Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, deputy commandant of Plans, Policies and Operations, presented Congressional Gold Medals to two of the original Montford Point Marines in attendance at the 49th annual Montford Point Marine Association Convention awards banquet here, July 19, 2014. Woodrow Arthur and Cleveland Williams were two of approximately 20,000 black Marines who were trained at the Montford Point training facility in Camp Johnson, North Carolina, when military forces were still segregated. - Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, deputy commandant of Plans, Policies and Operations, presented Congressional Gold Medals to two of the original Montford Point Marines in attendance at the 49th annual Montford Point Marine Association Convention awards banquet here, July 19, 2014. Woodrow Arthur and Cleveland Williams were two of approximately 20,000 black Marines who were trained at the Montford Point training facility in Camp Johnson, North Carolina, when military forces were still segregated.

(From left to right) Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 James T. Averhart, the National President of Montford Point Marines Association, Lt. Gen. Richard P. Mills, the commander of Marine Forces Reserve, James A. Gray II, the New Orleans District E Councilman, Retired Master Gunnery Sgt. James Carr, the National Vice President for MPMA and Master Gunnery Sgt. Ronald C. Johnson, the Deputy Director of the host chapter for MPMA, gather for a photo after Feltus Sterling (bottom left) and D. K. Cooley (bottom right) were presented the Congressional Gold Medal at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, March 21, 2014. Sterling and Cooley are original Montford Point Marines that served when segregation laws of the 1940s prohibited African-American recruits to train at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award conferred by Congress and is awarded to all original Montford Point Marines. Montford Point Marines Participated in the Pacific Theater Campaigns of World War II, including the Battle of Iwo Jima. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Codey Underwood) - (From left to right) Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 James T. Averhart, the National President of Montford Point Marines Association, Lt. Gen. Richard P. Mills, the commander of Marine Forces Reserve, James A. Gray II, the New Orleans District E Councilman, Retired Master Gunnery Sgt. James Carr, the National Vice President for MPMA and Master Gunnery Sgt. Ronald C. Johnson, the Deputy Director of the host chapter for MPMA, gather for a photo after Feltus Sterling (bottom left) and D. K. Cooley (bottom right) were presented the Congressional Gold Medal at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, March 21, 2014. Sterling and Cooley are original Montford Point Marines that served when segregation laws of the 1940s prohibited African-American recruits to train at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award conferred by Congress and is awarded to all original Montford Point Marines. Montford Point Marines Participated in the Pacific Theater Campaigns of World War II, including the Battle of Iwo Jima. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Codey Underwood)

CAMP WILLIAM HINDS, RAYMOND, Maine – Air Force Staff Sgt. Michelle Manuel, a structural specialist with 161st Air Refueling Wing, Arizona Air National Guard and native of Phoenix, Arizona, drives a stake into the ground with a sledge hammer in an attempt to level the support beams of a new pavilion being built on a firing range during the joint service Innovative Readiness Training on Camp William Hinds in Raymond, Maine, July 10, 2014. IRT Camp Hinds is a joint service initiative designed to provide service memebers with real-world training opportunities preparing them for their war-time missions while also supporting the needs of America’s underserved communities. (Photo by Sgt. Adwin Esters/Released 140710-M-JL916-069) - CAMP WILLIAM HINDS, RAYMOND, Maine – Air Force Staff Sgt. Michelle Manuel, a structural specialist with 161st Air Refueling Wing, Arizona Air National Guard and native of Phoenix, Arizona, drives a stake into the ground with a sledge hammer in an attempt to level the support beams of a new pavilion being built on a firing range during the joint service Innovative Readiness Training on Camp William Hinds in Raymond, Maine, July 10, 2014. IRT Camp Hinds is a joint service initiative designed to provide service memebers with real-world training opportunities preparing them for their war-time missions while also supporting the needs of America’s underserved communities. (Photo by Sgt. Adwin Esters/Released 140710-M-JL916-069)

Brig. Gen. Paul K. Lebidine, the commanding general of Force Headquarters Group speaks with Sarah Farnsworth, the San Diego Padres Senior Vice President, Public Affairs at PETCO Park stadium here, June 5, 2014. The San Diego Padres, a muster partner, allowed FHG to hold the Marine Corps Individual Ready Reserve administrative muster and job fair at the stadium. The muster gave Marines access to job options and schools, as well as the opportunities and resources to remain a part of the Marine Corps. - Brig. Gen. Paul K. Lebidine, the commanding general of Force Headquarters Group speaks with Sarah Farnsworth, the San Diego Padres Senior Vice President, Public Affairs at PETCO Park stadium here, June 5, 2014. The San Diego Padres, a muster partner, allowed FHG to hold the Marine Corps Individual Ready Reserve administrative muster and job fair at the stadium. The muster gave Marines access to job options and schools, as well as the opportunities and resources to remain a part of the Marine Corps.

Marine Corps, Army and Navy dental technicians work together to care for a patient at the Kapaa Middle School site, June 19, during Innovative Readiness Training exercise Tropic Care 2014. Kapaa Middle School is one of three main sites that patients can be seen for medical, dental and optometry care provided by the Department of Defense at no cost to the public, providing simultaneous military training for medical personnel. TC14 also allows service members from each branch to combine their expertise in a joint-training environment. - Marine Corps, Army and Navy dental technicians work together to care for a patient at the Kapaa Middle School site, June 19, during Innovative Readiness Training exercise Tropic Care 2014. Kapaa Middle School is one of three main sites that patients can be seen for medical, dental and optometry care provided by the Department of Defense at no cost to the public, providing simultaneous military training for medical personnel. TC14 also allows service members from each branch to combine their expertise in a joint-training environment.

FORT POLK, La. – Private James Jamison, a machine gunner with 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, and a native of Converse, Texas, fires a M240-B machine gun during a live fire range here, June 2. Marines took part in numerous live fire ranges, which culminated in a platoon size attack as a part of the unit’s annual training. (Photo by Cpl. John M. McCall) - FORT POLK, La. – Private James Jamison, a machine gunner with 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, and a native of Converse, Texas, fires a M240-B machine gun during a live fire range here, June 2. Marines took part in numerous live fire ranges, which culminated in a platoon size attack as a part of the unit’s annual training. (Photo by Cpl. John M. McCall)

Marine Administrative Message 264/14 announced the Academic Year 2015-16 Reserve Officer Professional Military Education Board, which convenes September 22, to select attendees for full-length schools (FLS), staff-training courses and the Distance Education Program. Officers are encouraged to apply; the deadline for application is September 3, and final determination will be made by Reserve Affairs Personnel Management Branch. - Marine Administrative Message 264/14 announced the Academic Year 2015-16 Reserve Officer Professional Military Education Board, which convenes September 22, to select attendees for full-length schools (FLS), staff-training courses and the Distance Education Program. Officers are encouraged to apply; the deadline for application is September 3, and final determination will be made by Reserve Affairs Personnel Management Branch.

Marine administrative message 235/14 announces that Reserve Marines called to active duty in support of contingency operations or activated for reasons other than training are now eligible for basic allowance for housing or overseas housing allowance during their tour. - Marine administrative message 235/14 announces that Reserve Marines called to active duty in support of contingency operations or activated for reasons other than training are now eligible for basic allowance for housing or overseas housing allowance during their tour.

Brig. Gen. Roger R. Machut, commanding general, 4th Marine Logistics Group, addresses the MLG leaders in his opening remarks at a commander’s conference in Leesburg, Va., May 3-4, 2014. Leaders discussed the many challenges of implementing “The Reawakening,” a directive from the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The conference provided a setting that helped forge strong working relationships, clarified support processes and enhanced the collective effectiveness of the MLG. (Photo by Sgt. Adwin Esters) - Brig. Gen. Roger R. Machut, commanding general, 4th Marine Logistics Group, addresses the MLG leaders in his opening remarks at a commander’s conference in Leesburg, Va., May 3-4, 2014. Leaders discussed the many challenges of implementing “The Reawakening,” a directive from the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The conference provided a setting that helped forge strong working relationships, clarified support processes and enhanced the collective effectiveness of the MLG. (Photo by Sgt. Adwin Esters)