Dexter Sloan

The 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines (1/2), Headquarters & Service Company (H&S Co.) is a key component of the 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Established in 1941, the battalion has participated in major conflicts including World War II, the Korean War, the Gulf War, and the Global War on Terrorism, with H&S Company providing essential command, control, and support functions. Throughout its history, 1/2 Marines have distinguished themselves in significant operations such as Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, and Fallujah. H&S Company continues to ensure the battalion’s operational readiness by delivering critical administrative, logistical, and communications support.

Headquarters and Service Company, Camp Geiger, is a key support unit within the School of Infantry-East (SOI-East), United States Marine Corps. Located at Camp Geiger, North Carolina, the company is responsible for providing administrative, logistical, and operational support to the training battalions and staff at SOI-East. Its lineage is rooted in the post-World War II era, as Camp Geiger became a primary center for infantry training and the company evolved to meet expanding support needs. Over the decades, Headquarters and Service Company has played a vital role in sustaining the readiness and effectiveness of thousands of Marines as they transition from recruit training to their operational units.

Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro was commissioned in 1942 in Orange County, California, serving as a major United States Marine Corps air base during World War II and throughout the Cold War. The station played a pivotal role in training pilots and supporting Marine aviation units during conflicts such as the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Over the decades, El Toro became one of the largest Marine air stations on the West Coast, hosting a variety of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. MCAS El Toro was officially closed in 1999 as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program, with its functions transferred to other bases and much of its land repurposed for civilian use.

Parris Island, located in South Carolina, is home to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, one of the primary training sites for the United States Marine Corps since 1915. The island was first used by the Navy as a coaling station in the late 19th century before becoming a Marine Corps training facility. Throughout both World Wars, Parris Island saw massive expansions to accommodate the surge of recruits needed for combat. Today, it continues its legacy as a vital institution, shaping thousands of new Marines each year through rigorous basic training.