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U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kyle Stewart, with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, approaches a small village in the mountains of Helmand province, Afghanistan, in a Humvee, July 8, 2008. (U.S More

Hospital corpsman Petty Officer 1st Class Louie Bismonte, assigned to 2nd Battalion 7th Marines, treats a local child in the city of Deleram. Based at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twenty Nine Palms, 2nd Batt More

Hospital corpsman Petty Officer 1st Class Louie Bismonte, assigned to 2nd Batallion 7th Marines, looks in on the students at the Deleram High School in Deleram, Afghanistan. Based at Marine Air Ground Combat Ce More

Hospital corpsman Ryan Magsayo, assigned to Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, provides security during a patrol through the district of Bala Baluk in the Farah province of Afghanistan. The 2nd B More

An amphibious assault vehicle carrying elements of Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, charges onto Freshwater Beach, Queensland, Australia, in More

Three U.S. Navy landing craft, air cushioned, from the USS Germantown, head toward Freshwater Bay beach in Shoalwater Bay Training Area carrying equipment and personnel during an amphibious assault in support o More

Amphibious assault has long been a part of Marine Corps tradition, demonstrated first during the landing at New Providence Island, Bahamas, in 1776 and utilized during many major conflicts of World War II and t More

A Marine with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides security while conducting stability and support operations. SASO operations were part More

U.S. and Australian investigative agencies search for evidence of a mock mass grave during a stability and support operation July 21, 2011. The SASO operations are part of a scenario-based operation that took p More

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jason L. Hoffarth, a light armored vehicle gunner with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, cleans an M240B machine gun, July 23, 2011, after providing security for a scenario-based exerci More

Marines with Company F, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Australian Defence Force members unload gear from an Australian military vehicle Aug. 1 in More

Sgt. Eric Fred, squad leader, F Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, provides security for Marines climbing to his position at the top of a mountain at the training center April 8, 2012.

2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, spouses and family members gear up shortly before loading the 7-ton vehicles to travel to Range 101 during the 2/7 Jayne Wayne Day event June 29.

The first Sangin District security council meets with local Afghan National Security Forces, Sept. 8, 2012. First Battalion, 7th Marines, deployed to Sangin in March and saw a growth in the local Afghan Governm More

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Rene Torres, left, officer in charge with the Musa Qa'leh Police Advisor Team, Regimental Combat Team 6 introduces fellow before an evening meal at the Musa Qa'leh District Center, Helman More

Lance Cpl. Lamarr Johnson, left, an administrative clerk, and Lance Cpl. Henry Cervantes, an administrative clerk, both with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, lower the flag during e More

Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, relax while waiting to return home after a seven-month deployment, Sept. 25, 2012. The battalion deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan, during the su More

Lance Cpl. Michael J. Bumanglag, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, joined the Marine Corps for a change of scenery and to find new adventures. From Wailuku, Hawaii, B More

Lance Cpl. Michael Elliott, a rifleman with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, monitors the construction area during Operation Golden Gate, Nov. 14, 2012. Taking place in the Sangin district of A More

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Josh Killion, right, the platoon sergeant for Personnel Security Detachment, Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7), Regimental Combat Team 7, ensures More

U.S. Marines assigned to Combined Anti-Armor Team (CAAT) Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7), wait to leave on a convoy mission on Forward Operating Base Shamsher, Helmand province, Afghanistan, N More

U.S. Marines assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7), converse amongst each other during some down time in a designated smoking area on Forward Operating Base Shamsher, Helmand province, Afghanista More

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Nick Scaljon, the executive officer of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7), exercises on Forward Operating Base Shamsher, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 24, 201 More

U.S. Marines assigned to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, ground guide their vehicles on the way to provide security for an improvised explosive device (IED) post blast More

A U.S. Marine assigned to Afghan National Civil Order Police Advisory Team, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7), provides security from the gun turret of his vehicle while conducting a convoy mission in He More

U.S. Marines assigned to Motor Transport Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7), conduct a convoy mission in Helmand province, Afghanistan on Nov. 26, 2012. The Marines of 2/7 deployed t More

U.S. Marines assigned to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7), share some down time while waiting to leave on a convoy mission on Forward Operating Base Now Zad, Helmand province, Afghanistan o More

Catriona Lang, the head of mission for the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), meets with Yar Mohammed, the acting district governor of Musa Qa'leh, to discuss local issues that included economic deve More

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. J.W. Morris, assigned to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7) stands post on Forward Operating Base Musa Qa'leh, Helmand province, Afghanistan on Nov. 30, 2012. Morris de More

The sun sets over Kajaki district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, where U.S. Marines assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7) are deployed, Dec. 2, 2012. The Marines of 2/7 are deploye More

An Afghan man has his retinas photographed by a U.S. Marine assigned to Police Advisory Team 4 (PAT-4) using a Secure Electronic Enrollment Kit at an Afghan Uniformed Police (AUP) checkpoint in Kajaki District, More

U.S. Marines assigned to Mobile Assault Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion (CEB), stage their vehicles and make last minute gear adjustments while waiting to leave on a convoy mission from Camp Leatherneck, More

Marines assigned to Mobile Assault Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, leave on a convoy mission from Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan on Dec. 7, 2012. The Marines of 2nd CEB supported Regime More

Corporal Antonio Dominguez, a radio repairman, is currently deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Dominguez, a 23-year-old native of Sparks, Nevada, was honored as More

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. James P. Sehr, assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, Regimental Combat Team 7 (RCT-7), is promoted to his current rank on Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Dec. More

Marines with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, provide security for Combat Outpost Shamsher, Dec. 15, 2012. As the security element for the base, Golf Co. provides a sense of r More

Marines with the motor transport section of Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, prepare to conduct a convoy operation through the Sangin district of Afghanist More

U.S. Marines assigned to Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) Advisory Team, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, prepare their vehicles for a mounted patrol on Forward Operating Base Now Zad, Helmand prov More

A U.S. Marine with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7), walks through a pool of water on Forward Operating Base Now Zad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Dec. 17, 2012. The Marines of 2/7 are cu More

Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) Lt. Col. Hawasgul Ahumadee, right, the officer in charge of Now Zad district, greets U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Michael Borneo, the officer in charge for the ANCOP Advisor More

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Edgar Jimenezrojas, a military policeman assigned to Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) Advisory Team, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, remains vigilant while conducting More

Regimental Combat Team 7 held a commander’s conference with key coalition leaders operating within RCT’s area, Dec. 19, 2012. The leaders discussed the future of Afghanistan and the coalition forces’ direction More

U.S. Marines assigned to Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) Advisory Team, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, are staged before leaving for a convoy mission on Forward Operating Base Now Zad, Helmand p More

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Brad Coy, a machine gunner assigned to Combined Anti-Armor Team 2 (CAAT-2), Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7), reads during some down time on Forward Operating B More

U.S. Marines assigned to Afghan National Civil Order Police Advisory Team, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7), pose for a group photo on Forward Operating Base Now Zad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Dec. More

Corporal Ethan Sullivan, squad leader, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, is currently conducting his third deployment and first combat deployment. He plans on using his experience as both a More

Corporal Casey Hunter, vehicle commander, Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, joined the Marine Corps when he was 22. He used his life experience to lead and train his Marines an More

Corporal Frank Blundetto, team leader, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, and his three siblings all earned the title United States Marine. Blundetto, currently serving in Sangi More

Petty Officer 3rd Class George Felli, hospital corpsman, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, was born in Accai, Ghana. He moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., when he was 14 and is currently More

Lance Cpl. Decil Burns, a rifleman with Personal Security Detail, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, practices his golf swing after a workout, Feb. 7, here. Burns, a 22-year-old nativ More

U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7), Regimental Combat Team 7 patrol through local Afghan settlements in Montakee, Afghanistan, Feb. 10, 2013. The Marines of 2/7 utilized More

Afghan National Civil Order Police patrolmen rehearse boarding a helicopter to prepare for an operation, Feb. 12. “This ANCOP has proven to be independent,” said 1st Lt. James Magenheimer, the communications of More

Lance Cpl. Gavin Ellis, Clinton and Knoxville, Tenn. native, watches the surrounding area as Marines from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, conduct a sweep of a compound near Patrol Base Boldak March 3, 2013. More

Lance Cpl. Nathan Bush, Lenox, MA and Sarasota, FL native, launches the Puma just before nightfall at Patrol Base Boldak March 2. The Puma has a thermal imaging camera which allows units to conduct aerial surve More

Linden Coe, waits for her husband, Sgt. Zac Coe, field radio operator, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, to return home from a 7-month-long deployment to Afghanistan, during the battalion’s advanced party hom More

Lance Cpl. Tristan Tiller, radio operator, Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, surprises his wife, Kylie, and son Kysan, 1, during the battalion's homecoming at Del Valle Field Tuesday.

Marines with Company K and Company L, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, conduct counterinsurgency exercise at the Combat Center’s Range 220 Monday. The Marines utilized 2/7 personnel to evaluate their trainin More

Families and loved ones await the return of Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment after a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom during the battalion's homecomi More

Marines with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, execute the obstacle course aboard the Combat Center as part of a squad competition Feb. 12, 2014. Marines went through the obstacle course twice prio More

Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, wait to begin a live-fire exercise in Jordan. The training was a part of Exercise Eager Lion 2014, which is a recurring, multi-national exercise des More

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, prepare their harnesses during the Helicopter Rope Suspension Techniques course aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 16, 20 More

Kyle Otey, 6, native of Oklahoma City, Okla., tells Santa Claus what he wants for Christmas during the Polar Express movie night at Sunset Cinema, Dec. 17, 2014. Patrons wore their favorite pajamas and enjoyed More

Lt. Col, Chad Chalfont, commander of the 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart, Ga., and Sgt. Maj. Anthony Walker Sgt. Maj. 2-7 Inf. Reg. arrived at Adazi Military Base, More

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart, Ga., level terrain in their vehicle storage facility at Adazi Military Base, L More

Troopers from Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment fired their M252 81 mm Mortar systems at Adazi Military Base, Latvia, March 19, 2015. The troopers fired upon a series of ta More

Recon Troopers from 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment join Latvian and Canadian recon teams for weapon familiarization training during Operation Summer Shield XII at Adazi Military Base, Latvia, March 26, 2015 More

Lt. Gen. Frederick “Ben” Hodges, U.S. Army Europe commander, met with U.S. and Latvian military forces to discuss ongoing joint partnership training throughout Operation Summer Shield XII at Adazi Military Base More

Troopers from 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Latvian Soldiers, and German Soldiers demonstrated their joint Chemical Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear, reaction capabilities to Latvian President Andris More

Children make arts and crafts as they wait for the homecoming of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment Marines and sailors from their deployment at Del Valle Field, March 30, 2015. The arts and crafts, food, games More

Friends and family await the arrival of their loved ones during 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment’s homecoming at Del Valle Field, April 6, 2015. Marines and sailors of 2/7 served as part of the Special Purpos More

Diane Durden, family readiness officer, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, updates family members and friends awaiting the arrival of their Marines and sailors at Del Valle Field, April 11, 2015. ‘War Dogs’ se More

Jessica Neuner, wife of Cpl. Nicholas Neuner, machine gunner, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and Colleen Lewis, wife of Cpl. Steven Lewis, mortar-man, 2/7, wait with their children for the arrival of their More

Friends and family await the arrival of their loved ones during 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment’s homecoming at Del Valle Field, April 20, 2015. Marines and sailors of 2/7 served as part of the Special Purpo More

Lance Cpl. Joseph Dworkin, rifleman, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, embraces his loved ones during the battalion’s homecoming at Del Valle Field, April 25, 2015. Marines and sailors with 2/7 served as part More

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, stand at parade rest during the battalion’s change of command ceremony at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field, June 1, 2015. During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Sean M. Ha More

A mortarman with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, establishes the direction of fires for his 60 millimeter mortar team during 1/7’s Marine Corps Combat Re More

The 1st Marine Division Band performs during a relief and appointment ceremony for 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field, June 19, 2015. During the ceremony, Sgt. Maj. Fredrick A More

Cpl. Christian Carpenter, data network specialist, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, plays soccer with his son Knox, 1, during the City of Palm Desert hosted 7th Marine Regiment Appreciation Day at the Desert More

Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, practice handling a simulated enraged enemy during the culminating event of 1st Marine Division Schools’ Urban Leaders Co More

Lance Cpl. Cory B. Larson, rifleman, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, provides cover fire for his squad during an assault course as part of Exercise Chosin, squad-level training evolution, at Rang More

U.S. Marines assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (2/7) conduct military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) during a Field Training Exercise at range 220, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 30, 2015. More

CH-53E Super Stallion's assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) prepare to execute a CH-53E tactics exercise at Auxiliary Airfield 2, Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 2, 2015. The exercise is pa More

CH-53E Super Stallion's assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), prepare to execute CH-53 tactics exercise at Auxiliary Airfield 2, Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 2, 2015. This training evolut More

U.S. Marines with 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to conduct a helocast exercise out of a UH-1Y Venom at Ferguson Lake, near Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2015. The exercise is p More

A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) fires its M197 Gatling cannon during an offensive air support exercise at Mt. Barrow, Chocolate Mountain Ae More

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion flies over the objective during a Heavy Huey Raid at K-9 Village, Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., Oct. 7, 2015. The exercise is part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI More

U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron (MAWTS-1), prepares to land during a Heavy Huey Raid at K-9 Village, Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., Oct. 7, 2015. This traini More

Various personnel attached to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) stand by before a heavy Huey raid is conducted at K-9 Village, Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., Oct. 7, 2015. The exercise is More

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Brian Clegg, with Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), prepares to fly a Russian Mil Mi-24 Hind during Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) 1-16 at Marine Co More

Lance Cpl. Anthony Sarmiento, a rifleman assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, provides security while establishing a defensive position during Talon Exercise 1-16 at M More

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) externally lifts a M777 howitzer during an assault support tactics exercise at Fire Base Burt, Ch More

A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) prepares to flies over the objective during an assault support tactics exercise at Kiwanis Park, Yuma, Ariz More

Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, act as the opposing forces for a movement-to-contact training mission, Exercise Watchtower, Nov. 9, 2015. (Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. T More

Sgt. Lawrence Cox, an M1A2 System Enhancement Package Version 2 Abrams tank commander of 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, attached to 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, stationed at Fort More

M1A2 System Enhancement Package Version 2 Abram Tanks line the night’s horizon during 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team’s night operations field training in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve at Novo Selo Trai More

Soldiers of 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, attached to 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., fire a round out of an M1A2 System Enhancement Package Version More

Soldiers of 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, attached to 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., send a TOW 2B Aero missile (center left) down range from a Bra More

Bulgarian Army Col. Margarit Mihailov, commander of 61st Mechanized Brigade, speaks to U.S. and Bulgarian Army soldiers and special guests at the Peace Sentinel opening ceremony in support of Operation Atlantic More

Maj. Brennan Speakes, the operations officer in charge of 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., originally from Harker Heights, Texas, addresses Bulgarian an More

Bulgarian and U.S. Army key leaders discuss the areas in which the soldiers will conduct a series of tactical movements during Exercise Peace Sentinel at Novo Selo Training Center, Bulgaria, Nov. 21, 2015. Peac More