Nawa District

Pvt. Shawn M. Testa, combat medic, 3rd Platoon, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, inspects an Afghan boy complaining of ear pain, Jan. More

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Aug. 21, 2009) An Afghanistan presidential election worker displays ink on his hand from counting and organizing election ballots at a local school in the Nawa District. The schoo More

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Aug. 21, 2009) Afghanistan presidential election workers count and organize election ballots at a local school in the Nawa District. The school was used as a polling site for the More

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Aug. 21, 2009) Voting ballots organized and arranged for counting by Afghan presidential election workers at a local school in the Nawa District. The school was used as a polling More

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Oct. 17, 2009) Seabees use heavy equipment to create a solid foundation for construction at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Nawa District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The Seab More

HELMAND PROVENCE, Afghanistan (Oct. 29, 2009) Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Eric Nobriga, assigned to Combined Anti-Armor Team 2 (CAAT 2), hands candy to Afghan children during a patrol in Nawa District, Helmand More

Cpl. Noah Berry, an infantryman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, is greeted by fellow 3/3 Marines and sailors following his return to Marine Corps Base Hawaii from a seven-month deployment to Afghanista More

Newly-trained Afghan Army soldiers calibrate their weapon sights during training at the ANA Academy, Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 3. Marines and ANA instructors partner More

NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – A patrolman with the Afghan Uniform Police stands guard outside a refurbished precinct. He is one of several AUP patrolmen who eat, sleep, and work alongside Marin More

NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Pvt. Mahmad Dawod Qalamyar, a patrolman with the Afghan Uniformed Police, reads a Pashto-English dictionary aloud during an evening break. He, along with hundreds More

Afghan National Army commandos, from the 8th Commando Kandak, conduct a foot patrol during a combat operation in Nawa district, Ghazni province, Sept. 20, 2011. U.S. Special Operations Forces, partnered with Af More

Lawrenceville, Ga., native Lance Cpl. Branden Morgan, an automatic rifleman with Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, finishes a set of dead-lifts at the base gym. Morgan lifts weights fi More

Corporal Marion A. Timberlake, a data network specialist with Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, patrols through a remote area. Many of the battalion’s Marines, who are on their first de More

Afghan National Army commandos search a villager during a combat operation in Ghazni province, Sept. 6. U.S. Special Operations Forces, partnered with Afghan commandos, conducted cordon and search operations to More

Haji Abdul Manaf, the governor of Nawa district, Helmand province, has helped lead the district to prosperity after assuming office in late 2009. Nawa district was crawling with insurgents two years ago, but is More

A Marine with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, talks to a local resident at the Pinjadoo Bazaar. Marines from 1/9 and Afghan Uniformed Police patrolmen provided security for Haji Abdul Manaf, the governor of More

Reno, Nev., native Lance Cpl. Daniel Wilson, a fireteam leader with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, patrols through a cornfield in Nawa district, Helmand province. Some of the Marines from More

The Nawa District Headquarters Precinct Afghan Uniformed Police pose for a group photo minutes after successfully conducting their first major independent operation here, Oct. 29. The operation, a raid on a sus More

(From left) Mercer Island, Wash., native Lt. Col. Tyler Zagurski, the battalion commander of 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment; Pittston, Pa., native Sgt. Maj. Patrick Tracy, battalion sergeant major of 1/9; a More

Afghan Uniformed Police patrolmen stand outside of a shura, or meeting, for residents of nearby towns. Marines with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, have been working closely with the AUP in anticipation of More

(From left) Local elder Haji Janan; Mercer Island, Wash., native Lt. Col. Tyler Zagurski the commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment; and Afghan National Army Lt. Col. Gul Ahmad, the kandak com More

District governor Haji Abdul Manaf (left) and Mercer Island, Wash., native Lt. Col. Tyler Zagurski, the battalion commander for 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, enjoy a light evening meal together outside of More

Marines with 1st Battalion,9th Marine Regiment, clean their vehicles after arriving at Patrol Base Kharaman. The abandoned mansion turned into an outpost provided Marines a place to lay their heads as they fini More

Los Angeles native Cpl. Matthew Noel, a dog handler with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, takes a moment to relax before beginning the day’s patrol. Noel and his bomb-sniffing dog, Sgt. Ringo, led the first More

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Robert J. Powell, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment Police Advisory Team staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge and native of Watertown, N.Y. assesses a target with an Afghan Local Poli More

Staff Sgt. Robert J. Powell, a police advisory team staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, assess a target with an Afghan Local Police academy recruit on during a marks More

Marzia Dawlatzai, a linguist with Female Engagement Team 13, currently in support of Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and native of Phoenix, speaks to a student during a class at Ekra Elemen More

An Afghan National Army soldier with 1st Brigade, 215th Corps Route Clearance Company sweeps a road for improvised explosive devices during a route clearance mission here, Dec. 12. The Afghan soldiers have take More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Matthew Gardner, a chief motor transportation dispatcher with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, charges a fuel pump during a re-supply mission here, Dec. 13. More

A member of the 8th Commando Kandak stands a security watch atop a hill during a security and clearance operation in the Faiz Abad Horn, Nawa district, Ghazni province, Afghanistan Dec. 13. The commandos partne More

Afghan National Army soldiers with 4th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, fire a Howitzer D-30 during an artillery demonstration for government officials and local elders from districts across southern Helmand h More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Ross T. Gundlach, a dog handler with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and his trusted dog Casey, search a road for improvised explosive devices here, Jan 20. Always together while on patrol, More

Haji Abdul Manaf (right), the governor of Nawa, speaks to an older man at the Pinjadoo Bazaar. Manaf has been Nawa’s district governor for approximately two years. The district was a hotbed for insurgents prior More

An unmanned helicopter known as a Kaman K-1200 or “K-MAX” picks up a load of fuel during the first unmanned aircraft delivery to a patrol base in Helmand province, March 15. Unmanned helicopters have the potent More

An unmanned helicopter known as a Kaman K-1200 or “K-MAX” picks up a load of fuel during the first unmanned aircraft delivery to a patrol base in southern Helmand here, March 15. Unmanned helicopters have the p More

Lance Cpl. Justin Thomas, a Carlisle, Pa., native, stands watch over a bazaar in Nawa District, Afghanistan, April 7, 2012. Thomas is an infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and enlisted into th More

Afghan Local Policemen provide security outside the new Karzai school complex near Combat Outpost Spin Ghar in Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 9, 2012. The complex was designed to provide a More

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matthew Morrissey, center, the battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, speaks with Afghan leaders outside a new school complex near Co More

U.S. Marine Master Gunnery Sgt. John E. Trotta, the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment operations chief, looks for enemy movement during a patrol in Trek Nawa, April 13, 2012. Trotta and Sgt. Maj. William R. Fr 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

SAN DIEGO (May. 10, 2012) Sailors line the streets of Naval Base Coronado to honor to Lt. Christopher E. Mosko, who died April 26 while conducting combat operations in Nawa district, Ghazni province, Afghanista More

SAN DIEGO (May. 10, 2012) Patriot Guard Riders give honor to Lt. Christopher E. Mosko, who died April 26 while conducting combat operations in Nawa district, Ghazni province, Afghanistan. Mosko was assigned as More

SAN DIEGO (May. 10, 2012) Pallbearers carry the casket of Lt. Christopher E. Mosko, who died April 26 while conducting combat operations in Nawa district, Ghazni province, Afghanistan. Mosko was assigned as Exp 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

U.S. Marine Col. Roger B. Turner Jr., the commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 5, and Sgt. Maj. Alberto Ruiz, the RCT-5 sergeant major, patrol through a bazaar during the regimental staff's final battle 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

A U.S. Marine with 1st Platoon, Lima Company, 3D Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, provides over watch during a dismounted security patrol in the Nawa District, Helmand province, Afghani More

Afghan National Army soldiers with 2nd Brigade, 4th Kandak, 215th Corps conduct simulated room clearing procedures at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, June 12, 2017. This training aided them in a real-life operation More

U.S. Marine Maj. Sean Kaiser, a communications advisor with Task Force Southwest, helps track troop movements with Afghan National Army soldiers from 215th Corps during Operation Maiwand Five near Nawa, Afghani More

Afghan National Army Brig. Gen. Wali Mohammed Ahmadzai, the commander of 215th Corps, and Brig. Gen. Roger Turner, the commanding general of Task Force Southwest, discuss plans and tactics to secure and clear t More

Spc. Beverly S. McDaniel, combat medic, Company C, 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, gives a young child medicine to prevent worms, Jan. 13, at a clinic in Nawa D More

An Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier with 3rd Toli, 1st Kandak, 215th Corps provides security during a shura on ANA Outpost Saburi, Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan Aug. 8, 2012. The shura was host More

Cpl. Noah Berry, an infantryman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, is greeted by his wife Crystal following his return to Marine Corps Base Hawaii from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan, Dec. 7. Aft More

Newly-trained Afghan National Army soldiers review their targets to adjust combat optical scopes during follow-on infantry training at the ANA Academy, Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Helmand province, Afghani More

Lance Cpl. Jan Ormayo, an embarker with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, transports recently delivered supplies with a forklift. Ormayo is responsible for slating and tracking flights for all personnel and e More

On July 18, in the district of Nawah, rice, beans, and tea were provided by the 215 Maiwand Corps that totaled over 15,000 pounds of food and was divided amongst 467 families.

NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – A Marine with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, patrols alongside an Afghan Uniform Policeman during a security patrol. Most police precincts and patrol bases in More

NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Pvt. Mahmad Dawod Qalamyar, a patrolman with the Afghan Uniformed Police, reads a Pashto-English dictionary aloud during an evening break.

Afghan National Army commandos, from the 8th Commando Kandak, search a compound during a combat operation in Nawa district, Ghazni province, Sept. 20, 2011. U.S. Special Operations Forces, partnered with Afghan More

Lawrenceville, Ga., native Lance Cpl. Branden Morgan, an automatic rifleman with Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, dead-lifts a barbell at the base gym. Morgan was born in Abilene, Tex More

Agana, Guam, native Petty Officer 2nd Class Jerome Cinco (left), a corpsman with Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, helps an Afghan man with pain in his knee during a recent patrol. Cin More

A U.S. Special Operations Force team member checks his position during a combat operation in Ghazni province, Sept. 6. U.S. Special Operations Forces, partnered with Afghan Commandos, conducted cordon and searc More

Haji Abdul Manaf, the governor of Nawa district, Helmand province, has led the district to prosperity after assuming office in late 2009. Manaf and his ministers work out of offices in the Nawa District Center, More

Marines with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, patrol through the Pinjadoo Bazaar. The bazaar, one of the largest centers of commerce in Nawa district, Helmand province, was buzzing as local residents sold an More

Afghan National Army Lt. Col. Gul Ahmad (third from left), the kandak commander of 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps; and Mercer Island, Wash., native Lt. Col. Tyler Zagurski (center), the commanding officer More

Staff Sgt. Joshua N. Whatley, an infantry unit leader with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, patrols through a cornfield in Nawa district, Helmand province. The Marines and Afghan Uniformed More

Fort Davis, Texas, native Sgt. Brian Behan, the platoon sergeant for the Personal Security Detachment with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, provides security during a local shura, or meeting. The Marines are More

Afghan children gather near the road to see the Afghan National Army soldiers and Marines patrolling through the district. Marines and Afghan soldiers participated in the Nawa Victory Walk to show the residents More

Afghan Lt. Col. Gul Ahmad, the kandak commander for 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, cuts the ribbon at the ceremonial groundbreaking for a local health clinic. Ahmad is one of many military officials who More

Grand Junction, Colo., native Seaman Ian B. White, a corpsman with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, provides security during a groundbreaking ceremony for a local health clinic. After the ceremony, White joi More

Lynn, Ark., native Sgt. Jeremy Cooney, a ground element commander during foot patrols, cleans his protective eyewear before a morning patrol. Cooney is assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and recent More

Afghan National Army soldiers with 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, joined by Marines with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, arrive at Patrol Base Norzai. Norzai was the final stop of the Nawa Victory Wa More

U.S. Marine Corporal Michael Russman, an infantryman attached to Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment and native of McConnellesburg, Pa., coaches an Afghan Local Police academy r More

Marzia Dawlatzai, a linguist with Female Engagement Team 13, currently in support of Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and native of Phoenix, teaches local Afghan students the Arabic alphabet More

Corporal Michael Russman, an infantryman attached to Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment and native of Mcconnellesburg, Penn., coaches a Afghan Local Police academy recruit on d More

An Afghan National Army soldier with 1st Brigade, 215th Corps Route Clearance Company sweeps a road for improvised explosive devices during a route clearance mission here, Dec. 12. The Afghan soldiers have take More

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Alex Lents, a motor transportation operator with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, loads fuel into a fuel tank during a re-supply mission here, Dec. 13 More

Members of the the 8th Commando Kandak conduct a foot patrol around a compound during a security and clearance operation in the Faiz Abad Horn, Nawa district, Ghazni province, Afghanistan Dec. 13. The commandos More

Afghan National Army soldiers with 4th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, fire a Howitzer D-30 during an artillery demonstration for government officials and local elders from districts across southern Helmand h More

Casey, an improvised explosive device detection dog, with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, searches the side of a road for IEDs here, Jan. 20. Always nearby on patrol, Casey's handler Cpl. Ross T. Gundlach, More

Elders and local residents of Gawragi, Negari, and the surrounding areas gather at a shura, or meeting, to discuss local security and progress in the district. The men spent several hours talking about progress More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Robert D. Knutson, a squad leader with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment and native of Lebanon, Pa., speaks with local residents during a patrol here, March 5. During his las More

An unmanned helicopter known as a Kaman K-1200 or “K-MAX” prepares to take off during the first unmanned aircraft delivery to a patrol base in southern Helmand here, March 15. Unmanned helicopters have the pote More

An unmanned helicopter known as a Kaman K-1200 or “K-MAX” prepares to take off during the first unmanned aircraft delivery to a patrol base in Helmand province, March 15. Unmanned helicopters have the potential More

Lance Cpl. Justin Thomas, a Carlisle, Pa., native, stands watch over a bazaar in Nawa District, Afghanistan, April 7, 2012. Thomas is an infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and enlisted into th More

An Afghan Local Policeman provides security outside the new Karzai school complex near Combat Outpost Spin Ghar in Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 9, 2012. The complex was designed to provid More

U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. William R. Frye, the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment sergeant major, looks for enemy movement during a patrol in Trek Nawa, April 13, 2012. Frye and Master Gunnery Sgt. John E. Trotta p More

Nawa District Governor Haji Abdul Manaf speaks with U.S. Marines with 2D Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 about the security of local nationals in Helmand province, Afghanistan April 26, 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

U.S. Marine Sgt. Victor Longoria, a personal security officer with Regimental Combat Team 5, provides security for Col. Roger B. Turner Jr., the commanding officer of RCT-5, as he speaks with local residents ne More

Nawa District Governor Haji Abdul Manaf, second from left, discuses his concerns with local Afghan national village elders during a shura on Afghan National Army outpost Saburi, Nawa district, Helmand province, More

A U.S. Marine with 1st Platoon, Lima Company, 3D Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, provides over watch during a dismounted security patrol in the Nawa District, Helmand province, Afghani More

An Afghan National Army soldier with 2nd Brigade, 4th Kandak, 215th Corps searches for notional enemy forces during military operations in urban terrain training at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, July 5, 2017. Thi More

U.S. Marine Col. Matthew Grosz, Task Force Southwest’s senior advisor to the Afghan National Army 215th Corps, greets Brig. Gen. Wali Mohammed Ahmadzai, the commanding general of 215th Corps, during Operation M More

Afghan National Army Col. Abdul Latif, the operations officer of 215th Corps, briefs ANA soldiers on an upcoming mission to clear and secure the Nawa district in Helmand province during Operation Maiwand Five A More

Task Force Southwest and Afghan National Defense and Security Force key leaders discuss the final steps that need to be taken during Operation Maiwand Five near Nawa district in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, A More

An Afghan nation policeman carries a child to his father, Jan. 13, at a clinic in Nawa District, Ghazni province, Afghanistan.

Afghan National Army (ANA) officer Lt. Col. Gul Ahmad, left, commander of 1st Kandak, 215th Corps greets fellow ANA soldiers with 3rd Toli, 1st Kandak, 215th Corps before beginning a Shura aboard ANA Outpost Sa More

Seaman David Trevino, a corpsman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, shares a moment with his wife and 1-year-old daughter following his return to Marine Corps Base Hawaii from a seven-month deployment to More