Jump Platoon, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion,

Cpl. Paul J. Weeks, left, and Petty Officer 3rd Class David Leutzinger
saddle up the War Pig for a recon patrol patrol of the Ninawa province of Iraq May 16, 2009.
photo Lance Cpl. Brian A. Kinney

B4LAR Ends 7 Month Deployment

By Megan Eckstein
FrederickNews-Post Staff

Company B of the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion arrived in California just after 2 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time Wednesday, after a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.

The Marine unit of about 100 men will remain at Camp Pendleton, near San Diego, until the end of the week. The battalion's Company C, stationed in Utah, also returned to the U.S. on Wednesday morning, along with some members of Company D from Virginia and Company F from South Carolina.source

Bravo 4thLAR and Charlie Back at Camp Pendleton 2:30 am PST-WooHoo!

Corporal Rhett Buford First LAR FOB Payne/ Fox News

Rick Leventhal has a news story, here, and short video clip, here, on Cpl. Rhett Buford a mechanic with First LAR at FOB Payne.

Corporal Donald L. Kirksey,Scout , Alpha TWO LAR

Corporal Donald L. Kirksey, a scout with Alpha Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, places the helmet on the memorial stand during the memorial service, May 18, for Sgt. Frank J. A. World.
USMC photo LCpl. B. Crilly

Desert Memorial for Sgt. Frank J.A. World

Sgt. Derek J. Macpherson, a vehicle commander with Alpha Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, salutes the memorial stand of Sgt. Frank J. A. World after placing the dog tags of his fallen comrade on the stand, May 18. Sgt. World was killed, April 1, in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Sgt. World was from Buffalo, N.Y. and is remembered by his fellow Marines as an non-commissioned officer who embodied the best qualities of what a Marine NCO should be. He could always uplift those who were feeling down. Sgt. World was a musician and above all a caring husband and father. Marines of 2nd LAR took time to remember their fallen comrade at the end of their five-month deployment.

USMC photo LCpl B. Crilly

1st Lt. Gary S. Darby, XO, Echo First LAR

Echo took over Helmand operations from Alpha , Two LAR, May 19, as Alpha will re-deploy to Camp Lejeune, N.C., after five months in the desert. photo LCpl B. Crilly

Staff Sgt. Jose E. Garcia, Apha Two LAR

The Comm Chief of Alpha Two LAR works out on the War Pig. When the beast is not being used as a gym or home it is also the Company C-square aka operations center. photo LCpl. B. Crilly

Home on the Range

Alpha Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, May 16, 2010, lived out of their War Pigs for five months in the desert of Helmand province, Afghanistan. photo LCPL B.Crilly

Two LAR Wrap Up Helmand Ops

Alpha Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion wrapped up five months of security operations in Helmand province, turning their area of operations over to the Marines of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. LCpl. B. Crilly/story-photos DVIDS

The company was in the far western deserts of Helmand province, maintaining a screen line and pushing across the deserts. They pushed through the deserts, conducting interdictions and cutting off drug lines. This allowed them to prevent drug smuggling and weapons trafficking to and from Marjah. They were able to prevent Taliban fighters from fleeing to the desert from Sistani.

"Everyone that was coming out of Marjah knew that the tanks and LAVs were out here," said Capt. Jared A. Laurin, the commanding officer for Alpha Company from Xenia, Ohio. "Nobody was able to out run us. We owned the desert with those vehicles."

During Operation Moshtarak, 2nd LAR took a new position, providing security in the Sistani Gap as well as the western and southern fronts. This enabled the company to provide a security presence in the gap that was unique, since their vehicles are so mobile.

The company formed a screen line in the desert, south of Marjah along Route Red, for the later portion of their deployment. Moving their presence to the region and running vehicle checkpoints improved the security of the region, and also afforded Marines the opportunity to establish a connection with the local nationals.

Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse.....

1st Platoon, Alpha , 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, rehearse taking care of your wounded under fire scenario during an immediate-action drill Sept. 8, 2009, in Twentynine Palms, Calif. USMC photo Chief Warrant Officer 2 Keith A. Stevenson

Staff Sgt. William Eddy-Fiddlers Green

Sgt. Ahmed Khan and Staff Sgt. William Eddy, Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion 11th Marine Regiment, carry their national ensigns during a flag dedication ceremony at Fire Base Fiddler’s Green in the Helmand province of Afghanistan July 19, 2009. USMC photo Sgt. Christopher R. Rye

24 per 100,000 USMC Suicide rate First In Nation

The Marines, smallest of the Nation's military services, has an unenviable record.

The Marine Corps is first among the Nation's warriors for suicides per one hundred thousand. Not. Acceptable.. A Marine that is contemplating suicide is wounded. No more. No less. He needs all the help he can get. The idea in your head that you want to off your self is not a career crasher. So why is the msg. not getting down to the ranks. Why is the Marine Corps leading the way in suicides? What are the Marine Corps sub titles saying? What is the big green machine saying that the ranks are hearing? Does the Corps stop to pick up Marines who have fallen ?

The Marine Corps' suicide rate has reached 24 per 100,000, a rate that surpasses all the other services. The rate was 13 per 100,000 in 2006. The latest available figures put the civilian suicide rate at 20 per 100,000.
North County Times

Thank you Scotty B--You @#$%&*! for the financial regulation bill

Scotty B can't take the pressure. He can't take the pressure, captain, he's breaking up. He's a liberal, Captain. Going back to his roots. Your vote presents Kenyan American President Obama a major victory. You're a chump, champ.

The 59-39 vote represents an important achievement for President Barack Obama, and comes just two months after his health care overhaul became law. The bill must now be reconciled with a House version that passed in December. A key House negotiator predicted the legislation would reach Obama’s desk before the Fourth of July…

Democrats succeeded in breaking through the Republican block by winning Brown’s backing. The Massachusetts Republican, who had voted against ending debate on Wednesday, met with Reid Thursday morning to voice his concerns regarding the bill’s effect on Massachusetts banks such as State Street and insurance firms such as MassMutual. House Financial Services Committee chairman Barney Frank, also of Massachusetts, weighed in Thursday with letters to Reid offering his own guarantees that the final bill would resolve Brown’s concerns.

Forest Greens In the Desert 2003

Civilians trying to leave Baghdad are stopped and checked by Two LAR just make sure they are civilians and not, etc, etc you know the drill, near the town of Al Fay 04/01/2003. USMC photo CPL MACE M. GRATZ,

Foot Patrol-Rawah Two LAR

2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion conduct a foot patrol through the town of Rawah, Iraq 22 October 06,
Photo by LCpl Andrew D. Young

First Platoon, Alpha Co Two LAR ISO

1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, ISO May 22, 2008 in Iraq, Salad Ad Din province.
USMC photo Sgt. Rome M. Lazarus

Patrol

First Platoon, A Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance in northern Anbar province, Iraq, May 2, 2008, Operation Iraqi Freedom. USMC photo Cpl. Tyler W. Hill

Census Duty

Two LAR on census gathering mission in the town of Rawah, Iraq, 10/25/2006
USMC photo Photo LCpl Andrew D. Young

Lance Corporal Chris Castro, FO

Lance Corporal Chris Castro, Forward Observer, Charlie Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalion Exercise KERNEL BLITZ 2001/ 3/26/2001.
USMC photo LCPL BRENT T. HARVEY