II MEF News

Maj. Gen. Stephen Neary, II Marine Expeditionary Force deputy commanding general, and Rear Adm. Matthew A. Zirkle, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa chief of staff, discuss Navy and Marine Corps expeditionary capabilities during Maritime Preposition Force Exercise 20 at U.S. Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, Feb. 12, 2020. MPFEX 20 demonstrates the ability of a Navy Marine Corps team to deploy, employ and redeploy a staff capable of commanding and controlling forces in support of operations in Europe. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Hector de Jesus) - Maj. Gen. Stephen Neary, II Marine Expeditionary Force deputy commanding general, and Rear Adm. Matthew A. Zirkle, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa chief of staff, discuss Navy and Marine Corps expeditionary capabilities during Maritime Preposition Force Exercise 20 at U.S. Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, Feb. 12, 2020. MPFEX 20 demonstrates the ability of a Navy Marine Corps team to deploy, employ and redeploy a staff capable of commanding and controlling forces in support of operations in Europe. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Hector de Jesus)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Christian Drumheller, right, a mortarman with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, loads an M375-series smoke cartridge into an M252 mortar tube during Exercise Fireball Eagle at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 4, 2020. The training consisted of multiple scenarios using aircraft and ground support fire to simulate real warfighting situations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian Bolin Jr.) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Christian Drumheller, right, a mortarman with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, loads an M375-series smoke cartridge into an M252 mortar tube during Exercise Fireball Eagle at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 4, 2020. The training consisted of multiple scenarios using aircraft and ground support fire to simulate real warfighting situations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian Bolin Jr.)

U.S. Marines and Sailors travel to the USNS Lopez (T-AK 3010) by the ship’s tender boat to begin Maritime Prepositioning Force Exercise 20, in the Atlantic Ocean, Feb. 9, 2020. MPFEX 20 is a military exercise in which Marines and Sailors work together to offload and process military equipment from a single MPF ship, the USNS Lopez (T-AK 3010). The exercise is a rehearsal of the Marines and Sailors’ ability to conduct safe, efficient offloads while in a tactical environment while working in close coordination with their 2nd and 6th Fleet counterparts to enhance the rapid and scalable deployment of naval expeditionary forces in European theater. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rachel K. Young-Porter) - U.S. Marines and Sailors travel to the USNS Lopez (T-AK 3010) by the ship’s tender boat to begin Maritime Prepositioning Force Exercise 20, in the Atlantic Ocean, Feb. 9, 2020. MPFEX 20 is a military exercise in which Marines and Sailors work together to offload and process military equipment from a single MPF ship, the USNS Lopez (T-AK 3010). The exercise is a rehearsal of the Marines and Sailors’ ability to conduct safe, efficient offloads while in a tactical environment while working in close coordination with their 2nd and 6th Fleet counterparts to enhance the rapid and scalable deployment of naval expeditionary forces in European theater. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rachel K. Young-Porter)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Iden D. Swartzentruber, engineer equipment operator, 2nd Transportation Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, poses for a portrait in the Kalmar Rough Terrain Container Handler following a vehicle offload during Maritime Prepositioning Force Exercise 20, on Blount Island Command, Fla., Feb. 4, 2020. MPFEX 20 is a military exercise in which Marines and Sailors worked together to offload and process military equipment from a single MPF ship, the USNS Lopez (T-AK 3010). The exercise is a rehearsal of the Marines and Sailors’ ability to conduct safe, efficient offloads while in a tactical environment while working in close coordination with their 2nd and 6th Fleet counterparts to enhance the rapid and scalable deployment of naval expeditionary forces in European theaters. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rachel K. Young-Porter) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Iden D. Swartzentruber, engineer equipment operator, 2nd Transportation Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, poses for a portrait in the Kalmar Rough Terrain Container Handler following a vehicle offload during Maritime Prepositioning Force Exercise 20, on Blount Island Command, Fla., Feb. 4, 2020. MPFEX 20 is a military exercise in which Marines and Sailors worked together to offload and process military equipment from a single MPF ship, the USNS Lopez (T-AK 3010). The exercise is a rehearsal of the Marines and Sailors’ ability to conduct safe, efficient offloads while in a tactical environment while working in close coordination with their 2nd and 6th Fleet counterparts to enhance the rapid and scalable deployment of naval expeditionary forces in European theaters. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rachel K. Young-Porter)

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)