Stories

Lt. Col. Matthew G. St. Clair, commanding officer of Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, awards the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device to Capt. Brian M. Harvey, company commander for Weapons Company, BLT 3/8, during an awards ceremony held aboard Camp Lejeune April 13, 2007. BLT 3/8 is set to deploy as the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's Ground Combat Element. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Sam Vega) - Lt. Col. Matthew G. St. Clair, commanding officer of Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, awards the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device to Capt. Brian M. Harvey, company commander for Weapons Company, BLT 3/8, during an awards ceremony held aboard Camp Lejeune April 13, 2007. BLT 3/8 is set to deploy as the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's Ground Combat Element. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Sam Vega)

A Marine with Kilo Co., Battalion Landing Team 3rd Bn., 8th Marines, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes cover behind a column and provides support by fire during a training scenario at the Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 27, 2007. The Marine is wearing a protective mask and gloves required for the presence of 9 mm marking ammunition being shot during the exercise. The Marines and Sailors of BLT 3/8 are currently training for an upcoming deployment as the Ground Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit scheduled later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller) - A Marine with Kilo Co., Battalion Landing Team 3rd Bn., 8th Marines, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes cover behind a column and provides support by fire during a training scenario at the Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 27, 2007. The Marine is wearing a protective mask and gloves required for the presence of 9 mm marking ammunition being shot during the exercise. The Marines and Sailors of BLT 3/8 are currently training for an upcoming deployment as the Ground Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit scheduled later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller)

A student peers through the scope of his M40-A3 sniper rifle during the team-urban assault portion of the Marine Corps Special Operations Training Group Urban Sniper Course held aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 5, 2007. Two-man teams assaulted through the "Dodge City" multipurpose shooting range as a part of the course and were graded on their abilities to accurately engage multiple targets with precision weapons. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller) - A student peers through the scope of his M40-A3 sniper rifle during the team-urban assault portion of the Marine Corps Special Operations Training Group Urban Sniper Course held aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 5, 2007. Two-man teams assaulted through the "Dodge City" multipurpose shooting range as a part of the course and were graded on their abilities to accurately engage multiple targets with precision weapons. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller)

A Marine with Combined Anti-Armor Team, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, posts security out of a window during a raid training evolution aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 6, 2007. The Marines and sailors of BLT 3/8 are scheduled to deploy as the Ground Combat Element of the 22nd MEU later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller) - A Marine with Combined Anti-Armor Team, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, posts security out of a window during a raid training evolution aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 6, 2007. The Marines and sailors of BLT 3/8 are scheduled to deploy as the Ground Combat Element of the 22nd MEU later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller)

A landing supervisor walks up to an AV-8B Harrier with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (reinforced) to give the pilot take-off signals on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Kearsarge during carrier qualifications March 30, 2007. HMM-261 (rein) is scheduled to deploy as the Aviation Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matt Epright) - A landing supervisor walks up to an AV-8B Harrier with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (reinforced) to give the pilot take-off signals on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Kearsarge during carrier qualifications March 30, 2007. HMM-261 (rein) is scheduled to deploy as the Aviation Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matt Epright)

A Light Armored Vehicle rolls off of a Landing Craft Air-Cushioned landing craft before storming across the beach during a destruction raid exercise just in from the coast of Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 31, 2007. Light Armored Reconnaissance Platoon is attached to Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, which is scheduled to deploy as the Ground Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe) - A Light Armored Vehicle rolls off of a Landing Craft Air-Cushioned landing craft before storming across the beach during a destruction raid exercise just in from the coast of Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 31, 2007. Light Armored Reconnaissance Platoon is attached to Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, which is scheduled to deploy as the Ground Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe)

A CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (reinforced) takes off from the flight deck of the U.S.S. Kearsarge during carrier qualifications, March 29, 2007. HMM-261 (rein) is scheduled to deploy as the Aviation Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe) - A CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (reinforced) takes off from the flight deck of the U.S.S. Kearsarge during carrier qualifications, March 29, 2007. HMM-261 (rein) is scheduled to deploy as the Aviation Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe)

Hospital Man Miguel Montoya, the platoon’s corps-man for Light Armored Reconnaissance platoon (LAR), gives medical attention to an injured pilot during a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel course held aboard Camp Lejeune, NC, March 7, 2007. Part of the five-day course, involved the LAR Marines executing mock TRAP missions in different scenarios over various terrains with life-size dummies and role players. The Marines and Sailors of the LAR, an attachment of the Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3/8 is scheduled to deploy with the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe) - Hospital Man Miguel Montoya, the platoon’s corps-man for Light Armored Reconnaissance platoon (LAR), gives medical attention to an injured pilot during a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel course held aboard Camp Lejeune, NC, March 7, 2007. Part of the five-day course, involved the LAR Marines executing mock TRAP missions in different scenarios over various terrains with life-size dummies and role players. The Marines and Sailors of the LAR, an attachment of the Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3/8 is scheduled to deploy with the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe)

Sergeant Clarence Hopkins, Chief scout for the Light Armored Reconnaissance platoon (LAR), calls out commands for his Marines during a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) course held aboard Camp Lejeune, NC, March 7, 2007. One of the highlights of the five-day course saw the LAR Marines executing mock TRAP missions in different scenarios over various terrains with life-size dummies and role players. The Marines and Sailors of the LAR, an attachment of the Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3/8 is scheduled to deploy with the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe) - Sergeant Clarence Hopkins, Chief scout for the Light Armored Reconnaissance platoon (LAR), calls out commands for his Marines during a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) course held aboard Camp Lejeune, NC, March 7, 2007. One of the highlights of the five-day course saw the LAR Marines executing mock TRAP missions in different scenarios over various terrains with life-size dummies and role players. The Marines and Sailors of the LAR, an attachment of the Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3/8 is scheduled to deploy with the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe)