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Some people spend their lives looking for their place in the sun, but the roughly 200 Marines of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Camp LeJeune, N.C., have found theirs. They have also found their place in the rain, the dirt and the heat.

Operating as a part of the first Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force to the U.S. Southern Command area of focus, this group of hard-working Marines has been training in the blistering sun and soaking rains of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"Our goal here is to get our individually trained Marines to really come together up to the squad level," said Capt. Michael W. Manocchio, commanding officer of Fox Company. "Everything we do here gives us the building blocks we need for our next deployment and ensures that we are ready to step off when that time comes."

In addition to exposure to various unpredictable weather patterns, preparing for deployment in Cuba also provides the company with other advantages by allowing them unfettered access to ranges.

"Whatever range we get is dedicated solely to us for as long as we need it. We can shoot every weapon we have, and run unscripted ranges," said Manocchio. "Whatever we can think of, we can do."

Not having to vie for a range has proven to be very helpful in accomplishing the training goals that the company has set in place for their time in Cuba.

"We aren't fighting for ranges here. We can take as much time as we need to master the objectives we're working towards," said 1st Sgt. Nicholas G. Fox, company first sergeant for Fox Company. "Our small unit leaders have more leeway here to train their squads themselves with specific goals in mind."

As part of the SCMAGTF, the company, which consists of riflemen, mortarmen, assaultmen and machine gunners, will also be participating in military-to-military cross training events with U.S. partner nations during the deployment.

"We are getting an opportunity to get on a ship [USS Wasp LHD-1], train in different locations and engage with foreign militaries in training events in other countries," said Manocchio. "We'll show them how we do things and see how they do things."

"Being a part of a MAGTF is an unusual experience for us; this is a chance for us to do something different," he added.

Even though the weather has been rough and the training schedule intensive, the Marines of Fox Company have risen to the challenge.

"Our Marines have dealt with the short notice, being on the ship, and two weeks of hard training exceptionally well," said Manocchio. "They have done an outstanding job so far."

The company first sergeant echoed Manocchio's sentiments.

"The Marines have been wonderful out here," said Fox. "Our noncommissioned officers and small unit leadership have been phenomenal. They will get some life-long experiences from this, not only because we get a unique opportunity to train and prepare for combat, but we get to do it in a non-combative foreign country; we get a chance to see the world," he added.

Wasp and the SCMAGTF are working alongside Mayport, Fl.-based Destroyer Squadron 40 during a three-month deployment to build and instill interoperability and cooperation between U.S. and partner nation naval forces through a variety of exercises as part of Southern Partnership Station.

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Some people spend their lives looking for their place in the sun, but the roughly 200 Marines of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Camp LeJeune, N.C., have found theirs. They have also found their place in the rain, the dirt and the heat.Operating,

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The division has been in pop culture multiple times. For example, 2nd Marine Division units helped to reinforce Guantanamo Bay during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and landed in the Dominican Republic in 1965 as part of Operation Power Pack. Other peacekeeping operations carried on by the Division include being part of the Multi National Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon from August 1982 until February 1984.

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WWII Era US Army Presidential Unit Citation Award Pin Ribbon Bar Oak Leaf Cluster Militaria by ValleyGirlTreasures on Etsy

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With the main base located in Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, the 2nd Marine Division is a national division. There are many of the 2nd Division located throughout the nation. I believe that this united the division because they are from different places fighting the same cause. Also, they always came together to accomplish a common cause.

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2nd Marine Division has been very active since World War II. They have fought in the Gulf War, and the current war on terror. The division has changed from an invasion type warfare to a task force specifically for liberation and relief of citizens, as well as relief to other military parties.

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Activated in the war after the Nazi elimination from the war, the 2nd Marine Division fought solely in the Pacific Theater of Operations. The 2nd Marine Division generally fought in invasion type circumstances. For example, when the United States captured the Mariana Islands campaign. They were very successful in the Pacific Theater of Operations, which brought the United States to a victory.

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Clayton Barney Vogel was a key leader in WWII. He was responsible for an operation involving the Navajo Code Talkers. This was a mission that saved many lives thanks to Vogel's innovation and intelligence.

Thomas E. Watson, a former 4 star general in the United States Marines, played a major role in the capture of the Saipan and Tinian islands. He used tremendous amounts of intelligence to strategically place men and outsmart the defense. He used very aggressive tactics which ended up playing to his advantage.

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The spearhead-shaped patch is scarlet and gold, in the center is a hand holding a torch with the number two. Around the torch are the stars of the Southern Cross constellation as a reference to Guadalcanal. Although the Marine Corps officially disallowed shoulder patches in 1947, the insignia still appears on buildings, signs, documents, and non-uniform clothing.

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The 2nd Marine Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, 20 –24 November 1943: "For outstanding performance in combat during the seizure and occupation of the Japanese-held Atoll of Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 20 to 24, 1943. Forced by the treacherous coral reefs to disembark from their landing craft hundreds of yards off the beach, the Second Marine Division (Reinforced) became a highly vulnerable target for devastating Japanese fire.

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The 2nd Marine Division, was also known as The Silent Second. The nickname is significant because there silent and stealth like missions helped lead the Americans to a victory in World War II, The Gulf War and The Global war on terror

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The division was founded on February 1st 1941, and its original purpose was to reinforce the 1st Marine Division