Staff Sgt. Joel Vazquez escorts First Lady Michelle Obama as she arrives with a sack full of toys at the Toys for Tots Distribution Center at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., Dec. 11, 2012. - Staff Sgt. Joel Vazquez escorts First Lady Michelle Obama as she arrives with a sack full of toys at the Toys for Tots Distribution Center at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., Dec. 11, 2012.

Motivated to serve his country, Cpl. Aaron Clote, a native of Wentzville, Mo., enlisted in the Marine Corps one month after graduating high school. Now serving on his third deployment as a sniper and as the radio operator with the scout sniper team, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, Clote assists the Afghan National Security Forces with the transition of responsibilities. - Motivated to serve his country, Cpl. Aaron Clote, a native of Wentzville, Mo., enlisted in the Marine Corps one month after graduating high school. Now serving on his third deployment as a sniper and as the radio operator with the scout sniper team, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, Clote assists the Afghan National Security Forces with the transition of responsibilities.

Wounded Warriors walk through the halls of the Camp Bastion Hospital during a visit to Camp Leatherneck, Dec. 6, 2012. The warriors visited Camps Leatherneck and Bastion as part of Operation Proper Exit. - Wounded Warriors walk through the halls of the Camp Bastion Hospital during a visit to Camp Leatherneck, Dec. 6, 2012. The warriors visited Camps Leatherneck and Bastion as part of Operation Proper Exit.

Marines and sailors with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, stand silently at parade rest during the beginning of a memorial service in honor of Lance Cpl. Anthony Denier, Dec. 8, 2012. Denier, a rifleman with the battalion, died while conducting combat operations in Marjah, Afghanistan, Dec. 2, 2012. - Marines and sailors with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, stand silently at parade rest during the beginning of a memorial service in honor of Lance Cpl. Anthony Denier, Dec. 8, 2012. Denier, a rifleman with the battalion, died while conducting combat operations in Marjah, Afghanistan, Dec. 2, 2012.

Staff Sgt Brittney Lehr, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron JSF, and Marine Staff Sgt.Thomas Mitsch, Marine Tiltrotor Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, work to remove a panel on an F-35. For more than 18 months, developmental test personnel from the F-35 Integrated Test Force have been responsible for training operational maintainers from the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron and Marine Tiltrotor Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22; the marines who will maintain the F-35B Short Takeoff Vertical Landing variant. Seventy-six personnel have successfully completed the program with 15 maintainers currently participating. - Staff Sgt Brittney Lehr, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron JSF, and Marine Staff Sgt.Thomas Mitsch, Marine Tiltrotor Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, work to remove a panel on an F-35. For more than 18 months, developmental test personnel from the F-35 Integrated Test Force have been responsible for training operational maintainers from the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron and Marine Tiltrotor Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22; the marines who will maintain the F-35B Short Takeoff Vertical Landing variant. Seventy-six personnel have successfully completed the program with 15 maintainers currently participating.