Photos

Lance Cpl. David Boren, an anti-tank missileman with Anti-Tank Platoon, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, from Franklin Lakes, N.J., fires his M4 Carbine into a dummy target during an Urban Assault Course at Ft. Pickett, Va., April 2, 2014. “It is good to know you hit the target and if it were an enemy trying to kill you or your brothers that you can take him out first,” said Cpl. Patrick W. Westcott, a Tiverton, R.I. native and team leader with Scout Platoon.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

From right to left: Lance Cpl. Alex Albertson, a driver from Atlanta, Lance Cpl. Daniel Di Rico, a gunner from Lighthouse Point, Fla., Cpl. Joshua “Wildebeest” Williams, the team leader from Tampa, Fla., and Lance Cpl. Ashley Wyatt, the team’s dismount from Mebane, N.C., all with Anti-Tank Platoon, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, prepare to clear a house during an Urban Assault Course at Ft. Pickett, Va., April 2, 2014. “It is good to know you hit the target and if it were an enemy trying to kill you or your brothers that you can take him out first,” said Cpl. Patrick W. Westcott, a Tiverton, R.I. native and team leader with Scout Platoon.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

Corporal Thomas J. Johnson, a vehicle commander with Anti-Tank Platoon, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, from Roanoke Va., prepares to assault his next target during an Urban Assault Course at Ft. Pickett, Va., April 2, 2014. “It is good to know you hit the target and if it were an enemy trying to kill you or your brothers that you can take him out first,” said Cpl. Patrick W. Westcott, a Tiverton, R.I. native and team leader with Scout Platoon.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

Corporal Thomas J. Johnson, a vehicle commander with Anti-Tank Platoon, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, from Roanoke Va., throws an M69 Training Grenade at Fort Pickett, Va., during a Hand Grenade Familiarization Training March 31, 2014. “Throwing grenades properly and on target is a perishable skill. It’s kind of like throwing a baseball after a year off the field,” said Cpl. Patrick W. Westcott, a Tiverton, R.I. native and team leader with Scout Platoon.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

Lance Cpl. Jean Boris Mugisha, a driver with Anti-Tank Platoon, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, from Dayton, Ohio, throws an M69 Training Grenade at Fort Pickett, Va., during a Hand Grenade Familiarization Training March 31, 2014. “Throwing grenades properly and on target is a perishable skill. It’s kind of like throwing a baseball after a year off the field,” said Cpl. Patrick W. Westcott, a Tiverton, R.I. native and team leader with Scout Platoon.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

(Left) Lance Cpl. Seth C. Willman a tank mechanic from Tucson, Ariz., and Pvt. Private Zachary K. Guzdek, a motor transportation operator from Oakfield, N.Y., both with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, dressed in mission oriented protective posture gear and an M50 field protective mask prepare to enter the gas chamber in Fort Pickett, Va., April 4, 2014. MOPP gear is designed to keep a service member while operating in a contaminated environment for up to 24 hours. The Marines completed individual survival standards as part of their annual training requirement.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Douglas J. Proffitt the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Defense officer in charge for 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, from North Judson, Ind., demonstrates actions Marines will perform in the gas chamber at Ft. Pickett, Va., April 4, 2014. Marines with the battalion completed individual survival standards as part of their annual training requirement.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

Marines with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, dressed in mission oriented protective posture gear and an M50 field protective mask prepare to enter the gas chamber in Fort Pickett, Va., April 4, 2014. MOPP gear is designed to keep a service member safe from contamination contaminated environment for up to 24 hours.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

Private Zachary K. Guzdek, a motor transportation operator with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, and Oakfield, N.Y., native, safety checks his M50 field protective mask before entering a gas chamber in Ft. Pickett, Va., April 4, 2014. Marines with the battalion completed individual survival standards as part of their annual training requirement for.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

Corporal Mauliola J. Watson, the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Defense chief for 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, and native of Hilo, Hawaii, teaches Marines about the M50 field protective mask during a month-long field exercise at Ft. Pickett, Va., April 4, 2014. Marines with the battalion completed individual survival standards as part of their annual training requirement.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

Private First Class Saige N. Racut, a motor transportation operator with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, and Cleveland native, holds his position during a foot patrol at Ft. Pickett, Va., April 5, 2014. “In this occupation we are all about one shot, one kill. Out in public we can be that poster child in our Dress Blue uniform looking nice, but as a Marine, our ultimate job is to hit the target and kill the target,” said Staff Sgt. George Oliver, the Headquarters and Service Company gunnery sergeant.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

(Middle) Corporal Keita T. Bass a motor transportation mechanic, with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, from Adel, Ga., trains as a squad leader in a foot patrol and views a map to lead his team in the right direction at Ft. Pickett, Va., April 5, 2014. “In this occupation we are all about one shot, one kill. Out in public we can be that poster child in our Dress Blue uniform looking nice, but as a Marine, our ultimate job is to hit the target and kill the target,” said Staff Sgt. George Oliver, the Headquarters and Service Company gunnery sergeant.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

Private First Class Nikko E. Feliciano, a motor transportation mechanic with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, from Levittown, Penn., leads as the point man during a foot patrol at Ft. Pickett, Va., April 5, 2014. “In this occupation we are all about one shot, one kill. Out in public we can be that poster child in our Dress Blue uniform looking nice, but as a Marine, our ultimate job is to hit and kill the target,” said Staff Sgt. George Oliver, the Headquarters and Service Company gunnery sergeant.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

Private First Class Saige N. Racut, a motor transportation operator with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, and Cleveland native, points out what he believes to be a possible road during a foot patrol at Ft. Pickett, Va., April 5, 2014. “In this occupation we are all about one shot, one kill. Out in public we can be that poster child in our Dress Blue uniform looking nice, but as a Marine, our ultimate job is to hit and kill the target,” said Staff Sgt. George Oliver, the Headquarters and Service Company gunnery sergeant.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

Private First Class Saige N. Racut, a motor transportation operator with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, and Cleveland native, lies in the prone position during a foot patrol at Ft. Pickett, Va., April 5, 2014. “In this occupation we are all about one shot, one kill. Out in public we can be that poster child in our Dress Blue uniform looking nice, but as a Marine, our ultimate job is to hit and kill the target,” said Staff Sgt. George Oliver, the Headquarters and Service Company gunnery sergeant.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

(From left to right) Lance Cpl. Devan M. Compton, a supply specialist, Pvt. Zachary K. Guzdek and Cpl. Jon Martin both motor transportation operators, all with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division stand guard in a fighting hole at the Combat Service Support Area in Ft. Pickett, Va., April 5, 2014. “In this occupation we are all about one shot, one kill. Out in public we can be that poster child in our Dress Blue uniform looking nice, but as a Marine, our ultimate job is to hit and kill the target,” said Staff Sgt. George Oliver, the Headquarters and Service Company gunnery sergeant.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

Lance Cpl. Devan M. Compton, a supply specialist with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, chops a block of wood to help create concealment for a fighting hole at the Combat Service Support Area in Ft. Pickett, Va., April 5, 2014. “In this occupation we are all about one shot, one kill. Out in public we can be that poster child in our Dress Blue uniform looking nice, but as a Marine, our ultimate job is to hit and kill the target,” said Staff Sgt. George Oliver, the Headquarters and Service Company gunnery sergeant.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Joey Mendez

An AH-64 Apache helicopter with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, 1st Armored Division, hovers while supporting a close air-support training exercise with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division at Dona Anna training facility on Fort Bliss, Texas, April 24-26, 2014. Close air-support will be available to the battalion’s companies throughout training and sometimes during the Network Integration Exercise beginning in May. Squad leaders, platoon commanders, fire support team leaders, and joint fire observers were able to train with the helicopters for two days in preparation for use in upcoming training.

Photo by Cpl. Austin Long

Corporal Jonathan Hoag, a squad leader with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, calls for close air-support from AH-64 Apache helicopters with Alpha Company, 1-501st Aviation Regiment, 1st Armored Division, overhead during close air-support training at Dona Anna training facility on Fort Bliss, Texas, April 24-26, 2014. Close air-support will be available to the battalion’s companies throughout training and sometimes during the Network Integration Exercise beginning in May. Squad leaders, platoon commanders, fire support team leaders, and joint fire observers were able to train with the helicopters for two days in preparation for use in upcoming training.

Photo by Cpl. Austin Long

Two AH-64 Apache helicopters with Alpha Company, 1-501st Aviation Regiment, 1st Armored Division, maneuver into position during a close air-support training exercise with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division at Dona Anna training facility on Fort Bliss, Texas, April 24-26, 2014. Close air-support will be available to the battalion’s companies throughout training and sometimes during the Network Integration Exercise beginning in May. Squad leaders, platoon commanders, fire support team leaders, and joint fire observers were able to train with the helicopters for two days in preparation for use in upcoming training.

Photo by Cpl. Austin Long