II MEF News

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 gather six-foot aluminum stakes during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, N.C., March 17, 2016. The MCCRE, which went from March 14-18, tested MWSS-272’s ability to build an AM-2 aluminum matting V/TOL pad ready to accept incoming aircraft. MWSS-272 is part of Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kaitlyn V. Klein/Released) - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 gather six-foot aluminum stakes during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, N.C., March 17, 2016. The MCCRE, which went from March 14-18, tested MWSS-272’s ability to build an AM-2 aluminum matting V/TOL pad ready to accept incoming aircraft. MWSS-272 is part of Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kaitlyn V. Klein/Released)

Rep. Mac Thornberry, center-right, discusses maintenance and readiness issues with Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., March 18, 2016. Thornberry also serves as the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and met with units from across II Marine Expeditionary Force to discuss force-related topics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo illustration by Cpl. Lucas Hopkins/Released) - Rep. Mac Thornberry, center-right, discusses maintenance and readiness issues with Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., March 18, 2016. Thornberry also serves as the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and met with units from across II Marine Expeditionary Force to discuss force-related topics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo illustration by Cpl. Lucas Hopkins/Released)

Cpl. McKinley D. White, a team leader with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, oversees a simulated casualty during the counter-improvised explosive device operations portion of the battalion’s sapper squad competition at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 22, 2016. The counter-IED portion of the competition put squads’ observation skills to the test as they swept a lane of simulated IEDs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez/Released) - Cpl. McKinley D. White, a team leader with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, oversees a simulated casualty during the counter-improvised explosive device operations portion of the battalion’s sapper squad competition at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 22, 2016. The counter-IED portion of the competition put squads’ observation skills to the test as they swept a lane of simulated IEDs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez/Released)

Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment stand in formation during a Silver Star ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C. for former 3/2 Marine, Sgt. Matthew Parker (ret.), on March 18, 2016. Parker was awarded the Silver Star for his courageous actions during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011, where he assumed control of his platoon during a firefight after several leaders had been injured. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kirstin Merrimarahajara/released) - Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment stand in formation during a Silver Star ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C. for former 3/2 Marine, Sgt. Matthew Parker (ret.), on March 18, 2016. Parker was awarded the Silver Star for his courageous actions during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011, where he assumed control of his platoon during a firefight after several leaders had been injured. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kirstin Merrimarahajara/released)

Lance Cpl. Arnaldo Avendano, a military policeman with 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, takes a cover position during an assault course at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 16, 2016. This drill is part of an annual training event to prepare them for combat situations when they are called upon to deploy. Marines took turns providing cover fire for their partner, allowing them to advance to the simulated enemy position. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron K. Fiala/Released) - Lance Cpl. Arnaldo Avendano, a military policeman with 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, takes a cover position during an assault course at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 16, 2016. This drill is part of an annual training event to prepare them for combat situations when they are called upon to deploy. Marines took turns providing cover fire for their partner, allowing them to advance to the simulated enemy position. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron K. Fiala/Released)

Staff Sgt. Nicholas R. Bowling, a joint terminal attack controller with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, observes targets down range during a fire support coordination exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 15, 2016. The exercise was the first to allow the unit to collaborate with their 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment attachment that will be among them during their upcoming deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez/Released) - Staff Sgt. Nicholas R. Bowling, a joint terminal attack controller with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, observes targets down range during a fire support coordination exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 15, 2016. The exercise was the first to allow the unit to collaborate with their 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment attachment that will be among them during their upcoming deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez/Released)

Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, verify the identity of a notionally-displaced citizen at the first station of the Evacuation Control Center during the battalion’s certification exercise, at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, N.C., March 10, 2016. The battalion is slated to deploy on Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joey Mendez) - Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, verify the identity of a notionally-displaced citizen at the first station of the Evacuation Control Center during the battalion’s certification exercise, at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, N.C., March 10, 2016. The battalion is slated to deploy on Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joey Mendez)

Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, provide security before loading a casualty into a MV-22 Osprey during a casualty evacuation exercise at Landing Zone Penguin at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 10, 2016. The training allowed Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 and 2nd CEB to work together in order to be well prepared to conduct a successful CASEVAC in any situation they may encounter while deployed, to ultimately save lives. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Erick Galera/Released) - Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, provide security before loading a casualty into a MV-22 Osprey during a casualty evacuation exercise at Landing Zone Penguin at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 10, 2016. The training allowed Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 and 2nd CEB to work together in order to be well prepared to conduct a successful CASEVAC in any situation they may encounter while deployed, to ultimately save lives. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Erick Galera/Released)

A Marine attempts to stop a simulated casualty from bleeding out from an abdominal laceration by applying bandages at Camp Lejeune N.C., March 10, 2016. Improvised explosive devices increase the risk of multiple-casualty situations due to their large area of impact. To prepare for a situation in which a corpsman needs assistance, treating injured Marines quickly, Marines go through the combat life-saver course to be able to provide similar life-saving care that a corpsman would administer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Luke Hoogendam/Released.) - A Marine attempts to stop a simulated casualty from bleeding out from an abdominal laceration by applying bandages at Camp Lejeune N.C., March 10, 2016. Improvised explosive devices increase the risk of multiple-casualty situations due to their large area of impact. To prepare for a situation in which a corpsman needs assistance, treating injured Marines quickly, Marines go through the combat life-saver course to be able to provide similar life-saving care that a corpsman would administer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Luke Hoogendam/Released.)

Lance Cpl. Brian Taylor, rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, posts security in Namsos, Norway, March 3, 2016, during Exercise Cold Response 16. The landing reinforced the unit’s capabilities of operating in winter terrain and cold-weather environments. During Cold Response, 13 NATO allies and partner nations and about 15,000 troops enhance their skill sets and strengthen their bonds. - Lance Cpl. Brian Taylor, rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, posts security in Namsos, Norway, March 3, 2016, during Exercise Cold Response 16. The landing reinforced the unit’s capabilities of operating in winter terrain and cold-weather environments. During Cold Response, 13 NATO allies and partner nations and about 15,000 troops enhance their skill sets and strengthen their bonds.