Gunnery Sgt. Gabriel Guest (right), the chief instructor of the Advanced Machine Gunners Course at Advanced Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry - West, patrols back to Forward Operating Base Gray after a firefight in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in April 2008. Five months into his deployment, Guest, a native of Spokane, Wash., was on a patrol when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device, ejecting him from his vehicle and causing three different compound fractures in his left leg. After years of physical therapy and more than 25 surgeries, Guest was able to jog again but only for short moments. He exercised to improve his condition when his leg became repeatedly infected and he was left with only three options: fuse his leg straight allowing no bending in the knee, perform a total knee replacement with risk of future infections, or amputation of the leg. More than four years after being struck by an IED, Guest had his leg amputated. Guest now continues his Marine Corps career through the Expanded Permanent Limited Duty program, which allows Marines who incurred significant combat injuries that would normally restrict them from continuing their Marine Corps service to continue their careers by mentoring Marines through their leadership skills complemented by combat experience. - Gunnery Sgt. Gabriel Guest (right), the chief instructor of the Advanced Machine Gunners Course at Advanced Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry - West, patrols back to Forward Operating Base Gray after a firefight in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in April 2008. Five months into his deployment, Guest, a native of Spokane, Wash., was on a patrol when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device, ejecting him from his vehicle and causing three different compound fractures in his left leg. After years of physical therapy and more than 25 surgeries, Guest was able to jog again but only for short moments. He exercised to improve his condition when his leg became repeatedly infected and he was left with only three options: fuse his leg straight allowing no bending in the knee, perform a total knee replacement with risk of future infections, or amputation of the leg. More than four years after being struck by an IED, Guest had his leg amputated. Guest now continues his Marine Corps career through the Expanded Permanent Limited Duty program, which allows Marines who incurred significant combat injuries that would normally restrict them from continuing their Marine Corps service to continue their careers by mentoring Marines through their leadership skills complemented by combat experience.

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)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON. Calif. -- Sergeant Michael Dowell, a reconnaissance Marine serving with Alpha Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, sights in his .50 caliber sniper rifle during a raid exercise here, July 10, 2013. Dowell, 29, from Elko, Nev., serves as the sniper for his team as well as the pointman. - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON. Calif. -- Sergeant Michael Dowell, a reconnaissance Marine serving with Alpha Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, sights in his .50 caliber sniper rifle during a raid exercise here, July 10, 2013. Dowell, 29, from Elko, Nev., serves as the sniper for his team as well as the pointman.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Bryan Williams, a religious program specialist serving with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and a native of Kansas City, Mo., checks a window for insurgents during the culminating field exercise of the Urban Leaders Course here, July 11, 2013. During the exercise, students in the course drew upon all their training to clear buildings as fire teams against instructors simulating insurgents. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Bryan Williams, a religious program specialist serving with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and a native of Kansas City, Mo., checks a window for insurgents during the culminating field exercise of the Urban Leaders Course here, July 11, 2013. During the exercise, students in the course drew upon all their training to clear buildings as fire teams against instructors simulating insurgents.

Corporals Matthew Mistretta and Philip Chronis, squad leaders serving with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, share a laugh with Ervin Hall, a former Navy pilot, and Paul Atkins, a registered nurse at Mission Hospital here, July 10, 2013. Mistretta and Chronis, along with Lance Cpl. Cory Lucas, a mortarman with Weapons Co., and Atkins, quickly responded to Hall's crash on June 18, 2013, at an intersection in San Clemente, Calif. Mistretta and Chronis treated Hall's wounds, while Atkins performed CPR after pulling him out of the crash. Mistretta is a native of Reno, Nev., Chronis is from Tampa, Fla., and Lucas is a native of Phoenix. - Corporals Matthew Mistretta and Philip Chronis, squad leaders serving with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, share a laugh with Ervin Hall, a former Navy pilot, and Paul Atkins, a registered nurse at Mission Hospital here, July 10, 2013. Mistretta and Chronis, along with Lance Cpl. Cory Lucas, a mortarman with Weapons Co., and Atkins, quickly responded to Hall's crash on June 18, 2013, at an intersection in San Clemente, Calif. Mistretta and Chronis treated Hall's wounds, while Atkins performed CPR after pulling him out of the crash. Mistretta is a native of Reno, Nev., Chronis is from Tampa, Fla., and Lucas is a native of Phoenix.

Australian Air Force Cpl. Douglas Marc, a dog handler assigned to 2nd Security Forces, runs with his dog, Ajax, while performing attack drills at Rockhampton Airport, July 14. 2nd Security Forces plays a vital role in exercise Talisman Saber 2013 by providing airport security. The biennial exercise enhances multilateral collaboration between U.S. and Australian forces in support of future combined operations, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. James Gulliver/ RELEASED) - Australian Air Force Cpl. Douglas Marc, a dog handler assigned to 2nd Security Forces, runs with his dog, Ajax, while performing attack drills at Rockhampton Airport, July 14. 2nd Security Forces plays a vital role in exercise Talisman Saber 2013 by providing airport security. The biennial exercise enhances multilateral collaboration between U.S. and Australian forces in support of future combined operations, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. James Gulliver/ RELEASED)

Petty Officer Marvin F. Floer II, the Navy assistant manpower manager for 1st Marine Division, earned an honorable mention in the Navy Times Sailor of the Year Award. Floer was selected for his many attributes, job achievements and community service. - Petty Officer Marvin F. Floer II, the Navy assistant manpower manager for 1st Marine Division, earned an honorable mention in the Navy Times Sailor of the Year Award. Floer was selected for his many attributes, job achievements and community service.

Lance Cpl. Robert Carlile, a rifleman serving with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, donated blood platelets to save an anonymous patient's life who was suffering from Myelodysplastic Syndrome in Washington D.C., July 1, 2013. Carlile, 23, from Roman Forrest, Texas, said the Marine Corps taught him to always help someone in need whether in combat or in garrison. MSD is the name of a group of conditions that occur when the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow are damaged. The damage leads to low numbers of one or more types of blood cells. - Lance Cpl. Robert Carlile, a rifleman serving with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, donated blood platelets to save an anonymous patient's life who was suffering from Myelodysplastic Syndrome in Washington D.C., July 1, 2013. Carlile, 23, from Roman Forrest, Texas, said the Marine Corps taught him to always help someone in need whether in combat or in garrison. MSD is the name of a group of conditions that occur when the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow are damaged. The damage leads to low numbers of one or more types of blood cells.

Lt. Col. Terry Johnson, (Left) the outgoing commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, passes the battalion colors to Lt. Col. Keven Matthews, (center) the incoming commanding officer of the battalion, during a change of command ceremony at Camp San Mateo parade deck here, June 28, 2013. Matthews, a native of Honolulu, assumed command of the battalion from, Johnson, a native of Palo Pinto, Texas. - Lt. Col. Terry Johnson, (Left) the outgoing commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, passes the battalion colors to Lt. Col. Keven Matthews, (center) the incoming commanding officer of the battalion, during a change of command ceremony at Camp San Mateo parade deck here, June 28, 2013. Matthews, a native of Honolulu, assumed command of the battalion from, Johnson, a native of Palo Pinto, Texas.