Lance Cpl. Joshua Taylor, assaultman, 2nd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, stands outside of his tent at Combat Outpost Jaker, Afghanistan, July 27, 2012. Taylor deployed to Afghanistan a year after joining the Marine Corps. ?I always hoped to be a part of history,? Taylor said. ?It?s something I can be proud of.? - Lance Cpl. Joshua Taylor, assaultman, 2nd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, stands outside of his tent at Combat Outpost Jaker, Afghanistan, July 27, 2012. Taylor deployed to Afghanistan a year after joining the Marine Corps. ?I always hoped to be a part of history,? Taylor said. ?It?s something I can be proud of.?

Lance Cpl. Ryan Chandrapaul, the ammunition chief and armory chief for Sierra Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, and 21-year-old St. Cloud, Fla. native, orders, tracks and secures everything from rockets to machine guns. - Lance Cpl. Ryan Chandrapaul, the ammunition chief and armory chief for Sierra Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, and 21-year-old St. Cloud, Fla. native, orders, tracks and secures everything from rockets to machine guns.

Major Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, commanding general, Regional Command Southwest, speaks to noncommissioned officers aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Aug. 5, 2012. Major Gen. Gurganus spoke to the Marines to keep them informed about the Marine Corps’ evolving role in Afghanistan. - Major Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, commanding general, Regional Command Southwest, speaks to noncommissioned officers aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Aug. 5, 2012. Major Gen. Gurganus spoke to the Marines to keep them informed about the Marine Corps’ evolving role in Afghanistan.

F-35B test aircraft BF-3, flown by Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Levin, completed the first aerial weapons release Aug. 8, for any variant of the aircraft. BF-3 dropped an inert 1,000-pound GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munition over an Atlantic test range from an internal weapons bay. The F-35B is the variant of the Joint Strike Fighter designed for use by U.S. Marine Corps. - F-35B test aircraft BF-3, flown by Lockheed Martin test pilot Dan Levin, completed the first aerial weapons release Aug. 8, for any variant of the aircraft. BF-3 dropped an inert 1,000-pound GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munition over an Atlantic test range from an internal weapons bay. The F-35B is the variant of the Joint Strike Fighter designed for use by U.S. Marine Corps.

Fred Gowen, a veteran from the battle of Hue City, 1968, during the Vietnam War, waits with a round in the chamber for his target to reappear, during the Vintage Sniper Rifle Matches, Aug., 1, 2012 aboard Camp Perry, Ohio. When the targets appeared competitors had 20 seconds to adjust their sites and send a round down range before the targets would disappear into the pits and reappear in 20 seconds for another shot. Competitors shot 10 rounds at the 300 and 10 rounds at the 600 in this manner. - Fred Gowen, a veteran from the battle of Hue City, 1968, during the Vietnam War, waits with a round in the chamber for his target to reappear, during the Vintage Sniper Rifle Matches, Aug., 1, 2012 aboard Camp Perry, Ohio. When the targets appeared competitors had 20 seconds to adjust their sites and send a round down range before the targets would disappear into the pits and reappear in 20 seconds for another shot. Competitors shot 10 rounds at the 300 and 10 rounds at the 600 in this manner.

French forces Sgt. Jerome Dousse, 5th Marine Regiment, carries Sgt. Steven Rey down a training wall while U.S. Marine Master Sgt. Chris Brueggeman, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit assault climbing instructor, supervises July 22. The French and U.S. Marines participated in an assault climbing course in the rugged terrain of the Arta Range July 19 - 30. - French forces Sgt. Jerome Dousse, 5th Marine Regiment, carries Sgt. Steven Rey down a training wall while U.S. Marine Master Sgt. Chris Brueggeman, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit assault climbing instructor, supervises July 22. The French and U.S. Marines participated in an assault climbing course in the rugged terrain of the Arta Range July 19 - 30.