Lance Cpl. Luis Herrera and Lance Cpl. Kevin Rhodes, forward observers serving with 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, observe key features in the terrain before conducting a training and readiness examination during a live-fire exercise here, April 3, 2013. Rhodes, a 20-year-old native of Quincy, Mass., and Herrera, a 23-year-old-native of Chino, Calif., are training to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. - Lance Cpl. Luis Herrera and Lance Cpl. Kevin Rhodes, forward observers serving with 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, observe key features in the terrain before conducting a training and readiness examination during a live-fire exercise here, April 3, 2013. Rhodes, a 20-year-old native of Quincy, Mass., and Herrera, a 23-year-old-native of Chino, Calif., are training to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Corporal Scott Johnson, a special security representative and systems administrator with Regimental Combat Team 7, holds his opponent during a submission grappling tournament here, April 7, 2013. Johnson, a 23-year-old native of Flagstaff, Ariz., is responsible for safeguarding classified information, but loves to spend his free time competing in sports. - Corporal Scott Johnson, a special security representative and systems administrator with Regimental Combat Team 7, holds his opponent during a submission grappling tournament here, April 7, 2013. Johnson, a 23-year-old native of Flagstaff, Ariz., is responsible for safeguarding classified information, but loves to spend his free time competing in sports.
Navy Lt. Dennis White, a psychiatrist with the Regimental Combat Team 7 Observational Stress Control and Readiness Team, discusses a Traumatic Brain Injury pie chart with Petty Officer 3rd Class Allan Lee, a corpsman with the RCT-7 OSCAR Team, here, Nov. 9, 2012. The OSCAR Team provides counseling and mental health support to Marines and sailors in the RCT-7 area of operations. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kowshon Ye) - Navy Lt. Dennis White, a psychiatrist with the Regimental Combat Team 7 Observational Stress Control and Readiness Team, discusses a Traumatic Brain Injury pie chart with Petty Officer 3rd Class Allan Lee, a corpsman with the RCT-7 OSCAR Team, here, Nov. 9, 2012. The OSCAR Team provides counseling and mental health support to Marines and sailors in the RCT-7 area of operations. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kowshon Ye)
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Sergeant Major Michael L. Kufchak, the 1st Marine Division sergeant major, and Sgt. Maj. David L. Jobe, the oncoming sergeant major, salute Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, the 1st Marine Division commanding general, during a post, relief and retirement ceremony here, April 5, 2013. Jobe, a native of Burleson, Texas, relieved Kufchak, a native of Youngstown, Ohio. During his last tour, Jobe served as the 8th Marine Regiment sergeant major on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he deployed in 2012 to Helmand province, Afghanistan, with Regimental Combat Team 8.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Sergeant Major Michael L. Kufchak, the 1st Marine Division sergeant major, and Sgt. Maj. David L. Jobe, the oncoming sergeant major, salute Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, the 1st Marine Division commanding general, during a post, relief and retirement ceremony here, April 5, 2013. Jobe, a native of Burleson, Texas, relieved Kufchak, a native of Youngstown, Ohio. During his last tour, Jobe served as the 8th Marine Regiment sergeant major on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he deployed in 2012 to Helmand province, Afghanistan, with Regimental Combat Team 8. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)
Corporal James Carter, an administrative specialist with Regimental Combat Team 7, volunteers his time at Camp Pendleton, Calif., to share his experiences with the Eagle Young Marines, a group that teaches boys ages 8-18 about discipline and leadership through military values. "It's great to see the discipline and knowledge begin to change (Eagle Young Marines') lives," Carter said. "I like knowing that I made a difference." - Corporal James Carter, an administrative specialist with Regimental Combat Team 7, volunteers his time at Camp Pendleton, Calif., to share his experiences with the Eagle Young Marines, a group that teaches boys ages 8-18 about discipline and leadership through military values. "It's great to see the discipline and knowledge begin to change (Eagle Young Marines') lives," Carter said. "I like knowing that I made a difference."
Lance Cpl. Nicholas Kien, a rifleman serving with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, shakes hand with Samuel Tsosie, a retired Marine who served as a Navajo Code Talker during World War II, here at Camp San Mateo, March 27, 2013. Tsosie served with 2nd Bn., 5th Marines, during multiple combat operations including Peleliu, Okinawa, and Cape Gloucester. Kien's grandfather was also a Navajo Code Talker that served during World War II. - Lance Cpl. Nicholas Kien, a rifleman serving with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, shakes hand with Samuel Tsosie, a retired Marine who served as a Navajo Code Talker during World War II, here at Camp San Mateo, March 27, 2013. Tsosie served with 2nd Bn., 5th Marines, during multiple combat operations including Peleliu, Okinawa, and Cape Gloucester. Kien's grandfather was also a Navajo Code Talker that served during World War II.
Sergeant Major Michael L. Kufchak, the Regimental Combat Team 7 sergeant major, arrived in southern Afghanistan in the Winter of 2010, where he served his last combat deployment. The deployment almost didn’t happen, as Kufchak recently recovered from wounds he received from an improvised explosive device in Iraq while serving with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Kufchak was blinded in his right eye, but learned to shoot left-handed to continue his service in the infantry. He is currently the 1st Marine Division sergeant major. - Sergeant Major Michael L. Kufchak, the Regimental Combat Team 7 sergeant major, arrived in southern Afghanistan in the Winter of 2010, where he served his last combat deployment. The deployment almost didn’t happen, as Kufchak recently recovered from wounds he received from an improvised explosive device in Iraq while serving with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Kufchak was blinded in his right eye, but learned to shoot left-handed to continue his service in the infantry. He is currently the 1st Marine Division sergeant major.
Staff Sgt. Mark Rawson, a team leader serving with Force Reconnaissance Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, speaks during a memorial ceremony here, March 25, 2013. Staff Sgt. Caleb Medley, a reconnaissance man who served as a field radio operator with Force Reconnaissance Co., died during a skydiving training incident Feb. 26. Medley had a strong passion for physical fitness and always challenged his fellow Marines during physical training events. - Staff Sgt. Mark Rawson, a team leader serving with Force Reconnaissance Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, speaks during a memorial ceremony here, March 25, 2013. Staff Sgt. Caleb Medley, a reconnaissance man who served as a field radio operator with Force Reconnaissance Co., died during a skydiving training incident Feb. 26. Medley had a strong passion for physical fitness and always challenged his fellow Marines during physical training events.
Lance Cpl. Jose Avila, a refrigeration mechanic with Regimental Combat Team 7 and a 30-year-old native of Honduras, is now a U.S. citizen, is deployed to Afghanistan, and hopes to pursue his master’s degree. “I’m a citizen, but now I am out here in Afghanistan actually getting to be a part of something,” Avila said. “ I like the idea of the Marines being badass. We go everywhere and can do every thing.” - Lance Cpl. Jose Avila, a refrigeration mechanic with Regimental Combat Team 7 and a 30-year-old native of Honduras, is now a U.S. citizen, is deployed to Afghanistan, and hopes to pursue his master’s degree. “I’m a citizen, but now I am out here in Afghanistan actually getting to be a part of something,” Avila said. “ I like the idea of the Marines being badass. We go everywhere and can do every thing.”
Lieutenant Colonel Jason Perry, the former commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, shakes the hand of Chad Wilson after his brother, Sgt. Wade Wilson, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal during a ceremony here, March 14, 2013. Wilson, a native of Centerville, Texas, received the nation's third highest decoration for valor for putting himself in between insurgent fire and a wounded Marine while serving in Musa Qa'leh district, Helmand province, Afghanistan on May 11, 2012. Wilson sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was mortally wounded while advancing toward the insurgent, who fled and was killed by his fellow Marines. - Lieutenant Colonel Jason Perry, the former commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, shakes the hand of Chad Wilson after his brother, Sgt. Wade Wilson, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal during a ceremony here, March 14, 2013. Wilson, a native of Centerville, Texas, received the nation's third highest decoration for valor for putting himself in between insurgent fire and a wounded Marine while serving in Musa Qa'leh district, Helmand province, Afghanistan on May 11, 2012. Wilson sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was mortally wounded while advancing toward the insurgent, who fled and was killed by his fellow Marines.