Janna Schickel, wife of Staff Sgt. Matt Schickel, a platoon guide from Company E, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, welcomes her husband home Nov. 15, 2012, at Fort Knox, Ky., upon his return from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan. The Lanesville, Ind., native was greeted by friends and family upon his arrival at Fort Knox. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Nana Dannsa-Appiah/Released) - Janna Schickel, wife of Staff Sgt. Matt Schickel, a platoon guide from Company E, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, welcomes her husband home Nov. 15, 2012, at Fort Knox, Ky., upon his return from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan. The Lanesville, Ind., native was greeted by friends and family upon his arrival at Fort Knox. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Nana Dannsa-Appiah/Released)

To the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Gunnery Sgt. Barry A. Worster, the battalion's motor transport maintenance chief, serves as inspiration and a Marine to emulate. Worster recently led a team of Marines from his unit to aid in the relief efforts on Staten Island, N.Y., following the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy. - To the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Gunnery Sgt. Barry A. Worster, the battalion's motor transport maintenance chief, serves as inspiration and a Marine to emulate. Worster recently led a team of Marines from his unit to aid in the relief efforts on Staten Island, N.Y., following the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy.

Cpl. Ryan Costea, a rifleman with Company D, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, 4th Marine Division, listens as Gunnery Sgt. Patrick Foreman, a career planner, explains Costea’s available choices to him in Billings, Mont., Oct. 20, 2012. - Cpl. Ryan Costea, a rifleman with Company D, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, 4th Marine Division, listens as Gunnery Sgt. Patrick Foreman, a career planner, explains Costea’s available choices to him in Billings, Mont., Oct. 20, 2012.

Capt. Michael Roberson, a UH-1N Huey utility helicopter pilot with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773, Marine Aircraft Group 49, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, conducts a simulated close-air support mission at Fort Irwin, Calif., Oct. 17, 2012. Roberson is a Columbia, S.C., native and has deployed four times to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Nana Dannsa-Appiah/Released) - Capt. Michael Roberson, a UH-1N Huey utility helicopter pilot with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773, Marine Aircraft Group 49, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, conducts a simulated close-air support mission at Fort Irwin, Calif., Oct. 17, 2012. Roberson is a Columbia, S.C., native and has deployed four times to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Nana Dannsa-Appiah/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 begin their rifle qualification after learning knowledge from their Combat Marksmanship Coaches Course training at the Weapon’s Training Battalion on Oct. 8. Marines came from all across the country to attend the course. - Marines begin their rifle qualification after learning knowledge from their Combat Marksmanship Coaches Course training at the Weapon’s Training Battalion on Oct. 8. Marines came from all across the country to attend the course.

Sgt. Dante Capane receives the Reservist of the Year Award from Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos, and Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps, Michael P. Barrett, at Lejeune Field, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Sept. 26, 2012. Of the 39,000 Reserve Marines, Capane was chosen to receive the award by the Marine Corps League. - Sgt. Dante Capane receives the Reservist of the Year Award from Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos, and Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps, Michael P. Barrett, at Lejeune Field, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Sept. 26, 2012. Of the 39,000 Reserve Marines, Capane was chosen to receive the award by the Marine Corps League.

Lt. Gen. Steven A. Hummer, commander of Marine Forces Reserve, accepts an award from Melanie L. Young, president of the Molly Marine chapter of the Women Marines Association, during a ceremony where the local Molly Marine chapter presented MARFORRES with an award plaque at the Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, Oct. 15. The Molly Marine chapter was awarded the Ruth and Dick Broe Award, the most prestigious award given to WMA chapters for overall outstanding chapter achievement, at their most recent national convention and professional development conference that took place in Philadelphia from Aug. 30 through Sept. 4. - Lt. Gen. Steven A. Hummer, commander of Marine Forces Reserve, accepts an award from Melanie L. Young, president of the Molly Marine chapter of the Women Marines Association, during a ceremony where the local Molly Marine chapter presented MARFORRES with an award plaque at the Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, Oct. 15. The Molly Marine chapter was awarded the Ruth and Dick Broe Award, the most prestigious award given to WMA chapters for overall outstanding chapter achievement, at their most recent national convention and professional development conference that took place in Philadelphia from Aug. 30 through Sept. 4.

Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, out of Louisiana, unload thousands of pounds of illegal drugs from a vehicle during interdiction operations in southwestern Afghanistan, May 9. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 and 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment supported efforts to disrupt the enemy's drug smuggling operations. Such missions have proven effective in disrupting the enemy's movement and limiting their finances from the illegal drug trade. - Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, out of Louisiana, unload thousands of pounds of illegal drugs from a vehicle during interdiction operations in southwestern Afghanistan, May 9. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 and 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment supported efforts to disrupt the enemy's drug smuggling operations. Such missions have proven effective in disrupting the enemy's movement and limiting their finances from the illegal drug trade.

Winston Burns Sr. was presented with a bronze replica of the Congressional Gold Medal Sept. 10, at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans. Approximately 420 Marines who attended segregated basic training at Montford Point, N.C., received the medal in ceremonies across the country this summer. The award was symbolically presented to all Montford Point Marines during a ceremony inside Emancipation Hall in the U.S. Capitol June 27. William McDowell, a Montford Point veteran himself, received the medal that day with roughly 400 of his fellows in attendance. The next day, those 400 received replicas of the original gold medal, which is currently being prepared for display in the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Audrey Graham/Released) - Winston Burns Sr. was presented with a bronze replica of the Congressional Gold Medal Sept. 10, at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans. Approximately 420 Marines who attended segregated basic training at Montford Point, N.C., received the medal in ceremonies across the country this summer. The award was symbolically presented to all Montford Point Marines during a ceremony inside Emancipation Hall in the U.S. Capitol June 27. William McDowell, a Montford Point veteran himself, received the medal that day with roughly 400 of his fellows in attendance. The next day, those 400 received replicas of the original gold medal, which is currently being prepared for display in the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Audrey Graham/Released)