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).

Major James Philpot, Marine Forces Africa lead planner for African Lion 13 and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gregory Marquez, U.S. Embassy Morocco, OIC, security cooperation, sign the official minutes in the RAF headquarters in Agadir, Morocco, Jan. 30, confirming the planning for the multi-national exercise scheduled for April. AL-13 is a U.S. African Command-sponsored, MFA-led exercise that involves various types of training including command post, live-fire and maneuvering, peace keeping operations, an intelligence capacity building seminar, amphibious operations, aerial refueling/low-level flight training, as well as medical and dental assistance projects. - Major James Philpot, Marine Forces Africa lead planner for African Lion 13 and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gregory Marquez, U.S. Embassy Morocco, OIC, security cooperation, sign the official minutes in the RAF headquarters in Agadir, Morocco, Jan. 30, confirming the planning for the multi-national exercise scheduled for April. AL-13 is a U.S. African Command-sponsored, MFA-led exercise that involves various types of training including command post, live-fire and maneuvering, peace keeping operations, an intelligence capacity building seminar, amphibious operations, aerial refueling/low-level flight training, as well as medical and dental assistance projects.

Lt. Col. Scott A. Craig, commanding officer of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764 (HMM-764), relinquishes command to Osprey pilot Lt. Col. David A. Weinstein during a change of command and re-designation ceremony at Edwards Air Force Base near Lancaster, Calif., Jan. 12, 2013. After Weinstein took command, HMM-764 was re-designated to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM-764). The unit's move to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar will be complete Jan. 18, 2013. VMM-764 is Marine Forces Reserve's first tiltrotor squadron. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ray Lewis/Released) - Lt. Col. Scott A. Craig, commanding officer of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764 (HMM-764), relinquishes command to Osprey pilot Lt. Col. David A. Weinstein during a change of command and re-designation ceremony at Edwards Air Force Base near Lancaster, Calif., Jan. 12, 2013. After Weinstein took command, HMM-764 was re-designated to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM-764). The unit's move to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar will be complete Jan. 18, 2013. VMM-764 is Marine Forces Reserve's first tiltrotor squadron. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ray Lewis/Released)

Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13.2 radio an inbound MV-22 Osprey during a field training exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Nov. 16, 2012. The Marines are learning advanced combat medical techniques, advanced driving techniques, methods for training foreign militaries on marksmanship and how to set up and conduct firing ranges to prepare for their upcoming deployment. (Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caleb McDonald/Released) - Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13.2 radio an inbound MV-22 Osprey during a field training exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Nov. 16, 2012. The Marines are learning advanced combat medical techniques, advanced driving techniques, methods for training foreign militaries on marksmanship and how to set up and conduct firing ranges to prepare for their upcoming deployment. (Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caleb McDonald/Released)

Montford Point Marines Sgt. Riley A. McCray and Cpl. Lynn L. Williams are presented with the Congressional Gold Medal by Capt. Caitlin T. Ferrarell at a ceremony here Sept. 21. Ferrarell is the Inspector-Instructor for Detachment 2, Beach and Terminal Operations Company A, 4th Landing Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, in Concord, Calif. The pair earned the award by presidential order for being a few of the 22,000 African-American Marines to serve in the Corps between 1942 and 1949 during a time of common racism and segregation. Marine Reserve units from 22 states around the nation have been tasked to deliver 78 medals to Montford Point Marines who weren’t in attendance at the July ceremony in Washington, D.C. - Montford Point Marines Sgt. Riley A. McCray and Cpl. Lynn L. Williams are presented with the Congressional Gold Medal by Capt. Caitlin T. Ferrarell at a ceremony here Sept. 21. Ferrarell is the Inspector-Instructor for Detachment 2, Beach and Terminal Operations Company A, 4th Landing Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, in Concord, Calif. The pair earned the award by presidential order for being a few of the 22,000 African-American Marines to serve in the Corps between 1942 and 1949 during a time of common racism and segregation. Marine Reserve units from 22 states around the nation have been tasked to deliver 78 medals to Montford Point Marines who weren’t in attendance at the July ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Marines assigned to the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion congratulate Staff Sgt. Alec Haralovich, after he was presented the Silver Star Medal, the nation’s third highest award for combat valor. After Haralovich was shot twice in his body armor by an insurgent, he destroyed an enemy stronghold with a rocket and led his Marines on a two-hour assault after their ambushers during an Afghanistan deployment in 2011. Haralovich is a reconnaissance Marine assigned to E Company, 4th Reconnaissance Bn., 4th Marine Division. - Marines assigned to the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion congratulate Staff Sgt. Alec Haralovich, after he was presented the Silver Star Medal, the nation’s third highest award for combat valor. After Haralovich was shot twice in his body armor by an insurgent, he destroyed an enemy stronghold with a rocket and led his Marines on a two-hour assault after their ambushers during an Afghanistan deployment in 2011. Haralovich is a reconnaissance Marine assigned to E Company, 4th Reconnaissance Bn., 4th Marine Division.