As the nation's premiere crisis response force, II MEF Marines and Sailors remain ready to deploy at a moment’s notice anywhere in the world. We will continue to deter armed conflict and, when necessary, defeat our adversaries. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Jackson Dukes and Staff Sgt. Picklesimer)

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Scott Benedict, commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), Sgt. Maj. Joy Kitashima, sergeant major of 2nd MAW, and Master Chief Petty Officer Augustine Cooper, command master chief of 2nd MAW, speak to the Marines, sailors, families, and friends of 2nd MAW at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Dec. 9, 2022. 2nd MAW is the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan Nygaard, Cpl. Christian Cortez, Cpl. Christopher Hernandez, Cpl. Lauren Salmon, Cpl. Caleb Stelter, and Pfc. Rowdy Vanskike)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Gregory M. Duesterhaus, commanding officer of 2nd Maintenance Battalion, Sgt. Maj. Jonathan A. Carranza, sergeant major of 2nd Maintenance Battalion, LCDR Marvin Whiting, the chaplain of 2nd Maintenance Battalion, and Grace Sexton, the Deployment readiness coordinator, all with 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group give a holiday brief at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Dec. 14, 2022. The command deck of 2nd Maintenance Battalion wishes good health and well-being of all Marines and Sailors during the holiday season. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Sixto Castro)

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Connor Flynn, executive officer, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, speaks about the naturalization program processes and successes at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Dec. 13, 2022. Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to foreign citizens after they fulfill the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Staff Sgt. Akeel Austin)

U.S. Marines with 2d Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division, conduct cold weather training on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Nov. 30- Dec. 15, 2022. This training was conducted to enhance the unit’s combat effectiveness in extreme cold weather as they prepare for upcoming deployments in the Marine Corps Forces Europe-Africa theater of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Ethan Robert Jones)