Marine Corps Military Free Fall Instructors assigned to Marine Detachment -€” Fort Bragg, release the ashes of Sgt. Brett Jaffe (1971-2012), a Marine rigger, above Phillips Drop Zone at Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., on July 26, 2012. “It was an honor and privilege to take this Marine on his last jump and give him a proper hail and farewell,” said Staff Sgt. Marty Rhett.Marines in photo (clockwise, starting with the flag): Gunnery Sgt. Brian Boger, Gunnery Sgt. Mike Latham, Gunnery Sgt. Jimmy Smith, Staff Sgt. Lennie Castro, Staff Sgt. Seth Wright, Staff Sgt. Marty Rhett. (Marine Corps photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Johnny Gunn)

Sgt. Julie Nicholson, Female Engagement Team leader, Marine Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, shakes hands with an Afghan child during a mission in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Nicholson´s team conducts searches of Afghan women and children and gains information from the women who are not permitted to interact with men outside of their families. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Michele Watson)

Cpl. Jacob Johnson, an anti-tank missileman with Combined Anti-Armor Team One, Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, supervises his Marines fire a Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire command-link guided, or TOW, Missile System, as it’s fired from an M-41 Saber weapon system during sustainment training at Udairi Range in Kuwait, July 10, 2012. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael Petersheim)

Soldiers from the Canadian Army, Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, and a Marine from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment move in as a fireteam to clear a roof top during a Marine Operations on Urban Terrain exercise at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows on July 6, 2012. Approximately 2,200 personnel from nine nations are participating in RIMPAC 2012 as part of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 3, Combined Force Land Component Command. The CFLCC is conducting amphibious and land-based operations in order to enhance multinational and joint interoperability. Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC exercise from June 29 to Aug. 3, in and around the Hawaiian Islands. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Tyler Main)

Cpl. James Morrow, a radio operator with 9th Communication Battalion pounds a stake in the ground for an antenna set-up during Large Scale Exercise-1, Javelin Thrust 2012, July 10, 2012. Javelin Thrust is an annual exercise with 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., which allows active and reserve Marines and sailors from 38 states to train together as a seamless Marine air-ground task force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Young)

Marines from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar´s Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting units walk through the water to stir up the jet fuel at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, July 27, 2012. Both units work together to tackle the fire and build cohesion between the two. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Zachary Scanlon)

Cpl. Chan Lathung, a native of Oakland, Calif., and a crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), scans the surrounding area for insurgent activity during a general support flight over Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 27, 2012. The squadron flies several general support flights weekly delivering mail, food and ammunition to troops throughout the area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Lamberth)