Lead Photos

FAMILY PHOTO

U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Scott Wayne proudly holds his newly earned high school diploma while posing for photos with his family members at the Patriot Academy's first graduation ceremony at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Ind., March 18, 2010.The Army National Guard's Patriot Academy is the U.S. military's first accredited high school. U.S. Army photo by John Crosby

FIRST GRADS

Student-soldiers of the Patriot Academy's first graduating class march away with newly earned high school diplomas, March 18, 2010, during their graduation ceremony at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Ind. The Army National Guard's Patriot Academy is the first accredited military high school in U.S. history. The program was designed to combat the nation's epidemic dropout rates and to give troubled youth a second chance. U.S. Army photo by John Crosby

PORT-AU-PRINCE ANCHOR

The USNS Grasp is at anchor in the Port-au-Prince, Haiti, harbor as divers work on the city's pier, March 16, 2010. Divers assigned to the Grasp and divers from Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 2 are repairing the pier after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Port-au-Prince Jan. 12, 2010. U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Spike Call

PARADE LEAD

U.S. Marine Sgt. Mike McCracken leads the Leatherneck Pipes & Drums during the 249th St. Patrick's Day Parade, New York, March 17, 2010. More than 300 Marines, including Marine Corps League members from the New York area, members of the Quantico Marine Corps Band, ceremonial marchers from Marine Barracks Washington, and active and reserve Marines, marched in honor of Grand Marshal Raymond W. Kelly, New York City Police Commissioner and a retired Marine. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Randall A. Clinton

NUTS AND BOLTS

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Matthews inspects an F-16 Fighting Falcon exhaust nozzle on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, March 16, 2010. Matthews, an aerospace propulsion systems craftsman, is assigned to the 52nd Component Maintenance Squadron. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nick Wilson

ATTENTION

Former Sgt. Joe Ollerenshaw, a U.S. Marine Corps League member, stands at attention waiting his turn to march in the 249th St. Patrick's Day Parade, in New York, March 17, 2010. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Randall A. Clinton

UP AND OVER

U.S. Marines traverse wooded terrain during a movement-to-contact exercise at The Basic School, U.S. Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., March 15, 2010. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lucas G. Lowe

TILTOROTOR SQUADRON

U.S. Marines make their way to a Marine Medium Tiltorotor Squadron 365 MV-22 Osprey at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. to fly out to Range 210 to conduct the Clear, Hold, Build Exercise, March 3, 2010. Tthe Marines are assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mark Fayloga