Staff Sgt. Lakedra Johnson, (rear), the platoon sergeant for Utilities Platoon, Engineer Maintenance Company, 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, practices Marine Corps Martial Arts skills with one of her Marines aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 31, 2010. Johnson, a new mom, strives to balance her career as a Marine with furthering her education and her participation on a local weightlifting team. - Staff Sgt. Lakedra Johnson, (rear), the platoon sergeant for Utilities Platoon, Engineer Maintenance Company, 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, practices Marine Corps Martial Arts skills with one of her Marines aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 31, 2010. Johnson, a new mom, strives to balance her career as a Marine with furthering her education and her participation on a local weightlifting team.

Sgt. Andrew L. Dekruiff, the security noncommissioned officer-in-charge at Al Taqaddum Surgical, 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), spots his friend Petty Officer 3rd Class Korey M. Danico, a hospital corpsman with the emergency department of Al Taqaddum Surgical, during their strength workout at the gym aboard Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, June 26, 2009. The two service members have been working out together since April 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photograph by Lance Cpl. Melissa A. Latty) - Sgt. Andrew L. Dekruiff, the security noncommissioned officer-in-charge at Al Taqaddum Surgical, 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), spots his friend Petty Officer 3rd Class Korey M. Danico, a hospital corpsman with the emergency department of Al Taqaddum Surgical, during their strength workout at the gym aboard Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, June 26, 2009. The two service members have been working out together since April 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photograph by Lance Cpl. Melissa A. Latty)

Lance Cpl. Stephen D. Davis, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, plays a song he wrote, June 17, 2009, at Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq. Davis has been writing songs inspired by war veterans since he was 10 years old. - Lance Cpl. Stephen D. Davis, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, plays a song he wrote, June 17, 2009, at Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq. Davis has been writing songs inspired by war veterans since he was 10 years old.

Col. Vincent A. Coglianese, the chief of staff of the 2nd MLG (Fwd), and Maj. Christian M. Rankin, the commanding officer of Camp Al Taqaddum’s security detachment from 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, cut a ribbon at the grand-opening of a new restaurant and pool at Habbaniyah Tourist Village, June 1, 2009. The “village” is actually a resort built by the French in the late 1970s and was a well-known and sought after vacationing area for the region, featuring a 250-room hotel, a beach on the lake, amusement park, restaurants and nearly 500 small condo units approximately 50 miles west of Baghdad. - Col. Vincent A. Coglianese, the chief of staff of the 2nd MLG (Fwd), and Maj. Christian M. Rankin, the commanding officer of Camp Al Taqaddum’s security detachment from 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, cut a ribbon at the grand-opening of a new restaurant and pool at Habbaniyah Tourist Village, June 1, 2009. The “village” is actually a resort built by the French in the late 1970s and was a well-known and sought after vacationing area for the region, featuring a 250-room hotel, a beach on the lake, amusement park, restaurants and nearly 500 small condo units approximately 50 miles west of Baghdad.