Cpl. Keith A. Nuckles, left, and Lance Cpl. Carlos Batista, with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, prepare to climb to the roof of a building to take out a mortar position in an urban training range at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona during a helicopter raid exercise Oct. 12, 2009. Sixteen Marines landed on the outskirts of the range in four UH-1 helicopters and stormed the buildings from all sides searching for two insurgent leaders, simulating a mission they could be called to perform during their next deployment. The battalion, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is scheduled to deploy with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2010, with E Company assigned to specialize in helicopter insertions and raids. Nuckles, 21, is a native of Pacoima, Calif., and Batista, 20, is a Miami-native.
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