II MEF News

VMUT-2 serves as the Marine Corps' MQ-9A Reaper Fleet Replacement Squadron, whose primary mission is to train MQ-9 pilots and sensor operators in their respective military occupational specialties. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Akeel Austin) - A U.S. Marine Corps MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aircraft system with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Squadron (VMUT) 2 taxis at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Nov. 21, 2024. VMUT-2 serves as the Marine Corps' MQ-9A Reaper Fleet Replacement Squadron, whose primary mission is to train MQ-9 pilots and sensor operators in their respective military occupational specialties. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Akeel Austin)

VMUT-2 conducts first MQ-9A Reaper flight aboard MCAS Cherry Point

Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Squadron (VMUT) 2, a subordinate unit of Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), conducted its first MQ-9A Reaper flight aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point today.

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U.S. Marine Corps SSgt. Charles Copeland, a Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), poses for a photo while students of his Marine Corps Martial Arts Program course compete in a grappling session, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Nov. 7, 2024. Copeland hosted a MCMAP course for Marines of the 26th MEU to advance in their MCMAP belts and prepare them for hand-to-hand combat. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Osmar VasquezHernandez) - U.S. Marine Corps SSgt. Charles Copeland, a Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), poses for a photo while students of his Marine Corps Martial Arts Program course compete in a grappling session, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Nov. 7, 2024. Copeland hosted a MCMAP course for Marines of the 26th MEU to advance in their MCMAP belts and prepare them for hand-to-hand combat. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Osmar VasquezHernandez)

Faces of the 26th MEU - SSgt. Charles Copeland

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Martial arts and combative sports are a skillset many people use for various ways. Some want to learn how to defend themselves in case they are ever attacked. Others have been involved in these sports for years and compete professionally. For U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Charles Copeland, the fire and effects coordination center chief at the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), martial arts and combative sports taught him how to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

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U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Jeremiah Benjamin, left, a native of Nacogdoches, Texas and the signals intelligence and electronic warfare chief with Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division, sits alongside his family during his retirement ceremony on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Nov. 8, 2024. The ceremony was held to honor Master Sgt. Benjamin’s 20 years of dedicated service. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexander Canal Photo.) - U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Jeremiah Benjamin, left, a native of Nacogdoches, Texas and the signals intelligence and electronic warfare chief with Headquarters Battalion, 2d Marine Division, sits alongside his family during his retirement ceremony on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Nov. 8, 2024. The ceremony was held to honor Master Sgt. Benjamin’s 20 years of dedicated service. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexander Canal Photo.)

Legacy Comes to Close: Marine Master Sergeant’s Retirement Completes Three Generations of Service

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C - A rather unassuming Marine arrives at his office and is exchanging greeting with his leadership and subordinates as he has every morning for nearly two decades. This Marine will soon end his part of a legacy of service spanning three generations.

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TRAFFIC ADVISORY: McHugh Blvd Closure, Nov. 18 to Dec. 30

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: McHugh Blvd Closure, Nov. 18 to Dec. 30Due to a military construction project,

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U.S. Marines and Sailors with Task Force 61/2 pose for a group photo at Naval Support Activity, Naples, Italy, Oct. 10, 2024. Task Force 61/2's synchronized command and control of assigned forces and seamless integration with U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, U.S. Sixth Fleet and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa directly supports regional readiness, crisis response, and deterrence in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command area of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Marc Imprevert) - U.S. Marines and Sailors with Task Force 61/2 pose for a group photo at Naval Support Activity, Naples, Italy, Oct. 10, 2024. Task Force 61/2's synchronized command and control of assigned forces and seamless integration with U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, U.S. Sixth Fleet and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa directly supports regional readiness, crisis response, and deterrence in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command area of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Marc Imprevert)

Task Force 61/2: Strengthening crisis response and amphibious readiness across Europe and Africa

NAPLES, Italy –Task Force 61/2 (TF 61/2) stands at the forefront of the Marine Corps and Navy's integration efforts in the Mediterranean, enhancing amphibious operations and ensuring that U.S. forces are always ready to respond to any crisis in the region. Based in Naples, Italy, TF 61/2 operates with a scalable presence, supporting Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) deployments in the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) theaters. When the ARG/MEU is not forward deployed in the EUCOM and AFRICOM areas of responsibilities, TF 61/2 maintains a smaller staff in Naples, ready to surge forward to command and control the ARG/MEU or respond to emerging crises in the European and African areas of responsibilities. TF 61/2 is currently staffed by Marines and Sailors from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2d MEB), a subordinate command of II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF). Currently, TF 61/2 is commanding and controlling the deployed Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (WSP ARG) composited with the 24th MEU Special Operations Capable (SOC), one of the Marine Corps' most adaptable and responsive forces. In addition to the ARG/MEU, when forward deployed, TF 61/2 exercises tactical control of Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team Company, Europe (FASTEUR), as well as reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance (RXR) forces and other deployed II MEF units as part of Marine Rotational Forces-Europe (MRF-E). The task force maintains an unwavering focus on readiness to respond to crisis, providing swift, flexible options for U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF), U.S. 6th Fleet and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa (MFEA). TF 61/2 embodies the Marine Corps’ commitment to naval integration, ensuring that the ARG/MEU team is capable and ready to execute amphibious operations, humanitarian assistance, crisis operations, and joint missions with NATO Allies and partners.

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U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Cody Merson, right, a squad leader with Golf Company, 2d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, assists a French Soldier with the 33rd Régiment D'Infanterie de Marine, as part of a small boat capsizing drill during Tres Kolos 24 on Camp Savaneta, Aruba, Oct. 15, 2024. U.S. Marines with 2/2 conducted a deployment for training to Aruba to conduct small-unit training while building camaraderie with the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, a NATO ally and routine training partner. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Antonino Mazzamuto) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Cody Merson, right, a squad leader with Golf Company, 2d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, assists a French Soldier with the 33rd Régiment D'Infanterie de Marine, as part of a small boat capsizing drill during Tres Kolos 24 on Camp Savaneta, Aruba, Oct. 15, 2024. U.S. Marines with 2/2 conducted a deployment for training to Aruba to conduct small-unit training while building camaraderie with the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, a NATO ally and routine training partner. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Antonino Mazzamuto)

Tres Kolos 24: Forging Allies, Testing Limits

Camp Savaneta, Aruba - U.S. Marines with Golf Company, 2d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division traveled to take part in Tres Kolos 24 at Camp Savaneta, a Royal Netherlands Marine Corps base on the small Caribbean island of Aruba on Oct. 11, 2024. Greeted by the intense humidity and heat of Aruba, Dutch and U.S. forces, along with French Soldiers from the 33rd Régiment D'Infanterie de Marine, joined forces for a two-week competition on Dutch Marine's home turf.

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Mr. Daniel Kelly gives a brief during a multination amphibious conference with NATO allied service members at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Oct. 2024. The multi nation conference facilitated U.S. Marine and NATO allies and partners in planning, integrating and informing amphibious and maritime operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aziza Kamuhanda) - Mr. Daniel Kelly gives a brief during a multination amphibious conference with NATO allied service members at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Oct. 2024. The multi nation conference facilitated U.S. Marine and NATO allies and partners in planning, integrating and informing amphibious and maritime operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aziza Kamuhanda)

II MEF HOSTS MULTINATION AMPHIBIOUS CONFERENCE

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Military leaders from across NATO allied nations came together in support of the Multination Amphibious Conference hosted by II Marine Expeditionary Force from Oct. 28 through Oct. 29. II MEF hosted British, Dutch, and Norwegian military members to participate in the conference to discuss future force design modernizations and integrate their force concepts as a cohesive, amphibious-capable collective.

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2nd Marine Aircraft Wing releases command investigation into F-35B Lightning II mishap in South Carolina on Sept. 17, 2023

The command investigation into the F-35B Lightning II mishap in South Carolina Sept. 17, 2023, has been completed by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) investigating officer and endorsed by the commanding general of 2nd MAW.

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Lt. Col. Steele accepted the Von Steuben Superior Unit Performance Award on behalf of 2nd MAW for their outstanding performance during their Comprehensive Command Inspection, demonstrating high levels of efficiency, integrity, and institutional readiness and setting the standard for other units to emulate through their performance during an IGMC inspection. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Darien Wright) - U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Adam Chalkley the inspector general of the Marine Corps, left, pose for photo with Lt. Col. Robert Steele a command inspector general with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at the Alfred M. Gray Marine Corps Research Center on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Oct. 22, 2024. Lt. Col. Steele accepted the Von Steuben Superior Unit Performance Award on behalf of 2nd MAW for their outstanding performance during their Comprehensive Command Inspection, demonstrating high levels of efficiency, integrity, and institutional readiness and setting the standard for other units to emulate through their performance during an IGMC inspection. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Darien Wright)

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing recognized for superior inspection performance with the General Friedrich von Steuben Superior Unit Performance Award

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) was recognized with the inaugural General Friedrich von Steuben Superior Unit Performance Award for superior performance during the Comprehensive Command Inspection (CCI), conducted earlier this year by the Inspector General of the Marine Corps (IGMC).

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MCAS New River Go-Getter: Lance Cpl. Andi LopezRojas - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Andi LopezRojas, an aviation operations specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, poses for a photo on MCAS New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Oct. 22, 2024. LopezRojas, the recipient of the October 2024 MCAS New River Go-Getter award, is a New Jersey native and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2022. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Zeta Johnson)

MCAS New River Go-Getter: Lance Cpl. Andi LopezRojas

“I’m willing to work hours and hours if that means getting the mission done,” said U.S. Marine Corps

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