U.S. Marine Capt. Benjamin M. Middendorf, the former commander of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, was selected by Gen. James F. Amos, the commandant of the Marine Corps, to receive the 2012 Lt. Col. William G. Leftwich Jr. Trophy for Outstanding Leadership. Leftwich, a Navy Cross recipient, died in 1970 when his helicopter crashed in Vietnam, where he was commanding the Marines and sailors of 1st Reconnaissance Bn. Middendorf, a native of Rochester, Minn., is currently the commander of Headquarters and Service Co., 5th Marines. - U.S. Marine Capt. Benjamin M. Middendorf, the former commander of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, was selected by Gen. James F. Amos, the commandant of the Marine Corps, to receive the 2012 Lt. Col. William G. Leftwich Jr. Trophy for Outstanding Leadership. Leftwich, a Navy Cross recipient, died in 1970 when his helicopter crashed in Vietnam, where he was commanding the Marines and sailors of 1st Reconnaissance Bn. Middendorf, a native of Rochester, Minn., is currently the commander of Headquarters and Service Co., 5th Marines.
Staff Sgt. Mariajose Borja, a linguist manager with Regimental Combat team 7, holds her daughter, Isabella Smith Borja, during their first Christmas season at Camp Pendleton, Dec. 14. Borja, a 32-year-old from Newark, N.J., said her daughter is her inspiration and the motivation to get her through the tough times on a yearlong deployment. - Staff Sgt. Mariajose Borja, a linguist manager with Regimental Combat team 7, holds her daughter, Isabella Smith Borja, during their first Christmas season at Camp Pendleton, Dec. 14. Borja, a 32-year-old from Newark, N.J., said her daughter is her inspiration and the motivation to get her through the tough times on a yearlong deployment.
Marines of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 built a new sign to honor Maj. James Matthew Weis, an AH-1W Cobra pilot who was killed in action in 2010, so his brother, Maj. Scott Weis, the current operations officer with Regimental Combat Team 7, can take the original sign back home to his family. Scott plans to take the original sign, which hung outside the squadron flight line, to the Weis family home in Key Largo, Fla. - Marines of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 built a new sign to honor Maj. James Matthew Weis, an AH-1W Cobra pilot who was killed in action in 2010, so his brother, Maj. Scott Weis, the current operations officer with Regimental Combat Team 7, can take the original sign back home to his family. Scott plans to take the original sign, which hung outside the squadron flight line, to the Weis family home in Key Largo, Fla.
A light armored vehicle carrying Marines serving with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion unloaded out of a C-17 Globemaster cargo plane during a strategic mobility exercise here, April 24, 2013. The C-17's long-range capability gives 1st LAR the ability to deploy worldwide at a moment's notice. The Marines learned the basics of loading and unloading from aircraft to prepare for upcoming deployments. - A light armored vehicle carrying Marines serving with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion unloaded out of a C-17 Globemaster cargo plane during a strategic mobility exercise here, April 24, 2013. The C-17's long-range capability gives 1st LAR the ability to deploy worldwide at a moment's notice. The Marines learned the basics of loading and unloading from aircraft to prepare for upcoming deployments.
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Dustin Palmer, right, a heavy equipment operator with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 7 (RCT) 7, provides feedback to an Afghan National Army heavy equipment operator during a clearing operation near Camp Shorabak, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, March 16, 2013. The operation was designed to eliminate possible enemy firing positions in preparation for the upcoming fighting season. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Dustin Palmer, right, a heavy equipment operator with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 7 (RCT) 7, provides feedback to an Afghan National Army heavy equipment operator during a clearing operation near Camp Shorabak, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, March 16, 2013. The operation was designed to eliminate possible enemy firing positions in preparation for the upcoming fighting season. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe/Released)
Corporal Michael P. Toomey, a rifleman serving with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, receives congratulations from a fellow Marine after receiving the Bronze Star Medal with a Combat V during a ceremony here, April 18, 2013. Toomey, a native of San Francisco, was recognized for his heroic actions on May 8, 2012, while deployed to Musa Qal'ah district, Helmand province, Afghanistan. He led a fire team of Marines in a hasty ambush against an insurgent machine gun team hiding in a tree line. During the assault, Toomey shot an enemy fighter and threw a grenade at their position, causing the remaining insurgents to flee and abandon fighting the Marines for the remainder of the operation. - Corporal Michael P. Toomey, a rifleman serving with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, receives congratulations from a fellow Marine after receiving the Bronze Star Medal with a Combat V during a ceremony here, April 18, 2013. Toomey, a native of San Francisco, was recognized for his heroic actions on May 8, 2012, while deployed to Musa Qal'ah district, Helmand province, Afghanistan. He led a fire team of Marines in a hasty ambush against an insurgent machine gun team hiding in a tree line. During the assault, Toomey shot an enemy fighter and threw a grenade at their position, causing the remaining insurgents to flee and abandon fighting the Marines for the remainder of the operation.
Patriots Hockey defenseman Kevin Shotas, a Marine first lieutenant serving as the executive officer for Bravo Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, attempts to score during a game against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at the STAPLES Center here, April 18, 2013. Patriots Hockey is a team dedicated to serving the military community and wounded warriors by raising funds and awareness for different nonprofit organizations. The team raised money for the Semper Fi Fund by selling t-shirts, jerseys and other Patriots Hockey gear at the STAPLES Center that evening. - Patriots Hockey defenseman Kevin Shotas, a Marine first lieutenant serving as the executive officer for Bravo Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, attempts to score during a game against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at the STAPLES Center here, April 18, 2013. Patriots Hockey is a team dedicated to serving the military community and wounded warriors by raising funds and awareness for different nonprofit organizations. The team raised money for the Semper Fi Fund by selling t-shirts, jerseys and other Patriots Hockey gear at the STAPLES Center that evening.
First term Marines have the most opportunities to reenlist as riflemen, and there are 139 quotas, or boat spaces, available. Unlike career Marines, first term Marines must compete with other Marines for boat spaces within each military occupational specialty. Once all the boat spaces are filled, a Marine must find a new MOS or separate from the Marine Corps. - First term Marines have the most opportunities to reenlist as riflemen, and there are 139 quotas, or boat spaces, available. Unlike career Marines, first term Marines must compete with other Marines for boat spaces within each military occupational specialty. Once all the boat spaces are filled, a Marine must find a new MOS or separate from the Marine Corps.
Lance Cpl. Kyle Ford, an electrical engineer technician specialist with Regimental Combat Team 7, works on a generator here, April 15. Ford, a 21-year-old native of Wantagh, N.Y., is responsible for preventive maintenance and repairs of the generators in the RCT-7 area of operations. - Lance Cpl. Kyle Ford, an electrical engineer technician specialist with Regimental Combat Team 7, works on a generator here, April 15. Ford, a 21-year-old native of Wantagh, N.Y., is responsible for preventive maintenance and repairs of the generators in the RCT-7 area of operations.
Marines serving with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, hike an 11-mile route with a full combat load to their next training destination here, April 2, 2013. The hike began at 6:30 a.m. and finished approximately four hours later. The company conducts hikes weekly to build strength, confidence and unit-readiness. Hikes also give small-unit leaders an opportunity to lead Marines and build camaraderie. - Marines serving with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, hike an 11-mile route with a full combat load to their next training destination here, April 2, 2013. The hike began at 6:30 a.m. and finished approximately four hours later. The company conducts hikes weekly to build strength, confidence and unit-readiness. Hikes also give small-unit leaders an opportunity to lead Marines and build camaraderie.