Chief Warrant Officer 4 Matthew Carpenter, the infantry weapons officer with Regimental Combat Team 7, has deployed 12 times including five to Iraq and two to Afghanistan. The Perry County, Penn., native has been promoted nine times in his 24 years in the Marine Corps and has received three medals with a combat valor distinguishing device. - Chief Warrant Officer 4 Matthew Carpenter, the infantry weapons officer with Regimental Combat Team 7, has deployed 12 times including five to Iraq and two to Afghanistan. The Perry County, Penn., native has been promoted nine times in his 24 years in the Marine Corps and has received three medals with a combat valor distinguishing device.

Second Lt. John Muhammad, explosive ordnance disposal officer with the 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps of the Afghan National Army, has been serving his country for the last two years. ?We want to finish the fighting and finish the war,? Muhammad said. ?We want our country to move in a positive direction and begin to prosper.? - Second Lt. John Muhammad, explosive ordnance disposal officer with the 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps of the Afghan National Army, has been serving his country for the last two years. ?We want to finish the fighting and finish the war,? Muhammad said. ?We want our country to move in a positive direction and begin to prosper.?

Maxx, an improvised explosive device detector dog, licks the face of his handler, Lance Cpl. Stephen Mader, during a convoy in southern Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 26, 2012. Mader, an IDD handler with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, volunteered for the job. He?s an infantry mortarman by trade, but deployed to use Maxx to help sniff out IEDs and other explosive before they can damage vehicles or Marines. - Maxx, an improvised explosive device detector dog, licks the face of his handler, Lance Cpl. Stephen Mader, during a convoy in southern Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 26, 2012. Mader, an IDD handler with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, volunteered for the job. He?s an infantry mortarman by trade, but deployed to use Maxx to help sniff out IEDs and other explosive before they can damage vehicles or Marines.

Judy Heaps, a native of Orem, Utah, runs toward buses along with her two sons Benjamin, 6, and Luke, 5, at the sight of her husband, Master Gunnery Sgt. Cody Heaps, an intelligence chief with 1st Marine Division (Forward), during a homecoming event here, Aug. 22. The Division was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and headed Task Force Leatherneck, the ground combat element of Regional Command Southwest. - Judy Heaps, a native of Orem, Utah, runs toward buses along with her two sons Benjamin, 6, and Luke, 5, at the sight of her husband, Master Gunnery Sgt. Cody Heaps, an intelligence chief with 1st Marine Division (Forward), during a homecoming event here, Aug. 22. The Division was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and headed Task Force Leatherneck, the ground combat element of Regional Command Southwest.