Marines with Mortars Platoon, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment take cover after dropping a mortar during a live-fire range June 8 as part of exercise Sea Breeze 2011. Sea Breeze is an annual combined air, land and maritime exercise with the goals of enhancing amphibious operations, improving multinational maritime capabilities and fostering trust and cooperation among participating nations. This year’s exercise includes participants from the United States, Ukraine, Macedonia, Moldova and Georgia and incorporates amphibious operations, maritime interdiction, improvised explosive device and convoy operations and other platoon level training. - Marines with Mortars Platoon, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment take cover after dropping a mortar during a live-fire range June 8 as part of exercise Sea Breeze 2011. Sea Breeze is an annual combined air, land and maritime exercise with the goals of enhancing amphibious operations, improving multinational maritime capabilities and fostering trust and cooperation among participating nations. This year’s exercise includes participants from the United States, Ukraine, Macedonia, Moldova and Georgia and incorporates amphibious operations, maritime interdiction, improvised explosive device and convoy operations and other platoon level training.

Staff Sgt. Zach Smith, a convoy commander with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, and Springfield, Mo., native, quizzes role-player Sgt. James Gladwell, a Rogers, Ark., native, about possible insurgent activity in the area during a patrol conducted June 15 as part of exercise Sea Breeze 2011.::r::::n:: Sea Breeze is an annual combined air, land and maritime exercise with the goals of enhancing amphibious operations, improving multinational maritime capabilities and fostering trust and cooperation among participating nations. This year’s exercise includes participants from the United States, Ukraine, Macedonia, Moldova and Georgia and incorporates amphibious operations, maritime interdiction, improvised explosive device and convoy operations and other platoon level training. Marine Forces Europe, based out of Stuttgart, Germany, is the lead U.S. Marine Corps service component for the exercise.::r::::n:: - Staff Sgt. Zach Smith, a convoy commander with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, and Springfield, Mo., native, quizzes role-player Sgt. James Gladwell, a Rogers, Ark., native, about possible insurgent activity in the area during a patrol conducted June 15 as part of exercise Sea Breeze 2011.::r::::n:: Sea Breeze is an annual combined air, land and maritime exercise with the goals of enhancing amphibious operations, improving multinational maritime capabilities and fostering trust and cooperation among participating nations. This year’s exercise includes participants from the United States, Ukraine, Macedonia, Moldova and Georgia and incorporates amphibious operations, maritime interdiction, improvised explosive device and convoy operations and other platoon level training. Marine Forces Europe, based out of Stuttgart, Germany, is the lead U.S. Marine Corps service component for the exercise.::r::::n::

Sgt. Warren Bernard, a supply noncommissioned officer with Marine Forces Reserve, accepts an award for volunteering at the West Bank Community School May 18. Bernard and a few other Marines have been volunteering since October 2010. - Sgt. Warren Bernard, a supply noncommissioned officer with Marine Forces Reserve, accepts an award for volunteering at the West Bank Community School May 18. Bernard and a few other Marines have been volunteering since October 2010.

A plaque for Cpl. Emitria J. Henderson lies on the table at the Audubon Nature Institute Tea Room here May 4. Henderson received the Outstanding Military Non-Commissioned Officer award from the New Orleans Federal Executive Board during public recognition week for her “laudable managerial skills, superb leadership, drive, and determination.” She served in as a provisional military police officer in Al Ramadi, Iraq, and also served on the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa staff where she earned the Joint Service Achievement Medal. - A plaque for Cpl. Emitria J. Henderson lies on the table at the Audubon Nature Institute Tea Room here May 4. Henderson received the Outstanding Military Non-Commissioned Officer award from the New Orleans Federal Executive Board during public recognition week for her “laudable managerial skills, superb leadership, drive, and determination.” She served in as a provisional military police officer in Al Ramadi, Iraq, and also served on the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa staff where she earned the Joint Service Achievement Medal.

A panel of Marine veterans discusses deployment topics and gives deployment advice to first-time deploying Marines and their families to help them prepare future deployments. The panel was part of a 4th Maintenance Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, pre-and-post deployment conference sponsored by the Yellow Ribbon program May 1, 2011. - A panel of Marine veterans discusses deployment topics and gives deployment advice to first-time deploying Marines and their families to help them prepare future deployments. The panel was part of a 4th Maintenance Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, pre-and-post deployment conference sponsored by the Yellow Ribbon program May 1, 2011.

Three members of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Shooting Team, Gunnery Sgt. William Kevin Walker, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen G. Ryther and 1st Sgt. Clark Rhiel, attend the Blue Ridge Mountain 3-Gun Championship in Park City, Ky., May 1, 2011. - Three members of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Shooting Team, Gunnery Sgt. William Kevin Walker, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen G. Ryther and 1st Sgt. Clark Rhiel, attend the Blue Ridge Mountain 3-Gun Championship in Park City, Ky., May 1, 2011.

Local Marines fold flags for Lance Cpl. Joe Jackson’s family during his funeral May 4 at Tahoma Cemetery. Jackson was killed April 24 by an improvised explosive device blast in Afghanistan. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jad Sleiman) - Local Marines fold flags for Lance Cpl. Joe Jackson’s family during his funeral May 4 at Tahoma Cemetery. Jackson was killed April 24 by an improvised explosive device blast in Afghanistan. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jad Sleiman)

Cpl. Adam Atkins, the bass drummer for Marine Band New Orleans, stands ready to march in the Armed Forces Day Parade in Chattanooga, Tenn., May 6. The band marched in the parade along with veterans of several conflicts. - Cpl. Adam Atkins, the bass drummer for Marine Band New Orleans, stands ready to march in the Armed Forces Day Parade in Chattanooga, Tenn., May 6. The band marched in the parade along with veterans of several conflicts.

Sgt. Michael Guerrero, a Marine Forces Reserve finance auditor, clinches his fist to help prepare for his blood donation at MarForRes, April 26. The Blood Center came to MarForRes to give Marines, sailors and Department of Defense civilians a chance to donate blood for hospitals across the Golf Coast. - Sgt. Michael Guerrero, a Marine Forces Reserve finance auditor, clinches his fist to help prepare for his blood donation at MarForRes, April 26. The Blood Center came to MarForRes to give Marines, sailors and Department of Defense civilians a chance to donate blood for hospitals across the Golf Coast.

Master Sgt. Kevin Hunter, the bandmaster for Marine Band New Orleans, dances to the music and pumps up the crowd while Marines perform music for tornado victims in Tuscaloosa, Ala., May 5. The Marines stopped and performed at the park for the displaced Alabamans on their way to Chattanooga, Tenn., for the 62nd annual Armed Forces Day Parade. - Master Sgt. Kevin Hunter, the bandmaster for Marine Band New Orleans, dances to the music and pumps up the crowd while Marines perform music for tornado victims in Tuscaloosa, Ala., May 5. The Marines stopped and performed at the park for the displaced Alabamans on their way to Chattanooga, Tenn., for the 62nd annual Armed Forces Day Parade.