II MEF News

Marines with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct a series of inspections on the RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle and its launching system minutes before takeoff aboard Hurlburt Field, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 5, 2015. VMU-2 flew the Shadow UAV as part of a training exercise and to provide aerial support to Marines Special Operations Command training in the surrounding area. Using the Shadow, the VMU-2 team is able to relay communications between units, provide reconnaissance and surveillance, as well as laser guide aerial or ground attacks on the objective. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Olivia McDonald/Released) - Marines with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct a series of inspections on the RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle and its launching system minutes before takeoff aboard Hurlburt Field, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 5, 2015. VMU-2 flew the Shadow UAV as part of a training exercise and to provide aerial support to Marines Special Operations Command training in the surrounding area. Using the Shadow, the VMU-2 team is able to relay communications between units, provide reconnaissance and surveillance, as well as laser guide aerial or ground attacks on the objective. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Olivia McDonald/Released)

A 2000 pound inert Guided Bomb Unit 24 impacts the target area during the 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, close air support exercise Sept. 11. An F-15 from 333rd Fighter Squadron, based out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, dropped the GBU-24. - A 2000 pound inert Guided Bomb Unit 24 impacts the target area during the 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, close air support exercise Sept. 11. An F-15 from 333rd Fighter Squadron, based out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, dropped the GBU-24.

Marines participating in the 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Basic Intelligence Training Course perform basic functions checks on a signal device aboard Camp Lejeune, August 14. Marines performed a variety of skills and tasks that helped simulate a deployment style scenario during the exercise. - Marines participating in the 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Basic Intelligence Training Course perform basic functions checks on a signal device aboard Camp Lejeune, August 14. Marines performed a variety of skills and tasks that helped simulate a deployment style scenario during the exercise.

Maj. Gen. W. Lee Miller, Jr., Marine Air Ground Task Force - 13 commander and Sgt. Maj. Paul A. Berry, MAGTF-13 sergeant major uncase the colors at the activation ceremony for MAGTF-13, held aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, June 29. MAGTF-13 is scheduled to deploy to southern Afghanistan and assume operational control of Regional Command Southwest in early 2013. - Maj. Gen. W. Lee Miller, Jr., Marine Air Ground Task Force - 13 commander and Sgt. Maj. Paul A. Berry, MAGTF-13 sergeant major uncase the colors at the activation ceremony for MAGTF-13, held aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, June 29. MAGTF-13 is scheduled to deploy to southern Afghanistan and assume operational control of Regional Command Southwest in early 2013.

Corporal Andrew J. Leonard, a green belt instructor in the Marine Corps Martial Arts program, 2nd Radio Battalion, teaches tan belt techniques to Maria Marin, a Marine wife, during 2nd Radio Battalion’s Jane Wayne Day, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 19, 2012.Throughout the day wives, children and one husband took part in MCMAP, physical training, rides in military vehicles and firing weapons. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel A. Wulz) - Corporal Andrew J. Leonard, a green belt instructor in the Marine Corps Martial Arts program, 2nd Radio Battalion, teaches tan belt techniques to Maria Marin, a Marine wife, during 2nd Radio Battalion’s Jane Wayne Day, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 19, 2012.Throughout the day wives, children and one husband took part in MCMAP, physical training, rides in military vehicles and firing weapons. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel A. Wulz)

Maj. Sean P. Dynan, the Operational Planning Team Leader for the Marine Expeditionary Force Exercise, explains the orientation of a map used during MEFEX 12, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 20, 2012. The MEFEX is a large scale exercise for conventional combat operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel A. Wulz) - Maj. Sean P. Dynan, the Operational Planning Team Leader for the Marine Expeditionary Force Exercise, explains the orientation of a map used during MEFEX 12, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 20, 2012. The MEFEX is a large scale exercise for conventional combat operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel A. Wulz)

The People’s Republic of China Minister of National Defense Gen. Liang Guanglie is accompanied by Brig. Gen. Christopher Owens, the deputy commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, during his visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 9. During the visit, II MEF Marines showcased several Marine Corps vehicles and equipment sets to highlight the Corps’ emphasis on training and professional development and its capabilities and role in U.S. and global security. Liang and the rest of the Chinese delegation are in the midst of a tour of several military installations on the East and West Coasts at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. The purpose of these visits is to highlight the improvement of the U.S.’s capacity to cooperate in areas of mutual interest, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and addressing non-traditional and transnational security threats and counter-piracy. - The People’s Republic of China Minister of National Defense Gen. Liang Guanglie is accompanied by Brig. Gen. Christopher Owens, the deputy commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, during his visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 9. During the visit, II MEF Marines showcased several Marine Corps vehicles and equipment sets to highlight the Corps’ emphasis on training and professional development and its capabilities and role in U.S. and global security. Liang and the rest of the Chinese delegation are in the midst of a tour of several military installations on the East and West Coasts at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. The purpose of these visits is to highlight the improvement of the U.S.’s capacity to cooperate in areas of mutual interest, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and addressing non-traditional and transnational security threats and counter-piracy.

Retired Marine Staff Sergeant Vincent Gizzarelli (top left) poses for a photo with his family in their brand new house, Jacksonville, N.C., April 28. The house was built using supplies and donations from local businesses and various veterans' groups. Gizzarelli was medically retired from the Marine Corps after suffering traumatic brain injury and shrapnel wounds from multiple IED blasts that he sustained on his second tour to Iraq. - Retired Marine Staff Sergeant Vincent Gizzarelli (top left) poses for a photo with his family in their brand new house, Jacksonville, N.C., April 28. The house was built using supplies and donations from local businesses and various veterans' groups. Gizzarelli was medically retired from the Marine Corps after suffering traumatic brain injury and shrapnel wounds from multiple IED blasts that he sustained on his second tour to Iraq.

Staff Sgt. David Charlton, Logistics Chief, Security Cooperation Marine Air Ground Task Force, Africa Partnership Station 10, hands out food to an young Haitian girl. More than 5,000 Haitians have lined up at multiple distribution sites to receive food and water offered by Marines and Sailors from the SCMAGTF as they teamed up with Sri Lankan UN workers to help pass out over 10,000 Meals, Ready-to-Eat, Jan. 24 through 29. - Staff Sgt. David Charlton, Logistics Chief, Security Cooperation Marine Air Ground Task Force, Africa Partnership Station 10, hands out food to an young Haitian girl. More than 5,000 Haitians have lined up at multiple distribution sites to receive food and water offered by Marines and Sailors from the SCMAGTF as they teamed up with Sri Lankan UN workers to help pass out over 10,000 Meals, Ready-to-Eat, Jan. 24 through 29.