A 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Marine takes notes during a mission brief before their foot patrol of the dense vegetation surrounding Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue May 17-19. Marines of Battery B went to Bogue to conduct foot patrols, stationary air defense and convoy air defense training. - A 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Marine takes notes during a mission brief before their foot patrol of the dense vegetation surrounding Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue May 17-19. Marines of Battery B went to Bogue to conduct foot patrols, stationary air defense and convoy air defense training.

Second-grade student Ben, left, reads a book out loud to Cpl. Cary T. Farrington at Arthur Edwards Elementary School May 19. Farrington, a refueler with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, and more than five other Marines helped teachers proctor elementary students during their end-of-grade exams May 18-19. “I feel it is most important to volunteer at schools because it helps out the kids and the teachers,” said Lance Cpl. John M. McDonough, a supply clerk with MWSS-271. “These kids are like us Marines. They come from all over to Cherry Point, and our volunteering helps give them a chance at a better education.” - Second-grade student Ben, left, reads a book out loud to Cpl. Cary T. Farrington at Arthur Edwards Elementary School May 19. Farrington, a refueler with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, and more than five other Marines helped teachers proctor elementary students during their end-of-grade exams May 18-19. “I feel it is most important to volunteer at schools because it helps out the kids and the teachers,” said Lance Cpl. John M. McDonough, a supply clerk with MWSS-271. “These kids are like us Marines. They come from all over to Cherry Point, and our volunteering helps give them a chance at a better education.”

Eric R. Lambert hits his drive off of the 11th hole during the 14th Annual Sergeants Major Golf Tournament at the Sound of Freedom Golf Course May 20. “The tournament was sold out early,” said Sgt. Maj. Jerry L. Bailey, Cherry Point’s sergeant major and host of the golf tournament. Lambert is a motor transport logistics vehicle system operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271. - Eric R. Lambert hits his drive off of the 11th hole during the 14th Annual Sergeants Major Golf Tournament at the Sound of Freedom Golf Course May 20. “The tournament was sold out early,” said Sgt. Maj. Jerry L. Bailey, Cherry Point’s sergeant major and host of the golf tournament. Lambert is a motor transport logistics vehicle system operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271.

Cpl. Matt B. Young, a crew chief with Marine Aerial Refueler Squadron 252, and a native of Cannon Falls, Minn., looks out the window of a KC-130J during an aerial refueling operation in support of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 in southwestern Afghanistan, May 19. VMGR-252, a KC-130J Hercules squadron deployed out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., to Afghanistan’s Kandahar Airfield, supports U.S. Marines, Afghan forces and other coalition troops by providing aerial refueling, evening battlefield illumination, and transporting cargo and troops in Afghanistan’s Nimroz and Helmand provinces and beyond. - Cpl. Matt B. Young, a crew chief with Marine Aerial Refueler Squadron 252, and a native of Cannon Falls, Minn., looks out the window of a KC-130J during an aerial refueling operation in support of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 in southwestern Afghanistan, May 19. VMGR-252, a KC-130J Hercules squadron deployed out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., to Afghanistan’s Kandahar Airfield, supports U.S. Marines, Afghan forces and other coalition troops by providing aerial refueling, evening battlefield illumination, and transporting cargo and troops in Afghanistan’s Nimroz and Helmand provinces and beyond.

Staff Sgt. Scott R. Beebe, right, a former drill instructor, talks with Sgt. Johnathan B. Davis, left, and Cpl. Cory J. Vore, center, about the possibilities of being a drill instructor after the first-term alignment plan brief at the station theater May 11. - Staff Sgt. Scott R. Beebe, right, a former drill instructor, talks with Sgt. Johnathan B. Davis, left, and Cpl. Cory J. Vore, center, about the possibilities of being a drill instructor after the first-term alignment plan brief at the station theater May 11.

Cpl. Christinia L. Helms hard at work in the deployment section of Installation Personnel Administrative Center. - Cpl. Christinia L. Helms hard at work in the deployment section of Installation Personnel Administrative Center.

Pallbearers bring the coffin of Lt. Col. Benjamin J. Palmer into the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Chapel May 23. More than 500 members of the local and military communities gathered to bid farewell to the beloved Marine who was killed in action in Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 12 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. - Pallbearers bring the coffin of Lt. Col. Benjamin J. Palmer into the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Chapel May 23. More than 500 members of the local and military communities gathered to bid farewell to the beloved Marine who was killed in action in Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 12 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Steven T. Smiley lifts Cpl. Donte L. Ravenell during their practice in the wrestling room aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune May 9. Smiley is the only Cherry Point Marine on the All-Marine wrestling team. “When I see one of my teammates on the mat slamming guys around it pushes me to do that much better,” said Smiley. - Lance Cpl. Steven T. Smiley lifts Cpl. Donte L. Ravenell during their practice in the wrestling room aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune May 9. Smiley is the only Cherry Point Marine on the All-Marine wrestling team. “When I see one of my teammates on the mat slamming guys around it pushes me to do that much better,” said Smiley.

AV-8B Harriers with Marine Attack Squadron 513, deployed out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., rest at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, following their arrival, May 20. VMA-513, which was the first Marine Corps Harrier squadron to deploy to Afghanistan, recently returned after more than a decade. “There is nothing impossible for the Marines of the squadron,” said Sgt. Maj. Scott E. Cooper, the VMA-513 squadron sergeant major, and native of Huntington Beach, Calif. “Their hearts are in the right places, they are focused on their missions and they want to be here.” - AV-8B Harriers with Marine Attack Squadron 513, deployed out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., rest at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, following their arrival, May 20. VMA-513, which was the first Marine Corps Harrier squadron to deploy to Afghanistan, recently returned after more than a decade. “There is nothing impossible for the Marines of the squadron,” said Sgt. Maj. Scott E. Cooper, the VMA-513 squadron sergeant major, and native of Huntington Beach, Calif. “Their hearts are in the right places, they are focused on their missions and they want to be here.”

AV-8B Harriers with Marine Attack Squadron 513, deployed out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., rest at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, following their arrival, May 20. VMA-513, which was the first Marine Corps Harrier squadron to deploy to Afghanistan, recently returned after more than a decade. "There is nothing impossible for the Marines of the squadron," said Sgt. Maj. Scott E. Cooper, the VMA-513 squadron sergeant major, and native of Huntington Beach, Calif. "Their hearts are in the right places, they are focused on their missions and they want to be here." U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Sean T. Dennison - AV-8B Harriers with Marine Attack Squadron 513, deployed out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., rest at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, following their arrival, May 20. VMA-513, which was the first Marine Corps Harrier squadron to deploy to Afghanistan, recently returned after more than a decade. "There is nothing impossible for the Marines of the squadron," said Sgt. Maj. Scott E. Cooper, the VMA-513 squadron sergeant major, and native of Huntington Beach, Calif. "Their hearts are in the right places, they are focused on their missions and they want to be here." U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Sean T. Dennison