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.

A squad of Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, cross a field at Camp Horno during a squad competition here, March 22, 2013. The squads hiked with full gear to various checkpoints where they completed numerous physical and mental challenges. The course focused on small-unit leadership with an emphasis in areas like land navigation, orders development and execution, and physical fitness. - A squad of Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, cross a field at Camp Horno during a squad competition here, March 22, 2013. The squads hiked with full gear to various checkpoints where they completed numerous physical and mental challenges. The course focused on small-unit leadership with an emphasis in areas like land navigation, orders development and execution, and physical fitness.

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.

Trackers rarely need anything extra. They can live with the bare essentials: combat vehicle crewman uniforms, steel toe boots, gloves, eye protection, flak, Kevlar, rifle, sling, 9/16ths wrench, 15/16ths wrench and a sleeping system. Everything necessary is already inside the AAV. Outside of the gear that trackers are supposed to have, there isn’t anything that they would need. But Williams has his essentials. He packs Monsters, Ramen noodles and a portable camp stove — necessities as he calls them. - Trackers rarely need anything extra. They can live with the bare essentials: combat vehicle crewman uniforms, steel toe boots, gloves, eye protection, flak, Kevlar, rifle, sling, 9/16ths wrench, 15/16ths wrench and a sleeping system. Everything necessary is already inside the AAV. Outside of the gear that trackers are supposed to have, there isn’t anything that they would need. But Williams has his essentials. He packs Monsters, Ramen noodles and a portable camp stove — necessities as he calls them.

The 2013 Holcomb Trophy winners and their coaching team present their trophies to the crowd of Marines and family members inside the base theater during an award ceremony here, March 08, 2013. The team will be compete in the Marine Corps Championships held at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. (Official Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Corey Dabney) - The 2013 Holcomb Trophy winners and their coaching team present their trophies to the crowd of Marines and family members inside the base theater during an award ceremony here, March 08, 2013. The team will be compete in the Marine Corps Championships held at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. (Official Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Corey Dabney)

Corporal Michael Kelly, a fires watch chief with Regimental Combat Team 7 and 28-year-old native of Omaha, Neb., has a bachelor's in history and loves to inspire fellow Marines with stories of warriors-past. “As warriors we must never lose touch with what we are. Warriors and great men of the past have set the standard for what it means to be a warrior and must be remembered,” Kelly said. “Their legacies and deeds have shown what it means to be brave and maintain honor in the face of danger, defining what it means to be a soldier.” - Corporal Michael Kelly, a fires watch chief with Regimental Combat Team 7 and 28-year-old native of Omaha, Neb., has a bachelor's in history and loves to inspire fellow Marines with stories of warriors-past. “As warriors we must never lose touch with what we are. Warriors and great men of the past have set the standard for what it means to be a warrior and must be remembered,” Kelly said. “Their legacies and deeds have shown what it means to be brave and maintain honor in the face of danger, defining what it means to be a soldier.”