Afghan citizens parade around a soccer stadium near the district center during the Marjah Day celebration here, Dec. 23. Several hundred district residents gathered to view a demonstration by Afghan National S More
U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Matthew T. Morrissey, the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment commanding officer, speaks to local residents next to the construction site of the Basulan School, here Feb. 13. Upon the comple More
A U.S. Marine with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, provides security during an anti-narcotic operation in Marjah, Afghanistan, March 7, 2012. This operation was aimed at stopping i More
An Afghan National Army soldier discusses construction plans with U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, aboard ANA Patrol Base Yeha, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Mar More
An Afghan National Army soldier patrols the outskirts of Sarakala, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 9, 2012. The ANA and U.S. Marines encouraged the local populace to avoid illegal drug production activitie More
Afghan National Army soldiers and U.S. Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 speak with local residents in Sarakala, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 9, 201 More
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Michael Colmey, bottom left, a squad leader with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment (2/6), Regimental Combat Team 5 searches a culvert outside a compound in Helmand provi More
U.S. Marine Corps Lt Col. Matthew Morrissey, battalion commander, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 speaks with Afghan nationals during the opening ceremony of a new Afghan Local Poli More
U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and Nawa district elders, sit down with local Afghan security forces leaders to discuss their critical importance to and roles within their community at the More
A U.S. Marine with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 receives Holy Communion from U.S. Navy Chaplain Lt. Edward H. Erwin during a visit to Patrol Base Garret in Marjah, A More
U.S. service members listen to U.S. Navy Capt. Irving Elson, a Jewish Rabbi with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, speak during a Passover Seder here, April 7, 2012. Passover commemorates the story of the Exodus, in wh More
U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 3D Battalion, 3D Marine Regiment (3/3), Regimental Combat Team 5 count bayonets during an equipment inventory at Forward Operating Base Delhi, Helmand province, Afghanistan Ap More
U.S. Marines with 2D Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 arrive at the Nawa District government center, Helmand province, Afghanistan April 26, 2012. Nawa District Governor Haji Abdul Manaf More
Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers with 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, patrol during a combat medic course on Camp Garmsir, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 26, 2012. The combat medic course was an eight-week c More
U.S. Marines of Regimental Combat Team 5 walk with Afghan National Army (ANA) members of 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, before a Mujahideen Victory Day celebration on Camp Garmsir, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Apr More
Afghan National Army (center) Brig. Gen. Mohammad Ali Sujaie, the 1st Brigade, 215th Corps commanding General, walks with U.S. Marine Col. Roger B. Turner, the Regimental Combat Team 5 commanding officer, to hi More
U.S. Marine Sgt. Victor Longoria, with the Regimental Combat Team 5 personal security detachment, poses with country singer Toby Keith here, April 28, 2012. Keith visited Camp Dwyer and performed for service me More
Country singer Toby Keith arrives with his crew members and United Service Organization (USO) personnel at Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 28, 2012. Keith visited Camp Dwyer and performed for More
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Ian J. Duncan with Civil Affairs Detachment, Regimental Combat Team 5 kicks a soccer ball to an Afghan boy during a school opening ceremony in Marjah, Afghanistan, April 25, 2012. The Gr More
An Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier with 1st Brigade, 215th Corps (1/215) receives a certificate of appreciation from Col. Mohammad Sarwar, executive officer, 1/215, during an awards ceremony aboard Camp Garm More
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt.Maj. Alberto Ruiz, Regimental Combat Team 5 (RCT-5) sergeant major, thanks the Marines from 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment (2/6), RCT-5, for their sacrifices on Camp Dwyer, Helmand pro More
District Governor Haji Abdul Manaf speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Basolane school in Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 13, 2012. The school is being built by the local government More
An Afghan National Army soldier with 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, applies a tourniquet on simulated casualty during a combat medic course here, April 26, 2012. This eight-week course instructed by ANA soldiers and More
An Afghan National Army soldier patrols through a field near Combat Outpost Spin Ghar, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 12, 2012. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 pa More
A U.S. Marine Corps combat logistics patrol element with 9th Engineer Support Battalion (Forward), 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD), awaits clearance from the entry control point aboard Forward Operating Base More
An Afghan National Army soldier with 1st Brigade, 215th Corps reports to an ANA commander with 1/215 during an awards ceremony here April 28, 2012. Afghan soldiers and U.S. Marines with the Regimental Combat Te More
U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. John Broadmeadow, left, commanding general, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), speaks to the commanding officer, Regimental Combat Team 5, Col. Roger Turner, center, and the 1st More
U.S. Marines with Regimental Combat Team 5 and Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers with 4th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps walk away from the landing zone after exiting an MV-22 Osprey aboard Combat Outpost F More
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David Berger, center, commanding general, 1st Marine Division (Forward) speaks with Afghan National Army (ANA) Maj. Gen. Sayed Malook, commanding general, 215th Corps before an artil More
A U.S. Navy service member operates a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement while hauling a T5D9 Caterpillar Bulldozer aboard Forward Operating Base Payne in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, May 10, 2012. Sailors e More
U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Matthew Palma (right), commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines Regiment and Sgt. Maj. Andrew Cece, 3rd Bn., 3rd Marines sergeant major, case the battalion battle colors to symboliz More
A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (VMM-365), 3rd Marine Air Wing (Forward) carrying Marines and Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers prepares to land on Forward Operatin More
A local Afghan man operates a road roller outside Combat Outpost Reilly, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 22, 2012. The road roller is used to compact the soil during road construction. (U.S. Marine Corps pho More
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Alberto Ruiz, Regimental Combat Team 5 (RCT-5) Sgt. Maj., speaks to Marines with Echo company, 2D Battalion, 6th Marines, RCT-5 aboard Patrol Base Paserlay, Helmand province, Afghani More
An Afghan Uniformed Police (AUP) commander briefs U.S. Marine Corps Col. Roger B. Turner, commanding officer, Regimental Combat Team 5 (RCT-5), at AUP station Pinjadoo, Helmand province, Afghanistan May 24, 201 More
U.S. Marine Corps Col. Roger Turner, right, commanding officer, Regimental Combat Team 5 (RCT-5), greets District Governor of Nawa Haji Abdul Manaf during a transfer of authority ceremony aboard Forward Operati More
Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers with 1st Brigade, 215th Corps fire an illumination round during an M69A 82mm light mortar shoot outside Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan May 27, 2012. U.S. Marines w More
Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers with 1st Brigade, 215th Corps clean an M69A 82mm light mortar during a shoot outside Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan May 28, 2012. U.S. Marines with Regimental Comb More
U.S. Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6 gather for a promotion ceremony at Forward Operating Base Shir Ghazay, Helmand province, Afghanistan June 1, 2012. The More
Afghan National Army soldiers with 1st Brigade, 1st Kandak, 215th Corps and U.S. Marines with 81mm Mortar Platoon, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 patrol in Shorshu More
An Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier with 1st Brigade, 215th Corps (1/215) reports to Col. Mohammad Sarwar, executive officer, 1/215 during an award ceremony aboard Camp Garmser, Helmand province, Afghanistan More
A display of the ceremonial cake for the 114th Hospital Corps Birthday aboard Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan June 17, 2012. U.S. Sailors and Marines stationed on Camp Dwyer celebrated the 114th Hospi More
A U.S. Marine with 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon, Kilo Company, 3D Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (3/8), Regimental Combat Team 5 patrol out of Forward Operating Base Dehli, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghani More
U.S. Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6 patrol to an objective during Operation Branding Iron II in the Ghaysarkah region, Helmand province, Afghanistan, June More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Timothy Dykes, front, a rifleman with 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, takes part in a patrol in Sangin, Helma More
A U.S. Air Force Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter lands to pick up a casualty in Sangin, Helmand province, Afghanistan June 24, 2012. The helicopter was picking up an Afghan man who had sustained a gunshot w More
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Justin Poust with the Police Advisory Team (PAT), India Company, 3D Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 looks through his rifle combat optic during a routine logisti More
U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James F. Amos, right, is greeted by Lt. Col. Edward J. Healy, battalion commander of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment , Regimental Combat Team 5 aboard Forward Operating Base More
U.S. Marines with 3rd Civil Affairs Group (CAG), in support of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 speak with Nawa district Governor Haji Abdul Manaf at an Afghan Uniform More
A U.S. Marine with 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, provides security from a hardened structure for Marines and Afghan Uniformed Policemen con More
A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53D Sea Stallion of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 362, prepares for an early morning mission aboard Camp Bastion, Helmand province Afghanistan, July 27, 2012. HMH-362 operated th More
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Brent Martin, right, a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) instructor with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, demonstrates an arm bar takedow More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matthew Maclaine with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, reports to the front of the formation on Forward Operating Base Shir Ghazay, Helmand More
Afghan National Army (ANA) Lt. Col. Gul Ahmad, right, commander of 1st Kandak, 215th Corps greets local national elders prior to commencing a shura aboard ANA Out Post Del Mar, Trek Nawa, Helmand province, Afgh More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Justin Mays, a cook with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat 6, prepares food for dinner on Forward Operating Base Nolay, Helmand More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Thomas Nichols with Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, closes a shipping container after packing it with gear on Forward Operating Base (FO More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ivan Pina with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment (1/1), Regimental Combat Team 6, takes part in a patrol during a key leader engagement mission in Reg-E Khan Neshi More
U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class David Fu with personal security detail, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6 crosses a vegetation field during a routine security patrol in Kajaki More
Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers with 3rd Toli, 1st Kandak, 215th Corps provide security during a shura on ANA Outpost Saburi, Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan Aug. 8, 2012. The shura was hosted More
Nawa District Governor Haji Abdul Manaf, center, greets several Afghan village elders during a shura on Afghan National Army Outpost Saburi, Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan Aug. 8, 2012. The shura More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Thomas Nichols, a cook with Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, prepares food on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Tubac, Helmand province, Afgha More
Helmand Provincial Governor Haji Mohammad Gulab Mangal views the photo gallery inside the Afghan Cultural Center on Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan Aug. 8, 2012. U.S. and British personnel with More
U.S. Marines with Headquarters and Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6 construct wooden tent bases on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Geronimo, Helmand province, Afghanist More
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David H. Berger, front left, commanding general of Task Force Leatherneck, speaks to Afghan National Security Forces on Forward Operating Base Shamsher, Helmand province, Afghanistan More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Mike Buhler, a mortarman with 61's Platoon, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6 drops a 61mm mortar into a MO-120 RT mortar system during a More
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David H. Berger, center right, commanding general of Task Force Leatherneck, listens to Afghan National Security Forces on Forward Operating Base Shamsher, Helmand province, Afghanis More
U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jesse M. Schertz, left, battalion gunner 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6 (RCT-6) provides a range safety brief for Marines with Weapons Com More
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ivenly Gourdet, an optics technician with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, reattaches a Rifle Combat Optic (RCO) to an M16A4 More
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ivenly Gourdet, an optics technician with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, ensures an M16A4 service rifle is not loaded befo More
U.S. Marines with 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, and Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers with 215th Corps leave on a security patrol from Fo More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Timothy Mcguire, an improvised explosive device detection dog (IDD) handler with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat team 6 walks alongside his IDD a More
U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Edward J. Healey, left, battalion commander of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (3/8), Regimental Combat Team 6 greets Maj. Gen. David H. Berger, right, commanding general Task For More
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Breck Perry, back left, officer in charge of 1st Toli. 1st Kandak, 215th Corps Kandak Advisor Team (KAT) in support of 3D Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6 congrat More
U.S. Marines with 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, conduct a security patrol out of Forward Operating Base Shamsher, Helmand province, Afghani More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Gar Ayscue, a motor transportation mechanic with Motor Transportation Platoon, Headquarters & Support Company, 3D Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6 repairs a More
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Rhye A. Polk, center, radio chief with Communications Platoon, Headquarters & Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6 stands at the position of atten More
U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6 pick up a water bottle using the PACKBOT-510, an improvised explosive device (IED) disarming robot, as part of a class on Forward O More
A U.S. Marine with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) surveys the landscape from the tail of an HV-22 Osprey over Nimroz province, Afghanistan, Aug. 29, 2012. Tail gunners provide rear security for the aircraft More
A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter takes off from Forward Operating Base Jackson, Helmand province, Afghanistan Aug. 30, 2012. They flew in to deliver supplies and transport Marines with 1st B More
Cargo is offloaded from a U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter on Forward Operating Base Jackson, Helmand province, Afghanistan Aug. 30, 2012. Supplies are delivered to outlying positions by truck More
Two U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallions prepare to land on Forward Operating Base Jackson, Helmand province, Afghanistan Aug. 30, 2012. They transported Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental More
U.S. Marines with Headquarters & Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6 perform various warm up exercises during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program black belt course on F More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Mark Paige, a rifleman with 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, provides rear security while on patrol in Sangin, He More
U.S. Marines with 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, conduct a patrol out of Forward Operating Base Shamsher, Helmand province, Afghanistan Sept More
U.S. Marines with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), congratulate Lance Cpl. Manuel Moran, intelligence analyst, at his promotion ceremony on Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan Sept. 1, 2012. Mari More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Mark Paige, a rifleman with 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, takes part in a patrol in Sangin, Helmand province, More
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Mykel Luera, team leader with 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, loads a 40mm grenade into his M203 grenade launcher befo More
U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jesse M. Schertz, front right, battalion gunner with 3D Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (3/8), Regimental Combat Team 6 gives an safety brief on the M9 Beretta pistol b More
U.S. Marines with 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, begin a patrol out of Forward Operating Base Shamsher, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. More
U.S. Navy Cmdr. Francis P. Foley, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) (Forward) wing chaplain, shares a laugh with Marines and Sailors assigned to moments before being promoted to the rank of Captain at Camp Leather More
U.S. Marines with 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 6, provide cover for dismounted troops during Operation Helmand Viper in Regay South, Helmand province, Afghani More
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Robert M. Bagley with 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 6, provides over watch for a patrol during Operation Helmand Viper in Regay South, H More
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Steven Seay, UH-1Y Venom door gunner, with the air interdiction force (AIF) assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 (HMLA-469), Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine More
A panoramic view of the logos and insignias of the U.S. Marine Corps battalions that have been deployed to the Sangin District, including 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, are displa More
A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter offloads its cargo on Forward Operating Base Sabit Qadam, Helmand province, Afghanistan Sept. 9, 2012. The helicopter transported mail for Marines of 1st Bat More
U.S. Marines with 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, prepare to conduct a security patrol out of Forward Operating Base Shamsher, Helmand provin More