II MEF News

Cpl. Kenneth Doyle and Cpl. Rick Colts, both military working dog handlers with Military Working Dog Platoon, Military Police Support Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, fire an M2 .50-caliber machine gun during a field exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 28, 2010. The exercise was designed to help the Marines of MP Support Co. sustain their proficiency with different weapons they’ll be using while deployed, as well as acclimate their military working dogs to the sounds of combat. - Cpl. Kenneth Doyle and Cpl. Rick Colts, both military working dog handlers with Military Working Dog Platoon, Military Police Support Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, fire an M2 .50-caliber machine gun during a field exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 28, 2010. The exercise was designed to help the Marines of MP Support Co. sustain their proficiency with different weapons they’ll be using while deployed, as well as acclimate their military working dogs to the sounds of combat.

Members of the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group motorcycle mentorship program gather in a parking lot in New River, N.C., before their ride to Myrtle Beach, S.C., Aug. 27, 2010. Motorcycle owners in II MHG participate in periodic rides together, where they not only talk about safety on the road, but also put their words into action. - Members of the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group motorcycle mentorship program gather in a parking lot in New River, N.C., before their ride to Myrtle Beach, S.C., Aug. 27, 2010. Motorcycle owners in II MHG participate in periodic rides together, where they not only talk about safety on the road, but also put their words into action.

A Marine with II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group fires an AK47 during foreign weapons training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 26, 2010. Training with foreign weapons provides Marines an opportunity to operate weapons used by NATO forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel A. Wulz) - A Marine with II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group fires an AK47 during foreign weapons training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 26, 2010. Training with foreign weapons provides Marines an opportunity to operate weapons used by NATO forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel A. Wulz)

Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan (right), commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), and Sgt. Maj. Michael F. Jones, sergeant major of II MEF (Fwd), uncase the II MEF (Fwd) colors, symbolizing the unit’s activation during a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 20, 2010. This activation marks the fourth time since the Global War on Terror began in March 2003 that II MEF (Fwd) will take the lead for counter-insurgency and security and stability operations in the Middle East, but this will be the unit’s first time to do so in Afghanistan. - Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan (right), commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), and Sgt. Maj. Michael F. Jones, sergeant major of II MEF (Fwd), uncase the II MEF (Fwd) colors, symbolizing the unit’s activation during a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 20, 2010. This activation marks the fourth time since the Global War on Terror began in March 2003 that II MEF (Fwd) will take the lead for counter-insurgency and security and stability operations in the Middle East, but this will be the unit’s first time to do so in Afghanistan.

Marines of 5th Platoon, Company C, Marine Corps Security Forces Regiment, II Marine Expeditionary Force, stationed out of Naval Station Norfolk, Va., stand ready to oppose a simulated hostile force using non-lethal weapons and tactics at the Movement on Urban Terrain facilities aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 10, 2010. During a five-day mission readiness exercise, the Marines were evaluated on how they employed the different skill sets they have been taught during the past nine months in preparation for a seven-month deployment to Bahrain. - Marines of 5th Platoon, Company C, Marine Corps Security Forces Regiment, II Marine Expeditionary Force, stationed out of Naval Station Norfolk, Va., stand ready to oppose a simulated hostile force using non-lethal weapons and tactics at the Movement on Urban Terrain facilities aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 10, 2010. During a five-day mission readiness exercise, the Marines were evaluated on how they employed the different skill sets they have been taught during the past nine months in preparation for a seven-month deployment to Bahrain.

The master chief petty officer of the Navy, Master Chief Petty Officer Rick D. West, speaks to a Marine during his tour through the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, battalion aid station aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Aug. 3, 2010. The MCPON spent two days meeting sailors and visiting different areas throughout the base. - The master chief petty officer of the Navy, Master Chief Petty Officer Rick D. West, speaks to a Marine during his tour through the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, battalion aid station aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Aug. 3, 2010. The MCPON spent two days meeting sailors and visiting different areas throughout the base.

An Iraqi police dispatcher monitors a radio during the elections in Dhi Qar province, Iraq, March 7, 2010. The Marines with Military Transition Team 0130, assisted the Iraqi police and army with security for the elections in Mosul, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Robert Sheets) - An Iraqi police dispatcher monitors a radio during the elections in Dhi Qar province, Iraq, March 7, 2010. The Marines with Military Transition Team 0130, assisted the Iraqi police and army with security for the elections in Mosul, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Robert Sheets)

Marines from various stations on the East Coast work as a team to maintain a Panama City Generation III Mine Roller System attached to a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected tactical vehicle aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 2, 2010. The Marines took part in a three-day training evolution to learn how to maintain and operate the newly upgraded mine roller system that is currently being employed by the Marine Corps in Afghanistan. - Marines from various stations on the East Coast work as a team to maintain a Panama City Generation III Mine Roller System attached to a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected tactical vehicle aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 2, 2010. The Marines took part in a three-day training evolution to learn how to maintain and operate the newly upgraded mine roller system that is currently being employed by the Marine Corps in Afghanistan.

Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik (left), commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, greets Gen. James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, as he arrives aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Aug. 5, 2010. Conway, accompanied by Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, toured Marine Corps bases and air stations along the East Coast Aug. 4-6, and took the opportunity to hold town hall-style meetings with the Marines and sailors stationed there. - Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik (left), commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, greets Gen. James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, as he arrives aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Aug. 5, 2010. Conway, accompanied by Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, toured Marine Corps bases and air stations along the East Coast Aug. 4-6, and took the opportunity to hold town hall-style meetings with the Marines and sailors stationed there.

Marines representing the major subordinate commands of II Marine Expeditionary Force conduct a relinquishment of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Aug. 6, 2010. Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik, relinquished command to assume duties as the commanding general of Marine Corps Forces Command. Major Gen. John A. Toolan will serve as the acting commander until the next II MEF commanding general is identified. - Marines representing the major subordinate commands of II Marine Expeditionary Force conduct a relinquishment of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Aug. 6, 2010. Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik, relinquished command to assume duties as the commanding general of Marine Corps Forces Command. Major Gen. John A. Toolan will serve as the acting commander until the next II MEF commanding general is identified.