II MEF News

On Nov. 30, Maj. Gen. Ray Fox, commanding general II Marine Expeditionary Force, ordered a MEF-wide urinalysis for the nearly 53,000 active-duty Marines and sailors aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Samples were collected from men and women and shipped for analysis before the end of the day, as a part of the detection phase of the II MEF Counter Drug Campaign to preserve the force and its readiness. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel A. Wulz) - On Nov. 30, Maj. Gen. Ray Fox, commanding general II Marine Expeditionary Force, ordered a MEF-wide urinalysis for the nearly 53,000 active-duty Marines and sailors aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Samples were collected from men and women and shipped for analysis before the end of the day, as a part of the detection phase of the II MEF Counter Drug Campaign to preserve the force and its readiness. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel A. Wulz)

Master Sgt. T.J. Hansen and Staff Sgt. Justin Fedin, II Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general's aids, place salmon onto remaining dinner plates during II Marine Expeditionary Force Heroes Dinner held at Maj. Gen. Raymond C. Fox's home aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Nov. 14. The Marines worked with celebrity chef, Rick Tarantino, to complete a four-course dinner for Marines and sailors being honored for their selflessness and courage. - Master Sgt. T.J. Hansen and Staff Sgt. Justin Fedin, II Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general's aids, place salmon onto remaining dinner plates during II Marine Expeditionary Force Heroes Dinner held at Maj. Gen. Raymond C. Fox's home aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Nov. 14. The Marines worked with celebrity chef, Rick Tarantino, to complete a four-course dinner for Marines and sailors being honored for their selflessness and courage.

Sergeant Brodey Vann, an instructor with Special Operations Trainging Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, coaches Marines with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during a mechanized raid exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 16. Marines with Special Operations Training Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, trained the Marines of the 26th MEU in mechanized raid operations for two weeks in October. - Sergeant Brodey Vann, an instructor with Special Operations Trainging Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, coaches Marines with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during a mechanized raid exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 16. Marines with Special Operations Training Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, trained the Marines of the 26th MEU in mechanized raid operations for two weeks in October.

Capt. James Slocum calls in an improvised explosive device during a mounted convoy patrol at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue. Oct. 18. As a turret gunner, Slocum's job is to detect IEDs. Slocum is a member of a Security Force Assistance Adviser Team (SFAAT) which is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan in support of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). - Capt. James Slocum calls in an improvised explosive device during a mounted convoy patrol at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue. Oct. 18. As a turret gunner, Slocum's job is to detect IEDs. Slocum is a member of a Security Force Assistance Adviser Team (SFAAT) which is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan in support of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

Cpl. Philip J. Denstad (left), a satellite technician and Cpl. Thomas Adams (right), a satellite communications operator and maintenance specialist, both with Alpha Company, 8th Communications Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, stand in front of the ANTCS-156C Phoenix Terminal during 8th Comm. Bn.'s field exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Sept. 25. The Phoenix Terminal pulls data from a satellite to provide internet, phone and data capabilities to Marines in the field and deployed. - Cpl. Philip J. Denstad (left), a satellite technician and Cpl. Thomas Adams (right), a satellite communications operator and maintenance specialist, both with Alpha Company, 8th Communications Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, stand in front of the ANTCS-156C Phoenix Terminal during 8th Comm. Bn.'s field exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Sept. 25. The Phoenix Terminal pulls data from a satellite to provide internet, phone and data capabilities to Marines in the field and deployed.

Marines and Sailors gather aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, for 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade's Presidential Unit Citation Award Ceremony, Sept. 14. Marines and Sailors of 2nd MEB were awarded for their outstanding performance in action against enemy forces from May 29, 2009 to April 12, 2010 in Afghanistan. - Marines and Sailors gather aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, for 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade's Presidential Unit Citation Award Ceremony, Sept. 14. Marines and Sailors of 2nd MEB were awarded for their outstanding performance in action against enemy forces from May 29, 2009 to April 12, 2010 in Afghanistan.

Rear Adm. Marco Amigo Jimenez, general commandant of the Chilean Marine Corps, talks with Major Gen. John Croley after touring the Special Operations Training Group facilities at Stone Bay during his day-long visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Sept. 13. Croley, the commanding general of Marine Corps Forces Southern Command, facilitate the trip to showcase the Marine Corps' urban training environments. - Rear Adm. Marco Amigo Jimenez, general commandant of the Chilean Marine Corps, talks with Major Gen. John Croley after touring the Special Operations Training Group facilities at Stone Bay during his day-long visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Sept. 13. Croley, the commanding general of Marine Corps Forces Southern Command, facilitate the trip to showcase the Marine Corps' urban training environments.

Marines with 2nd Law Enforcment Battalion present Jon and Tammie Ashley, the parents of Sgt. Joshua Ashley, with his military police badge following a memorial ceremony at the Protestant chapel aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Sept. 12. Sgt. Joshua Ashley was killed in Afghanistan in July while conducting operations in the Helmand province. (Photo by Sgt. Bobby J. Yarbrough) - Marines with 2nd Law Enforcment Battalion present Jon and Tammie Ashley, the parents of Sgt. Joshua Ashley, with his military police badge following a memorial ceremony at the Protestant chapel aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Sept. 12. Sgt. Joshua Ashley was killed in Afghanistan in July while conducting operations in the Helmand province. (Photo by Sgt. Bobby J. Yarbrough)

Approximately 100 Marines with II Marine Expeditonary Force participated in Exercise Atlantic Response 12 aboard Auxillary Landing Field Bouge near Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Aug 21-23. Atlantic Response is a scenario-driven, simulation supported exercise designed to develop the command staff's ability to rapidly respond to today's emerging crises using today's middle-weight force. - Approximately 100 Marines with II Marine Expeditonary Force participated in Exercise Atlantic Response 12 aboard Auxillary Landing Field Bouge near Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Aug 21-23. Atlantic Response is a scenario-driven, simulation supported exercise designed to develop the command staff's ability to rapidly respond to today's emerging crises using today's middle-weight force.

Sergeant Maj. Craig D. Cressman stands ready to relinquish his post as the sergeant major of II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group to Sgt. Maj. Joseph D. Shaw during a relief and appointment ceremony at Camp Lejeune, Aug. 2. Cressman has spent nearly two years as the command's senior enlisted advisor during which they deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan as Task Force Belleau Wood in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He will be taking over the duties as the sergeant major of Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall located in Washington D.C. - Sergeant Maj. Craig D. Cressman stands ready to relinquish his post as the sergeant major of II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group to Sgt. Maj. Joseph D. Shaw during a relief and appointment ceremony at Camp Lejeune, Aug. 2. Cressman has spent nearly two years as the command's senior enlisted advisor during which they deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan as Task Force Belleau Wood in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He will be taking over the duties as the sergeant major of Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall located in Washington D.C.