II MEF News

U.S. Marines with Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, commemorate America's Independence Day with a 21-gun salute at William Pendleton Thomas Field on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, July 4, 2019. Service members, their families and guests attended the ceremony to celebrate the birth of American Independence and render honors to the tradition it upholds. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ginnie Lee) - U.S. Marines with Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, commemorate America's Independence Day with a 21-gun salute at William Pendleton Thomas Field on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, July 4, 2019. Service members, their families and guests attended the ceremony to celebrate the birth of American Independence and render honors to the tradition it upholds. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ginnie Lee)

From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. William L. Koeppe, career planner, Staff Sgt. Nils A. Aylor II, motor vehicle operator, U.S. Navy Hospitalman third class Josh A. Johnson, 8th Marine Regiment, lay wreaths during the 35th Beirut Memorial Observance Ceremony at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, N.C., Oct. 23, 2018. A memorial observance is held on Oct. 23 of each year to remember those lives lost during the terrorist attacks at U.S. Marine Barracks, Beirut, Lebanon and Grenada. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Isaiah Gomez) - From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. William L. Koeppe, career planner, Staff Sgt. Nils A. Aylor II, motor vehicle operator, U.S. Navy Hospitalman third class Josh A. Johnson, 8th Marine Regiment, lay wreaths during the 35th Beirut Memorial Observance Ceremony at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, N.C., Oct. 23, 2018. A memorial observance is held on Oct. 23 of each year to remember those lives lost during the terrorist attacks at U.S. Marine Barracks, Beirut, Lebanon and Grenada. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Isaiah Gomez)

Charging forward: 1/2 assaults the objective, completes live-fire range - Lance Cpl. Kevin Perez, an automatic rifleman with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment provides suppressive fire during a live-fire range at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 13, 2017. During the training, a fire team of Marines exited the tree line and began providing suppressive fire on their objective while the rest of the squad dispersed to take on the target. The Marines then traversed through an open field where they bounded to secure their objective. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Henson)

Marine veteran Sgt. Patrick Melton, formerly with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division trade stories about his enlistment with MGySgt. David Ruble, the operations chief with 1/6 at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 29, 2016. 1/6 had static displays, gave a tour around 6th Marine Regiment and organized a reunion for veterans who survived a helicopter crash while attached the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and 1/6 in 1986 . (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Miranda Faughn) - Marine veteran Sgt. Patrick Melton, formerly with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division trade stories about his enlistment with MGySgt. David Ruble, the operations chief with 1/6 at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 29, 2016. 1/6 had static displays, gave a tour around 6th Marine Regiment and organized a reunion for veterans who survived a helicopter crash while attached the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and 1/6 in 1986 . (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Miranda Faughn)

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment stand in formation with Romanian soldiers during the Black Sea Rotational Force transfer of authority on Mihal Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Aug . 1, 2016. After six months, eight major exercises and more than 40 military-to-military engagements with 15 partner nations the Marines of 2/8, rotation 16.2, relived 1/8,rotation 16.1. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Timothy J. Lutz) - U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment stand in formation with Romanian soldiers during the Black Sea Rotational Force transfer of authority on Mihal Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Aug . 1, 2016. After six months, eight major exercises and more than 40 military-to-military engagements with 15 partner nations the Marines of 2/8, rotation 16.2, relived 1/8,rotation 16.1. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Timothy J. Lutz)

A mortar team with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, take cover on the firing line as a mortar round shoots out of the barrel during a training exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 6, 2016. Marines underwent mortar familiarization and proficiency training in preparation for their upcoming deployment in support of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron K. Fiala/Released) - A mortar team with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, take cover on the firing line as a mortar round shoots out of the barrel during a training exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 6, 2016. Marines underwent mortar familiarization and proficiency training in preparation for their upcoming deployment in support of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron K. Fiala/Released)

Marines with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment pause and check for a weapons malfunction during a company live-fire exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 30, 2015. The exercise is in preparation for the integrated training exercise taking place at Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., next month. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Immanuel Johnson/Released) - Marines with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment pause and check for a weapons malfunction during a company live-fire exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 30, 2015. The exercise is in preparation for the integrated training exercise taking place at Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., next month. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Immanuel Johnson/Released)

A Marine with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, operates an M240B medium machine gun turret during a field exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 25, 2015. Marines with the unit assaulted a simulated town, set up a defensive position and repelled simulated enemy attacks in preparation for their upcoming deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Fiala/Released.) - A Marine with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, operates an M240B medium machine gun turret during a field exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 25, 2015. Marines with the unit assaulted a simulated town, set up a defensive position and repelled simulated enemy attacks in preparation for their upcoming deployment with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Fiala/Released.)

Two MV-22 Osprey piloted by Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264, land at Landing Zone Kingfisher, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 12, 2015. Upon completion of troop transport, air crews practiced tactical landings, utilizing the Osprey’s unique blend of helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, to complete their operation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez/Released) - Two MV-22 Osprey piloted by Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264, land at Landing Zone Kingfisher, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 12, 2015. Upon completion of troop transport, air crews practiced tactical landings, utilizing the Osprey’s unique blend of helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, to complete their operation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez/Released)