II MEF News

Lance Cpl. William Kozlosky, a rifleman in 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, takes cover during the final exercise of Corporal's Course at The Staff Non-Commissioned Officer’s Academy on Camp Johnson, N.C., June 25. The course is the first in a series of professional military education classes at the academy that provides Marines with leadership training to enhance their professional qualifications as they take on greater responsibility. - Lance Cpl. William Kozlosky, a rifleman in 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, takes cover during the final exercise of Corporal's Course at The Staff Non-Commissioned Officer’s Academy on Camp Johnson, N.C., June 25. The course is the first in a series of professional military education classes at the academy that provides Marines with leadership training to enhance their professional qualifications as they take on greater responsibility.

Sgt. Maj. Robert G. VanOostrom, senior enlisted Marine for II Marine Expeditionary Force, delivers the II MEF unit colors to Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton Jr. (center), who will pass the colors to Maj. Gen. Raymond C. Fox (left), representing the transfer of command, during the II MEF change of command ceremony aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 13. - Sgt. Maj. Robert G. VanOostrom, senior enlisted Marine for II Marine Expeditionary Force, delivers the II MEF unit colors to Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton Jr. (center), who will pass the colors to Maj. Gen. Raymond C. Fox (left), representing the transfer of command, during the II MEF change of command ceremony aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 13.

Major Eric Young, commanding officer of 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, speaks to his Marines during 2nd LEB's activation ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 26. The battalion will be a force multiplier to the operating forces by assisting in a variety of missions that include law enforcement, route regulation, humanitarian assistance, nonlethal weapons training and military working dog employment. - Major Eric Young, commanding officer of 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, speaks to his Marines during 2nd LEB's activation ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 26. The battalion will be a force multiplier to the operating forces by assisting in a variety of missions that include law enforcement, route regulation, humanitarian assistance, nonlethal weapons training and military working dog employment.

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.

U.S. Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force conduct a Change of Command Ceremony aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. on June 28, 2012. The Change of Command ceremony was conducted to pass on authority. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David McKenzie) - U.S. Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force conduct a Change of Command Ceremony aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. on June 28, 2012. The Change of Command ceremony was conducted to pass on authority. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David McKenzie)

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.

1st Lt. David Pursel (center), the logistics officer with a police advisory team preparing to deploy to Afghanistan, talks to Afghan role-players at the Advisory Training Cell, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 28, alongside the rest of the Marines and sailors on his team. Talking with the role-players helped Pursel, a native of Jacksonville, N.C., and the rest of his team prepare for the cultural differences between themselves and the Afghans they will be working hand-in-hand with during their upcoming seven-month deployment to Washir district, Helmand province. - 1st Lt. David Pursel (center), the logistics officer with a police advisory team preparing to deploy to Afghanistan, talks to Afghan role-players at the Advisory Training Cell, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 28, alongside the rest of the Marines and sailors on his team. Talking with the role-players helped Pursel, a native of Jacksonville, N.C., and the rest of his team prepare for the cultural differences between themselves and the Afghans they will be working hand-in-hand with during their upcoming seven-month deployment to Washir district, Helmand province.