Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Bley, small ensemble leader with the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot San Diego Band, receives a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal after receiving the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Marine Musician of the Year award, Dec. 13. The awards banquet was held at the Hilton Chicago. - Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Bley, small ensemble leader with the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot San Diego Band, receives a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal after receiving the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Marine Musician of the Year award, Dec. 13. The awards banquet was held at the Hilton Chicago.

Retired Maj. John McGee(left) cuts a Marine Corps Birthday cake with the assistance of his wife Beverly(middle) during the commissioning of their son 2nd Lt. Mark McGee(Right) and Marine Corps Birthday cake cutting ceremony, Nov. 10. - Retired Maj. John McGee(left) cuts a Marine Corps Birthday cake with the assistance of his wife Beverly(middle) during the commissioning of their son 2nd Lt. Mark McGee(Right) and Marine Corps Birthday cake cutting ceremony, Nov. 10.

Recruiters from various offices prepare to march past the Honor Guard during the Recruiting Station Twin Cities 236th Marine Corps Birthday celebration Nov. 4. The first piece of cake was presented to the oldest and yougest Marines present. For additional imagery, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities. - Recruiters from various offices prepare to march past the Honor Guard during the Recruiting Station Twin Cities 236th Marine Corps Birthday celebration Nov. 4. The first piece of cake was presented to the oldest and yougest Marines present. For additional imagery, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities.

Gunnery Sgts. Michael Soucy and Roland McGinnis, Sgt. Maj. James Kirkland and Capt. Jacob Aldean, all from Recruiting Station Twin Cities, pose for a photo after completing the 36th Marine Corps Marathon Oct. 30. The four Marines completed the 26.2-mile course in five hours or less. - Gunnery Sgts. Michael Soucy and Roland McGinnis, Sgt. Maj. James Kirkland and Capt. Jacob Aldean, all from Recruiting Station Twin Cities, pose for a photo after completing the 36th Marine Corps Marathon Oct. 30. The four Marines completed the 26.2-mile course in five hours or less.

BMX biker Austin Coleman performs a stunt in front of hundreds of students at Shakopee High School during the 2011 ASA Fall High School Tour Sept. 28. The tour is an interactive “extreme” sports show that visits high schools throughout the United States with several of the world’s top professional skateboarders, BMX bikers and inline skaters performing demonstrations on a state-of-the-art pro half-pipe, while an emcee delivers the anti-tobacco message. For additional imagery from the event, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities. - BMX biker Austin Coleman performs a stunt in front of hundreds of students at Shakopee High School during the 2011 ASA Fall High School Tour Sept. 28. The tour is an interactive “extreme” sports show that visits high schools throughout the United States with several of the world’s top professional skateboarders, BMX bikers and inline skaters performing demonstrations on a state-of-the-art pro half-pipe, while an emcee delivers the anti-tobacco message. For additional imagery from the event, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities.

The Combat Center Show Band performs for underclassmen at Coon Rapids High School Sept. 27. This was one of several stops the group made while traveling across Minnesota and Western Wisconsin to promote the Marine Corps Musician Enlistment Option Program. For additional imagery from their tour, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities. - The Combat Center Show Band performs for underclassmen at Coon Rapids High School Sept. 27. This was one of several stops the group made while traveling across Minnesota and Western Wisconsin to promote the Marine Corps Musician Enlistment Option Program. For additional imagery from their tour, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities.

Steve Hundley, Marine Corps Base Quantico's community plans and liaison officer, discusses MCB Quantico's partnership with the surrounding communities during a session of the 2011 International City/County Management Association conference here Sept. 19. - Steve Hundley, Marine Corps Base Quantico's community plans and liaison officer, discusses MCB Quantico's partnership with the surrounding communities during a session of the 2011 International City/County Management Association conference here Sept. 19.

Marine recruiter Sgt. Timothy Riffe competed in a pull-up challenge against University of Minnesota gymnast Justine Cherwink at TCF Bank Stadium for the Military Appreciation Football Game Sept. 10. During a time-out in the fourth quarter, Riffe and Cherwink had 30 seconds to complete as many pull-ups as possible. More than 48,800 Golden Gopher fans cheered as Cherwink knocked out 18. However, it wasn't enough to beat Riffe who completed 28. For additional imagery from the event, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities. - Marine recruiter Sgt. Timothy Riffe competed in a pull-up challenge against University of Minnesota gymnast Justine Cherwink at TCF Bank Stadium for the Military Appreciation Football Game Sept. 10. During a time-out in the fourth quarter, Riffe and Cherwink had 30 seconds to complete as many pull-ups as possible. More than 48,800 Golden Gopher fans cheered as Cherwink knocked out 18. However, it wasn't enough to beat Riffe who completed 28. For additional imagery from the event, visit www.facebook.com/rstwincities.