America's Battalion: Getting Ready

Wednesday, May 13 on All Things Considered

"America's Battalion" is the nickname of the Second Battalion of the Eighth Marine Regiment, a group of more than 800 who are heading to Afghanistan any day now. They will be part of a force of 20,000 troops heading there in an attempt to counter a strengthening insurgency. NPR News will follow the Marines throughout their 210-day deployment beginning with a report from JJ Sutherland, who met up with the 2/8 in Camp Lejeune, NC, to see how they're preparing to spend the next seven months in a war zone.

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