Camp Lejeune, N.C. — The wife of Vice President Joe Biden paid a visit Wednesday to Camp Lejeune and the Marine Corps Air Station at New River.

Dr. Jill Biden met with the Marines of the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion and their families as members of the unit deploy to Afghanistan Thursday for seven months. She also met with staff members of family readiness programs.

The visit is part of her effort to raise awareness and show appreciation for members of the military and their families. Biden says she feels a connection with military families across the nation, because she's from one.

Two weeks ago, she and her husband welcomed home their oldest son, Beau Biden, who is part of a National Guard unit that returned from a yearlong deployment to Iraq.

"I know how important it is. We have a scared obligation to help the men and the women in our military," Biden said. "That's why I'm here – to talk to the families and to see what they need, what their problems are, their successes and then take it back to Washington."

"She knows what to expect for both myself and our family, so it's a wonderful feeling to know that she has some part of herself in this war," one Marine said.

Biden also visited with teachers and students at Coastal Carolina Community College to emphasize the Obama administration’s support for community colleges.