II MEF News

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. LeRoy Barton, a pilot who served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War, speaks during an interview in New Bern, North Carolina May 29, 2025. As the Marine Corps commemorates 250 years of unwavering dedication to the nation and looks to the future, we honor heroes like Barton who has paved the way for our legacy through selfless commitment to the Marine Corps and our country. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Naimah Green) - Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. LeRoy Barton, a pilot who served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War, speaks during an interview in New Bern, North Carolina May 29, 2025. As the Marine Corps commemorates 250 years of unwavering dedication to the nation and looks to the future, we honor heroes like Barton who has paved the way for our legacy through selfless commitment to the Marine Corps and our country. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Naimah Green)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kevin Madriaga, an air traffic control communications technician, with Air Traffic Control Platoon completes a process called “turn ups” to ensure communications between aircraft and the tower are intact, at Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Aug. 25, 2025. Madriaga, the recipient of the August MCAS New River Go-Getter award, enlisted in March of 2022 from Sacramento, California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Yvonna Guyette) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kevin Madriaga, an air traffic control communications technician, with Air Traffic Control Platoon completes a process called “turn ups” to ensure communications between aircraft and the tower are intact, at Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Aug. 25, 2025. Madriaga, the recipient of the August MCAS New River Go-Getter award, enlisted in March of 2022 from Sacramento, California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Yvonna Guyette)

Marines use a 5G expeditionary transmission system during a field training exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C. - Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force Communication Strategy and Operations use a 5G expeditionary transmission system during a field training exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 21, 2025. The system enables forward-deployed units to securely transmit high-resolution imagery and video in real time from austere environments. The training allowed Marines to evaluate the system’s speed, reliability, and ease of use under realistic operational conditions. (Official Marine Corps Systems Command photo by Joel Rivera-Camacho) (This photo has been altered to remove implied endorsement by blurring a company logo.)

Camp Lejeune FESD Named 2024 Fire Department of the Year - Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Fire and Emergency Services Division (FESD) was named the 2024 Marine Corps Fire Department of the Year. FESD also received the 2024 Marine Corps Fire Prevention Program award.

U.S. Marines plan a simulated air assault mission as part of Assault Support Planning Problem (ASPP) 1-26 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, Aug. 7, 2025. ASPP provides pilots with the opportunity to plan, brief and lead a company air assault mission prior to attending the Marine Corps’ Weapons and Tactics Instructor course. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Anakin Smith) - U.S. Marines plan a simulated air assault mission as part of Assault Support Planning Problem (ASPP) 1-26 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, Aug. 7, 2025. ASPP provides pilots with the opportunity to plan, brief and lead a company air assault mission prior to attending the Marine Corps’ Weapons and Tactics Instructor course. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Anakin Smith)

U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion, 2d Marine Logistic Group, 2d Marine Division convoys as part of Advanced Motorized Operations Course during Service Level Training Exercise 4-25, at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, July 24, 2025. SLTE 4-25 is designed to be a challenging, realistic training environment that produces combat-ready forces capable of operating as an integrated Marine Air Ground Task Force across all domains of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Judith Ann Lazaro) - U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion, 2d Marine Logistic Group, 2d Marine Division convoys as part of Advanced Motorized Operations Course during Service Level Training Exercise 4-25, at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, July 24, 2025. SLTE 4-25 is designed to be a challenging, realistic training environment that produces combat-ready forces capable of operating as an integrated Marine Air Ground Task Force across all domains of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Judith Ann Lazaro)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Aaron Smith, an expeditionary firefighting and rescue specialist with Aircraft, Rescue, and Firefighting, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, stands beside a P-19R ARFF truck at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, July 11, 2025. Marines with ARFF conducted pit drills to practice advancing toward a simulated fuel fire, pushing it into a single location and suppressing the fire, with goals of sharpening communication skills and building teamwork and trust on the firegrounds. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samantha Rodriguez) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Aaron Smith, an expeditionary firefighting and rescue specialist with Aircraft, Rescue, and Firefighting, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, stands beside a P-19R ARFF truck at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, July 11, 2025.

Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 barracks’ newly renovated kitchen awaits guests prior to the grand opening ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, July 2, 2025. MCAS Cherry Point opens the Warrior Athlete Readiness and Resilience Kitchen to promote healthy lifestyle choices with the sampling of recipes from the WARR recipe cookbook, and to enhance Marines' quality of life in the barracks with the addition of a new hooded oven, refrigerator, air fryer, microwave, and cooking utensils. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by PFC. Sorayma Garcia) - Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 barracks’ newly renovated kitchen awaits guests prior to the grand opening ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, July 2, 2025.

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Carolan Whitney, left, receives feedback from Lt. Allison Dilan, bothmedical officers with 2nd Medical Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, instructs a studentduring a Tier IV Tactical Combat Casualty Care Course at the Battle Skills Training School,Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, July 21, 2025. This was the first ever Tier IV TCCC hosted by a Marine Corps command and the first course executed by U.S. Navy personnel on the East Coast. The course trains select military service members to become proficient combat paramedics capable of providing advanced casualty care at the point of injury on the battlefield and in austere environments. - U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Carolan Whitney, left, receives feedback from Lt. Allison Dilan, both medical officers with 2nd Medical Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, instructs a student during a Tier IV Tactical Combat Casualty Care Course at the Battle Skills Training School, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, July 21, 2025. This was the first ever Tier IV TCCC hosted by a Marine Corps command and the first course executed by U.S. Navy personnel on the East Coast. The course trains select military service members to become proficient combat paramedics capable of providing advanced casualty care at the point of injury on the battlefield and in austere environments.

U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. James W. Lively, commanding general of Task Force 61/2 meets with U.S. Navy Vice Adm. J. T. Anderson, commander of U.S. 6th Fleet, aboard the Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) in Gaeta, Italy, on Aug. 6, 2025. This engagement marked the first official meeting between the two leaders since Lively assumed command of Task Force 61/2. Task Force 61/2 is deployed in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to advance U.S., Allied and partner interests, and support the warfighting effectiveness, lethality and readiness of U.S. Naval and Marine Corps forces in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cameron Edy) - U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. James W. Lively, commanding general of Task Force 61/2 meets with U.S. Navy Vice Adm. J. T. Anderson, commander of U.S. 6th Fleet, aboard the Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) in Gaeta, Italy, on Aug. 6, 2025. This engagement marked the first official meeting between the two leaders since Lively assumed command of Task Force 61/2. Task Force 61/2 is deployed in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to advance U.S., Allied and partner interests, and support the warfighting effectiveness, lethality and readiness of U.S. Naval and Marine Corps forces in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cameron Edy)