Lance Cpl. Timothy Pierce, 24, from Wallace, N.C., shakes hands with Capt. Todd Richardson, the Echo Company company commander with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, after being awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his decisive thinking and quick response to a car accident. "It wasn't a duty," explained Pierce. "It was just decent human nature and the right thing to do." - Lance Cpl. Timothy Pierce, 24, from Wallace, N.C., shakes hands with Capt. Todd Richardson, the Echo Company company commander with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, after being awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his decisive thinking and quick response to a car accident. "It wasn't a duty," explained Pierce. "It was just decent human nature and the right thing to do."
Staff Sgt. Deacon Holton, a native of Chelsea, Mich., and a section leader with 81 mm mortar section, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, reminds the Marines of the importance of upholding the battalion standards during training here, July 13, 2013. "This training gives us the opportunity to reinforce and refine our skill set, which in turn makes us better at doing our jobs," Holton said. - Staff Sgt. Deacon Holton, a native of Chelsea, Mich., and a section leader with 81 mm mortar section, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, reminds the Marines of the importance of upholding the battalion standards during training here, July 13, 2013. "This training gives us the opportunity to reinforce and refine our skill set, which in turn makes us better at doing our jobs," Holton said.
Staff member of the directorate of agricultural, irrigation and livestock, listen to a veterinary class given by Georgia Agricultural Development Team 3, Regimental Combat Team 7 in Kajaki, Afghanistan, April 24, 2013. The classes included treating parasites, deworming and aiding livestock with birthing problems. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kowshon Ye/Released) - Staff member of the directorate of agricultural, irrigation and livestock, listen to a veterinary class given by Georgia Agricultural Development Team 3, Regimental Combat Team 7 in Kajaki, Afghanistan, April 24, 2013. The classes included treating parasites, deworming and aiding livestock with birthing problems. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kowshon Ye/Released)
A "God Bless America" sign decorates the mess hall here, July 4, 2013. "To me, the Fourth of July simply means freedom," said Cpl. Dimitri Armstead, 20, from Kailua, Hawaii, a motor transportation mechanic with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7. "It's a day to remember the sacrifices made by past service members who gave their lives for the country." - A "God Bless America" sign decorates the mess hall here, July 4, 2013. "To me, the Fourth of July simply means freedom," said Cpl. Dimitri Armstead, 20, from Kailua, Hawaii, a motor transportation mechanic with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7. "It's a day to remember the sacrifices made by past service members who gave their lives for the country."
Staff Sgt. Leo Tapia, the radio chief with the Signals Kandak Adviser Team, assists an Afghan National Army soldier with assembling a radio antenna here, July 1, 2013. Tapia, a 30-year-old native of Yakima, Wash., teaches the Afghan soldiers radio and antenna theory to help them understand how and why their equipment works. - Staff Sgt. Leo Tapia, the radio chief with the Signals Kandak Adviser Team, assists an Afghan National Army soldier with assembling a radio antenna here, July 1, 2013. Tapia, a 30-year-old native of Yakima, Wash., teaches the Afghan soldiers radio and antenna theory to help them understand how and why their equipment works.
Garmser District, Afghanistan - Gunnery Sgt. Richard Fitzgerald, the senior enlisted advisor with Afghan National Civil Order Police Advisor Team 2, and a native of Mt. Pleasant, Mich., passes out study guides to ANCOP instructors at the station here, June 17, 2013. Fitzgerald gave out the study guides before class so Afghan police could follow along during the period of instruction. "We're trying to implement the training cycle phase so they understand the importance of the training prior to deploying to the next area," said Fitzgerald. - Garmser District, Afghanistan - Gunnery Sgt. Richard Fitzgerald, the senior enlisted advisor with Afghan National Civil Order Police Advisor Team 2, and a native of Mt. Pleasant, Mich., passes out study guides to ANCOP instructors at the station here, June 17, 2013. Fitzgerald gave out the study guides before class so Afghan police could follow along during the period of instruction. "We're trying to implement the training cycle phase so they understand the importance of the training prior to deploying to the next area," said Fitzgerald.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Marlon L. Best, with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, is currently serving as the religious program specialist with the battalion. "Honestly, RP is probably the best rate--not in the Navy or Marine Corps--in the entire (Department of Defense)," said Best, a 22-year-old native of Cleveland. "I enjoy myself. I love helping Marines and other service members, and I wouldn't give that up for anything." (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mel Johnson) - Petty Officer 2nd Class Marlon L. Best, with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, is currently serving as the religious program specialist with the battalion. "Honestly, RP is probably the best rate--not in the Navy or Marine Corps--in the entire (Department of Defense)," said Best, a 22-year-old native of Cleveland. "I enjoy myself. I love helping Marines and other service members, and I wouldn't give that up for anything." (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mel Johnson)
Major Matthew Winkelbauer, the Civil Affairs Detachment officer-in-charge with Regimental Combat Team 7, and Capt. Wesley Viner, also with the Civil Affairs Detachment, RCT-7, pose for a picture in Now Zad district, May 31, 2013. The detachment is comprised of 11 Marines from Camp Pendleton, Calif., and is divided into two basic parts: four Marines who work with the RCT command and seven Marines who help with the daily advising of local government officials throughout Helmand province. - Major Matthew Winkelbauer, the Civil Affairs Detachment officer-in-charge with Regimental Combat Team 7, and Capt. Wesley Viner, also with the Civil Affairs Detachment, RCT-7, pose for a picture in Now Zad district, May 31, 2013. The detachment is comprised of 11 Marines from Camp Pendleton, Calif., and is divided into two basic parts: four Marines who work with the RCT command and seven Marines who help with the daily advising of local government officials throughout Helmand province.
Afghan National Army soldiers clean a mortar system on Forward Operating Base Geronimo, May 27, 2013. "Last deployment, we were going on two patrols a day, clearing houses, and interacting with local nationals," said Cpl. David Jewell, a company clerk with the Headquarters and Service Company. "We worked with the Afghan National Security Forces, but now it's like it's a whole new war. I didn't expect the progress within the country to be a far as it is." (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David McKenzie/Released) - Afghan National Army soldiers clean a mortar system on Forward Operating Base Geronimo, May 27, 2013. "Last deployment, we were going on two patrols a day, clearing houses, and interacting with local nationals," said Cpl. David Jewell, a company clerk with the Headquarters and Service Company. "We worked with the Afghan National Security Forces, but now it's like it's a whole new war. I didn't expect the progress within the country to be a far as it is." (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David McKenzie/Released)