II MEF News

1st Lt. Ashley Velez, Headquarters and Support Company executive officer, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, and Gunnery Sgt. Nathaniel Gager, H&S company gunnery sergeant, 2nd CEB, have a discussion about a map displayed at the Warfighter Training Symposium at Marston Pavilion on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 24, 2020. The symposium is held annually to familiarize MCB Camp Lejeune leaders about the training capabilities on the more than 120,000 acres of range training areas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Dominique Osthoff) - 1st Lt. Ashley Velez, Headquarters and Support Company executive officer, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, and Gunnery Sgt. Nathaniel Gager, H&S company gunnery sergeant, 2nd CEB, have a discussion about a map displayed at the Warfighter Training Symposium at Marston Pavilion on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 24, 2020. The symposium is held annually to familiarize MCB Camp Lejeune leaders about the training capabilities on the more than 120,000 acres of range training areas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Dominique Osthoff)

Second Lady, Karen Pence, gives her remarks during an interview following a meeting with military spouses at the Marston Pavilion on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 30, 2020. In the fall of 2018, Pence launched an awareness campaign to promote and encourage military spouses. Since then, Pence has been traveling domestically and internationally, addressing military spouse employment challenges. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ginnie Lee) - Second Lady, Karen Pence, gives her remarks during an interview following a meeting with military spouses at the Marston Pavilion on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 30, 2020. In the fall of 2018, Pence launched an awareness campaign to promote and encourage military spouses. Since then, Pence has been traveling domestically and internationally, addressing military spouse employment challenges. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ginnie Lee)

(Left) Col. Frank N. Latt, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, (middle) Assistant Wing Commander, Maj. Gen. Edward D. Banta, Commander, Marine Corps Installations Command, Assistant Deputy Commandant, and (right) Col. Timothy P. Miller, Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort cut the ceremonious ribbon to commemorate the expansion and modernization of Townsend Bombing Range, the East Coast’s premier air-to-ground bombing range. The range has expanded from 5,183 acres to 33,834 acres which now allows pilots and air crews to train with precision guided munitions. TBR will continue to allow our pilots to train to deploy without deploying to train. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nicholas Buss) - (Left) Col. Frank N. Latt, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, (middle) Assistant Wing Commander, Maj. Gen. Edward D. Banta, Commander, Marine Corps Installations Command, Assistant Deputy Commandant, and (right) Col. Timothy P. Miller, Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort cut the ceremonious ribbon to commemorate the expansion and modernization of Townsend Bombing Range, the East Coast’s premier air-to-ground bombing range. The range has expanded from 5,183 acres to 33,834 acres which now allows pilots and air crews to train with precision guided munitions. TBR will continue to allow our pilots to train to deploy without deploying to train. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nicholas Buss)

From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. William L. Koeppe, career planner, Staff Sgt. Nils A. Aylor II, motor vehicle operator, U.S. Navy Hospitalman third class Josh A. Johnson, 8th Marine Regiment, lay wreaths during the 35th Beirut Memorial Observance Ceremony at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, N.C., Oct. 23, 2018. A memorial observance is held on Oct. 23 of each year to remember those lives lost during the terrorist attacks at U.S. Marine Barracks, Beirut, Lebanon and Grenada. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Isaiah Gomez) - From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. William L. Koeppe, career planner, Staff Sgt. Nils A. Aylor II, motor vehicle operator, U.S. Navy Hospitalman third class Josh A. Johnson, 8th Marine Regiment, lay wreaths during the 35th Beirut Memorial Observance Ceremony at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, N.C., Oct. 23, 2018. A memorial observance is held on Oct. 23 of each year to remember those lives lost during the terrorist attacks at U.S. Marine Barracks, Beirut, Lebanon and Grenada. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Isaiah Gomez)

Marine Sgt. Cesar Garcia performs preventative maintenance on an AV-8B Harrier II during exercise Banzai Badlands in Sioux Falls, S.D., Oct. 11, 2019. Marine Attack Squadron 231 and the 114th Fighter Wing of the South Dakota Air National Guard participated in a three-day exercise consisting of simulated air-to-air combat and air-to-ground strikes. Garcia is an avionic technician with VMA-231, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gavin Umboh) - Marine Sgt. Cesar Garcia performs preventative maintenance on an AV-8B Harrier II during exercise Banzai Badlands in Sioux Falls, S.D., Oct. 11, 2019. Marine Attack Squadron 231 and the 114th Fighter Wing of the South Dakota Air National Guard participated in a three-day exercise consisting of simulated air-to-air combat and air-to-ground strikes. Garcia is an avionic technician with VMA-231, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gavin Umboh)

Lance Cpl. Fabian Vigil (left) and Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Fox prepare an AV-8B II Harrier attack jet for take-off during a training mission with the 175th Fighter Squadron, 114th Fighter Wing at Joe Foss Field, Sioux Falls, S.D, Oct. 5, 2019. Marine Attack Squadron 231 and 175th FS, 114th FW are participating in force-on-force training consisting of simulated air-to-air combat and air-to-ground strikes to enhance interoperability and readiness. Fabian and Fox are aircraft ordnance technicians with VMA-231. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gavin Umboh) - Lance Cpl. Fabian Vigil (left) and Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Fox prepare an AV-8B II Harrier attack jet for take-off during a training mission with the 175th Fighter Squadron, 114th Fighter Wing at Joe Foss Field, Sioux Falls, S.D, Oct. 5, 2019. Marine Attack Squadron 231 and 175th FS, 114th FW are participating in force-on-force training consisting of simulated air-to-air combat and air-to-ground strikes to enhance interoperability and readiness. Fabian and Fox are aircraft ordnance technicians with VMA-231. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gavin Umboh)

(From left to right) U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Sean Wetherill, Maj. Bryan Boyle, both Maritime Preposition Force Staff Planning Course instructors, and Pfc. Leslie Bowie, a logistics embarkation specialist with 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, G-4, pose for a photo during the MPF Staff Planning Course at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 11, 2019. This was an annual training course intended to help align II Marine Expeditionary Force and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade with the Commandant’s Planning Guidance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Campbell) - (From left to right) U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Sean Wetherill, Maj. Bryan Boyle, both Maritime Preposition Force Staff Planning Course instructors, and Pfc. Leslie Bowie, a logistics embarkation specialist with 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, G-4, pose for a photo during the MPF Staff Planning Course at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 11, 2019. This was an annual training course intended to help align II Marine Expeditionary Force and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade with the Commandant’s Planning Guidance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

Gunnery Sgt. Zachary S. Crone, right, speaks with Marine Cpl. Trevor W. Allen during Exercise Pegasus Flight at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Sept. 30, 2019. Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 28 supported Pegasus Flight by planning, commanding, directing and supervising all air operations as the tactical air command center for the exercise. Crone is a tactical air defense controller and Allen is a air support operations operator with MTACS-28, Marine Air Control Group 28, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Steven M. Walls) - Gunnery Sgt. Zachary S. Crone, right, speaks with Marine Cpl. Trevor W. Allen during Exercise Pegasus Flight at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Sept. 30, 2019. Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 28 supported Pegasus Flight by planning, commanding, directing and supervising all air operations as the tactical air command center for the exercise. Crone is a tactical air defense controller and Allen is a air support operations operator with MTACS-28, Marine Air Control Group 28, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Steven M. Walls)

U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide security during a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel mission as part of composite training unit exercise in the vicinity of Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 19, 2019. Bataan is underway conducting a COMPTUEX with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and 26th MEU. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gary Jayne III) - U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide security during a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel mission as part of composite training unit exercise in the vicinity of Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 19, 2019. Bataan is underway conducting a COMPTUEX with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and 26th MEU. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gary Jayne III)