Stories

The commanding officer of Black Sea Rotational Force 11, Lt. Col. Nelson S. Cardella, goes down with a big splash after Lance Cpl. Robert K. Devaney, motor transport operator and Neptune, N.J., native, hits his target on his first throw. Marines with Black Sea Rotational Force joined along U.S. Army soldiers, Navy sailors and Air Force airmen to celebrate the Fourth of July with food and festivities such as a dunk tank, sports competitions, pie and watermelon-eating contests and a tug-o-war. - The commanding officer of Black Sea Rotational Force 11, Lt. Col. Nelson S. Cardella, goes down with a big splash after Lance Cpl. Robert K. Devaney, motor transport operator and Neptune, N.J., native, hits his target on his first throw. Marines with Black Sea Rotational Force joined along U.S. Army soldiers, Navy sailors and Air Force airmen to celebrate the Fourth of July with food and festivities such as a dunk tank, sports competitions, pie and watermelon-eating contests and a tug-o-war.

During a period-of-instruction for convoy operations, Cpl. Nicholas Porter, rifleman and Amarillo, Texas, native, Black Sea Rotational Force 11, advises a Serbian soldier on the responsibilities of a “gunner” while doing Improvised-Explosive Device (IED) awareness training. BSRF-11 will be working with the Serbian and Bulgarian troops in Novo Selo training area in counterinsurgency and peacekeeping operations to advise and build the military capacities of these nations.::r::::n:: - During a period-of-instruction for convoy operations, Cpl. Nicholas Porter, rifleman and Amarillo, Texas, native, Black Sea Rotational Force 11, advises a Serbian soldier on the responsibilities of a “gunner” while doing Improvised-Explosive Device (IED) awareness training. BSRF-11 will be working with the Serbian and Bulgarian troops in Novo Selo training area in counterinsurgency and peacekeeping operations to advise and build the military capacities of these nations.::r::::n::

At a combat marksmanship range with U.S. Marines of Black Sea Rotational Force 11, a Bulgarian machine gunner from the Bulgarian 38th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Light Infantry Brigade, engages targets at distance of up to 200 meters to showcase the Bulgarian Dragunov’s capabilities in suppressive fire. The Ground Combat Element of BSRF-11 conducted counterinsurgency and peacekeeping operations with Bulgarians and Serbians to work with foreign soldiers and build the military capacities of partner nations. - At a combat marksmanship range with U.S. Marines of Black Sea Rotational Force 11, a Bulgarian machine gunner from the Bulgarian 38th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Light Infantry Brigade, engages targets at distance of up to 200 meters to showcase the Bulgarian Dragunov’s capabilities in suppressive fire. The Ground Combat Element of BSRF-11 conducted counterinsurgency and peacekeeping operations with Bulgarians and Serbians to work with foreign soldiers and build the military capacities of partner nations.

Two F-16s from the U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, perform a "Calypso pass," which involves Thunderbird 5, lead solo flown by Maj. Aaron Jelinek and Maj. J.R. Williams flying Thunderbird 6, as the opposing solo, for a large crowd at the “Thunder Over the Black Sea” air show held here, June 8, that was attended by local vendors as well as U.S. Marines from Black Sea Rotational Force 11, to display Romanian and U.S. military air power. Marines from Black Sea Rotational Force-11 participated in a “Thunder Over the Black Sea” air show along with U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, and several Romanian aerial demonstration squadrons on June 8 to display Romanian and U.S. air capabilities to the locals in the area. - Two F-16s from the U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, perform a "Calypso pass," which involves Thunderbird 5, lead solo flown by Maj. Aaron Jelinek and Maj. J.R. Williams flying Thunderbird 6, as the opposing solo, for a large crowd at the “Thunder Over the Black Sea” air show held here, June 8, that was attended by local vendors as well as U.S. Marines from Black Sea Rotational Force 11, to display Romanian and U.S. military air power. Marines from Black Sea Rotational Force-11 participated in a “Thunder Over the Black Sea” air show along with U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, and several Romanian aerial demonstration squadrons on June 8 to display Romanian and U.S. air capabilities to the locals in the area.

The 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps General James F. Amos lays a commemorative coin in front of the Iron Mike monument atop a hill in the heart of the Belleau Wood forest during a private Memorial Day ceremony in front of a formation of Marines and French soldiers. The coin is from the Marines of Task Force Belleau Wood, assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in Regional Command (Southwest) in Afghanistan. The coin was given to the Commandant during his visit to Afghanistan, May 11-15, 2011. - The 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps General James F. Amos lays a commemorative coin in front of the Iron Mike monument atop a hill in the heart of the Belleau Wood forest during a private Memorial Day ceremony in front of a formation of Marines and French soldiers. The coin is from the Marines of Task Force Belleau Wood, assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in Regional Command (Southwest) in Afghanistan. The coin was given to the Commandant during his visit to Afghanistan, May 11-15, 2011.

Georgian soldiers assigned to the 33rd Light Infantry Battalion orient their maps and check their gear prior to stepping off on a training patrol at the Joint Multinational Training Center, here. The soldiers are participating in the Georgia Deployment Program- Mission Readiness Exercise, where a majority of the Marines serving as observer/controllers were from 3rd Bn, 7th Marine Regiment, mentoring the 33rd LIB before they head to Afghanistan this spring. - Georgian soldiers assigned to the 33rd Light Infantry Battalion orient their maps and check their gear prior to stepping off on a training patrol at the Joint Multinational Training Center, here. The soldiers are participating in the Georgia Deployment Program- Mission Readiness Exercise, where a majority of the Marines serving as observer/controllers were from 3rd Bn, 7th Marine Regiment, mentoring the 33rd LIB before they head to Afghanistan this spring.

U.S. Marines amphibious assault vehicles embarked aboard the USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) depart the well deck during the start of a simulated amphibious assault. The combined U.S., Estonian amphibious landing was part of a demonstration of the interoperability between the two forces as part of exercise Baltic Operations 2010. - U.S. Marines amphibious assault vehicles embarked aboard the USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) depart the well deck during the start of a simulated amphibious assault. The combined U.S., Estonian amphibious landing was part of a demonstration of the interoperability between the two forces as part of exercise Baltic Operations 2010.

Latvian President Valdis Zatlers (left) walks with Maj. Gen. (sel.) Tracy L. Garrett, commanding general of the 4th Marine Logistics Group, prior to a distinguished visitor event at several sites around the exercise Baltic Operations 2010 training areas. Since the start the exercise on June 6th, the Marines and Sailors of 4th Landing Support Battalion and Naval Beach Group 2 have been working with members of the Armed Forces of Latvia to conduct maritime preposition force offload operations here. - Latvian President Valdis Zatlers (left) walks with Maj. Gen. (sel.) Tracy L. Garrett, commanding general of the 4th Marine Logistics Group, prior to a distinguished visitor event at several sites around the exercise Baltic Operations 2010 training areas. Since the start the exercise on June 6th, the Marines and Sailors of 4th Landing Support Battalion and Naval Beach Group 2 have been working with members of the Armed Forces of Latvia to conduct maritime preposition force offload operations here.

Landing support Marines from Charlie Company, 4th Landing Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, head to the beach to set up signal flags to mark the landing area here. The maritime preposition force (MPF) offload conducted here today begins the first phase of the MPF portion of exercise BALTIC OPERATIONS 2010, a multinational maritime exercise designed to increase interoperability between the 12 participating nations and increase maritime safety and security. - Landing support Marines from Charlie Company, 4th Landing Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, head to the beach to set up signal flags to mark the landing area here. The maritime preposition force (MPF) offload conducted here today begins the first phase of the MPF portion of exercise BALTIC OPERATIONS 2010, a multinational maritime exercise designed to increase interoperability between the 12 participating nations and increase maritime safety and security.

U.S. Marines and French soldiers gather on the parade field of the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery during a Memorial Day service in honor of the 93rd anniversary of the Battle for Belleau Wood. This year's ceremony marks the first time in 93 years that the Marines of the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments have returned to the battlefield together to honor their fallen comrades. More than 1,800 Marines from the 5th and 6th Regiments lost their lives in the 21-day battle that stopped the last German offensive in 1918. - U.S. Marines and French soldiers gather on the parade field of the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery during a Memorial Day service in honor of the 93rd anniversary of the Battle for Belleau Wood. This year's ceremony marks the first time in 93 years that the Marines of the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments have returned to the battlefield together to honor their fallen comrades. More than 1,800 Marines from the 5th and 6th Regiments lost their lives in the 21-day battle that stopped the last German offensive in 1918.

Lance Cpl. Kevin Cronin, a rifleman with the Security Cooperation Marine Air Ground Task Force, Africa Partnership Station 10, helps a member of 1st Paratrooper Battalion, Greek Special Forces, during a combat lifesaving practical application at Maleme, Crete, May 20. The Greek Special Forces and SCMAGTF spent the day conducting bilateral training exercises, to include a live-fire range, weapons handling classes, and combat lifesaving. - Lance Cpl. Kevin Cronin, a rifleman with the Security Cooperation Marine Air Ground Task Force, Africa Partnership Station 10, helps a member of 1st Paratrooper Battalion, Greek Special Forces, during a combat lifesaving practical application at Maleme, Crete, May 20. The Greek Special Forces and SCMAGTF spent the day conducting bilateral training exercises, to include a live-fire range, weapons handling classes, and combat lifesaving.