A 2000 pound inert Guided Bomb Unit 24 impacts the target area during the 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, close air support exercise Sept. 11. An F-15 from 333rd Fighter Squadron, based out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, dropped the GBU-24. - A 2000 pound inert Guided Bomb Unit 24 impacts the target area during the 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, close air support exercise Sept. 11. An F-15 from 333rd Fighter Squadron, based out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, dropped the GBU-24.

Marines participating in the 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Basic Intelligence Training Course perform basic functions checks on a signal device aboard Camp Lejeune, August 14. Marines performed a variety of skills and tasks that helped simulate a deployment style scenario during the exercise. - Marines participating in the 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Basic Intelligence Training Course perform basic functions checks on a signal device aboard Camp Lejeune, August 14. Marines performed a variety of skills and tasks that helped simulate a deployment style scenario during the exercise.

Royal Engineers Capt. Selwyn Fisher poses with the commanding officer of the Engineering Tolai, 4th Combat Support Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 215 Corps, near Patrol Base Sparta June 5. Fisher, a member of Kandak Advisor Team 40, presented the ANA with a certificate of completion which marked the end of hands-on support to the tolai. All Security Force Assistance provided within the 215 Corps is now conducted at the kandak, or battalion, level and higher. (Photo by U.S. Marine Sgt. Bobby J. Yarbrough) - Royal Engineers Capt. Selwyn Fisher poses with the commanding officer of the Engineering Tolai, 4th Combat Support Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 215 Corps, near Patrol Base Sparta June 5. Fisher, a member of Kandak Advisor Team 40, presented the ANA with a certificate of completion which marked the end of hands-on support to the tolai. All Security Force Assistance provided within the 215 Corps is now conducted at the kandak, or battalion, level and higher. (Photo by U.S. Marine Sgt. Bobby J. Yarbrough)

On May 22, United States Marines of 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division participated in a training exhibition with the French 21st Marine Infantry Regiment, in Frejus, France. The Marines learned about French weapons systems, including the FAMAS G2 assault rifle. Afterward, they were given the opportunity to fire the weapons on a French military operated rifle range. also used kayaks to venture into the Mediterranean Sea, providing them with an opportunity to learn about many of the French marine's reconnaissance tactics. (Official Marine Corps photo by: Cpl. Daniel A. Wulz) - On May 22, United States Marines of 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division participated in a training exhibition with the French 21st Marine Infantry Regiment, in Frejus, France. The Marines learned about French weapons systems, including the FAMAS G2 assault rifle. Afterward, they were given the opportunity to fire the weapons on a French military operated rifle range. also used kayaks to venture into the Mediterranean Sea, providing them with an opportunity to learn about many of the French marine's reconnaissance tactics. (Official Marine Corps photo by: Cpl. Daniel A. Wulz)

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus talks with Marines and Sailors during a junior leaders breakfast at Camp Leatherneck May 14. Mabus' visit marked the 11th time he has traveled to Afghanistan since taking office. Mabus said his passion for visiting troops serving in Afghanistan has grown over the last four years and meeting with them is still undeniably the best part of his job. (Photo by Sgt. Bobby J. Yarbrough) - Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus talks with Marines and Sailors during a junior leaders breakfast at Camp Leatherneck May 14. Mabus' visit marked the 11th time he has traveled to Afghanistan since taking office. Mabus said his passion for visiting troops serving in Afghanistan has grown over the last four years and meeting with them is still undeniably the best part of his job. (Photo by Sgt. Bobby J. Yarbrough)

Six MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 arrived here April, 27 in support of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Crisis Response (SP-MAGTF CR). The fleet of six executed the longest and largest transatlantic flight of any MV-22B squadron to date, traveling from Marine Corps Air Station New River. The MV-22B Ospreys, along with two KC-130J aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 and other command and control assets and support staff make up the aviation command element for SP-MAGTF CR. SP-MAGTF CR will provide limited defense crisis response in support of U.S. Embassies in the region, to support non-combatant evacuation operations, humanitarian disaster relief operations or provide recovery capabilities. - Six MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 arrived here April, 27 in support of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Crisis Response (SP-MAGTF CR). The fleet of six executed the longest and largest transatlantic flight of any MV-22B squadron to date, traveling from Marine Corps Air Station New River. The MV-22B Ospreys, along with two KC-130J aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 and other command and control assets and support staff make up the aviation command element for SP-MAGTF CR. SP-MAGTF CR will provide limited defense crisis response in support of U.S. Embassies in the region, to support non-combatant evacuation operations, humanitarian disaster relief operations or provide recovery capabilities.

Maj. Jade Campbell, representing Marine Aircraft Group 29, briefs Marines, Sailors and coalition partners at a rehearsal of concept drill for Bold Alligator 2013 at Camp Allen Norfolk, Va., April 20. Bold Alligator 13 is a synthetic, scenario-driven exercise designed to train staffs primarily from 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Expeditionary Strike Group 2 in an effort to continue revitalizing and improving their ability to integrate and execute large-scale operations from the sea. The scale of this operation dwarfs a standard Marine Expeditionary Unit-Amphibious Ready Group team, which includes three amphibious assault ships with approximately 2,300 Marines and 2,000 Sailors embarked. - Maj. Jade Campbell, representing Marine Aircraft Group 29, briefs Marines, Sailors and coalition partners at a rehearsal of concept drill for Bold Alligator 2013 at Camp Allen Norfolk, Va., April 20. Bold Alligator 13 is a synthetic, scenario-driven exercise designed to train staffs primarily from 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Expeditionary Strike Group 2 in an effort to continue revitalizing and improving their ability to integrate and execute large-scale operations from the sea. The scale of this operation dwarfs a standard Marine Expeditionary Unit-Amphibious Ready Group team, which includes three amphibious assault ships with approximately 2,300 Marines and 2,000 Sailors embarked.

Military working dogs sniffed every nook and cranny of each room, office and common area at the barracks of 8th Engineer Support Battalion aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, along with four parking lots and approximately 200 cars while searching for illegal drugs and contraband during a health-and-comfort inspection March 4. Law Enforcement assets, such as the military working dogs, offered an advantage to the inspections. The dogs have at a minimum a 90 percent accuracy rate when seeking narcotics and many are even more proficient. - Military working dogs sniffed every nook and cranny of each room, office and common area at the barracks of 8th Engineer Support Battalion aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, along with four parking lots and approximately 200 cars while searching for illegal drugs and contraband during a health-and-comfort inspection March 4. Law Enforcement assets, such as the military working dogs, offered an advantage to the inspections. The dogs have at a minimum a 90 percent accuracy rate when seeking narcotics and many are even more proficient.

Major Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) commanding general, gives a speech during the Regional Command (Southwest) Transfer of Authority ceremony here, Feb. 28. The Marines I MEF (Fwd) redeployed back to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., after a year of fighting the insurgency and transitioning the fight to Afghan-led operations. (U.S. Army photo by Bill Putnam/Released) - Major Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) commanding general, gives a speech during the Regional Command (Southwest) Transfer of Authority ceremony here, Feb. 28. The Marines I MEF (Fwd) redeployed back to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., after a year of fighting the insurgency and transitioning the fight to Afghan-led operations. (U.S. Army photo by Bill Putnam/Released)