II MEF News

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (March 7, 2018) Members of the Israeli Defense Force observe flight operations aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), March 7, during exercise Juniper Cobra 2018 (JC18). JC18 is a computer-assisted exercise that is conducted through computer simulations focused on improving combined missile defense capabilities and overall interoperability between U.S. European Command and the Israel Defense Force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joe J. Cardona Gonzalez/Released) - 180307-N-ZK016-0040 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (March 7, 2018) Members of the Israeli Defense Force observe flight operations aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), March 7, during exercise Juniper Cobra 2018 (JC18). JC18 is a computer-assisted exercise that is conducted through computer simulations focused on improving combined missile defense capabilities and overall interoperability between U.S. European Command and the Israel Defense Force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joe J. Cardona Gonzalez/Released)

24th MEU Conducts Live-Fire from the Sea

ABOARD USS IWO JIMA – This past weekend, Marines and Sailors of 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted a company-sized live-fire amphibious raid during the unit’s Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX)—the first time in recent history that a live-fire evolution of this type and scale has taken place during an East Coast-based MEU’s pre-deployment training.

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U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Benjamin Peagler, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, conducts a platoon assault drill as a part of Exercise Cold Response 16 on range U-3, Frigård, Norway, Feb. 23, 2016. CR 16 is a Norwegian invitational previously-scheduled exercise that will involve approximately 16,000 troops from 12 NATO and partner countries. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Rebecca Floto, 2D MARDIV Combat Camera/ Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Benjamin Peagler, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, conducts a platoon assault drill as a part of Exercise Cold Response 16 on range U-3, Frigård, Norway, Feb. 23, 2016. CR 16 is a Norwegian invitational previously-scheduled exercise that will involve approximately 16,000 troops from 12 NATO and partner countries. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Rebecca Floto, 2D MARDIV Combat Camera/ Released)

Marines insist ‘we are not drawing down’ amid changes to Norway rotations

The Marine Corps is changing the size and duration of its rotations to Norway, but the move is not related of the drawdown of nearly 12,000 U.S. troops in Germany, said Maj. Adrian J.T. Rankine-Galloway, a spokesman for Marine Corps Forces Europe & Africa.

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U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. John Fleming, a rifleman with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, observes a call for fire during the Isaak Competition at Camp Geiger, North Carolina, June 10, 2020. 2nd LAR hosts the annual competition to honor Cpl. Garreth Isaak, a LAR Marine who earned the Silver Star posthumously for actions during Operation Just Cause. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Reine Whitaker) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. John Fleming, a rifleman with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, observes a call for fire during the Isaak Competition at Camp Geiger, North Carolina, June 10, 2020. 2nd LAR hosts the annual competition to honor Cpl. Garreth Isaak, a LAR Marine who earned the Silver Star posthumously for actions during Operation Just Cause. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Reine Whitaker)

Isaak Competition: Honor Your Brother

In the blistering heat amidst the Camp Geiger woods, U.S. Marines with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division tested their mettle during a week-long competition dubbed the Isaak Competition from June 8-12, 2020.

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U.S. Marine Corps Col. Brian Coyne, left, commanding officer of 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, pins a Bronze Star Medal on British Royal Marine Maj. James A. Fuller, the future operations officer with 2nd Marine Regiment, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, June 3, 2020. Fuller received the Bronze Star for his distinctive contributions and efforts as the assistant operations officer with Task Force Southwest 19.1, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command in Afghanistan. Fuller directly increased TSFW’s combat effectiveness and operational reach in Helmand Province. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacqueline Parsons) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Brian Coyne, left, commanding officer of 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, pins a Bronze Star Medal on British Royal Marine Maj. James A. Fuller, the future operations officer with 2nd Marine Regiment, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, June 3, 2020. Fuller received the Bronze Star for his distinctive contributions and efforts as the assistant operations officer with Task Force Southwest 19.1, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command in Afghanistan. Fuller directly increased TSFW’s combat effectiveness and operational reach in Helmand Province. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacqueline Parsons)

Planning and Partnership: British Royal Marine receives Bronze Star

British Royal Marine Maj. James A. Fuller, a British Royal Marine exchange Officer and the future operations officer with nMarine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, June 3, 2020.

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British Royal Marine Maj. James A. Fuller, the future operations officer with 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, receives a Bronze Star Medal at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, June 3, 2020. Fuller received the Bronze Star for his distinctive contributions and efforts as the assistant operations officer with Task Force Southwest 19.1, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command in Afghanistan. Fuller directly increased TSFW’s combat effectiveness and operational reach in Helmand Province. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacqueline Parsons) - British Royal Marine Maj. James A. Fuller, the future operations officer with 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, receives a Bronze Star Medal at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, June 3, 2020. Fuller received the Bronze Star for his distinctive contributions and efforts as the assistant operations officer with Task Force Southwest 19.1, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command in Afghanistan. Fuller directly increased TSFW’s combat effectiveness and operational reach in Helmand Province. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacqueline Parsons)

Royal Marine to Receive Bronze Star for Service Alongside U.S. Marines in Afghanistan

Second Marine Division is proud to announce that Maj. James A. Fuller, of the British Royal Marines, is being awarded a Bronze Star today, June 3, 2020, on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for his contributions while deployed with Task Force Southwest as the Task Force future operations officer, from June 1, 2018, to May 31, 2019, in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division standby for breakfast at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif., Feb. 2, 2020. V36 conducted Mountain Exercise 2-20 at MCMWTC to further their familiarization and warfighting capabilities in cold, mountainous terrain. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacqueline Parsons) - U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division standby for breakfast at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif., Feb. 2, 2020. V36 conducted Mountain Exercise 2-20 at MCMWTC to further their familiarization and warfighting capabilities in cold, mountainous terrain. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacqueline Parsons)

More Than A Day Trip

The Marines and Sailors of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division return to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina after not one, but two exercise experiences in Twentynine Palms, Calif. From patrolling in the snowy mountains of Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center to maneuvering through the tumbleweeds of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, V36 put its expeditionary mindset into action to advance its warfighting excellence.

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U.S. Marines with Force Reconnaissance Company, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Marine Division, conduct a movement on skis during the Norwegian Military’s Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol course in Norway, Feb. 17, 2020. The Marines are conducting the LRRP to strengthen the interoperability, mobility, expeditionary readiness and warfighting excellence of FORECON and the Norwegian Military. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Douds) - U.S. Marines with Force Reconnaissance Company, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Marine Division, conduct a movement on skis during the Norwegian Military’s Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol course in Norway, Feb. 17, 2020. The Marines are conducting the LRRP to strengthen the interoperability, mobility, expeditionary readiness and warfighting excellence of FORECON and the Norwegian Military. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Douds)

FORECON and Norwegian Military Integrate during Detachment 20.1

To die side by side with a friend or live side by side with an ally, that is the question. U.S. Marines with 1st Platoon, Force Reconnaissance Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division integrated with the Norwegian military during Force Detachment 20.1 from Oct. 2019 through April 2020.

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U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard Feldman, a machine gunner with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2Nd Marine Division, sights in with an M240B machine gun at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif., Feb. 2, 2020. V36 conducted company and platoon attack training scenarios during Mountain Exercise 2-20 at MCMWTC to further their familiarization and warfighting capabilities in cold, mountainous terrain. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacqueline Parsons - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard Feldman, a machine gunner with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2Nd Marine Division, sights in with an M240B machine gun at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif., Feb. 2, 2020. V36 conducted company and platoon attack training scenarios during Mountain Exercise 2-20 at MCMWTC to further their familiarization and warfighting capabilities in cold, mountainous terrain. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacqueline Parsons)

The Sounds of the Hell Hounds at MTX 2-20

It was a cloudy afternoon, but the sun still reflected off the snow-capped mountains giving 1st Lt. Elaine Lewis, battalion adjutant with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment (V36), 2d Marine Division (2d MARDIV), light to check her roster for accountability. Personnel, packs, weapons, and motor transportation assets all had to be verified and transmitted back to the command and control center. At this point, V36 had been at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MCMWTC) in Bridgeport, California for almost a month. They grew used to the thick, bright snow, bone-chilling wind, and constant need to change socks. One constant they could not become complacent with was the radio static. Radios must be watched nonstop; communication must stay consistent and fluid up and down the mountain.

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U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 451, Combat Logistics Regiment 45, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve, pose for a photo before doing a convoy from Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway caves to Værnes Garrison near Trondheim, Norway, Feb. 14, 2020. MCPP-N gear was later transported from Orkanger Port to Bogen Port in preparation for Exercise Cold Response. Cold Response is a Norwegian-led exercise designed to enhance military capabilities and allied cooperation in high-intensity warfighting in a challenging arctic environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Devin J. Andrews) - U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 451, Combat Logistics Regiment 45, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve, pose for a photo before doing a convoy from Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway caves to Værnes Garrison near Trondheim, Norway, Feb. 14, 2020. MCPP-N gear was later transported from Orkanger Port to Bogen Port in preparation for Exercise Cold Response. Cold Response is a Norwegian-led exercise designed to enhance military capabilities and allied cooperation in high-intensity warfighting in a challenging arctic environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Devin J. Andrews)

Logistics across Norway for Cold Response

Cold Response 20 is a Norwegian national defense exercise in conjunction with its NATO allies and partners taking place in an area stretching from the town of Narvik to Finnmark district in northern Norway.

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A day in the Oak

From sunrise to sunset, Marines assigned to the Battalion Landing Team and Combat Logistics Battalion conduct training every day to increase their physical fitness, knowledge and lethality aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51).

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