Lance Cpl. Michael Stroud, a Des Moines, Iowa, native

Lance Cpl. Michael Stroud, a Des Moines, Iowa, native and geospatial intelligence analyst with 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, sets up survey equipment at an overview position near a beach at Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 14, 2014. Marines from the battalion conducted a weeklong training mission at the base to test their ability to conduct hydrographic surveys beyond their home station at Camp Lejeune, N.C. They pioneered the hydrographic survey program, which is unique in the Marine Corps, as a way to conduct detailed studies of beaches, river crossings, and other water environments. The Marines teamed up with members of the Navy’s Naval Oceanography Special Warfare Command during the training as a way to collaborate and share lessons learned from their respective programs. The team’s successful deployment of their survey program to California helped prove their concept has the potential to reach out and support Marine units in various training and operational environments in the future. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paul Peterson)