II MEF News

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Ernesto Santa Ana, with the Naval Medical Research Center, collects blood samples from a Marine participant with the COVID-19 Health Action Response for Marines (CHARM) study on Camp Johnson, N.C., Mar. 3, 2021. CHARM 2.0 is a volunteer progression-based assessment to monitor possible health related issues as a result as a result of COVID-19 recovery. The medical team from the research center evaluated volunteers from across multiple Camp Lejeune tenant commands. CHARM 2.0 has improved the understanding of how Naval Medicine can impact COVID-19 relief efforts as well as support the health and readiness of the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jesus Sepulveda Torres) - U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Ernesto Santa Ana, with the Naval Medical Research Center, collects blood samples from a Marine participant with the COVID-19 Health Action Response for Marines (CHARM) study on Camp Johnson, N.C., Mar. 3, 2021. CHARM 2.0 is a volunteer progression-based assessment to monitor possible health related issues as a result as a result of COVID-19 recovery. The medical team from the research center evaluated volunteers from across multiple Camp Lejeune tenant commands. CHARM 2.0 has improved the understanding of how Naval Medicine can impact COVID-19 relief efforts as well as support the health and readiness of the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jesus Sepulveda Torres)

A U.S. Navy corpsman administers a U.S. Marine with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 15. - A U.S. Navy corpsman administers a U.S. Marine with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 15.

A U.S. Army soldier holds out her pocket change at Hanscom Air Force Base on April 2, 2018. (Massachusetts National Guard/Spc. Samuel Keenan) - A U.S. Army soldier holds out her pocket change at Hanscom Air Force Base on April 2, 2018. (Massachusetts National Guard/Spc. Samuel Keenan)

U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. Christian M. Urias, a student at Marine Corps Engineer School, carries a tree during the annual Trees for Troops event at the Paradise Point Golf Course on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Dec. 9, 2020. Trees for Troops is a program with the Christmas Spirit Foundation that provides free, farm-grown Christmas Trees to United States services members. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Isaiah Gomez) - U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. Christian M. Urias, a student at Marine Corps Engineer School, carries a tree during the annual Trees for Troops event at the Paradise Point Golf Course on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Dec. 9, 2020. Trees for Troops is a program with the Christmas Spirit Foundation that provides free, farm-grown Christmas Trees to United States services members. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Isaiah Gomez)

1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment Awarded French Fourragere after Assignment to 6th Marine Regiment - 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment Awarded French Fourragere after Assignment to 6th Marine Regiment

U.S. Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion and 8th Engineer Support Battalion attend an awards ceremony at the site of the G-36 Company Battle Course Range on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Oct. 29, 2020. Maj. Gen. Julian D. Alford, commanding general, Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, awarded the Marines the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for their efforts in building the range. G-36 has been redesigned to enable company commanders to train with organic weapons systems and attachments they would have available during combat and conduct full-scale operations on one range. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ginnie Lee) - U.S. Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion and 8th Engineer Support Battalion attend an awards ceremony at the site of the G-36 Company Battle Course Range on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Oct. 29, 2020. Maj. Gen. Julian D. Alford, commanding general, Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, awarded the Marines the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for their efforts in building the range. G-36 has been redesigned to enable company commanders to train with organic weapons systems and attachments they would have available during combat and conduct full-scale operations on one range. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ginnie Lee)

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit returned to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., marking the end of a seven-month deployment to the Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet with the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) .While forward deployed aboard the ships of the USS Bataan ARG, the 26th MEU served as a crisis-response force for combatant commanders in the Europe, Africa and Central commands. The 26th MEU supported operations and engagements, conducted theater security cooperation activities with bilateral partners, and executed sustainment training to ensure the force was postured and prepared to respond to crises and contingencies.“As a ‘certain force in an uncertain world’ the 26th MEU was flexible, resilient and adaptable while forward deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet and 6th Fleet areas of operation,” said Col. Trevor Hall, commanding officer of the 26th MEU. “This deployment presented unique challenges, but the Navy-Marine Corps team prevailed and incessantly provided our fleet commanders with a responsive, sea-based Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) – even during the global novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.”Having deployed in December 2019, the 26th MEU was one of the few Marine Corps units forward deployed during the COVID-19 epidemic. As seaports and airports around the globe closed, the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with embarked 26th MEU adapted and developed creative ways to maintain its readiness. While operating in the Arabian Gulf, the MAGTF executed non-live fire and live-fire training in remote locations in the United Arab Emirates and on uninhabited Saudi Arabian islands. This training preserved the MEU’s readiness – while also reducing COVID-19 exposure, which allowed the ARGMEU to remain a COVID-free force for the duration of its seven-month deployment. - The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit returned to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., marking the end of a seven-month deployment to the Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet with the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) . , unconventional and hybrid warfare.