Lieutenant Col. William Blanchard, the new 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion commanding officer, and Lt. Col. Howard F. Hall, the former battalion commander, salute Marines and sailors during a pass in review during a post and relief ceremony here, May 31, 2013. Blanchard, a native of Neptune, N.J., and Hall, a native of Schuylkill Haven, Pa., spent time preparing for turnover by visiting Marines throughout the battalion. - Lieutenant Col. William Blanchard, the new 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion commanding officer, and Lt. Col. Howard F. Hall, the former battalion commander, salute Marines and sailors during a pass in review during a post and relief ceremony here, May 31, 2013. Blanchard, a native of Neptune, N.J., and Hall, a native of Schuylkill Haven, Pa., spent time preparing for turnover by visiting Marines throughout the battalion.
Staff Sgt. David Terryah, a platoon sergeant serving with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and his wife, Krystal, collected donations for victims of the tornadoes that devastated more than 2,400 homes in and around Moore, Okla., and Oklahoma City. With the help of various organizations, and Marines serving with the battalion and their families, Terryah, a native of Fresno, Calif., will deliver a full-sized U-Haul truck and trailer to the smaller towns affected by the tornado. Terryah's U-Haul truck is filled with supplies donated by Marines and their families with the battalion, Operation Help A Hero, Team 2/5 Rancho Santa Margarita, Freedom Riders, U-Haul, Walmart and the San Onofre military family community. - Staff Sgt. David Terryah, a platoon sergeant serving with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and his wife, Krystal, collected donations for victims of the tornadoes that devastated more than 2,400 homes in and around Moore, Okla., and Oklahoma City. With the help of various organizations, and Marines serving with the battalion and their families, Terryah, a native of Fresno, Calif., will deliver a full-sized U-Haul truck and trailer to the smaller towns affected by the tornado. Terryah's U-Haul truck is filled with supplies donated by Marines and their families with the battalion, Operation Help A Hero, Team 2/5 Rancho Santa Margarita, Freedom Riders, U-Haul, Walmart and the San Onofre military family community.
The family of Cpl. Gurpreet Singh stands in silence as the National Anthem plays during an award ceremony here, May 30, 2013. Singh, a native of Punjab, India, was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V" for valor posthumously for heroic service in Afghanistan. After immigrating to Sacramento, Calif., when he was 10, Singh enlisted as a rifleman in the Marine Corps when he turned 17, and went on to serve two combat deployments with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. As stated in his award citation, Singh aggressively led his Marines on daily combat patrols through insurgent infested areas in Sangin district, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Despite being struck in his front body armor by small-arms fire during a firefight on June 4, 2011, he remained undeterred and continued to lead his Marines. On June 22, 2011, while leading his Marines through a dangerous area, Singh was struck down by enemy fire. - The family of Cpl. Gurpreet Singh stands in silence as the National Anthem plays during an award ceremony here, May 30, 2013. Singh, a native of Punjab, India, was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V" for valor posthumously for heroic service in Afghanistan. After immigrating to Sacramento, Calif., when he was 10, Singh enlisted as a rifleman in the Marine Corps when he turned 17, and went on to serve two combat deployments with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. As stated in his award citation, Singh aggressively led his Marines on daily combat patrols through insurgent infested areas in Sangin district, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Despite being struck in his front body armor by small-arms fire during a firefight on June 4, 2011, he remained undeterred and continued to lead his Marines. On June 22, 2011, while leading his Marines through a dangerous area, Singh was struck down by enemy fire.
Lance Cpl. Josh Poynter (left), an assault man serving with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and Cpl. Travis Richardson, a squad leader serving with Fox Co. drag a Marine out of a simulated firefight during Military Operations on Urban Terrain training at the Infantry Immersion Trainer here, May 29, 2013. Richardson, 24, from Surprise, Ariz., and Poynter, 28, from Indianapolis, Ind., moved their wounded comrade in to the cover of a building and began treating his simulated gunshot wound. - Lance Cpl. Josh Poynter (left), an assault man serving with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and Cpl. Travis Richardson, a squad leader serving with Fox Co. drag a Marine out of a simulated firefight during Military Operations on Urban Terrain training at the Infantry Immersion Trainer here, May 29, 2013. Richardson, 24, from Surprise, Ariz., and Poynter, 28, from Indianapolis, Ind., moved their wounded comrade in to the cover of a building and began treating his simulated gunshot wound.
First Lt. Michael Cooley, a platoon commander serving with Mobility Assault Company, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, searches for footprints and other evidence showing recent human movement through the area during a combat tracking course offered by Tactical Tracking Operations School here, May 16, 2013. Cooley, a native of Algonquin, Ill., is an Eagle Scout and has been involved with Scouting for nearly 20 years. While 1st CEB is training to deploy to Afghanistan during the fall, Cooley devotes much of his free time to Scouting. Growing up, Cooley's father was his den leader, now Cooley is a den leader for his son, Isaac. - First Lt. Michael Cooley, a platoon commander serving with Mobility Assault Company, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, searches for footprints and other evidence showing recent human movement through the area during a combat tracking course offered by Tactical Tracking Operations School here, May 16, 2013. Cooley, a native of Algonquin, Ill., is an Eagle Scout and has been involved with Scouting for nearly 20 years. While 1st CEB is training to deploy to Afghanistan during the fall, Cooley devotes much of his free time to Scouting. Growing up, Cooley's father was his den leader, now Cooley is a den leader for his son, Isaac.
Marines serving with 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, show the children of San Juan Capistrano moves from the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program here, May 23, 2013. The children participated in several events set up by Marines including a combat fitness test. The Marines also participated in helping the citizens of San Juan Capistrano clean up their community and improve their community center. - Marines serving with 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, show the children of San Juan Capistrano moves from the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program here, May 23, 2013. The children participated in several events set up by Marines including a combat fitness test. The Marines also participated in helping the citizens of San Juan Capistrano clean up their community and improve their community center.
Sergeant Derrick Organo, a squad leader and machine-gun section leader with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, talks to an Afghan Nation Army soldier at a vehicle checkpoint here, May 21, 2013, during Operation Gridlock. "They're pretty good," said Organo, a 23-year-old native of San Francisco. "They knew what to do, and they didn't have to ask us any questions. We're trying to build their confidence in their vehicle checkpoints. When we have a day like today, they know they did well." - Sergeant Derrick Organo, a squad leader and machine-gun section leader with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, talks to an Afghan Nation Army soldier at a vehicle checkpoint here, May 21, 2013, during Operation Gridlock. "They're pretty good," said Organo, a 23-year-old native of San Francisco. "They knew what to do, and they didn't have to ask us any questions. We're trying to build their confidence in their vehicle checkpoints. When we have a day like today, they know they did well."
Cpl. Larry Jackson, a squad leader with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and Han Mamad Lala, an Afghan National Policeman, pose for a picture at an ANP base here, April 4, 2013. Jackson and Lala stood post together for several months during Jackson's first deployment to Now Zad District from October 2009 to March 2010. (Courtesy photo) - Cpl. Larry Jackson, a squad leader with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and Han Mamad Lala, an Afghan National Policeman, pose for a picture at an ANP base here, April 4, 2013. Jackson and Lala stood post together for several months during Jackson's first deployment to Now Zad District from October 2009 to March 2010. (Courtesy photo)
Members of the country music band The Frontmen pose for a picture with Marines of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, and the staff at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) center here, May 23, 2013. "We needed this performance just as much as these guys did," said Erick Baker. "We're here for the troops and to say thank you, and the crowd today really picked us up." (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mel Johnson) - Members of the country music band The Frontmen pose for a picture with Marines of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, and the staff at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) center here, May 23, 2013. "We needed this performance just as much as these guys did," said Erick Baker. "We're here for the troops and to say thank you, and the crowd today really picked us up." (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mel Johnson)
Sergeant Philip Noble, the assistant gunner and training non-commissioned officer for Regimental Combat Team 7, is responsible for coordinating Reset, Staging, Onward movement and Integration for all coalition forces that arrive in Helmand province. Noble, a 32-year-old native of Corsicana, Texas, recently received an award from International Security Assistance Forces Joint Command, the second highest command in Afghanistan, for being "the foremost authority on training and RSO&I in Afghanistan." He has deployed 4 times to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. Editors Note: Reset, Staging, Onward movement, and Integration is the initial process each coalition force unit must go through upon arrival in Afghanistan. It includes refresher-training courses, live-fire ranges, counter improvised explosive device training and movement to the unit's area of operation. - Sergeant Philip Noble, the assistant gunner and training non-commissioned officer for Regimental Combat Team 7, is responsible for coordinating Reset, Staging, Onward movement and Integration for all coalition forces that arrive in Helmand province. Noble, a 32-year-old native of Corsicana, Texas, recently received an award from International Security Assistance Forces Joint Command, the second highest command in Afghanistan, for being "the foremost authority on training and RSO&I in Afghanistan." He has deployed 4 times to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. Editors Note: Reset, Staging, Onward movement, and Integration is the initial process each coalition force unit must go through upon arrival in Afghanistan. It includes refresher-training courses, live-fire ranges, counter improvised explosive device training and movement to the unit's area of operation.