Female Marine recruits prepare to fire on the rifle range during boot camp February 25 at MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina. All female enlisted Marines and male Marines who were living east of the Mississippi River when they were recruited attend boot camp at Parris Island. About six percent of enlisted Marines are female.

Female Marine recruits fire on the rifle range during boot camp.

Female Marine recruits march during boot camp.

Female and male Marine recruits listen to instructions as they prepare for a swimming test during boot camp.

Marine recruit Chelsey Courtney of Coon Rapids, Minnesota hauls a backpack while swimming in her uniform as she is tested to determine her swimming skills during boot camp. Male and female recruits are expected to meet the same standards during their swim qualification test.

Sgt. Gustavo Ramos of Pomona, California teaches female Marine recruits to remove body armor while under water during boot camp.

Pfc. Michaela Walker and Pfc. Britney James climb an obstacle on the Endurance Course.

Pfc. Margarita Salinas patrols during Marine Combat Training.

Pvt. Kristain Oldham from Peoria, Illinois prepares to throw a practice grenade during Marine Combat Training.

Pfc. Tiernie Gayle climbs over an obstacle on the Endurance Course.

A US Marine drinks cobra blood offered by a Thai navy instructor during a jungle survival program at a navy base in Sattahip, Thailand, on Feb. 13, 2012.

Marines tuck into insects during the training session.

A LCAC loaded with artillery and trucks approaches the well deck during operations aboard the Amphibious Assault Ship USS Wasp in support of Operation Bold Alligator off the coast of Jacksonville, N.C. on Feb. 4, 2012. Thousands of Marines are storming U.S. shores to train for a more modern version of the well-known beach assaults conducted during World War II.

Flight Deck Division Officer Victor Lange looks out the flight tower window as weather stops flight operations aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) on Feb. 5, 2012.

US Marines march to board two board Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion Iron Horse helicopters aboard the USS Wasp on Feb. 4, 2012.

Marines help dig out an artillery piece that was stuck in the sand as it was unloaded from a Navy LCAC on Feb. 6, 2012.

Through the smoke of a flare, US Marines carry a wounded comrade who was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) to a Medevac helicopter of U.S. Army's Task Force Lift "Dust Off", Charlie Company 1-171 Aviation Regiment in Helmand province on Nov. 10. Two US Marines were hit by IED had multiple fractures on both their legs.

US Marines carry a wounded comrade to a Medevac helicopter.

US crew chief, specialist Saul Avila (L) and flight medic staff sergeant Noah Berg (R) give medical treatment to two wounded US Marines.

Taliban graffiti shows an AK-47 assault rifle and the word 'Allah' at left, along with Taliban fighters at right, decorating a wall in the Musa Qala district center and the current Battalion Command Headquarters for the U.S. Marine 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., Monday, July 25, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. The district center, once a large opium market under Taliban control also served as sleeping quarters for opium addicts. The graffiti, from that period, depicts Taliban fighters shooting down Russian, American or coalition planes, blowing up their tanks and taking their prisoners. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Taliban graffiti shows an injured enemy soldier at right being carried away during an attack decorating a wall.

Left: Lance Cpl. Blas Trevino of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, left, holds onto the gunshot wound in his belly and gestures toward his troops as he runs to a medevac helicopter from the U.S. Army's Task Force Lift "Dust Off", Charlie Company 1-214 Aviation Regiment after he got shot in the stomach outside Sangin, in the Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan, Saturday, June 11. The Army's 'Dust Off' crew needed two attempts to get him out, as they were fired upon and took five rounds of bullets into the tail of their aircraft. Right: Lance Cpl. Blas Trevino of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, shouts out as he is rescued.

A large bullet hole is seen on the tail of a Black Hawk helicopter after the U.S. Army's Task Force Lift "Dust Off", Charlie Company 1-214 Aviation Regiment came under fire while rescuing injured Marine Lance Cpl. Blas Trevino after he was shot in the stomach outside Sangin, in the Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan, Saturday, June 11.

Lance Cpl. Blas Trevino of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, gives the thumbs-up to U.S. Army flight medic Sgt. Joe Campbell after arriving at a field hospital at camp Edi on a medevac helicopter.

Food supplies for US Marines hanging off small parachutes are dropped from a plane as a sandstorm is approaching outside Forward Operating Base Edi in the Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan, Saturday, June 4.