Nearly 50 runners begin the 2011 Piranha Pit Fun Run at Cherry Point April 14. The main portion of the course took participants through about three miles of the Piranha Pit’s backwoods trails and natural scenery. - Nearly 50 runners begin the 2011 Piranha Pit Fun Run at Cherry Point April 14. The main portion of the course took participants through about three miles of the Piranha Pit’s backwoods trails and natural scenery.

Amanda M. Penner, a student of the strategic studies program at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, is taught how to properly hold an FIM-92A Stinger weapon system by a 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Marine at the weapons and tactics instructor course at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., April 16. - Amanda M. Penner, a student of the strategic studies program at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, is taught how to properly hold an FIM-92A Stinger weapon system by a 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion Marine at the weapons and tactics instructor course at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., April 16.

Cpl. Daniel M. Nunez-Galvan, left, and Lance Cpl. Robert W. Neerbasch help clear debris April 17 after an F-3 tornado hit the Village of Falcon Bridge near New Bern, N.C., the previous night. Nunez-Galvan and Neerbasch, as well as many of the Marines and Sailors from Cherry Point-based units, volunteered to help their local community in its time of need. Both are supply clerks with 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion. - Cpl. Daniel M. Nunez-Galvan, left, and Lance Cpl. Robert W. Neerbasch help clear debris April 17 after an F-3 tornado hit the Village of Falcon Bridge near New Bern, N.C., the previous night. Nunez-Galvan and Neerbasch, as well as many of the Marines and Sailors from Cherry Point-based units, volunteered to help their local community in its time of need. Both are supply clerks with 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion.

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Sgt. Maj. Susan M. Bellis speaks with Cpl. Casey West on the runway at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, April 22. Bellis visited Marine aviation squadrons deployed to Afghanistan in order to assess the needs of Marines and observe daily operations. West, a Richmond, Va., native, is an airframes mechanic with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 deployed out of Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C. - 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Sgt. Maj. Susan M. Bellis speaks with Cpl. Casey West on the runway at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, April 22. Bellis visited Marine aviation squadrons deployed to Afghanistan in order to assess the needs of Marines and observe daily operations. West, a Richmond, Va., native, is an airframes mechanic with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 deployed out of Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C.

(left) Cpl. David Reinoso, a bulk fuel specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 listens as Staff Sgt. Rockey L. Crump, the forward arming and refueling point at Combat Outpost Ouellette officer in charge with MWSS-272, talks at Combat Outpost Ouellette near Sangin, Afghanistan, April 18. “I know all of the Marines’ goals and ambitions and I try to help them reach those things,” said Crump. “To me being a leader means being firm with your Marines but also being flexible to fit their needs. This is all part of being a Marine.” - (left) Cpl. David Reinoso, a bulk fuel specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 listens as Staff Sgt. Rockey L. Crump, the forward arming and refueling point at Combat Outpost Ouellette officer in charge with MWSS-272, talks at Combat Outpost Ouellette near Sangin, Afghanistan, April 18. “I know all of the Marines’ goals and ambitions and I try to help them reach those things,” said Crump. “To me being a leader means being firm with your Marines but also being flexible to fit their needs. This is all part of being a Marine.”

Cpl. David Reinoso, a bulk fuel specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, examines fuel for sediments ensuring it is suitable for use at a new forward arming and refueling point at Combat Outpost Ouellette in Afghanistan's Helmand province, April 5.The forward arming and refueling point was recently constructed at Combat Outpost Ouellette to enable 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) to better support Marines and other coalition troops operating near Sangin, Afghanistan. - Cpl. David Reinoso, a bulk fuel specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, examines fuel for sediments ensuring it is suitable for use at a new forward arming and refueling point at Combat Outpost Ouellette in Afghanistan's Helmand province, April 5.The forward arming and refueling point was recently constructed at Combat Outpost Ouellette to enable 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) to better support Marines and other coalition troops operating near Sangin, Afghanistan.

Capt. Wesley R. Ogden, a fixed wing planner with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), wears a Texas patch on his flight suit during a remembrance ceremony for San Jacinto Day at the 2nd MAW (Fwd.) headquarters compound on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 21. San Jacinto Day commemorates a battle between the Texas Army and Mexican forces and is considered the turning point for Texas' independence from Mexico, April 21, 1836. “I decided to offer an opportunity for us to gather in remembrance, here, for motivation and morale,” said Ogden, a native of Houston. “It's beneficial to honor the traditions, values, and customs of the state and country that we joined to defend. It reminds us why we're Marines.” - Capt. Wesley R. Ogden, a fixed wing planner with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), wears a Texas patch on his flight suit during a remembrance ceremony for San Jacinto Day at the 2nd MAW (Fwd.) headquarters compound on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 21. San Jacinto Day commemorates a battle between the Texas Army and Mexican forces and is considered the turning point for Texas' independence from Mexico, April 21, 1836. “I decided to offer an opportunity for us to gather in remembrance, here, for motivation and morale,” said Ogden, a native of Houston. “It's beneficial to honor the traditions, values, and customs of the state and country that we joined to defend. It reminds us why we're Marines.”

Cpl. Reagan M. Odhner and Cpl. Brian A. Winkler, aviation ordnance technicians with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, load ammunition onto an AH-1W Cobra at a new forward arming refueling point at Combat Outpost Ouellette in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, April 17. “I love my job; you can’t do what I do anywhere else,” said Odhner, a native of Philadelphia. The forward arming refueling point was recently constructed at the combat outpost to enable 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) to better support Marines and other coalition troops operating near Sangin, Afghanistan. - Cpl. Reagan M. Odhner and Cpl. Brian A. Winkler, aviation ordnance technicians with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, load ammunition onto an AH-1W Cobra at a new forward arming refueling point at Combat Outpost Ouellette in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, April 17. “I love my job; you can’t do what I do anywhere else,” said Odhner, a native of Philadelphia. The forward arming refueling point was recently constructed at the combat outpost to enable 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) to better support Marines and other coalition troops operating near Sangin, Afghanistan.

Lance Cpl. Jesiah D. Care, a motor transport operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, unhooks a strap securing more than 2,500 gallons of jet propulsion fuel at a new forward arming and refueling point at Combat Outpost Ouellette in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, April 16. The forward arming and refueling point was recently constructed at the combat outpost to enable 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) to better support Marines and other coalition troops operating near Sangin, Afghanistan. “I enjoy convoying,” said Care, a native of Reading, Pa. “I like being out here supporting the mission.” - Lance Cpl. Jesiah D. Care, a motor transport operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, unhooks a strap securing more than 2,500 gallons of jet propulsion fuel at a new forward arming and refueling point at Combat Outpost Ouellette in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, April 16. The forward arming and refueling point was recently constructed at the combat outpost to enable 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) to better support Marines and other coalition troops operating near Sangin, Afghanistan. “I enjoy convoying,” said Care, a native of Reading, Pa. “I like being out here supporting the mission.”

British Army Air Corps Col. Peter Eadie is the new commander for the British Armed Force’s Joint Aviation Group in Afghanistan, Eadie assumed command from Royal Navy Capt. Paul Shawcross as the commander of the deployed U.K. rotary aviation community at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 15. - British Army Air Corps Col. Peter Eadie is the new commander for the British Armed Force’s Joint Aviation Group in Afghanistan, Eadie assumed command from Royal Navy Capt. Paul Shawcross as the commander of the deployed U.K. rotary aviation community at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 15.