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The Seal of Latvia in front of the presidential box at the Latvia Day Parade in Riga, Latvia, Nov. 18, 2014. In 1918, national representatives convened in what is now the National Theatre and proclaimed the ind More

Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stand at attention before moving out during a rehearsal for the Latvia Day parade Nov. 17, 2014. In 1 More

Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, await the order to march in the Latvia Day Parade on Nov. 18, 2014 in Riga, Latvia. In 1918, national More

Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, march to their starting position for the Latvia Day Parade in Riga, Latvia, on November 18, 2014. In More

PATROL BASE MEIS, Helmand province, Afghanistan -- Endicott, N.Y., native Lance Cpl. Zachary Reardon, a rifleman with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, poses for a photo and jokes with the Marines More

MARJAH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Senior leaders with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, attend a shura with local leaders here, July 30, 2011. Marines wi More

Richmond, Va. native, Sgt. Damien E. Hall of Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group was pinned on to the rank of sergeant by Sgts. Michael Roth and Justin Durham, who are infantry skills instructor for the tra More

Sergeant Luke McNally of Marlton, N.J., patrols through the brush during a live-fire exercise. The 27-year-old squad leader with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, led his squad More

Philadelphia native Cpl. Jason M. Hassinger (center right), receives the Silver Star from Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, the outgoing commanding general of 2nd Marine Division during the 2nd Marine Division change-o More

A U.S. Marine with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7 exits a vehicle during Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle egress training on Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Province, Afghan More

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Sean Abrusci with Echo company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines (2/8) provides security during a dismounted patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 5, 2013. The Marines of 2/8 conducted More

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Christopher Meiers, from Spokane, Wash., assigned to Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (2/8) provides security while conducting mission rehearsals on Camp Leatherneck, More

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Steven Mashburn, assigned to Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, provides security while conducting mission rehearsals at Camp Leatherneck in Helmand province, Afghani More

In every clime and place because freedom has never been free. (Poster by Sgt. Bobby J. Yarbrough)

Communications Marines with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, talk with Sgt. Maj. Paul A. Berry, the Regional Command (Southwest) sergeant major, about their current deployme More

Lance Cpl. William Farrell, an infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, cuts wood to replace picnic tables and benches for Dixon Middle School in Holly Ridge, N.C., Aug. 15. The More

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Peter A. Montalvo, a crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (HMH-461), provides aerial security with a GAU-21 .50 caliber machine gun inside a CH-53E Super Stallion ai More

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. James L. Hayes III, an administrative chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 (HMH-462) waits next to a CH-53E Super Stallion at Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, More

U.S. Marines with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines (2/8), Afghan Territorial Force 444 (ATF-444) and British soldiers enter a CH-53E Super Stallion assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 (HMH- More

Cpl. Neemah Roghanchi, a machine gunner with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, poses for a picture after being interviewed by four news outlets across America about his experience during 9/11. Currently on hi More

Sergeant Jarrod C. Mason received The 2nd Marine Division Career Planner of the Year award, Feb. 5th, 2014, at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Mason was born and raised in the small town of Albion, Nebraska. “I was More

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Devon Gratson, rifleman, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division maneuvers through the woods to provide security during a live fire exercise on Kilo Range 509 aboard More

U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (2/8), 2nd Marine Division and guests bow their heads during the reading of an invocation at 2/8's celebration ceremony at the Marston Pavilion, Camp Lejeune More

Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, take a break during their 13 mile hike to Range 62 at Fort Bliss, Texas, April, 4, 2014. As a light infantry unit, infantry Marines must rely on th More

Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, prepare to hike to their first training exercise at Range 62 on Fort Bliss, Texas, April 4, 2014. After completing the 13 mile hike, Marines traine More

Lance Cpl. Jacob Jones (center), a fire team leader with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division calls out enemy targets during a Military Operation in Urban Terrain, or MOUT town, More

Col. John DiGiambattista, commander, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, speaks with brigade Soldiers about the importance of participation in the upcoming Atlantic Resolve exercises in Poland, Eston More

A CH-53 Sea Stallion from Heavy Marine Helicopter squadron 464 inserts Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, and Critical Skills Operators with U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operatio More

Soldiers and leaders from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, participated in a two-day course on the cultural and geopolitical environment in Poland and the Baltics from Aug. 27 to 28, as preparatio More

Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division prepare to qualify on the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle at the Adazi Training Area, Latvia Nov. 11, 20 More

Capt. Jared Graham (left), a Cavalry Leader Course instructor assigned to 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment, 316th Cavalry Brigade, explains mission planning strategy to Capt. James Harrison (center), and Sta More

Soldiers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team “Ironhorse,” 1st Cavalry Division warm up by taking a lap around the field before a friendly soccer match Sept. 22 against Royal Netherlands Army soldiers assign More

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, board a KC-130 Hercules at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Sept. 26. The Marines practiced embassy reinforcement exercises and flew on the plane to More

Before Soldiers and vehicles start arriving, Staff Sgt. Christopher Nemier, Bradley Fighting Vehicle Supervisor, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, briefs the concept of operations for vehicle More

Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Strykers, Humvees, Armored Personnel Carriers, HEMTT Fuel trucks, and other U.S. Army tactical vehicles were offloaded here and transferred to rail lines Sept. 30 - Oct. 1 for transpo More

Stefanie A. Walker takes aim with an M4 Carbine during 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment’s Jane Wayne Day aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. Sept. 30. The event introduced military spouses to military More

A Marine from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, runs down the field during a football game at the unit’s Battalion Olympics aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 2, 2014. The More

Capt. Michael Sims, commander, C Troop, 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and Maj. Matthew Hodges, team chief, Task Force Lithuania, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, speak with Maj. Gen. Almanta More

Maj. Gen. Almantas Leika, commander, Lithuanian Land Forces, welcomes U.S. Soldiers to Lithuania Oct. 8 for Atlantic Resolve, multinational combined arms exercise taking place across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania More

Staff Sgt. Christopher Nemier, Bradley Fighting Vehicle maintenance supervisor, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, discusses Army technical manuals, p More

In the first of several cultural exchange outings, U.S. Cavalry Soldiers visited the Kaunas Fortress and museum Oct. 11 to learn about the horrific history of the site that has served as Russian military fortif More

International military observers from Ukraine, the Czech Republic, China and Poland discuss the demonstration Oct. 16 after witnessing U.S. and Lithuanian Soldiers fire Javelin Portable Anti-tank missiles, AT4 More

Soldiers assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, perform maintenance on the tracks of the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle at a motor pool in Rukl More

An infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division stands in formation during Capabilities Day, which is an opportunity for all the nations participating in More

First Sgt. Thomas Thornhill, first sergeant for Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division talks with Capt. Ruslans Markevics, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Latvian More

U.S. Army Sgt. Nicholas Conway, of Fox Company 1-158, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade based out of Ansbach, Germany, and Polish Armed Forces Captain Jacek Jakubik, chief of tower for the last 18 years, work togeth More

Soldiers from Latvia, Norway and the U.S. work to complete 100 meters of burpee broad jumps as part of a competition of physical fitness, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 at Adazi Training Area, Latvia. The competition More

Artillerymen with Battery C,1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division conduct re-arm, re-supply and re-fuel operations at Hohenfels Training Area, Oct. 26. Comb More

Maj. Gen. Michael Bills, commanding general of 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas stands with newly promoted Cap. Bryan Dayton of 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Briga More

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Army veteran, greets Maj. Matthew P. Weberg, brigade chaplain, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, during the se More

The crew of an M1126 Stryker from Commanche Troop, 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, stand-by to roll out to their next react to ambush lane with Estonian soldiers at a training area near Tapa, Estonia, Oct. More

Lt. Col. Douglas Hayes, left, commander of the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division briefs Maj. Gen. Michael Bills, right, commander of the 1st Cavalry Div More

Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, work with Latvian soldiers at an orphanage in the Latvian town of Vaive. The teams spent most of Oct. 28, 20 More

Sgt. 1st Class Robby Burns, acting first sergeant assigned to C Troop, 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and Staff Sgt. Sostakas, assigned to Lithuanian Armed Forces analyze range schematics and safety measur More

U.S. and Norwegian Soldiers conducted Master Breachers Course at Adazi Training Area, Latvia, where the Soldiers are participating in Operation Atlantic Resolve, Oct. 29, 2014. The U.S. Army Europe-led Operatio More

Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division unload from an MV-22B Osprey at a Military Operations on Urban Terrain town aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 3 More

Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division and soldiers assigned to the Lithuanian Armed Forces execute a combined arms live-fire exercise to demonstrate joint maneuvering capability and fi More

Maj. Gen. Michael Bills, left, 1st Cavalry Division commander, listens as Capt. Theodore Kleinsorge, commander, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division brie More

Maj. Gen. Michael Bills, commanding general of 1st Cavalry Division spent time seeing where Soldiers work and train during a visit to the Adazi Training Area, Latvia, Nov. 1, 2014. Units from 2nd Battalion, 8t More

Soldiers from the 2nd Light Reconnaissance Squadron of the Danish Army prepare for an air assault mission during the multinational training exercise, Combined Resolve III. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. John Farmer, More

Soldiers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, carry a simulated casualty to a fortified, safe position during a room clearing exercise as part of Iron Sword 2014 on Nov. 4,2014. This More

Spc. Austin Stuekemann, left, infantryman, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, prepares a claymore mine for placement as his squad leader, Staff Sgt. Kyle Lawler More

Sgt. 1st Class Jason Alvarez, noncommissioned officer in charge, 172nd Public Affairs Detachment, gathers video footage of U.S. Soldiers and Estonian Land Forces working together during Operation Atlantic Resol More

From a hasty fighting position, U.S. Soldiers fire a M240C coaxial machine gun from a Bradley Fighting Vehicle Nov. 5 to repel an advance of British forces during a situational training exercise. The training i More

U.S. soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, take part in a salute to the Baltic States at Adazi Training Area, Latvia, on Nov. 6, 2014. The salute was More

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division fired shots from M1A1 Abrams tanks at Adazi Training Area, Latvia, Nov. 6, 2014. They fired one shot for each of More

Capt. Gerald M. Stoermer, commanding officer, A Company, Team Latvia, of 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, instructs dignitaries, media and VIPs on the proper u More

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, take part in a Fallen Soldier Remembrance Ceremony to honor Latvian soldiers who gave their lives during Operati More

A Mk-19 grenade launcher is on display during an exhibition of U.S. military weapons, equipment, and vehicles in Tapa on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014. The exhibition was part of Operation Atlantic Resolve and was desig More

Staff Sgt. Darrell Stamps, company master gunner with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas, speaks to a platoon of Estonian Conscri More

(Left to right) Pvt. Bjoernar Hesjedal, Pvt. Joakim Fon and Sgt. Frode Hirmoen from Telemark Battalion, Mek Company 3 of the Norwegian Army pose with Staff Sgt. Daizon Alexander, Spc. Troy Putman, Pvt. Nathan M More

An Estonian resident speaks with Army Staff Sgt. Andre Allen, an M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Commander from B Co., 2-8 Cavalry, 1st Bde., 1st Cavalry Div. from Fort Hood, Texas, during an exhibition of U.S. m More

Spc. Breon Mitchell, infantryman with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, from Fort Hood, Texas, interacts with local families during the Father's Day More

An M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division stands ready before a qualification table at Adazi Training Area, Latvia, Nov. More

The American and Estonian flags fly side-by-side above the army training grounds here during Operation Atlantic Resolve. The U.S. Army Europe-led Atlantic Resolve, a multinational combined arms exercise involvi More

First Lt. Christopher Mallen gives a presentation on the U.S. Army and its role in NATO as part of an outreach event at Garkalnes School, Latvia, Nov. 11, 2014. Mallen spoke to students, along with a representa More

Private 1st Class Yannis Palvis, a guide-on bearer for the B Co., 2nd Btn., 8th Reg. Cavalry, 1st Bde., 1st Cavalry Div. from Fort Hood, Texas, stands at parade rest in front of a formation ready to welcome the More

School children and faculty from a rural school in Gulbene, Latvia, interact with U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Matthew S. Fornisamo, from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Bri More

A BMP 1, a Polish infantry-fighting vehicle, and M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles are staged to roll out after completing a bilateral live-fire exercise at a range near Drawsko Pomorski, Poland, in support of Ope More

An M1A2 Abrams tank from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, fires the 120mm main gun during a joint live fire training exercise at Adazi Training Area More

Heiko Porval, a training nurse, speaks to Estonian medical personnel and U.S. combat medics attached to 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, about skill sets with advanced lif More

TAPA, Estonia - Heiko Porval, training nurse, demonstrates how to properly use a defibrillator during a refresher course with the U.S. and Estonian military medics, here, as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve N More

Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, learn more about Estonian war history as Siim Ōismaa, a researcher for the Estonian More

Soldiers from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, take a guided tour of the Estonian War Museum, here, after spending th More

After successfully leading his troops through a demanding training exercise, Sgt. Austin Anderson, from 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion. 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade More

Pfc. Dennis Drazkowski, a native of Norristown, Pa., and a mortar man with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at More

The American flag and combat patch of a soldier from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, taken during a rehearsal for the Latvia Day parade in Riga, La More

A Javelin missile trainer unit and its command launch unit (CLU) are on display at the ministry of defense (Kaitseministeerium) for a weapons presentation on Nov. 18, 2014. The presentation was part of a public More

Spc. Andrew Raines, an infantryman from Phenix City, Ala., and Sgt. Chris Casey, a squad leader from North Baltimore, Ohio, both with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st More

Second Lt. Matthew S. Fornisamo and Sgt. Russell Cash, with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, observe Latvian soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, More

The Estonian, American, German and NATO flags decorate a bay for the arrival of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at Ämari Air Base, Nov. 20, 2014. Stoltenberg's visit is one of many to visit countries of the More

Two M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, prepare to start a live-fire training exercise at Adazi Training Area, Latv More

Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius escorts NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg from the plane to the motorcade Nov. 21 on the Kaunas International Airport tarmac. Stoltenberg was visit More

Capt. Gerald M. Stoermer, commanding officer of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, discusses the concept of operations with U.S. and Latvian soldiers More

Lance Cpl. Karl A. Hill, left, and Sgt. Brandon T. Curtis, right, both anti-tank missilemen with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, assemble an M41A4 Saber on the turret of a Humvee at a f More

First Lieutenant Jay S. White, Weapons Company platoon commander, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and Fort Mill, S.C., native, buddy-carries a fellow Marine while participating in the Warrior Games aboard Ma More

A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, bids farewell to his wife and children before he departs Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 24, 2015. The battalion is deploying to Europe to support th More

Lance Cpl. Jacob Jones, front, and Lance Cpl. Cody Troxel, rear, both rifleman with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis-Response, Detachment A, carry a crate out of the Church of San Nicolo in C More

Lt. Gen. Robert Neller, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe, talks to Marines and sailors with the Black Sea Rotational Force during his visit to Mihail Kogalnicean More

U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment stand in formation with Romanian military members during a transfer of authority ceremony at Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania, Feb. 9, 2015. The battalion’s Mari More