II MEF News

U.S. Marines, alongside NATO allies and partners, strategically advance, securing cover and providing fire support during a breaching and clearing mission in preparation for Nordic Response 24 in Setermoen, Norway, on Feb. 7, 2024. U.S. Marines, in coordination with NATO allies and partners, are gearing up for the biennial exercise Nordic Response 24. This NATO training exercise aims to enhance Arctic security, elevate global readiness, and foster interoperability among U.S. Forces, Allied, and partner forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance. Cpl. Christian Salazar) - U.S. Marines, alongside NATO allies and partners, strategically advance, securing cover and providing fire support during a breaching and clearing mission in preparation for Nordic Response 24 in Setermoen, Norway, on Feb. 7, 2024. U.S. Marines, in coordination with NATO allies and partners, are gearing up for the biennial exercise Nordic Response 24. This NATO training exercise aims to enhance Arctic security, elevate global readiness, and foster interoperability among U.S. Forces, Allied, and partner forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance. Cpl. Christian Salazar)

Norwegian military, U.S. Marines, NATO allies prepare for major winter warfare exercise in Norway

The Norwegian Armed Forces, the U.S. Marine Corps, and other NATO Allies, are scheduled to conduct Exercise Joint Viking 25 in March 2025. Allied militaries have been conducting unit-level cold weather training in Norway since the beginning of January in preparation for the exercise.

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Rolling Four-hour Gate Closures Scheduled at Lejeune-New River Gates, Jan. 13-17 for Preventative Maintenance

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River gates will be individually

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U.S. Navy Lt. Jamin M. Bailey, the battalion chaplain of 2d Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division, gives orders to his squad during a simulated medical evacuation during the II Marine Expeditionary Force Religious Ministry Expeditionary Skills Training on Marine Corps Base Camp Devil Dog, North Carolina, Oct. 25, 2024. The II MEF Religious Ministry EST trained Chaplains and Religious Program Specialists to effectively execute tasks in an operational environment, through field training and classroom instruction presented by subject matter experts from 2d Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexandria Serrano) - U.S. Navy Lt. Jamin M. Bailey, the battalion chaplain of 2d Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division, gives orders to his squad during a simulated medical evacuation during the II Marine Expeditionary Force Religious Ministry Expeditionary Skills Training on Marine Corps Base Camp Devil Dog, North Carolina, Oct. 25, 2024. The II MEF Religious Ministry EST trained Chaplains and Religious Program Specialists to effectively execute tasks in an operational environment, through field training and classroom instruction presented by subject matter experts from 2d Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexandria Serrano)

Providing Faith, Resiliently Religious Program Specialists, Chaplains Train to Increase Readiness.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Navy-Religious Program Specialists and Chaplains form a religious ministry team, which provides a vital component of Marine Corps unit readiness and individual service member care. RPS and Chaplains provide spiritual support and counseling to service members ensuring they have the tools needed to remain resilient and combat-ready.

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U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jonah Hollis, an Annapolis, Indiana native and team leader with 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalion, 2d Marine Division, posts security during the 2d LAR Scout School on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Nov. 20, 2023. The 2d LAR Scout School is a 28-day course focusing on basic individual skills and core competencies, live-fire training, advanced skills, and team-to-squad level events. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Eric Dmochowski) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jonah Hollis, an Annapolis, Indiana native and team leader with 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalion, 2d Marine Division, posts security during the 2d LAR Scout School on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Nov. 20, 2023. The 2d LAR Scout School is a 28-day course focusing on basic individual skills and core competencies, live-fire training, advanced skills, and team-to-squad level events. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Eric Dmochowski)

2d LAR Scout School

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – How do you perform reconnaissance with a nearly 9 foot tall, 28,100 pound armored, amphibious vehicle with a 25mm chain gun? The turbocharged diesel engine in the light armored vehicle-25 is not ideal for sneaking around a battlefield. 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division, answers this question with a few Marines called scouts.

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VMFA-251 is the first East Coast-based Marine Corps squadron to employ the F-35C Lightning II, which is designed to operate from conventional aircraft carriers or land bases and provides operational flexibility and persistence to II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Orlanys Diaz Figueroa) - U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251 march in formation during the reactivation ceremony for VMFA-251 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Dec. 5, 2024. VMFA-251 is the first East Coast-based Marine Corps squadron to employ the F-35C Lightning II, which is designed to operate from conventional aircraft carriers or land bases and provides operational flexibility and persistence to II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Orlanys Diaz Figueroa)

VMFA-251 reactivates as Marine Corps’ first East Coast-based F-35C Lightning II squadron

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), reactivated during a ceremony on Thursday aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina, following a four-year, seven-month hiatus.

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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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