Photos Recon Marines

Sergeant Zachary Zobrist, Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), conducts a patrol in Northern Trek Nawa, Afghanistan, Aug. 15. The Marines and sailors of Company B are currently conducting counter insurgency operations in support of the International Security Assistance Force. Photo by Staff Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe

A U.S. Marine with Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), engages the enemy during a firefight in Northern Trek Nawa, Afghanistan, Aug. 15. The Marines and sailors of B Company are currently conducting counter insurgency operations in support of the International Security Assistance Force. Photo by Staff Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe

U.S. Marine Cpl. Kristopher Gates, with 3rd platoon Company B, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, points out the direction of the enemy fire during a firefight in Northern Trek Nawa, Afghanistan, Aug. 15. The Marines and sailors of Company B are currently conducting counter insurgency operations in support of the International Security Assistance Force. Photo by Staff Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe

U.S. Marine Sgt. Zachary Zobrist, 3rd platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, engages the enemy during a firefight in Northern Trek Nawa, Afghanistan, Aug. 15. The Marines and sailors of Company B are currently conducting counter insurgency operations in support of the International Security Assistance Force. Photo by Staff Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe

Sergeant Anthony Battles (left), Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), engages the enemy during a firefight in Northern Trek Nawa, Afghanistan, Aug. 15. The Marines and sailors of B Company are currently conducting counter insurgency operations in support of the International Security Assistance Force. Photo by Staff Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe

A U.S. Marine assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), fixes his night vision goggles after jumping out of a C-130 over Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, Oct. 5. The operation was designed to focus on military parachuting, reconnaissance patrolling and maintenance of parachute insert proficiency. The unit is deployed to Afghanistan conducting counter insurgency operations in support of the International Security Assistance Force

Gunnery Sgt. Brian Maass (right), jumpmaster Force Reconnaissance, Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), inspects the emergency release mechanism of a Multi-Mission Parachute System prior to the Marines boarding a C-130 at the flight aboard Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, Oct. 3, 2010. The Marines were conducting a five day low level static line/ High Altitude High Opening jump operation designed to focus on military parachuting, reconnaissance patrolling and a chance for the Marines maintain parachute insert proficiency. Company B is deployed to Afghanistan conducting counter insurgency operations in support of the International Security Assistance Force. Maass is a native of North Bergen, N.J.

Cpl. Jason T. Schaefer, reconnaissance scout, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, advances through the thick vegetation at the Jungle Warfare Training Center April 18. Schaefer had shed his rucksack and scouted ahead of the team.

Staff Sgt. Sigifredo Apodaca, right, team leader, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, discusses the plan of action with Cpl. Adam Reynolds, assistant team leader, 3rd Recon Bn., during a stop in a patrol at the Jungle Warfare Training Center April 18. The Marines were practicing standard operating procedures for movement in jungle terrain.

A Marine with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit fires at a target during a combat marksmanship training exercise aboard USS Bataan, April 22, 2011. Marines and sailors with the 22nd MEU's Force Reconnaissance, Radio Reconnaissance and Intelligence sections fired on silhouette targets positioned on the ship's edge. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to train and improve the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element.

Marines and sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit fire at targets in the standing position during a combat marksmanship training exercise aboard USS Bataan, April 22, 2011. Marines and sailors with the 22nd MEU's Force Reconnaissance, Radio Reconnaissance and Intelligence sections fired on silhouette targets positioned on the ship's edge. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to train and improve the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Josh Cox)

A Marine with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit fires at a target at close range during a combat marksmanship training exercise aboard USS Bataan, April 22, 2011. Marines and sailors with the 22nd MEU's Force Reconnaissance, Radio Reconnaissance and Intelligence sections fired on silhouette targets positioned on the ship's edge. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to train and improve the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element.

Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit fire on targets while moving forward during a combat marksmanship training exercise aboard USS Bataan, April 22, 2011. Marines and sailors with the 22nd MEU's Force Reconnaissance, Radio Reconnaissance and Intelligence sections fired on silhouette targets positioned on the ship's edge. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to train and improve the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element.

Marines and sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit load magazines into their weapons before firing on targets during a combat marksmanship training exercise aboard USS Bataan, April 22, 2011. Marines and sailors with the 22nd MEU's Force Reconnaissance, Radio Reconnaissance and Intelligence sections fired on silhouette targets positioned on the ship's edge. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to train and improve the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element.

Marines and sailors with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, load into a Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced) CH-53E following a vessel board, search and seizure training exercise, May 10, 2011. In the training exercise, Marines and sailors with the 22nd MEU pursued and raided a hostile vessel suspected of illegally smuggling weapons and illicit material in the Mediterranean Sea. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to train and improve the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element.

Reconnaissance Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, clear the bow area of USNS Robert E. Peary during a vessel board, search and seizure training exercise, May 10, 2011. In the training exercise, Marines and sailors with the 22nd MEU pursued and raided a hostile vessel suspected of illegally smuggling weapons and illicit material in the Mediterranean Sea. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to train and improve the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element.

A Marine with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides security on the bridge of USNS Robert E. Peary during a vessel board, search and seizure training exercise, May 10, 2011. In the training exercise, Marines and sailors with the 22nd MEU pursued and raided a hostile vessel suspected of illegally smuggling weapons and illicit material in the Mediterranean Sea. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to train and improve the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element.

A Marine with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides security in the bridge of USNS Robert E. Peary during a vessel board, search and seizure training exercise, May 10, 2011. In the training exercise, Marines and sailors with the 22nd MEU pursued and raided a hostile vessel suspected of illegally smuggling weapons and illicit material in the Mediterranean Sea. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to train and improve the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element.

Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, descend a rope from a Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced) CH-53E Super Stallion during a vessel board, search and seizure training exercise aboard USNS Robert E. Peary, May 10, 2011. In the training exercise, Marines and sailors with the 22nd MEU pursued and raided a hostile vessel suspected of illegally smuggling weapons and illicit material in the Mediterranean Sea. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and will continue to train and improve the MEU's ability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element.

Sergeant Rob Fanning, a reconnaissance Marine with Company B, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, keeps a watchful eye on security during Operation Sing Sing in Malozai, Afghanistan, Aug. 20. Fanning is from Billerica, Mass., and graduated from Elmira College in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

The operation was designed to bring the government to the people of this town through meetings with local officials and give them an opportunity to stand up against the insurgency.

First Reconnaissance Battalion Marines fast rope into the 2011 Miramar Air Show aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Sept. 30. The team demonstrated special insertion and extraction techniques during the air show as part of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration.