NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (left), Latvian Minister of Defense Raimonds Vējonis (center), and Lt. Gen. Raimonds Graube (right), Latvian chief of defense, receive a briefing about a live-fire traini More
Two M1A2 Abrams Tanks from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, provide security for Latvian and U.S. troops during a live-fire training exercise at Ada More
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg inspect a small contingent of U.S. Cavalry Soldiers and their weapons and equipment Nov. 21, before attending a briefing in th More
Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division fire a FGM-148 Javelin at a firing range aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Jan. 6. The Javelin missile system is most of More
First Lieutenant Matthew J. Gordon, the radio battalion attachment officer-in-charge for 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, executes a headlock on 2nd Lt. Seth Kellogg, Golf Company platoon commander, 2nd Bn., More
Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, depart Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 24, 2015. The battalion is deploying to Europe to support the next iteration of Black Sea Rotational Force, a r More
Lt. Gen. Robert Neller, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe, talks to staff noncommissioned officers with the Black Sea Rotational Force during his visit to Mihail More
The combined color guards of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment present the colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania, Feb. 9, 2015. M More
A group of lance corporals with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment participate in a discussion with Sgt. Bruce Roberts, a Lance Corporals Leadership and Ethics Seminar instructor with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine More
Marines gather to begin their warm up exercises prior to conducting their initial physical fitness test, for Corporal’s Leadership Course, at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Feb. 21, 2015. Approximately More
Approximately 80 service members from the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy currently deployed as the Black Sea Rotational Force, and U.S. Army soldiers with the Black Sea Area Support Team learned about the history a More
Lt. Col. Jeffrey Stevenson, commanding officer of Black Sea Rotational Force, talks to House Armed Services Committee staff members after a brief at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Feb. 21, 2015. During More
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Rafael Sanchez, left, a squad leader with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, and Staff Sgt. Rollie Pennington, a platoon sergeant with SPMAGTF-CR-AF, pla More
A Marine with Black Sea Rotational Force, plots points on a map during the land-navigation evaluation section of Corporals Leadership Course at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Feb. 25, 2015. After evalua More
U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa ascend ropes during an obstacle course on Rota Naval Base, Spain, Feb. 26, 2015. The course tested the Marines’ physical rea More
Lt. Col. Jeffrey Stevenson, commanding officer of the Black Sea Rotational Force 15.1, discussed the short and long term training schedules during the Lance Corporals Leadership and Ethics Seminar 15-2, at Miha More
Black Sea Rotational Force Marines and sailors competed against Latvians on the Challenge Course at Adazi Military Base, March 23, 2015. The Latvian soldiers had the clear home-team advantage but the Marines pu More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. John Hall, a rifleman with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, fires an AT-4 anti-armor weapon during a live-fire training exercise in Sierra Del Re More
U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Justin Wells, Black Sea Rotational Force, places an overlay over the map of the training area for Exercise Summer Shield. The overlay allowed for battlespace awareness. Six NATO Allied fo More
Latvian soldiers fire their mortar system during combined-arms, live-fire training in coordination with U.S. Marine mortar men from Black Sea Rotational Force, March 29, 2015, during Exercise Summer Shield at A More
Latvian Maj. Girt Savins, Summer Shield exercise director and commander of the Latvian Combat Support Battalion, addresses more than 1,000 service members from six NATO Allied nations at the closing ceremony at More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jaquan Dale, left, a rifleman with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, demonstrates the different functions of an M16A4 rifle to a Portuguese Marine More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Austin Linehan, a rifleman with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, posts security during a simulated room clearing exercise near Lisbon, Portugal, More
U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa move towards an objective during an assault training exercise near Lisbon, Portugal, April 9, 2015. Marines and Portuguese M More
Romanian officers, U.S. Marine officers with Black Sea Rotational Force and U.S. Army officers with the Black Sea Support Team present a wreath for the Romanian Land Forces Day April 23, 2015, in Constanta, Rom More
Approximately 30 U.S. Marines and sailors from the Black Sea Rotational Force volunteered to work alongside local community members from Constanta, Romania, to clean up the largest local park in Constanta, Roma More
U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa move toward an objective during a training exercise on Quartier Colonel de Chabrieres, France, May 29, 2015. Marines station More
U.S. Marines with Golf Company, Black Sea Rotational Force, sight in at the support-by-fire position during a dry-run of the U.S. and Romanian platoon attack at Babadag Training Area, July 2. This week-long en More
U.S. Marines Cpl. Melvin Giron, intelligence specialist, and Lance Cpl. Keith Mosley, operations assistant with Black Sea Rotational Force supervise the bounce house station of the July 4th celebration aboard M More
Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, assault targets down range during a field exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 28, 2016. Marines focused on individual marksmanship in preparation f More
A Marine with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, conducts a patrol as part of a field exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 9, 2016. Throughout their patrol, the company was sporadically assaulte More
Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment patrol through the woods during a platoon attack training event at Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 12, 2016. The Marines were tasked to determine the best routes that a More
U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment swim their way around a trail that is known to have notional improvised explosive devices during an attack evolution aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 20, 201 More
Marines from 2nd Radio Battalion and 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion take a ferry to Shackleford Banks Island to clean up trash and debris on the island’s beach on April 21, 2016. The day was organized by both th More
U.S. Marines, with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (2/8) conduct a combined arms assault range during the Integrated Training Exercise (ITX) 3-16 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Ca More
U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division (MARDIV) conduct a company sized attack at range 400 during Integrated Training Exercise (ITX) 3-16 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twen More
Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, advance to a simulated enemy defensive position in an Assault Amphibious Vehicle during the final exercise of Integrated Training Exercise 3-16 in the Blacktop T More
Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment await the arrival of a MV-22 Osprey during a live-fire quick-reaction force training exercise on Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 28, 2016. The QRF training served as the More
A Marine with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment posts security after exciting the MV-22 Osprey during embassy reinforcement training at the Asymmetric Warfare Training Center at Fort A.P. Hill, Va More
U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment case their unit’s colors during the Black Sea Rotational Force transfer of authority ceremony with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment on Mihal Kogalniceanu A More
The Romanian Navy Band performs for Romanian citizens, U.S. Marines from the Black Sea Rotational Force, and U.S. soldiers stationed at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base on Open Gates Day at the Naval Port of Consta More
U.S. Marines with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment practice conduct non-lethal weapons training in support of the Black Sea Rotational Force, rotation 16.2, on Mihal Kogălniceanu Air Base, Romania, Aug. 2 More
U.S. Marines train using nonlethal rubber rounds which allow them to use an escalation of force. Marines from the Black Sea Rotational Force are brushing up on their skills for upcoming exercises and to help t More
Romanian soldiers provide security during the active shooter drill on Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Aug. 30, 2016. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Clarence L. Wimberly)
A U.S. Marine with Black Sea Rotational Force 16.2 prepares to conduct water purification using a lightweight water purification system at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Aug. 30, 2016. The Marines trained u More
U.S. Marines with Black Sea Rotational Force 16.2 show off riot control gear to embassy officials and their children during a static display conducted prior to emergency response training exercises on U.S. Emba More
A U.S. Marines sends rounds down range with his M240B light machine gun in preparation for an embassy reinforcement exercise in Bucharest, Romania, Sept. 8th, 2016. The BSRF is an annual multilateral security c More
U.S. Marines with Black Sea Rotational Force 16.2 conduct room clearing training using Romanian Jandarms’ weapons at the Jandarmeria Training Center in Bucharest, Romania, Sept. 8, 2016. The BSRF is an annual m More
Members of Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2 begin diving operations in Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, while participating in Valiant Shield (VS) Sep. 16, 2016. VS is a biennial, U.S. Air Force, Navy and Mari More
Women training as a U.S. Marine Corps Female Engagement Team attached to the Black Sea Rotational Force 16.2 participate in a small arms range during Exercise Platinum Lynx, at Babadag Training Area, Sept. 23rd More
U.S. Marines with Black Sea Rotational Force 16.2 prepare to rush their objective on a platoon attack range during Platinum Lynx 16.5 at Babadag Training Area, Romania, Sept. 24, 2016. Platinum Lynx 16.5 allows More
A U.S. Navy sailor with the Black Sea Rotational Force 16.2 talks to a student about life in the military at Cambridge School of Constanta in Constanta, Romania, Oct. 5th, 2016. The BSRF is an annual multilater More
ADAZI MILITARY BASE, Latvia - Dutch and British platoon commanders discuss plans prior to a mission, Oct. 20, 2016, as part of Exercise Silver Arrow 2016. Silver Arrow is a multinational annual exercise designe More
U.S. Marines with the Black Sea Rotational Force unload equipment from the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program location in Norway for use during Exercise Reindeer II. Reindeer II is a multinational training exe More
U.S. Marines train with the Norwegian army Cold Weather and Mountain Training Instructors in Blåtind, Norway, 27 Oct. to 4 Nov., 2016, to improve their ability to operate in mountainous and extreme cold weather More
U.S. Marines practice cold weather driver training in M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks in Setermoen, Norway, 7 to 9 Nov., 2016, to improve their ability to operate in mountainous and extreme cold weather environme More
A U.S. Marine with Black Sea Rotational Force 16.2 fires his Mossberg 500 shotgun during the Veterans Day weapons range in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania, Nov. 11, 2016. The BSRF is an annual multilateral securi More
A U.S. Marine with Black Sea Rotational Force 16.2 searches and assesses his target during the final exercise for Exercise Iron Sword 16 in the Rukla Training Area, Lithuania, Nov. 29, 2016. Iron Sword is an an More
U.S. Marines completed Exercise Platinum Lion 17.1, conducting multiple training operations alongside eight partner nations from the Black Sea and Caucasus regions in Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, 12 Dec. More
Cpl. Cory Espejo, a machine gunner and Cpl. Diego Cuevas, an assaultman with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, perform ground fighting techniques before a rifle range near Nav More
Cpl. Thomas Cornell climbs an obstacle on the obstacle course during an event known as advance course preparation training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 23, 2017. The event was a seven mile course that served as More
A Marine readies an M72 light anti-armor weapon during a fire team training exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 9, 2017. The exercise focused on fire team tactics to enhance their combat abilities in both day a More
U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (2/8), 2nd Marine Division (2d MARDIV), participate in patrol based operations part of the 2/8 Battalion Field Exercise (BNFEX), on Camp Lejeune, N.C., June More
U.S. Marine Corps Major Matthew M. Newman, operations officer, with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV) gives a brief on mountain training exercise 4-17 on Camp Lejeune, N.C., J More
Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, hike during Mountain Training Exercise 4-17 aboard Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif., August 2, 2017. Marines with 2/8, based out More
Marines react to an Ambush during defensive operations training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 30, 2017. The exercise is used by the battalion to improve proficiency with combat tactics and in preparation for futu More
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. John K. Love, commanding general, 2nd Marine Division (2d MARDIV), gives his remarks during an award ceremony on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sep. 1, 2017. The ceremony was held to award Maj. More
Major General John K. Love receives the Elliot Trophy at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sep. 1, 2017. The trophy is given to the winning rifle team of an annual shooting competition. This year, the competition was won by More
A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment radios for a casualty evacuation during a military operation on urbanized terrain exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 3, 2017. The Marines conducted MOUT traini More
The 3-D printer from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment prints pack clips at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 6, 2017. 2/8 is the first infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps to utilize a 3-D printer to e More
Brazilian and U.S. Marines pose for a photo as they await troops transport in a CH-53 Super Stallion as part of Exercise Bold Alligator 17 at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Oct. 28, 2017. BA 17, now in its seventh iteratio More
Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment complete buddy rushing and take cover at a grenade range during a deployment for training exercise at Fort A.P. Hill, V.A., Dec. 1, 2017. The range consisted of t More
U.S. Marines with Echo Co., 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, prime an M67 fragmentation hand grenade during a Deployment for Training (DFT) on Fort AP Hill, VA, Dec. 1, 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lan More
A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment wraps demolition cord around a TNT block at a demolition range during a deployment for training exercise at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., Dec. 2, 2017. The range consiste More
U.S. Marine infantry assaultmen with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment make calculations concerning Bangalores, twenty-pound cratering charges, shape charges, and improvised claymores to ensure safety on a liv More
U.S. Marines with Company G., 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, conduct a 20 kilometer hike during a Deployment for Training (DFT) on Fort AP Hill, VA, Dec. 4, 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tim More
Maj. Gen. John Love speaks with Marines during his visit with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment during the unit’s deployment for training exercise at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., Dec. 4, 2017. The visit allowed Love t More
U.S. Marines with Company F., 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, attach CHemlights as safety devices to their Kevlars perform a night live fire assault range using PVS-14 Night Vision Devices during a Deployme More
U.S. Marines with the Combined Anti-Armor Team, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, run to their firing position for the FGM-148 Javelin Missile while conducting a Battle Drill during a Deployment for Training More
U.S. Marine Corps PFC. Jeffrey Bryant and Lance Cpl. Jorge Fierra III with Company F., 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, aim a M224 60mm Lightweight Mortar before performing a support by fire during a Deploym More
U.S. Marines with Company G., 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, perform house clearing techniques during a Deployment for Training (DFT) on Fort AP Hill, VA, Dec. 9, 2016. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cp More
U.S. Marines with Company E., 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, unload ammo crates in preparation for performing a company level attack range during a Deployment for Training (DFT) on Fort AP Hill, VA., Dec. More
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Cory Kim, left, and Kamp Wiebe, right, with Company G., 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, perform outbound security procedures while conducting a company level attack range during a Dep More
CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan – A Marine demonstrates the capabilities of an M4 service rifle before a marksmanship exchange with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and U.S. Marines March 14 aboard Camp Hansen, More
Lieutenant Col. Dan Gaskell places battle streamers on the flag during 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment’s 78th Battle Colors Rededication Ceremony on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, March 30, 2018. Gaskell, a Ri More
A Japanese searchlight sits where it was constructed before the Battle of Tarawa in a village on Betio, Kiribati, July 22, 2018. The remnants of the bloody battle have remained in place throughout the years and More
U.S. Marines with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division fast-rope from a U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom aircraft in support of a battle drill exercise during Weapons and Tactics I More
A U.S. Marine with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, descends a rope using fast-rope techniques Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTI) course 2-19, at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., More
U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division conduct a casualty simulation drill in support of a Marine Expeditionary Unit exercise during Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTI) cour More
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl.Cody Silvestri, Rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, climbs the ladder to a rappel tower during Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTI) course 2-19, at Mar More
U.S, Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, practice convoy operations during Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTI) course 2-19, at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., April 13, More
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Austin Cotton, rifleman, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, fires an M240B machine gun during Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTI) course 2-19, at Marine Corps Air More
U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, participate in Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTI) course 3-19, at Barry M. Goldwater Range, Wellton, Ariz., April 14, 2019. 2nd Batt More
U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, board an MV-22 Osprey during Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTI) course 2-19, at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., April 15, 2019 More
U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, practice urban combat during Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTI) course 2-19 at Barry M. Goldwater Range, Wellton, Ariz., April 15, 2 More
U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, participate in Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTI) course 2-19, at Barry M. Goldwater Range, Wellton, Ariz., April 17, 2019. 2nd Batt More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Tanner S. Depriest, machine gunner, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, secures a landing zone as during Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTI) course 2-19, at L More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ryne Grant, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, detains a role player in support of a non-combatant evacuation operation drill during Weapons an More