while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2012. - – Brigadier Gen. James Lukeman, commanding general of 2nd Marine Division, pins the Silver Star onto Sgt. Ryan Steinkamp’s chest during his award ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Aug. 28, 2013. Steinkamp earned the Silver Star for leading his squad through a hostile village and engaging the enemy while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2012.

Corporal Christian Brown a former squad leader with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, looks onto his supporters during the Cost of Freedom Poker Run in New Bern, N.C. Aug. 24, 2013. “This event is (for) Christian Brown, to help him achieve his goals, his life aspirations, his new home and to get it the way he wants it and the way he needs it,” said Sgt. Maj. Larry J. Harrington, the Motor Transport Squadron 1 sergeant major aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The poker run consisted of motorcycle riders traveling to five checkpoints. At each location the riders received a playing card, and whoever had the highest poker hand at the end of the route won. Brown, who lost both of his legs while serving as a squad leader with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment during Operation Enduring Freedom, was awarded the Silver Star Medal May 3, 2013. - Corporal Christian Brown a former squad leader with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, looks onto his supporters during the Cost of Freedom Poker Run in New Bern, N.C. Aug. 24, 2013. “This event is (for) Christian Brown, to help him achieve his goals, his life aspirations, his new home and to get it the way he wants it and the way he needs it,” said Sgt. Maj. Larry J. Harrington, the Motor Transport Squadron 1 sergeant major aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The poker run consisted of motorcycle riders traveling to five checkpoints. At each location the riders received a playing card, and whoever had the highest poker hand at the end of the route won. Brown, who lost both of his legs while serving as a squad leader with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment during Operation Enduring Freedom, was awarded the Silver Star Medal May 3, 2013.

Lieutenant Col. Carl E. Cooper, the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment commanding officer, and Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey G. Monssen, the battalion's sergeant major, prepare to case the battalion colors Aug. 13, 2013 during the battalion's deactivation ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. "The sergeant major and I were proud to do it," said Cooper. "There will be a time when the battalion is established again and we will have to unfurl those colors." This ceremony marked the fifth time the battalion has been deactivated since its origination in 1917. - Lieutenant Col. Carl E. Cooper, the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment commanding officer, and Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey G. Monssen, the battalion's sergeant major, prepare to case the battalion colors Aug. 13, 2013 during the battalion's deactivation ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. "The sergeant major and I were proud to do it," said Cooper. "There will be a time when the battalion is established again and we will have to unfurl those colors." This ceremony marked the fifth time the battalion has been deactivated since its origination in 1917.

Cpl. Ryan Carroll, an antitank missileman with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, stands with his fellow firefighters in front of a beam that was recovered from the ruins of the World Trade Center at Station No. 23, Providence Volunteer Fire Company, Towson, Md., Aug. 5, 2013. - Cpl. Ryan Carroll, an antitank missileman with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, stands with his fellow firefighters in front of a beam that was recovered from the ruins of the World Trade Center at Station No. 23, Providence Volunteer Fire Company, Towson, Md., Aug. 5, 2013.

Marines with Bravo Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, begin firing a gun on a light armored vehicle 25A2, as part of a gunner exercise at Shooting Range 7, August 5, 2013. The exercise consists of five different courses of fire including still and moving fire. - Marines with Bravo Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, begin firing a gun on a light armored vehicle 25A2, as part of a gunner exercise at Shooting Range 7, August 5, 2013. The exercise consists of five different courses of fire including still and moving fire.