Petty Officer 2nd Class James Swanson, a corpsman with Border Advisor Team 1 from El Paso, Texas, does an inventory of an Afghan Border Police medical kit at Bost Airfield in Helmand province, June 19. "We make More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest, left, and a U.S. Soldier with Task Force Forge, right, walk to an advisor mission at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, April, 26th, 2017. The Marine advisors shadowed the Task More
A U.S. Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest holds a training meeting with his Afghan National Police counterparts at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, May 15, 2017, where they discussed classes that the advisors More
U.S. Marine mortarmen with Task Force Southwest set in a 120mm mortar to increase the security at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan May 22, 2017. The Marines fired two illumination rounds, which are non-explosive roun More
Col. David Gibbs, right, commanding officer of team police, Task Force Southwest greets The Honorable Dominic Jermey, left, the British Ambassador to Afghanistan and Maj. Gen. Martin Smith, center, the lead adv More
A U.S. Marine infantryman with Task Force Southwest scans the area during the arrival of General Joseph Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June 2, 2017. The general visited B More
A U.S. Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest, right, watches as an engineer with the 505th Zone National Police uncovers a notional improvised explosive devise utilizing the Talon at Bost Airfield, Afghanist More
A CH-47 Chinook delivers a sling-loaded M-777 Howitzer to Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June 10, 2017. The howitzer will be manned by U.S. Soldiers with Task Force Iron, and are here to provide accurate fires cap More
A U.S. Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest, left, helps an engineer with the 505th Zone National Police put on their EOD9 bomb suit at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June 13, 2017. During the class, the advis More
Key leaders from Task Force Southwest and Afghan National Defense and Security Forces meet to discuss operations being conducted in Marjah and Nad Ali during a security shura at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June More
U.S. Marines with team police, Task Force Southwest, chow down on some local food at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June 21, 2017. A local village elder brought fresh watermelon, bread and cooked three goats to se More
Key leaders from the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces and Task Force Southwest held a key leader engagement at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June 29, 2017. During the KLE, they discussed cooperation an More
U.S. Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest speak with one of their Afghan counterparts with the Zone 505th National Police, who is in charge of maintenance around the base at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Jun More
A U.S. Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest speaks with female police officers from the Helmand Provincial Police Headquarters at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, July 13, 2017 to learn more about their daily li More
General Daud Ghulam Tarakhel, the commanding general of the 505th Zone National Police, pays a visit to the young boy who was injured during a Taliban rocket attack just outside of Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, J More
A U.S. Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest performs a burpee during a circuit course at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, July 21, 2017. The circuit course was held to commemorate the 15 Marines and one Sailor w More
U.S. Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest speak with the checkpoint guards about vehicle searches at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, July 31, 2017. The advisors went to each security checkpoint around Bost to More
U.S. Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest move along the airfield to survey the land for an explosive demolition pit at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 5, 2017. A properly placed explosive demolition pit More
A U.S. Marine Joint Terminal Attack Controller with Task Force Southwest sets up an AZL-15 infrared strobe light on the runway at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug 10, 2017. The IR light is setup to mark the touc More
An Afghan National Police officer names each part of an M16A2 assault rifle during an M16 class at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 15, 2017. The Afghan National Police recently received new M16A2s, replacing t More
Col. David Gibbs, center, commanding officer for team police, Task Force Southwest, and Master Sgt. Victor Rosa, right, senior enlisted advisor for team police, greet U.S. Army Gen. John W. Nicholson, left, the More
U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Roger Turner, left, the commanding general of Task Force Southwest, and Afghan National Defense and Security Force key leaders meet to discuss Operation Maiwand Seven at Bost Airfield, Af More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest provides security while advisors conduct their train, advise and assist mission at the 1st Operational Kandak near Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Oct. 24, 2017. The advisors More
Brig. Gen. Daud Ghulam Tarakhel, right, the commanding general of the 505th Zone National Police, speaks with one of the workers at the terminal at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, July 9, 2017. For the past 60 days More
Nasima Niazi, Helmand’s Representative at Parliament, personally thanks all the Operational Coordination Center – Provincial members for their hard work day and night at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 26, 201 More
Col. M. Aqa Wapa, the hospital director for the 505th Zone National Police, demonstrates how to utilize trauma scissors during a combat life saver course to Afghan National Policemen at the 1st Operational Kand More
Afghan National Defense and Security Force key leaders and U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest listen as Brig. Gen. Daud Ghulam Tarakhel, the commanding general of the 505th Zone National Police, discusses s More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest scans the area during a security patrol near Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 16, 2018. The patrol helped to enhance security around Bost and to assist the Afghan Nationa More
U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest 18.1 halt briefly during a night security patrol near Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 17, 2018. The patrol helped to enhance security around Bost and to assist the Afghan More
An Afghan National Policeman with the 505th Zone National Police inspects a vehicle during a vehicle and personnel search class with U.S. Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest on Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest greets local Afghan children during a patrol near Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 24, 2018. The patrol helped to enhance security around Bost and to assist the Afghan Na More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest provides security during a patrol near Bost Airfield Jan. 24, 2018. The patrol helped to enhance security around Bost and to assist the Afghan National Defense and Securi More
U.S. Marines Col. Christopher J. Douglas, senior advisor with the 505th Zone National Police, and Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, commanding general of Task Force Southwest (TFSW), listen and take notes during a More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest patrols alongside a policeman with the 505th Zone Afghan National Police (ANP) during a combined security patrol near Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 25, 2017. The combi More
LASHKAR GAH, AFGHANISTAN - “Between site surveying and patrolling and emplacing, it’s a tough job,” said Sgt. John Verhage III, native of South Brunswick, New Jersey and a surveillance sensor operator with Task More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) and soldiers with the Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps listen during a shura at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, March 13, 2018. Leaders of the ANA 215th Corps an More
U.S. Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) and key leaders with the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) meet for a security shura on Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, April 5, 2018. The mee More
Brig. Gen. Dawood Tarakhail, commanding general of the 505th Zone Afghan National Police, speaks to U.S. Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) and counterparts with the Afghan National Defense and Se More
U.S. Marine Col. Christopher J. Douglas, left, senior advisor to the 505th Zone Afghan National Police (ANP), talks with Brig. Gen. Dawood Tarakhail, commanding general of the 505th Zone ANP during a security s More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest patrols around Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, April 20, 2018. The Marines with Task Force Southwest patrolled to support and assist the 505th Zone Afghan National Police by More
BOST AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Apr. 23, 2018) -- Ambassador Cornelius Zimmerman, North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, disembarks a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook on Bost Air More
U.S. Marine Corps advisors with Task Force Southwest instruct the 505th Zone Afghan National Police on the fundamentals of patrolling and security on Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, April 25, 2018. The Afghan Natio More
U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest set the time and fuse for a 120mm mortar illumination round on Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, April 24, 2018. The Marines fire illumination rounds to support the Afghan Natio More
A U.S. Marine Corps advisor with Task Force Southwest meets with women police officers with the 505th Zone Afghan National Police in Bost Kalay, Afghanistan, April 24, 2018. The meeting helped Task Force Southw More
BOST AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (May 2, 2018) -- U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jose Borja, a governance advisor for Task Force Southwest, conducts a meeting with Culpin Reuben, the Southwest director for United Nations More
CAMP SHORAB, Afghanistan (May 2, 2018) -- U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest align an M252 81mm mortar system at Camp Shorab, Afghanistan, May 2, 2018. The fire mission helped to enable the Afghan National More
BOST AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (May 5, 2018) -- A U.S. Marine administration advisor with Task Force Southwest, negotiates a timeline for training with the Afghan National Police (ANP) female commander at Bost Airf More
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (June 3, 2018) - U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest attach a trailer to the back of a High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) during a cargo-offload mission near Bo More
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (June 7, 2018) - U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, the commanding general of Task Force Southwest, greets U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, deputy chief of staff More
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (June 9, 2018) - Afghan National Army 215th Corps mortarmen fire a 60 mm mortar round in hand-held mode during a live-fire range at Camp Shorabak. The Afghan National Defense and S More
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (June 10, 2018)- Maj. Gen. Wali Mohammed Ahmadzai (far left), commanding general of the Afghan National Army 215th Corps, speaks with key leaders from the Afghan National Defense a More
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (June 11, 2018)- A policeman with the 505th Zone Afghan National Police (ANP) pauses during a combined patrol with U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest near Bost Kalay, Afghanis More
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (June 15, 2018)- U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest stand in formation during an Eid al-Fitr celebration at the 505th Zone Afghan National Police headquarters. Eid al-Fitr is More
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (August 18, 2018) – A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest prepares for a security patrol near Bost Airfield. The patrol allowed Marines to assist the Afghan National Defense and More
First Lt. Patrick Abell, the mentor for Border Advisor Team 1 from Akron, Ohio, takes an inventory of Afghan Border Patrol weapons with the help of his interpreter at a security checkpoint at Bost Airfield in H More
U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest enjoy fresh fruit and food cooked by the 505th Zone National Police at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, April 24th, 2017. The national police hosted the meal as a farewell to T More
A U.S. Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest receives feedback from his Afghan National Police counterpart at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, May 15, 2017, where they discussed classes that the advisors will tea More
A U.S. Marine infantry officer, center, with Task Force Southwest gives The Honorable Dominic Jermey, right, the British Ambassador to Afghanistan, a tour of the security posts around the Marine compound at Bos More
General Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command, gives a challenge coin to a U.S. Marine infantryman with Task Force Southwest at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June 2, 2017. The general visited Bost as pa More
An Afghan engineer with the 505th Zone National Police remotely controls the Talon and pulls on a wire belonging to a notional improvised explosive device at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June 8, 2017. During the More
U.S. Soldiers with Task Force Iron maneuver an M-777 howitzer, so it can be towed into position at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June 10, 2017. The Soldiers are here to provide accurate fires capabilities in supp More
An engineer with the 505th Zone National Police walks with their EOD9 bomb suit on to better understand how to adapt to operating with restricted movement at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June 13, 2017. During th More
A U.S. Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest takes notes during a key leader engagement between TFSW and Afghan National Defense and Security Forces at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June 17, 2017. The key lead More
A U.S. Marine with team police, Task Force Southwest, gives a thumbs up after trying the goat at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June21, 2017. A local village elder brought fresh watermelon, bread and cooked three More
General Daud Ghulam Tarakhel, upper right, the commanding general of the 505th Zone National Police, speaks during a key leader engagement at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June 29, 2017. During the KLE, they disc More
U.S. Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest speak with one of their Afghan counterparts with the Zone 505th National Police, at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, June 28, 2017. The advisors ensured that the convoy More
U.S. Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest discuss the current security posture with the Afghan National Policemen who man the checkpoints at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, July 31, 2017. The advisors went to More
A U.S. Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest discusses with his counterpart what needs to be done to create an explosive demolition pit at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 5, 2017. Once a site is selected th More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest sets up security at the runway before a C-130 lands at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug 10, 2017. The Marines received armored Humvees via a C-130 for a tactical means of More
A U.S. Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest shows Afghan National Police enlisted what to look for when cleaning the bolt of an M16A2 assault rifle at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug 15, 2017. After receivi More
U.S. Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest and key leaders from the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces discuss recent progress and future actions of Operation Maiwand Seven at Bost Airfield, Afghan More
A U.S. Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest discusses communication shortfalls with his counterpart at the 1st Operational Kandak near Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Oct. 24, 2017. The advisors spoke with thei More
Col. David Gibbs, senior advisor for the Afghan National Police, speaks with some of the Afghan security guards before the arrival of a commercial flight at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, July 9, 2017. Due to the More
Nasima Niazi, Helmand’s Representative at Parliament, is shown the Operational Coordination Center – Provincial’s function of battle tracking and linking that to the civil environment at Bost Airfield, Afghanis More
Col. M. Aqa Wapa, the hospital director for the 505th Zone National Police, teaches how to properly dress a head injury during a combat life saver course to Afghan National Policemen at the 1st Operational Kand More
Governor Hayatullah Hayat, the governor of Helmand Province, speaks about security solutions outside of Lashkar Gah city at a security shura at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 1, 2018. Key leaders from Task Fo More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest 18.1 greets local Afghan children during a security patrol near Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 16, 2018. The patrol helped to enhance security around Bost and to assist More
An Afghan National Policeman with the 505th Zone National Police inspects the front of a vehicle during a vehicle and personnel search class with U.S. Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest on Bost Airfield, More
U.S. Marines Col. Christopher J. Douglas, senior advisor with the 505th Zone National Police (left), and Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, commanding general of Task Force Southwest (TFSW), conduct planning for op More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest straps up his helmet prior to a combined security patrol with policemen from the 505th Zone Afghan National Police near Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 25, 2018. The com More
LASHKAR GAH, AFGHANISTAN - “We’re all working together here; we’re protecting ourselves and them at the same time with these sensors,” said Sgt. John Verhage III, native of South Brunswick, New Jersey and a sur More
U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) and soldiers with the Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps listen during a shura at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, March 13, 2018. Leaders of the ANA and 505th Zone More
U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, commanding general of Task Force Southwest (TFSW), shakes hands with his counterparts with the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) after a security shu More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest patrols near Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, April 20, 2018. The Marines with Task Force Southwest patrolled to support and assist the 505th Zone Afghan National Police by en More
BOST AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (April 23, 2018) -- Ambassador Cornelius Zimmerman, North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, disembarks a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook on Bost Ai More
An Islamic scholar gives a spiritual and religious class to the 505th Zone Afghan National Police during a training exercise hosted by U.S. Marine Corps advisors with Task Force Southwest on Bost Airfield, Afgh More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest uses a lightweight, handheld mortar ballistic computer to calculate the trajectory of 120mm illumination rounds on Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, April 24, 2018. The Marines More
BOST AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (May 2, 2018) -- U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jose Borja, a governance advisor for Task Force Southwest, walks with Culpin Reuben, the Southwest director for United Nations Assistance M More
CAMP SHORAB, Afghanistan (May 2, 2018) -- U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest align an M252 81mm mortar system. The fire mission helped enable the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces during combat op More
A U.S. Marine administration advisor with Task Force Southwest, negotiates a timeline for training with the Afghan National Police female commander at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, May 5, 2018. The ANP integrate More
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (June 3, 2018) - A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest helps to attach a trailer to the back of a High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) during a cargo-offload missi More
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (June 7, 2018) - U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, the commanding general of Task Force Southwest, escorts U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Andrew P. Poppas, deputy chief of staf More
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (June 9, 2018) – Afghan National Army 215th Corps mortarmen load a 60 millimeter mortar round into the mortar tube during a live-fire range at Camp Shorabak. The Afghan National De More
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (June 10, 2018)- Key leaders from the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces meet with U.S. Marine Corps advisors with Task Force Southwest during a security shura at the 505 More