Advertisement'America's Battalion' Leads Thrust In AfghanistanMay 13, 2009JJ SutherlandfacebookEmailLt. Col. Christian Cabaniss talks with his troops during a training patrol ahead of their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. Based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., the unit consists of about 800 Marines. Nicknamed "America's Battalion," the 2nd Battalion of the 8th Marine Regiment will be operating in southern Afghanistan to counter Taliban insurgents.