As the nation rebounds from 19 named storms and 11 major hurricanes in 2012, a small but hardy military organization keeps relentless watch to track and prepare for such disasters.

Located at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, dubbed the "Hurricane Hunters" of the Air Force Reserve, is the Defense Department's sole organization dedicated to flying into tropical storms and hurricanes. The unit has performed the mission since 1944.

Pvt. Cicely Verstein, 21, did not give much thought to her place in history when she enlisted in the Army. The Pennsylvania native said she was looking for a job she thought was interesting, but will soon become the first woman in the Army to repair the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

No one was hurt when the mine countermeasures ship USS Guardian (MCM 5) ran aground on Tubbataha Reef at 2:25 a.m. local time, Jan. 17, while transiting the Sulu Sea.

The Avenger-class ship had just completed a port call in Subic Bay, Olongapo City and was en route to her next port of call when the grounding occurred. The ship is currently stuck on the reef, approximately 80 miles east-southeast of Palawan Island. The crew is currently working to determine the best method of safely extracting the ship.

The cause of the grounding is under investigation.

Marines shouting “prepping frag,” bellowed as they reached in their pouch to pull out a practice grenade. “Frag out,” they shouted as the practice grenades flew through the air.

The Marines continued to successfully move through the course after confirming the practice grenades hit their targets.

A storm New Year's Eve ran an arctic drilling rig aground on an Alaskan island and two new Chinook helicopters from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, came to the rescue.

The Royal Dutch Shell Arctic rig Kulluk Salvage is a circular drill barge that does not have propulsion and needed heavy equipment to restore operational power. The U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, out of Fort Wainwright was able to support the recovery operation.

The forward deployed Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42), part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), departed Tuesday, Jan. 15, for its spring deployment in the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

Germantown will take part in an amphibious integration training (AIT) and certification exercise (CERTEX), participate in the annual multinational combined joint training exercise Cobra Gold, and conduct various other exercises.

Airmen of the 446th Airlift Wing teamed up with a local police dive team to conduct familiarization training on the C-17 Globemaster here Jan. 10.

Nate Condreay, Pierce County Metro deputy sheriff and rescue diver, reached out to the 446th AW for Air Force aircraft specialists to train the police dive team in the intricacies of the C-17. Lt. Col. David Jeske, chief of 446th AW Combat Readiness, answered the call.

As a part of the Department of the Navy, being amphibious warfighters has always been an innate aspect of being a Marine. Marines stormed the beaches of the Pacific and manned Navy ships at sea. Although not a yearly requirement like the physical fitness training tests, swim qualification is still a mandated Marine Corps training requirement that has the power to save a Marine’s life.

In 2003, two Marines drowned while trying to cross the Suddam Canal while bearing a full combat load in Iraq.

The forward deployed Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46), part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), departed its homeport Jan. 14, for its spring deployment in the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

Tortuga will take part in an Amphibious Integration Training (AIT) and Certification Exercise (CERTEX), participate in the annual multinational combined joint training exercise Cobra Gold, and conduct various other exercises.