Photos

Miami native, Cpl. Ruben Varela, a mortarman with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division holds his son for the first time aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune after being deployed to Afghanistan since April 2013. The battalion was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Scott W. Whiting

Staff Sgt. Forrest Purdy, a platoon sergeant with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, kisses his wife, Carolyn, after returning from Afghanistan Oct. 15, 2013, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Second Battalion, 8th Marines deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in April 2013.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Scott W. Whiting

General James F. Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, presents the Sgt. Maj. Wilber Bestwick Award to Staff Sgt. Jon E. Osborn, the acting first sergeant of Delta Co., 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and Montgomery, Texas native, for his contributions to the unit’s combat readiness, Sept. 26, 2013. Since 2011, Osborn has worked tirelessly to keep his unit combat ready. He has previously served as a platoon sergeant, acting platoon commander, operations chief and the unit’s master gunner, and he has served with 2nd LAR for a total of seven years. Named for the first Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, the award is given to an enlisted Marine in a ground combat element of the operating forces who has made an outstanding contribution to increased combat readiness within the organization.

Photo by Cpl. Sonia N. Rodriguez

An M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, waits its turn to engage targets at Range SR-10, Oct. 2, 2013. The Marines with 2nd Tanks conducted a course of fire of 10 shooting engagements consisting of offensive and defensive actions, against stationary and moving targets, with the M2 .50 caliber machine gun, coaxial mounted M240 machine gun and the 120mm main gun. Each scenario was different and some contained handicaps, which degraded the crew’s ability to easily engage and destroy targets, such as not allowing use of the main gun or removing the crew’s ability to use the GPS and its sights, according to GySgt Larry B Saxman Jr., the battalion master gunner.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jose A. Mendez Jr.

A M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, drives down Range SR-10 to its next battle position Oct. 2, 2013. The Marines with 2nd Tanks conducted a course of fire of 10 shooting engagements consisting of offensive and defensive actions, against stationary and moving targets, with the M2 .50 caliber machine gun, coaxial mounted M240 machine gun and the 120mm main gun. Each scenario was different and some contained handicaps, which degraded the crew’s ability to easily engage and destroy targets, such as not allowing use of the main gun or removing the crew’s ability to use the GPS and its sights, according to GySgt Larry B Saxman Jr., the battalion master gunner.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jose A. Mendez Jr.

Marines with 2nd tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, keep the barrel of an M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank pointed down range at Range SR-10, Oct. 2, 2013. The Marines with 2nd Tanks conducted a course of fire of 10 shooting engagements consisting of offensive and defensive actions, against stationary and moving targets, with the M2 .50 caliber machine gun, coaxial mounted M240 machine gun and the 120mm main gun. Each scenario was different and some contained handicaps, which degraded the crew’s ability to easily engage and destroy targets, such as not allowing use of the main gun or removing the crew’s ability to use the GPS and its sights, according to GySgt Larry B Saxman Jr., the battalion master gunner.

Photo by Lance Cpl.

Dust flies off of an M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, after it fires the M256 120mm Smoothbore Gun at Range SR-10 Oct. 2, 2013. The Marines with 2nd Tanks conducted a course of fire of 10 shooting engagements consisting of offensive and defensive actions, against stationary and moving targets, with the M2 .50 caliber machine gun, coaxial mounted M240 machine gun and the 120mm main gun. Each scenario was different and some contained handicaps, which degraded the crew’s ability to easily engage and destroy targets, such as not allowing use of the main gun or removing the crew’s ability to use the GPS and its sights, according to GySgt Larry B Saxman Jr., the battalion master gunner.

Photo by Lance Cpl.

Corporal Justin Rea, an infantryman with Company C, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, rushes into a room to clear the building during military operations in urban terrain training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Oct. 7, 2013. First Battalion, 2nd Marines held a battalion-level field exercise Sept. 28 – Oct. 9, marking the first battalion-size training event since December 2012.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Scott W. Whiting

Corporal George Lynch, a squad leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division briefs his squad before clearing a building during military operations in urban terrain training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Oct. 7, 2013. The squad practiced security patrols throughout the MOUT town and practiced using proper technique to clear rooms one-by-one.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Scott W. Whiting

Lance Cpl. William Long, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, provides security for his squad during military operations in urban terrain training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Oct. 7, 2013. First Battalion, 2nd Marines held a battalion-level field exercise Sept. 28 – Oct. 9, marking the first battalion-size training event since December 2012.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Scott W. Whiting

Sgt. Samuel Fergmeshnick, a Rifleman with 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, stands at attention awaiting to receive the John A. Lejeune Award of Bravery for heroic acts in combat during a recent Deployment to Afghanistan, where he saved the lives of fellow Marines. Marines from major supporting elements of II Marine Expeditionary Force were honored during the 7th Annual American Hero Awards at Sywanyks Scarlet and Gold Night Club, Oct. 4, 2013. The awards are presented by Mainstreet, an organization of local business leaders to honor their heroes.

Photo by PFC Dalton Precht

Sgt. Maj. Bryan Zickefoose, 2nd Marine Division sergeant major, shakes the hand of the John A. Lejeune Award winner, Sgt. Samuel Fergmeshnick, during the 7th annual American Heroes Awards ceremony hosted at Sywanyks Scarlet and Gold night club Oct. 4, 2013. Fergmeshnick was considered with five other contestants from the major supporting elements of II Marine Expeditionary Force for the award and was chosen by a board of five Sgt. Maj.'s to be the recipient. Fergmeshnick was chosen to receive the Award of Bravery for heroic acts in combat during a recent Deployment to Afghanistan, where he saved the lives of fellow Marines. . The awards are presented by Mainstreet, an organization of local business leaders to honor their heroes.

Photo by PFC Dalton Precht

Corporal Trevor L. Jones, an amphibious assault vehicle crewman with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, holds the guide-on after the corporal’s course motivational hike Sept. 26, 2013 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. A total of 54 corporals started the course and graduated Sept. 27, 2013.

Photo by Pfc. Jose A. Mendez Jr.

Corporals with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, follow as Sgt. Maj. Brett C. Scheuer, the battalion sergeant major leads from the front during the motivational hike for the battalion’s corporal’s course aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Sept. 26, 2013. “I am very proud of the corporals,” Scheuer said. “They have exceeded my expectations and the lieutenant colonel’s expectations.”

Photo by Pfc. Jose A. Mendez Jr.

Corporal Joshua J. Craig, the police sergeant with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, carries a water jug during the corporal’s course motivational hike Sept. 26, 2013 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Craig was awarded the “Gung-Ho” Award at graduation for being the most influential Marine in the graduating class.

Photo by Pfc. Jose A. Mendez Jr.

Corporals with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, take part in a motivational hike for the battalion’s corporal’s course aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Sept. 26, 2013. The Marines had to complete the hike while carrying water jugs, ammo cans, sand bags and sledge hammers.

Photo by Pfc. Jose A. Mendez Jr.

Marines and sailors with 1st Battalion, 10 Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division use pack mules to transport their food, water and ammunition in the rugged terrain of Toiyabe National Forest, Calif., while participating in Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training from Aug. 14 through Sept. 14, 2013. Because of the high elevations where the training took place the Marine couldn’t depend on helicopter support for resupply. Similarly, the rugged terrain prevented trucks and other motorized vehicles from conducting resupply missions, so the service members relied the animals to transport there equipment and supplies.

Photo by courtesy photo

A Marine with 1st Battalion, 10 Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division scales a cliff face during mountaineering training while participating in Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training from Aug. 14 through Sept. 14, 2013. More than 650 Marines and sailors, from 2nd Marine Division and 2nd Marine Logistics Group, as well as Canadian soldiers with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, took part in the month-long training conducted in Toiyabe National Forest, Calif.

Photo by courtesy photo

A foreign naval attaché observes snipers conducting a platoon fire and maneuver attack conducted by 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment 2nd Marine Division, at Range G-6 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. A total of 18 countries were a part of the 2013 fall tour for naval attachés from Sept. 23 through 24.

Photo by Pfc. Jose A. Mendez Jr.

Foreign naval attachés observe a platoon fire and maneuver attack conducted by 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, at Range G-6 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. A total of 18 countries were a part of the 2013 fall tour for naval attachés from Sept. 23 through 24.

Photo by Pfc. Jose A. Mendez Jr.