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U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew Sprouse, left, a combat engineer with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, introduces himself to Philippine Navy Seaman Apprentices Raymond Baclason, center, and Arturo Arandela, both Seabees with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ 2nd Naval Mobile Construction Battalion, at the site of a new classroom they are helping build at San Rafael Elementary School in San Rafael, on the island of Palawan, Philippines, April 16. The three are part of a larger group of service members from the AFP and U.S. militaries, constructing five new buildings across the island of Palawan as part of humanitarian civic assistance projects taking place during exercise Balikatan 2015. Balikatan, a Filipino word meaning "shoulder-to-shoulder," is an annual bilateral exercise with the AFP and U.S. militaries, which helps increase combined military-to-military training and build relationships in order to support future engagements. (

Photo by Staff Sgt. Cristina Porras

Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ 2nd Naval Mobile Construction Battalion work with members of the U.S. Marine Corps 9th Engineer Support Battalion and U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 to build a two-room classroom at San Rafael Elementary School in the province of San Rafael, on the island of Palawan, Philippines, April 16, as part of exercise Balikatan 2015. This school is one of five buildings being constructed as part of the humanitarian civic assistance projects during the the exercise. Balikatan is an annual bilateral exercise between the AFP and the U.S. military meant to increase combined military-to-military training and build relationships in order to support future engagements.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Cristina Porras

Armed Forces of the Philippines engineers, from the 552nd Engineer Construction Battalion, U.S. Navy Seabees, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, and U.S. Marine engineers, from the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, are ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ as they pass buckets filled with concrete for placement at Don Joaquin Elementary School in Tapaz, Philippines, during Balikatan 2015, April 9. The engineers, part of the Combined-Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force located on the island of Panay, are constructing two classrooms at the school. Balikatan, which means “shoulder to shoulder” in Filipino, is an annual bilateral training exercise aimed at improving the ability of Philippine and U.S. military forces to work together during planning, contingency, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Photo by Chief Petty Officer Lowell Whitman

U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys with SPMAGTF - Crisis Response - Africa prepare to fly at night as part of required training standards in order for pilots to continue to be qualified to carry passengers at night. while in support of Operation United Assistance in Monrovia, Liberia, Nov. 16, 2014. United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation to provide command and control, logistics, training and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development- led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in West African nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andre Dakis/SP-MAGTF Crisis Response Africa Combat Camera/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Andre Dakis

U.S. Navy Lt. Jeffery Fornadley, a flight surgeon with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa, helps members of Samaritan's Purse, an international relief group, offload, from an MV-22B Osprey, bags of concrete that will be used to by health organizations to build Ebola Treatment Units, while in support of Operation United Assistance in Fish Town, Liberia, Nov. 21, 2014. United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation to provide command and control, logistics, training, and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development- led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in West African nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andre Dakis/SPMAGTF-CR-AF Combat Camera/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Andre Dakis

Members of Samaritan's Purse, an international relief group, finish offloading bags of concrete from an MV-22B Osprey, assigned to SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa, that will be used to build Ebola Treatment Units while in support of Operation United Assistance in Monrovia, Liberia, Nov. 21, 2014. United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation to provide command and control, logistics, training, and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development- led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in West African nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andre Dakis/SPMAGTF-CR-AF Combat Camera/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Andre Dakis

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey with SPMAGTF Crisis Response - Africa returns to base after dropping off supplies that will be used by local and international health organizations to build Ebola Treatment Units while in support of Operation United Assistance in Liberia, Nov. 21, 2014. United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation to provide command and control, logistics, training, and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development- led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in West African nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andre Dakis/SPMAGTF-CR-AF Combat Camera/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Andre Dakis

U.S. Marines and Sailors with SPMAGTF Crisis Response - Africa prepare to load bags of concrete onto an MV-22B Osprey to help local and international health organizations build Ebola Treatment Units while in support of Operation United Assistance in Monrovia, Liberia, Nov. 21, 2014. United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation to provide command and control, logistics, training, and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development- led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in West African nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andre Dakis/SPMAGTF-CR-AF Combat Camera/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Andre Dakis

U.S. Marines with SPMAGTF Crisis Response - Africa load bags of concrete, that will be used by local and international health organizations to build Ebola Treatment Units, into an MV-22B Osprey during Operation United Assistance in Monrovia, Liberia, Nov. 21, 2014. United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation to provide command and control, logistics, training, and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development- led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in West African nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andre Dakis/ SPMAGTF-CR-AF Combat Camera/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Andre Dakis

From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Stan Wright, Cpl. Andrew O'Malley and Lance Cpl. Patrick Thompson, engineers with the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, start up a compactor on a school construction site in Muang, Phitsanulok, Kingdom of Thailand Feb. 10, 2014 in support of Exercise Cobra Gold 2014. CG 14, in its 33rd iteration, demonstrates the U.S. and the Kingdom of Thailand's commitment to their long-standing alliance and regional partnership, prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Luis Rodriguez

Lance Cpl. Bennett Russ (right) and Lance Cpl. Taylor Tingey add "all-threads" to foundation wall forms while building a handicap-accessible ramp at Erdmiin Oyun School, July 27. U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion and U.S. Army soldiers with 96th Troop Command are working alongside soldiers with the Mongolian Armed Forces in Nalaikh district, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia during Exercise Khaan Quest 2013. Khaan Quest is a regularly scheduled, multinational exercise co-sponsored this year by U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, and hosted annually by the MAF. The intent of the ongoing engineering civic action program (ENCAP) project in Nalaikh is to provide valuable training for Mongolian and U.S. armed forces by boosting their interoperability, as well as demonstrate a mutual commitment to local community.

Photo by Sgt. Ben Eberle

NEW YORK (Nov. 11, 2012) - Marines from the 8th Engineering Support Battalion (8th ESB) from Camp Lejeune, N.C. and Soilders from the 19th engineer battalion from Fort. Knox, Ky., spend Veteran’s Day weekend continuing relief efforts for New York residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Hurricane Sandy was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record and caused the most damage in New York and New Jersey Oct. 29, 2012. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specilalist Ryan J. Courtade/Released)

Photo by MCC Ryan J. Courtade

NEW YORK (Nov. 11, 2012) - Marines from the 8th Engineering Support Battalion (8th ESB) from Camp Lejeune, N.C. spent Veteran’s Day weekend continuing relief efforts for New York residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Hurricane Sandy was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record and caused the most damage in New York and New Jersey Oct. 29, 2012. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specilalist Ryan J. Courtade/Released)

Photo by MCC Ryan J. Courtade

Marines with the 8th Engineering Support Battalion from Camp Lejeune, N.C., stage equipment along the boardwalk during the relief effort for Hurricane Sandy. Hurricane Sandy was the largest Atlantic Hurricane on record and caused the most damage in New York and New Jersey Oct. 29, 2012. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicholas S. Tenorio/Released)

Photo by courtesy photo

NEW YORK (Nov. 11, 2012) - Marine Private First Class, Daniel Strahl, of Waco, Texas, roles a dewatering hose in Breezy Point, N.Y., a community of less than 5,000 people that was one of the hardest hit during the hurricane. Marines from the 8th Engineering Support Battalion (8th ESB) from Camp Lejeune, N.C. spent Veteran’s Day weekend continuing relief efforts for New York residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Hurricane Sandy was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record and caused the most damage in New York and New Jersey Oct. 29, 2012. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specilalist Ryan J. Courtade/Released)

Photo by MCC Ryan J. Courtade

NEW YORK (Nov. 11, 2012) - Marines from the 8th Engineering Support Battalion (8th ESB) from Camp Lejeune, N.C. spent Veteran’s Day weekend continuing relief efforts for New York residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Hurricane Sandy was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record and caused the most damage in New York and New Jersey Oct. 29, 2012. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specilalist Ryan J. Courtade/Released)

Photo by MCC Ryan J. Courtade

Ashton Carter, the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense, and Maj. Craig Clarkson, the commanding officer of 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group in New York discuss the relief efforts the Marines have been conducting the past couple of weeks in Breezy Point, N.Y. Nov. 12. Carter visited Breezy Point to see the progress of the joint-service reilef effort in the area.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Scott W. Whiting

Ashton B. Carter, the United States deputy secretary of defense shakes hands with Maj. Craig Clarkson, the commanding officer of the 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group detachment in New York in Breezy Point, N.Y. Nov. 12. Carter visited Breezy Point to observe the work being done, and he wanted to thank the service members who are part of the reief effort.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Scott W. Whiting

Ashton Carter, the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense, shakes hands with Marines from 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group who have been conducting humanitarian efforts in New York after Hurricane Sandy in Breezy Point, N.Y., Nov. 12. Carter vsited the Marines and other service members to congratulate them on their hard work and to oversee the progress of the area so far.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Scott W. Whiting

Cpl. Chelsea Thomas, a radio operator with 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group uses an axe to break down a large deck in order to clear a walkway for residents to safely into Breezy Point, N.Y., Nov. 6. The Marines were moving debris in the neighborhood in support of humanitarian operations with the Federal Emergency Management Agency after Hurricane Sandy.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Scott Whiting