Lance Cpl. Mark Buloson with Weapons Company, Battalion

Lance Cpl. Mark Buloson with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, prepares an 81 mm mortar for a live-fire exercise here Sept. 11. The battalion is the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is conducting its second sea-based exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground-task force in May. Buloson, 20, is a gunner with 81 mm mortar platoon and hails from Monterey, Calif.