II MEF News

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Malika Haines, left, a finance technician with Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, poses for a photo with Retired Sergeant Major Luis Levia, Manager of GEICO Military Affairs Team, following an award ceremony on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 17, 2025. Haines won the 2024 GEICO Service Member of the Year Award in recognition of her influence, both on and off duty within her civilian and military communities, throughout her Marine Corps career. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christian Salazar) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Malika Haines, left, a finance technician with Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, poses for a photo with Retired Sergeant Major Luis Levia, Manager of GEICO Military Affairs Team, following an award ceremony on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 17, 2025. Haines won the 2024 GEICO Service Member of the Year Award in recognition of her influence, both on and off duty within her civilian and military communities, throughout her Marine Corps career. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christian Salazar)

2nd MLG: 2024 GEICO Military Service Award Winner, Sgt. Malika Haines

The GEICO Military Service Award is a meritorious achievement that takes into account all of Haines’ off and on-duty contributions since becoming a Marine in June of 2020. The award is presented to one service member per military branch each year for selfless volunteerism and impacts made to the community. Available to service members ranked E-7 and below, the pool of candidates is vast and competitive.

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U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Steven Akridge (Right Center), from Virginia, a tactical air defense controller with Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS) 2, was awarded with a cowbell from Maj. Gen. William H. Swan, from Wisconsin, commanding general, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), alongside his staff at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, March 13, 2025. Cpl. Akridge was awarded the 2nd MAW commanding general's cowbell award for his outstanding performance as a datalink coordinator with Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Gavin Kulczewski) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Steven Akridge (Right Center), from Virginia, a tactical air defense controller with Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS) 2, was awarded with a cowbell from Maj. Gen. William H. Swan, from Wisconsin, commanding general, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), alongside his staff at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, March 13, 2025. Cpl. Akridge was awarded the 2nd MAW commanding general's cowbell award for his outstanding performance as a datalink coordinator with Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Gavin Kulczewski)

Impacting at every level: How one Lance Corporal’s innovation earned a Cowbell

The searing heat of Djibouti beat down around U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Steven Akridge, a Martinsville, Virginia, native and tactical air defense controller with Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS) 2, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW). He stared at the inoperable air surveillance system, a critical piece of equipment for 2nd MAW’s tactical air defense control unit. Without it, operations could be delayed, and the unit's mission could have been placed in jeopardy. Replacing or fixing the air surveillance system would take time. Instead of waiting on others, Lance Cpl. Akridge, knowing the unique position he was in, decided to take the initiative to correct the issue himself.

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U.S Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 272 refuel an MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 at an expeditionary landing zone near the U.S. Navy's Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center on Andros Island, Bahamas, Mar. 2, 2025. MWSS-272 deployed to the Bahamas to conduct aviation ground support rehearsals and refine distributed aviation operations for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mya Seymour) - U.S Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 272 refuel an MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 at an expeditionary landing zone near the U.S. Navy's Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center on Andros Island, Bahamas, Mar. 2, 2025. MWSS-272 deployed to the Bahamas to conduct aviation ground support rehearsals and refine distributed aviation operations for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mya Seymour)

2nd MAW units complete distributed aviation operations exercise in The Bahamas

Units with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) completed an exercise focused on distributed aviation operations (DAO) near the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) on Andros Island, Bahamas, Jan. 28 to Mar. 15.

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Photo - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David Odom, the commanding general of 2d Marine Division, and Brigadier General Seiler, Commanding General French Army’s 6th Light Armored Brigade, attend a commanders update brief regarding exercise operations during Joint Task Force Exercise 25 on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC, March 11, 2025. JTFEX 25 is conducted to execute Core Mission Essential Task readiness and ensure the capability to rapidly deploy to provide command and control as part of a Marine Air Ground Task Force or Naval Expeditionary force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Francis Hrosar)

2d Marine Division Enhance Joint Capabilities During JTFEX-25

2d Marine Division and 6 Light Armored Brigade command staffs trained together in Joint Task Force Exercise 25 (JTFEX-25), to practice command and control of a Marine Expeditionary Force sized Marine Air Ground Task Force in a dynamic operational scenario.  This training scenario enables 2d Marine Division and 6 Light Armored Brigade to grow closer as warfighting organizations and learn how to complement the strengths that each organization can leverage.  

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Destructive Weather Advisory

Severe Thunderstorm/Tornado Condition II for Camp Lejeune and New River until 7 PM: 45-60 kt wind

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U.S. Marines with Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, extract casualties in the course of a simulated night raid in support of Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Interoperability Exercise at Stone Bay on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Feb. 8, 2025. The raid is one of several training events within the Marine Air Ground Task Force Interoperability, a course conducted by Expeditionary Operations Training Group. This course is designed to train and evaluate integrated elements of the 22nd MEU across a variety of full mission profiles in a simulated peer threat environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Emily Hazelbaker) - U.S. Marines with Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, extract casualties in the course of a simulated night raid in support of Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Interoperability Exercise at Stone Bay on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Feb. 8, 2025. The raid is one of several training events within the Marine Air Ground Task Force Interoperability, a course conducted by Expeditionary Operations Training Group. This course is designed to train and evaluate integrated elements of the 22nd MEU across a variety of full mission profiles in a simulated peer threat environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Emily Hazelbaker)

22nd MEU Completes MAGTF Interoperability Exercise

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) recently completed the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Interoperability exercise, an event designed to assess the MEU’s warfighting capabilities in a simulated peer-threat environment. Conducted from Jan. 28 to Feb. 11, 2025, the exercise included a range of full-mission profiles to validate integration across various combat and support functions.

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U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Calvert Worth, the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), presents a Navy Civilian Meritorious Service Award to Kevin Johnson, the II MEF Command inspector general chief before a town hall meeting on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, February 21, 2025. Johnson was named the 2024 II MEF Civilian of the Year and given the award for his meritorious service. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rafael Brambila-Pelayo) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Calvert Worth, the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), presents a Navy Civilian Meritorious Service Award to Kevin Johnson, the II MEF Command inspector general chief before a town hall meeting on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, February 21, 2025. Johnson was named the 2024 II MEF Civilian of the Year and given the award for his meritorious service. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rafael Brambila-Pelayo)

II Marine Expeditionary Force Honors Civilian of the Quarter, Civilian of the Year

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – II Marine Expeditionary Force recently recognized two exceptional civilians for their outstanding contributions to the force. Erin Gordineer, executive assistant to the commanding general, was named Civilian of the Quarter for fourth quarter of 2024, while Kevin Johnson, a member of the II MEF inspector general’s office, was awarded 2024 Civilian of the Year. Both were honored during a ceremony on February 21, 2025, by II MEF commanding general, Lt. Gen. Calvert L. Worth.

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U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Bryan Bell, a criminal investigator with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to photograph a sample during Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Interoperability Exercise, on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Feb. 6, 2025. The raid is one of several training events within MAGTF Interoperability, a course conducted by Expeditionary Operations Training Group. This course is designed to evaluate integrated elements of the 22nd MEU across a variety of full mission profiles in a simulated peer threat environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Nathan Mitchell) - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Bryan Bell, a criminal investigator with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to photograph a sample during Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Interoperability Exercise, on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Feb. 6, 2025. The raid is one of several training events within MAGTF Interoperability, a course conducted by Expeditionary Operations Training Group. This course is designed to evaluate integrated elements of the 22nd MEU across a variety of full mission profiles in a simulated peer threat environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Nathan Mitchell)

22nd MEU Enhances Intelligence Operations with Identity and Attribution Activities Cell

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is enhancing its intelligence capabilities, demonstrating greater lethality through integration of the Identity and Attribution Activities (IA2) cell. This unique capability, composed of U.S. Marine Corps criminal investigators and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians, leverages the Marine Corps' exclusive combination of forensic exploitation and technical EOD expertise. This specialized cell is manned, trained and equipped to support tactical intelligence operations within the MEU and across various U.S. government agencies.

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U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, provide security during an illegal alien holding operation as a part of Operation Southern Guard on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Feb. 4, 2025. Joint Task Force Southern Guard is supporting illegal alien holding operations led by the Department of Homeland Security. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexandria Serrano) - U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, provide security during an illegal alien holding operation as a part of Operation Southern Guard on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Feb. 4, 2025. Joint Task Force Southern Guard is supporting illegal alien holding operations led by the Department of Homeland Security. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexandria Serrano)

6th Marines Support Joint Task Force Southern Guard

NAVAL STATION GUANTÁNAMO BAY, CUBA – Marines of Task Force Belleau Wood, comprised of 6th Regiment and their 1st Battalion (1/6), have completed their first week attached to Joint Task Force Southern Guard (JTF-SG) supporting illegal alien (IA) holding operations in coordination with the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as ordered by the President of the United States, here Feb. 8, 2025.

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Transcript: II MEF commanding general remarks at 2025 West Conference

The adversary is going to attempt to deny terrain and particularly in the sea echelon that might take many different forms, but you have options. Reach and proximity can be overcome with the delivery of platforms, well, through the delivery of Marine formations using some of our platforms with extended reach and then leveraging extended range. Munitions such as navy strike missiles, long-range Precision fires in HIMARS, there are options to the commander.

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