Marines TV

The entire length of Wilson Boulevard will completely open to all traffic beginning Friday, Dec. 23. The ten-year, three-phased, $203M project began as an answer to the over-stressed main gate during the USMC Grow the Force initiative in 2006. The network of roads, bridges and an added main gate constitutes more than seven miles of roadway. The new roadway named for General Louis Hugh Wilson, Jr., a World War II Medal of Honor recipient and the 26th Commandant of the Marine Corps, will significantly reduce the traffic flow that is currently routed through officer housing from the Wilson Gate, which was opened earlier this year. Prior to the new construction, the only way to access the Tarawa Terrace area was via Highway 24. The new gate and road will provide access to emergency services for military families without them having to leave the base. The project also features a safe and separate pedestrian path that parallels the entire length of the roadway to accommodate bicyclists, runners and walkers. "The successful planning, execution, and now completion of the new Wilson Boulevard base entry road project is the result of nearly 10 years of hard work and dedication by hundreds of contractors, civilian Marines, Marines and sailors. It's simply impossible to thank them all for this herculean effort, but each has earned my complete gratitude for their efforts and professionalism," said Brigadier General Thomas Weidley, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations East. "My hope is that everyone who has worked on this project derives a tremendous amount of satisfaction knowing they've played a critical role in reducing the traffic congestion that has plagued this base for years. When you consider those quality of life improvements that benefit the most number of people, this one ranks at the top of the list." In addition to Wilson Gate and Boulevard, there were several upgrades to existing roads on the base such as the widening of Brewster and the new service road into the Naval Hospital and Wounded Warrior Complex.

A contest for Marines and Sailors of II Marine Expeditionary Force to develop a communication product concept for "Protect What You've Earned "will take place beginning Nov. 1, 2016. The contest, which goes until Dec. 2, encourages Marines and Sailors to come up with their own innovative concept to convey how they protect what they've earned. The PWYE campaign aims to decrease all destructive behaviors that decrease readiness and have a negative impact on the Marine, their families and the community. For more information about the contest, visit http://www.iimef.marines.mil/PWYE/Contest/.

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, team up with various elements across the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and kick off their Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 24-28. The MCCRE serves to gather a sense of where the battalion's capabilities stand across all war-fighting functions. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Kaitlyn V. Klein)

Service members, veterans, and civilians attend the 33rd Beirut Memorial Observance Ceremony at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens, N.C., Oct. 23, 2016. A memorial observance is held October 23rd of each year to remember those lives lost during the terrorist attacks at U.S. Marine Barracks, Beirut, Lebanon, in 1983. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Daphne D. Rodriguez MCIEAST Combat Camera/Released)

After nearly two years of planning and fine-tuning, Expeditionary Operations Training Group conducted its first week-long fast rope masters course at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, July 11-14. Derived from the longer two-week helicopter rope suspension training course, the fast rope masters course focuses on qualifying noncommissioned officers and above as subject matter experts and qualifies them to train Marines within their subordinate command.

Marines with Bulk Fuel Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, built an amphibious assault fuel system at Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 24-27, 2016. An AAFS can hold approximately 1.12 million gallons of fuel, which is capable of supporting an entire Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Kaitlyn V. Klein/Released)

Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, utilize the Infantry Immersion Trainer to conduct patrols and defend a village from insurgents operating nearby at Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 23, 2016. The IIT is a revolutionary training system that prepares Marines and sailors for deployment to today's battlefields, using virtual reality to re-create foreign urban scenes. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Kaitlyn V. Klein/Released)

The Marine Corps’ best combat engineer squads competed in the first installment of the SAPPER Squad Competition at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, June 20-24. The competition was a series of skill-based challenges that all combat engineers must be able to perform in the most proficient manner.

Marines with Bravo Co., 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, took to the firing line with the AT-4 rocket launcher at Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 3, 2016. The unit conducted the range in order to bolster their mission capabilities and expeditionary readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Kaitlyn V. Klein/Released)

U.S. Marines with Criminal Investigations Division, 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, conduct a tactical site exploitations course at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Apr. 4, 2016. The course taught Marines with Kilo Co., 3rd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, how to search for evidence or gain intelligence from their surroundings during a mission. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Kaitlyn V. Klein/Released)

U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Africa 16.1/16.2, conduct a non-combatant evacuation operations certification exercise at Bogue Airfield, N.C., March 9, 2016. The exercise ensured that the Marines are able to establish an evacuation control center. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Kaitlyn Klein/Released)

Marine Corps base Quantico Installation Protection Branch conducts a full scale active shooter excercise in order to better prepare all law enforcement, medical, and civillian personnel in case an active shooter incident were to occur, Mar. 02, 2016, Lejeune Hall, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps video by LCpl. Kaleb Dillard/Released)

Marines with 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, conducted fire missions in support of Tactical Air Control Party students during an exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., February 8-11, 2016. Firing in support of a TACP forced the Marines to operate at another unit's request with aircraft flying in the area, requiring close communication between all parties involved.

U.S. Marines and Sailors with 2nd Marine Logistics Group participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony at Engineer Training Area 3, on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 6, 2016. The ceremony marked the newly renovated Corporal’s Course building. (U.S. Marine Corps motion imagery by Cpl. Stephanie/Released)