Capt. Matthew Pasquali, a pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 211, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), maneuvers his AV-8B Harrier II Plus into a parking spot, Sept. 18. The squadron operates throughout Helmand and Nimroz province. They are part of the fixed wing attack asset of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. - Capt. Matthew Pasquali, a pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 211, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), maneuvers his AV-8B Harrier II Plus into a parking spot, Sept. 18. The squadron operates throughout Helmand and Nimroz province. They are part of the fixed wing attack asset of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

Lance Cpl. Elmo Hernandez, a bulk fuel specialist with 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, and a fellow Marine engage a target during movement-to-contact training aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 25. During the training, 26 Marines with Bulk Fuel Company, 8th ESB maneuvered around team building obstacles to complete a course of 16 targets. - Lance Cpl. Elmo Hernandez, a bulk fuel specialist with 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, and a fellow Marine engage a target during movement-to-contact training aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 25. During the training, 26 Marines with Bulk Fuel Company, 8th ESB maneuvered around team building obstacles to complete a course of 16 targets.

Marines and sailors of Combat Logistics Battalion 26, currently reinforcing the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, attend to a simulated casualty during a non-combatant evacuation operation at Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 20. CLB-26 is one of the three reinforcements of 26th MEU, which is slated to deploy in 2013. - Marines and sailors of Combat Logistics Battalion 26, currently reinforcing the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, attend to a simulated casualty during a non-combatant evacuation operation at Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 20. CLB-26 is one of the three reinforcements of 26th MEU, which is slated to deploy in 2013.

AV-8 Harriers with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fly in formation after conducting aerial refueling training operations, Sept 23. The training consisted of MV-22B Ospreys and AV-8B Harriers conducting aerial refueling with the 24th MEU's KC-130J Hercules aircraft to practice the skills needed for long-range flight operations. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force for U.S. Central Command in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - AV-8 Harriers with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fly in formation after conducting aerial refueling training operations, Sept 23. The training consisted of MV-22B Ospreys and AV-8B Harriers conducting aerial refueling with the 24th MEU's KC-130J Hercules aircraft to practice the skills needed for long-range flight operations. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force for U.S. Central Command in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Marines salute during the playing of the national anthem during a memorial ceremony, Sept. 20. During the ceremony, Marines paid tribute to Sgt. Bradley Atwell, an aircraft electrical, instrument and flight control systems technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, from Kokomo, Ind. Atwell was killed in action while engaging insurgents during an attack on Camp Bastion, Sept. 14. - Marines salute during the playing of the national anthem during a memorial ceremony, Sept. 20. During the ceremony, Marines paid tribute to Sgt. Bradley Atwell, an aircraft electrical, instrument and flight control systems technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, from Kokomo, Ind. Atwell was killed in action while engaging insurgents during an attack on Camp Bastion, Sept. 14.

An instructor gives advice to fellow Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, as they provide suppressive fire during a training exercise as part of the Forge Academy Sept. 18. The Forge Academy is an approximately four-week long course designed to improve the proficiency of 1/6?s fireteam leaders. Throughout the course, the students were educated on troop welfare, the psychological and physiological effects of combat, infantry tactics and the responsibilities of being a fireteam leader. - An instructor gives advice to fellow Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, as they provide suppressive fire during a training exercise as part of the Forge Academy Sept. 18. The Forge Academy is an approximately four-week long course designed to improve the proficiency of 1/6?s fireteam leaders. Throughout the course, the students were educated on troop welfare, the psychological and physiological effects of combat, infantry tactics and the responsibilities of being a fireteam leader.

A Marine corporal with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit stretches before conducting morning physical training on the flight deck of the USS Gunston Hall in the Gulf of Aden, Sept. 15, 2012. The PT was part of a command-sponsored Corporal's Course that took place both ashore in Kuwait and aboard the ship. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command and is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility. - A Marine corporal with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit stretches before conducting morning physical training on the flight deck of the USS Gunston Hall in the Gulf of Aden, Sept. 15, 2012. The PT was part of a command-sponsored Corporal's Course that took place both ashore in Kuwait and aboard the ship. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command and is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Lance Cpl. Jethel Hernandez, a machine gunner with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and a native of Sioux City, Iowa, carries his M-240 machine gun while conducting a foot patrol during a helicopter raid on an enemy-held town, September 22. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps? force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Lance Cpl. Jethel Hernandez, a machine gunner with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and a native of Sioux City, Iowa, carries his M-240 machine gun while conducting a foot patrol during a helicopter raid on an enemy-held town, September 22. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps? force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.