Stories

Maj. Samuel Johnson, second from left, executive officer, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, presents the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award to his civilian employer Duke Energy at the Pentagon, Aug. 24, 2018. The Freedom award is presented annually to the nation's 15 most supportive employers who have demonstrated exceptional support. It is the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to civilian employers for their support of employees who serve in the Reserve or National Guard. (Courtesy photo) - Maj. Samuel Johnson, second from left, executive officer, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, presents the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award to his civilian employer Duke Energy at the Pentagon, Aug. 24, 2018. The Freedom award is presented annually to the nation's 15 most supportive employers who have demonstrated exceptional support. It is the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to civilian employers for their support of employees who serve in the Reserve or National Guard. (Courtesy photo)

Maj. Gen. Burke W. Whitman, commanding general of 4th Marine Division, talks to the families of Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan and Staff Sgt. David Wyatt at Ross’s Landing in Chattanooga, Tenn., May 7, 2017. Sullivan and Wyatt were posthumously awarded the medal for their actions during the July 16, 2015 shooting that occurred at the Naval Reserve Center Chattanooga and left two other Marines and a sailor dead. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Niles Lee/Released) - Maj. Gen. Burke W. Whitman, commanding general of 4th Marine Division, talks to the families of Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan and Staff Sgt. David Wyatt at Ross’s Landing in Chattanooga, Tenn., May 7, 2017. Sullivan and Wyatt were posthumously awarded the medal for their actions during the July 16, 2015 shooting that occurred at the Naval Reserve Center Chattanooga and left two other Marines and a sailor dead. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Niles Lee/Released)

Lt. Col. Esteban Beamon (left), the commander of Detachment 2, 4th Civil Affairs Group, Marine Forces Reserve, stands by Capt. Ismael Lopez (right), the civil military operations planner for Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Southern Command 17, who holds up the 2016 Colonel Justice Marion “Jumping Joe” Chambers Award at the Marine Corps Association and Foundation Ground Awards Dinner in Arlington, Va., May 4, 2017. The award recognized Lopez as the Marine Corps Reserve company grade officer of the year for demonstrating outstanding leadership qualities during the transition of Detachment 4, 4th Tank Battalion to 4th Civil Affairs Group. (Courtesy Photo by Marine Corps Association and Foundation/Released) - Lt. Col. Esteban Beamon (left), the commander of Detachment 2, 4th Civil Affairs Group, Marine Forces Reserve, stands by Capt. Ismael Lopez (right), the civil military operations planner for Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Southern Command 17, who holds up the 2016 Colonel Justice Marion “Jumping Joe” Chambers Award at the Marine Corps Association and Foundation Ground Awards Dinner in Arlington, Va., May 4, 2017. The award recognized Lopez as the Marine Corps Reserve company grade officer of the year for demonstrating outstanding leadership qualities during the transition of Detachment 4, 4th Tank Battalion to 4th Civil Affairs Group. (Courtesy Photo by Marine Corps Association and Foundation/Released)

HM1(FMF) Argenis Mendoza (second from right), leading petty officer with Surgical Company B, 4th Medical Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve, poses for a picture with Marines and Sailors from 4th MLG in Mozambique, Africa, during Operation Shared Accord in June 2010. Mendoza, a surgical technologist, is the Reserve component recipient of the 2015 Marine Forces Reserve Sailor of the Year award. [Courtesy photo by HM1(FMF) Argenis Mendoza] - HM1(FMF) Argenis Mendoza (second from right), leading petty officer with Surgical Company B, 4th Medical Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve, poses for a picture with Marines and Sailors from 4th MLG in Mozambique, Africa, during Operation Shared Accord in June 2010. Mendoza, a surgical technologist, is the Reserve component recipient of the 2015 Marine Forces Reserve Sailor of the Year award. [Courtesy photo by HM1(FMF) Argenis Mendoza]

A reserve Marine volunteer firefighter was selected to receive a 2013 Geico Military Service Award. The Geico Military Service Awards Program spotlights the contributions enlisted members of the Armed Forces make in improving public safety. The awards honor one enlisted member from each military service branch and one member from the Reserve/National Guard component. - A reserve Marine volunteer firefighter was selected to receive a 2013 Geico Military Service Award. The Geico Military Service Awards Program spotlights the contributions enlisted members of the Armed Forces make in improving public safety. The awards honor one enlisted member from each military service branch and one member from the Reserve/National Guard component.

Retired Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Charles C. Krulak greets Marine Sgt. Gary L. Hill before he is presented with the Silver Star Medal at the Tuscaloosa Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center here June 7, 2013. Hill received the nation’s third highest award for combat heroism for actions as a fire team leader while he deployed to Vietnam in 1967. - Retired Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Charles C. Krulak greets Marine Sgt. Gary L. Hill before he is presented with the Silver Star Medal at the Tuscaloosa Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center here June 7, 2013. Hill received the nation’s third highest award for combat heroism for actions as a fire team leader while he deployed to Vietnam in 1967.

Staff Sgt. Alec Haralovich holds the 2013 GySgt. John Basilone Award for Courage and Commitment following a ceremony here May 19, 2013. He was the presented the etched glass statue for reviving the memory of GySgt. John Basilone and upholding the ultimate attribute of what it means to be a United States Marine. His selfless service to the Marine Corps, his Marines and heroic exploits during a 2011 deployment to Afghanistan also earned him the Silver Star Medal. Harolovich is currently assigned to E Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve. Haralovich left promptly to begin a nearly year-long deployment to train foreign forces overseas in the coming months. Haralovich is a reconnaissance Marine from Bloomington, Ind. - Staff Sgt. Alec Haralovich holds the 2013 GySgt. John Basilone Award for Courage and Commitment following a ceremony here May 19, 2013. He was the presented the etched glass statue for reviving the memory of GySgt. John Basilone and upholding the ultimate attribute of what it means to be a United States Marine. His selfless service to the Marine Corps, his Marines and heroic exploits during a 2011 deployment to Afghanistan also earned him the Silver Star Medal. Harolovich is currently assigned to E Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve. Haralovich left promptly to begin a nearly year-long deployment to train foreign forces overseas in the coming months. Haralovich is a reconnaissance Marine from Bloomington, Ind.

1st Sgt. Anthony J. Velarde, a first sergeant with 1st Civil Affairs Group, Marine Forces Reserve, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device during a ceremony here, March 11. He received the medal for his actions while deployed as a company gunnery sergeant with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. - 1st Sgt. Anthony J. Velarde, a first sergeant with 1st Civil Affairs Group, Marine Forces Reserve, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device during a ceremony here, March 11. He received the medal for his actions while deployed as a company gunnery sergeant with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lt. Gen. Steven A. Hummer, commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North, poses with Sgt. Adam K. Smith after presenting him with a citation for his Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal at the Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, April 8, 2013. Smith, the repairable issue point chief for MARFORRES G4 (logistics and services), was awarded the medal after he was selected as the MARFORRES 2012 Marine of the Year (active component). - Lt. Gen. Steven A. Hummer, commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North, poses with Sgt. Adam K. Smith after presenting him with a citation for his Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal at the Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, April 8, 2013. Smith, the repairable issue point chief for MARFORRES G4 (logistics and services), was awarded the medal after he was selected as the MARFORRES 2012 Marine of the Year (active component).

Lt. Gen. Steven A. Hummer, commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North, Shanon C. Neal, MARFORRES family readiness officer, Sarah Lauten, 4th Marine Division family readiness officer, Col. Christopher Starling, commanding officer of 23rd Marine Regiment, and Lt. Col. Kevin H. Hutchison, inspector-instructor for 2/23, accept the 2012 Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Award presented by retired Navy Vice Adm. Norb R.Ryan Jr., the president of Military Officers Association of America, at the Pentagon, March 1. - Lt. Gen. Steven A. Hummer, commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North, Shanon C. Neal, MARFORRES family readiness officer, Sarah Lauten, 4th Marine Division family readiness officer, Col. Christopher Starling, commanding officer of 23rd Marine Regiment, and Lt. Col. Kevin H. Hutchison, inspector-instructor for 2/23, accept the 2012 Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Award presented by retired Navy Vice Adm. Norb R.Ryan Jr., the president of Military Officers Association of America, at the Pentagon, March 1.