Afghan workers begin refurbishing the Kajaki District Center in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 7, 2012. The project is funded by U.S. Agency for International Development, and is the first project of its k More
Navy Lt. Raul Cantu, a native of Lynden, Wash., and the joint terminal attack controller for Fire Control Team 8, Supporting Arms Liaison Team “Delta,” 1st Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, in his Fullerton, C More
Air Commodore Ken McCann, the U.K. air component commander, signed certificates for Staff Sgts. Timothy Pinney and Matthew Robinson to recognize for their contributions to joint U.S. - U.K. operations at the Ai More
Royal Navy Capt. Paul Shawcross, the new commander of U.K. Joint Aviation Group, shakes hands with Royal Air Force Capt. Nick Laird, the former commander of JAG, here, Oct. 7. On June 1, the JAG integrated with More
The sun rises over a CH-53E Super Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), as it sits on the flightline here. The Super Stallions are used to transport troops and More
Sergeant Troy Garza, then a fire team leader with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, talks to an Afghan child during his first deployment to Sangin, Afghanistan, during 2010. During his first deployment in San More
Cpl. Donovan Barnes, a vehicle commander for the personal security detachment, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, stands security outside of a bazaar in the streets of Marjah, Dec. 28, 2010. Marines from Compa More
Brig.r George Norton, Regional Command Southwest deputy commander, walks through the Mushtark Bazaar in Zaranj district, Afghanistan Feb. 22. Norton paid a visit to Zaranj district to meet with Abdul Karim Bara More
Sgt. Steven M. Cheek Jr. (left), an instructor for the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment advisor team, gives a class on advanced weapon handling to Afghan National Army soldiers aboard Camp Nawrooz, Marjah, Ap More
A sandstorm moves west through Sangin toward Combat Outpost Shukvani in the district of Musa Qalah, Helmand province, May 4.
Capt. Ramon Pattugalan (left), the joint terminal attack controller for Fire Control Team 6, Supporting Arms Liaison Team Chuck, 2nd-Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, receives a letter of appreciation from Lt. More
Cpl’s Scott Harvey (left) and Zachary Draskovich, both cryptologic linguists with Operational Command Element 2, 2nd Radio Battalion, Task Force Belleau Wood, set up a collection antenna system, May 8. Radio Ba More
Cpl. Zachary Draskovich, a cryptologic linguist with Operational Command Element 2, 2nd Radio Battalion, Task Force Belleau Wood, determines insurgent activity while on patrol, May 8. Radio Bn. consists of ling More
Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, addresses Marines at Forward Operating Base Jackson, May 12. Kent traveled from Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, to visit Marines deployed More
Sgt. Leland S. Watson (back left), from Greenville, N.C., a Marine Corps Community Services Marine, and Staff Sgt. Kevin B. Flynn (back right), the Marine Corps Exchange staff non-commissioned officer in charge More
The Afghan National Army soldiers, who graduated from Squad Leader Course aboard Forward Operating Base Marjah, May 25, were awarded squad leader patches and certificates of completion. The new graduates are sc More
First Lt. William J. Fredericks, an artillery officer currently deployed to Afghanistan with Kilo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, prepares to head out on a foot patrol in Helmand province. Frederi More
Lance Cpl. Andrew J. Armstrong, a forward observer with Fire Control Team 6, Supporting Arms Liaison Team Chuck, 2nd Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, works out with his fellow Marines at Patrol Base Ertoba, M More
Lance Cpl. Charles Jenkins, an engineer with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), Regional Command Southwest, stands in a post on the perimeter of Camp Leatherneck, June 4. Jenkin More
Sgt. Said Amir, a squad leader for the Afghan National Army, performs a mine detection exercise during a counter improvised explosive device course on Camp Bastion, June 6. The class was led by Marines from Joi More
The official party of the Explosive Hazard Reduction course 11-4 renders a salute for Afghanistan’s national anthem during the course graduation ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, June 9. Membe More
Able Seaman Heidi Telford converses with an Afghan soldier at the southern side of the Nahr-e-Bughra Canal near Checkpoint Salaang, Helmand province, June 11. Telford, a native of Plymouth, U.K., is a member of More
The newly constructed logistics support bridge crossing the Nahr-e-Bughra Canal near the border of Nahr-e-Saraj and Nad ‘Ali was completed on June 12. Over the course of six days, 25 engineers with 39 Armored E More
Mohammad Husani, an Afghan Uniformed Police trainee, gives instructions to a member of his squad during a Combat Town field exercise at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, June 13. Husani is a squad leader for More
An Afghan national army soldier loads a rocket-propelled grenade for an Afghan Uniformed Policeman during a live-fire operational training shoot at Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest, Camp Leatherneck, Helmand More
Tom Foss, a veteran night club comedian, performs his stand-up comedy warm-up routine prior to introducing the Ladies of Comedy to the audience. Jodi Miller, Christina Pazsitsky and Sarah Tiana headlined the Mo More
Maj. Gen. Mullah Khil, the commanding general of the Afghan Uniform Police, shakes hands with and congratulates students after the AUP course graduation at the Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest at Camp Leathe More
The more than 80 dog tags displayed at the top of the wall display inside the new Wounded Warrior berthing area are from servicemen and women who have been part of Wounded Warrior since II Marine Expeditionary More
Afghan National Army soldiers drive onto Highway 601 northeast of Lashkar Gah during Operation Qala Sharqay, June 19. The highway is vital to Lashkar Gah’s economy because it connects the city to the rest of Af More
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
Afghan National Security Forces members attend the basic explosive reduction hazard course prior to partnering alongside coalition forces in the field of operations. Trainees review their study guide prior to a More
First Lt. Patrick Abell (left), 1st Company mentor for Border Advisor Team 1, and a native of Akron, Ohio, confers with Haji Samad, a company commander with the Afghan Border Police, at Bost Airfield, June 19. More
Gulab Mangal, provincial governor, addresses the Helmand Agricultural Forum at the provincial government compound in Lashkar Gah, June 21. The forum was held for Helmand-based agricultural co-ops, logistics an More
Coalition and Afghan National Army players collide during a soccer match held at Camp Shorabak, Helmand province, June 21. “This game is just a bit of fun between the two teams from the Regional Military Traini More
Cpl. Matthew R. Pope (left), the operations noncommissioned officer for Provincial Police Advisor Team, 2nd Marine Division, Maj. John D. Cowart (center) the executive officer of the PPAT, 2nd Marine Div., and More
Capt. Elizabeth Hagner, the officer in charge of the Female Engagement Team, Regional Command Southwest, who is deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan, volunteers her time to participate in the Relay for Lif More
Staff Sgt. Muhammad Zamir, the honor graduate for the Combat Marksmanship Training course at the Joint Academy Sustainment Academy Southwest at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, displays the coin he received More
Afghan National Army Sgt. Sarajadin, an instructor at Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest, gives a demonstration during the Joint Non-commissioned Officer Course aboard Camp Bastion, Helmand province, June 30. More
Technical Sgt. Johnny Gomez, of St. Mary County, Md., was born and raised in Medellin, Columbia, before he moved to Boca Raton, Fla., in 1982. Gomez is currently deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan, as an More
Cpl. Adrian J. Silva, a medic with A Company, The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, scans the edge of a field for insurgents before entering a compound in Nahr-e-Saraj District, Helman More
Sgt. Sean P. Castaneda, an imagery analyst with 2nd Intelligence Battalion, Regional Command Southwest, and a native of Cheyenne, Wyo., volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan two weeks after recording his first a More
Two Marines raise and salute the U.S. flag during the opening ceremony commemorating the 4th of July, at Camp Leatherneck. The day’s festivities included a concert, sports, games and an outdoor barbecue for the troops.
Sgt. Matthew P. Boyle, an instructor at Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest and a Seguin, Texas native, poses for a photo at JSAS aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, July 6. Boyle had an opportunity to o More
Afghan National Army graduates of the Combat Medical Course stand at attention alongside their coalition mentors, invited dignitaries and guests during their graduation ceremony at the Joint Sustainment Academy More
Royal Air Force Sgt. Karen Swallow, an operator with Military Stabilization Support Team Gibraltar, arranges to pay a local Afghan for the use of his property by Royal Marines with J Company, 42 Commando, in a More
Marine Roberto Saunders keeps an eye out for enemy activity as Marines with J Company, 42 Commando, rest during Operation Zamrod Pak 10, July 7, in Nad’Ali District, Helmand province. During the operation, J C More
Lance Cpl. Martin Simmons, a point man for J Company, 42 Commando, and a native of Lincoln City, U.K., waits for an air extraction after completing a route clearance mission in Nad’Ali District, Helmand provinc More
Various switches and gauges on the control panel at the Kajaki dam. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Afghanistan Engineer District-South and Afghan engineers recently completed installation of a primary switch More
Marines with Motor Transport Platoon, Task Force Belleau Wood, prepare to free a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle stuck in the desert sands of Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 11. The platoon serves a More
Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, talk with a local village elder outside Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, July 13. Many Marines with Company C, affectionately known as "Carlos," More
Lance Cpl. Ashley Sallee and Lance Cpl. Kimberly Gastelum pose in front of the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group’s supply compound at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, July 13. The identical tw More
Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment walk back to their vehicles during a dismounted patrol outside of Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, July 13. Many Marines with the company attended More
Afghan National Security Force graduating class of twenty-four students stand during a graduation ceremony for completing the Explosive Hazard Reduction Course at Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest aboard Camp More
Sgt. Juanita Towns, of Female Engagement Team 13 in Sangin, Helmand province, sits down for a short break during a nine-hour patrol with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, and Afghan Nation More
An Afghan National Policeman stands in formation before conducting a major clearance operation in the rural area outside of Lashkar Gah, Helmand province, along Highway 601. The ANP led the operation.
Lance Cpl. Chandra Francisco, a Marine with Female Engagement Team 15 in Sangin District, Helmand province, holds hands and talks with Afghan children during a patrol, July 17. As a member of the FET, Francisco More
Lance Cpl. Chandra Francisco, with Female Engagement Team 15 in Sangin District, Helmand province, and a native of Monroe, Wash., talks to children while on patrol, June 17. Francisco was out on patrol with her More
Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest staff and guests salute during the Joint Non-commissioned Officers’ Course graduation ceremony held at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, July 18. Thirty-one Afghan Nationa More
The sign for the new education center at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province. The center can hold up to 32 students and will offer four classes during the inaugural semester.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Shoener, an instructor at the Joint Security Academy Southwest and native of North Kingston, R.I., demonstrates different types of casualty carries during the Combat Medic Assist More
A military working dog with Military Working Dog Platoon, Military Police Support Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (Forward), searches a field for IEDs during a mission in Helmand provi More
Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan (second from left), commanding general of Regional Command Southwest and II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), salutes as coalition forces officially transferred responsibility for s More
Engineers assigned to the 59 Commando Squadron, Royal Engineers, set up a concertina wire barrier for an Afghan Local Police station Lashkar Gah District, Helmand province, July 24. The Engineers built the stat More
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, British Royal Army and Danish Army have been helping Afghans learn new agricultural skills such as beekeeping in Gereshk, Helmand province. A local beekeeper hosted a class, More
Sgt. Willie Torres, an Arlington, Texas, native and a squad leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, and Afghan National Army soldiers with the 215th Corps plan the layout of a vehicle checkp More
Petty Officer 3rd Class Kossi Noameshie poses before a mission to the Afghan National Civil Order Police compound, Lashkar Gah, Helmand province, July 26. Noameshie often attends to the medical needs of Afghan More
Petty Officer 2nd Class Devin Harris is a hospital corpsman and native of Columbus, Ohio currently assigned to an Afghan National Security Forces mentor team in Lashkar Gah, Helmand province. Harris helps train More
A newly graduated Afghan local policeman shows his graduation certificate to those in attendance at the first-ever ALP graduation in Rahim Kalay, Helmand province, July 27. The mission of the ALP in Rahim Kalay More
Nimroz Provincial Gov. Abdul Karim Barahawi, (left) gestures as he makes a point during an interview. His translator is seated beside him. Senior Nimroz provincial, district government, military, and police off More
Graduates of the Combat Medical Assistant, Basic Administration and Anti-Terrorism Force Protection Courses at the Joint Sustainment Southwest, Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, pose for a group photo at the More
An Afghan farmer looks on as Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment and Afghan National Army soldiers with the 215th Corps meet with locals during a patrol near Camp Leatherneck, Helmand pr More
Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, commanding general of Regional Command Southwest, congratulates and addresses graduates of the anti-terrorism force protection course following a graduation at Joint Sustainment Academ More
Sapper Paul Thomas, a combat engineer with the 39 Engineer Squadron, 24 Commando Royal Engineer Regiment, places barriers into position on a lookout tower at Command Post Kahmanan, Helmand province, July 30. Th More
Aghan National Army soldiers join Royal Marines with K Company, 42 Commando for a Warriors Banquet following their Afghans’ victory in a friendly football match at Patrol Base 5, Nahr-e Saraj District, Helmand More
Sgt. Joey M. Garcia, guide for 2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, stands security while Afghan National Army soldiers prepare to tow a vehicle, Aug. 5. The Marines were providing secur More
Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, commanding general of Regional Command Southwest, poses with members of the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), and Naval Mobile Construction Battalio More
Cpl. Jeff Drew, a combat correspondent assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), and native of Simsbury, Conn., scans a village for insurgent activity during the early morning hours of More
Senior Chief Petty Officer Ronald Ameika, an explosive ordnance disposal expert and counter-improvised explosive device at the Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest, demonstrates basic victim-activated IED functi More
More than 4,000 troops are served at each meal at Camp Leatherneck's Dining Facility 5 in Helmand province. Food service Marines keep troops fed throughout the province, whether at large bases like Leatherneck More
David Dellarosa, a forensic firearms examiner at the Joint Expeditionary Forensics Facility 7, Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, shows Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, commanding general of Regional Command Southwes More
David Dellarosa, (left) a forensic firearms examiner at the Joint Expeditionary Forensics Facility, shows Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, commanding general of Regional Command Southwest, a captured insurgent weapon, More
Marines with 1st Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company and U.K. soldiers with A Squadron, Royal 9th/12th Lancers, prepare for a patrol in Nahr-e Saraj District, Helmand province, Aug. 9. After coming within 300 yar More
Service members receive a class on maintaining a casualty’s airway during a combat lifesaver course aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Aug. 9. The three-day course taught Marines, sailors, soldiers and More
Lance Cpl. John J. Garcia, a turret gunner for 3rd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, and native of Harlingen, Texas, poses for a photo at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, following a p More
110820-N-TH989-186: Lt. Asif I. Balbale, the chaplain for Assault Amphibian School Battalion at Marine Corps Base Pendleton, Calif., has ministered to Muslims throughout the provinces of Helmand and Kandahar. More
Marines from Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, escorted Afghan National Army troops from the 215th Corps and local Washir district, Helmand province, government officials to and from a shura More
Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan (left), commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) and Regional Command Southwest, speaks with Maj. Gen. Malouk, commander of the Afghan National Army's 215th Corps, du More
Nimroz Provincial Gov. Abdul Karim Barahawi takes part in an iftar meal at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Aug. 20. Iftar is the evening meal when Muslims break fast during the month of Ramadan.
2 V-22 Osprey aircraft prepare for take off from Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on 22 August 2011. Royal Air Force Photo by Sergeant Mitch Moore/Released
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - A team of Afghan Uniformed Police practice rapid forced entry and maneuvering within a hostile and confined space at the Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest, Camp Leatherneck, He More
Afghan Uniformed Police practice forced entry and maneuvering at the Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest, Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Aug. 23. The shoot house exercise is one part of the Provincial Resp More
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - An Afghan National Army soldier fires a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) during a live-fire operational training shoot at Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest, Camp Leatherneck, Hel More
Petty Officer 3rd Class Mathew Fitzgerald, a hospital corpsman, works with paramedics to recover and transport victims during a casualty drill at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Aug. 24. The exercise measur More
Staff Sgt. William A. Genochio, operations chief for Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest, and native of Independence, Mo., takes a break while working out, Aug. 24 at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province. Genochi More
The concrete walkway outside of the wounded warrior barracks, aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, which was completed, Aug. 20. The walkway was a collaborative effort by different units and branches of s More
Sgt. Matthew Gray (left), assistant patrol leader of 3rd platoon, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, and a native of Tulsa, Okla., and Cpl. John Hernandez, assistant patrol leader of 2nd plat More
A patch worn by an Afghanistan Local Police leader identifies himself as a member of the organization responsible for providing security to his village. ALP members are typically farmers who work part-time as p More
Coalition service members and local nationals pray as a congregation during an Eid ul-Fitr ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Aug. 30. Eid ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the month of Ramadan, More
1st Lt. John McJunkin, the Regional Command Southwest operation and maintenance Marine Corps budget officer, and a native of Houston, enlisted into the Marine Corps less than a year after September 11, 2001. Mc More
Lieutenant Gen. Sir Alexander Richard David Shirreff, NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, discusses recent progress and future operations with British commanders in Nad ‘Ali district, Helmand province, Sept More