2nd Battalion 9th Marine Regiment

U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Alberto Ruiz, the Regimental Combat Team 5 sergeant major, prepares to take a bite of the birthday cake during a ceremony held in celebration of the 5th Marine Regiment’s 95th birthday her More

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

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Derick Clark, a kennel supervisor with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and 26-year-old native of Hillsdale, Mich., and Yeager, an improvised explosiv More

U.S. Navy Seaman Matthew Charles Dykes, a corpsman with Blue Platoon, Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and 23-year-old native of Paramus, N.J., passes by a local man during a dismounted More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Kleber Villalva, a section leader with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, cooks rice with his makeshift kitchen during an overnight mobile post here, April 26, 2012. Vill More

Ace, an improvised explosive device detection dog, sniffs out a possible IED while Cpl. Sean Grady, a dog handler and pointman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, sweeps a chokepoint More

Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Baur, a mortarman, Lance Cpl. Bradley Werho, an infantry assaultman, and Lance Cpl. James Grothey, a rifleman, all serving with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, get a late ni More

U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Aguilera, a platoon sergeant with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Battalion, and 31-year-old native of Los Angeles, performs pull-ups on a makeshift bar during an overnight post More

Marines serving with Engineers Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, construct a new perimeter surrounding the base using HESCO walls and concertina wire May 4, 2012. Combat engineers have torn down some More

U.S. Marine Pfc. Taurean Benn (left), a small arms mechanic, and Lance Cpl. Seth Isaacs, a rifleman, both serving with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, share some small talk as they guard one of the base's e More

A U.S. Marine with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment re-inks his signature on a mortar casing fired in memory of Sgt. Frank Zaehringer, a squad leader and native of Reno, Nev., who was killed 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

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Mark Winward, the Regimental Combat Team 5 chaplain, speaks to Marines and sailors with RCT-5 during a brief on Afghan culture and religion here, July 7, 2012. Members of RCT-5 received the brie More

U.S. Marines, sailors and soldiers pay tribute to Lance Bombardier James Dwyer at the Camp Dwyer Memorial before it was decommissioned here, July 30, 2012. Dwyer, a British commando with 29th Commando Regiment, More

Sergeant Ronny Pool, a platoon sergeant with Headquarters and Service Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, was on his usual commute home to Hemet, Calif., when he jumped into action and used hi More

Sergeant Patrick Harrington, an anti-tank missileman with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and Sgt. Michael Lesiewicz, also an anti-tank missileman with the unit, fire a FGM-148 Javelin missile during a live More

U.S. Marines and sailors from various units serving aboard Camp Dwyer, bow their heads in prayer during a ceremony held in celebration of 5th Marine Regiment’s 95th birthday here, June 11, 2012. The regiment ho More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Sean Grady, a dog handler and pointman with Red Platoon, Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and 27-year-old native of Otho, Iowa, and Ace, an improvised explosive device d More

U.S. Marine Cpl. 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 recru More

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Derick Clark, a kennel supervisor with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and 26-year-old native of Hillsdale, Mich., comforts Yeager, an improvised exp More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Kleber Villalva, a section leader with Blue Platoon, Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and 22-year-old native of Houston, Texas, posts security during a dismounted patrol More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Kleber Villalva, a section leader with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, cooks tuna with his makeshift kitchen during an overnight mobile post here, April 26, 2012. Vill More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Sean Grady, a dog handler and pointman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and Ace, an improvised explosive device detection dog, pause for a break while sweeping a c More

U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Aguilera, a platoon sergeant with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Battalion, and 31-year-old native of Los Angeles, assists Ahlim, a linguist with Echo Co., as he performs pull-u More

An Afghan child watches as a squad of Marines patrol by the bazaar here, May 3, 2012, on their way to the Afghan Uniformed Police precinct. Recently, 1st Platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regimen More

Corporal Issac Stacy, a combat engineer serving with Engineers Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, cuts a HESCO wall to construct a new perimeter surrounding the base May 4, 2012. Combat engineers have More

U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, pose with a mortar shell casing fired in memory of Sgt. Frank Zaehringer, a squad leader and native of Reno, Nev., who was killed in action 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

A U.S Marine with Regimental Combat Team 5 reads a pamphlet during a brief on Afghan culture and religion here, July 7, 2012. Members of RCT-5 received the brief to increase their awareness of Afghan customs ah More

U.S. Marines, sailors and soldiers pay tribute to Lance Bombardier James Dwyer at the Camp Dwyer Memorial before it was decommissioned here, July 30, 2012. Dwyer, a British commando with 29th Commando Regiment, More

Sergeant Ronny Pool, a platoon sergeant with Headquarters and Service Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, was on his usual commute home to Hemet, Calif., when he jumped into action and used hi More

Sergeant Patrick Harrington, an anti-tank missileman with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and Sgt. Michael Lesiewicz, also an anti-tank missileman with the unit, fire a FGM-148 Javelin during a live fire ex More

U.S. Marine Col. Roger B. Turner, the commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 5, and Sgt. Maj. Alberto Ruiz, the RCT-5 sergeant major, honor colors with a salute during a ceremony held in celebration of th More

U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and U.K. forces with 1 Lancaster's speak with Afghan citizens at the Ismat Bazaar during Operation Oasis Sept. 27. The operation was a two-fold success. The More

U.S. Marine Sgt. Lauren Nowak, a team leader with Female Engagement Team 13, attached to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and 27-year-old native of Fremont, Ohio, helps a local Afghan studen More

A U.S. Marine with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, places the first piece of a battlefield cross, an M16 assault rifle, during a memorial service in honor of Lance Cpl. Abraham Tarwoe, a do More

A local boy holds up a peace sign to U.S. Navy Seaman Matthew Charles Dykes, a corpsman with Blue Platoon, Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and 23-year-old native of Paramus, N.J., durin More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Kleber Villalva, a section leader with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, cooks tuna with his makeshift kitchen during an overnight mobile post here, April 26, 2012. Vill More

Ace, an improvised explosive device detection dog, sniffs out a possible IED while Cpl. Sean Grady, a dog handler and pointman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, sweeps a chokepoint More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Joshua Liserio, a light armored vehicle crewman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Battalion, and 24-year-old native of San Antonio, works out his shoulders during an overnight post here, Apr More

Corporal Issac Stacy, a combat engineer serving with Engineers Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, cuts a HESCO wall to construct a new perimeter surrounding the base May 4, 2012. Combat engineers have More

U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, pose with a mortar shell casing fired in memory of Sgt. Frank Zaehringer, a squad leader and native of Reno, Nev., who was killed in action More

U.S. Marine Col. Roger B. Turner Jr., the commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 5, presents a letter of appreciation to Lt. Raziq, an Afghan National Police precinct commander, near a local bazaar here, More

Daoud Parwani, the Regimental Combat Team 5 cultural advisor, speaks to RCT-5 Marines and sailors during a brief on Afghan culture and religion here, July 7, 2012. Members of RCT-5 received the brief to increas More

U.S. Marines, sailors and soldiers pay tribute to Lance Bombardier James Dwyer at the Camp Dwyer Memorial before it was decommissioned here, July 30, 2012. Dwyer, a British commando with 29th Commando Regiment, More

Sergeant Ronny Pool, a platoon sergeant with Headquarters and Service Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and Staff Sgt. Javier Acosta, a platoon sergeant with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amp More

Sergeant Johnny Jernigan, an anti-tank missileman with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, from Whiteville, N.C., and Cpl. James Darius, also an anti-tank missileman with the unit, from Rally, N.C., run to the More

A detail of U.S. Marines with Regimental Combat Team 5 march with a birthday cake during a ceremony held in celebration of the 5th Marine Regiment’s 95th birthday here, June 11, 2012. The regiment holds the hon More

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Phil Schiffman, a 22-year-old mortarman with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and native of Phoenix, waves to two Afghan men on a motorcycle after searching them at a More

A U.S. Marine with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, places a pair of boots at the base of a battlefield cross during a memorial service in honor of Lance Cpl. Abraham Tarwoe, a dog handler a More

U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Aguilera, the platoon sergeant of Blue Platoon, Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and 31-year-old native of Los Angeles, signals a local boy for a fist-bum More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Sean Grady, a dog handler and pointman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, sends Ace, an improvised explosive device detection dog, to sniff out a possible IED while More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Kleber Villalva, a section leader with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, cooks tuna with his makeshift kitchen during an overnight mobile post here, April 26, 2012. Vill More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Joshua Liserio, a light armored vehicle crewman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Battalion, and 24-year-old native of San Antonio, works out his shoulders during an overnight post here, Apr More

Sergeant Timothy Brookshire, a combat engineer serving with Engineers Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, provides security over watch as his Marines construct new fortified walls around the base's per More

U.S. Marine Col. Roger B. Turner Jr., the commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 5, presents a letter of appreciation to Ahmad Shah, the Marjah district community council chairman, here, June 27, 2012. Tu More

Afghanistan National Army Lt. Col. Sultan Muhammad, a religious and cultural affairs officer, speaks to Regimental Combat Team 5 Marines and sailors during a brief on Afghan culture and religion here, July 7, 2 More

U.S. Marine Maj. Alasdair Mackay, the camp commandant here, pays tribute to the memory of Lance Bombadier James Dwyer during a decommissioning ceremony for the Camp Dwyer Memorial here, July 30, 2012. Dwyer, a More

Sergeant Ronny Pool, a platoon sergeant with Headquarters and Service Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and Staff Sgt. Javier Acosta, a platoon sergeant with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amp More

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, fire a BGM-71 Tube launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided missile (TOW missile) during a live fire training exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Aug More

U.S. Marine Capt. Gordon M. Silliker, the Regimental Combat Team 5 adjutant, reads the 5th Marine Regiment’s history and lineage during a ceremony held in celebration of the 5th Marine’s 95th birthday here, Jun More

An interpreter explains the concerns of local elders to Col. Roger B. Turner Jr., (left) and Lt. Col. Matthew Palma (right), the commanding officers of Regimental Combat Team 5 and 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Reg More

U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Michael Styskal, the commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, speaks during a memorial service in honor of Lance Cpl. Abraham Tarwoe, a dog handler and mortarman who served More

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew Groven, a light armored vehicle crewman with Blue Platoon, Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and 21-year-old native of Minneapolis, Minn., posts security dur More

U.S. Navy Seaman Matthew Charles Dykes, a corpsman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, digs in to a tuna rice bowl prepared by Cpl. Kleber Villalva, a section leader with Echo Company More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Sean Grady, a dog handler and pointman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and Ace, an improvised explosive device detection dog, post security during a dismounted pa More

U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Aguilera, a platoon sergeant with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Battalion, and 31-year-old native of Los Angeles, pumps iron with Ahlim, a linguist with Echo Co., during an ove More

Marines serving with Engineers Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, construct a new perimeter surrounding the base using HESCO walls and concertina wire May 4, 2012. Combat engineers have torn down some More

U.S. Marine Cpls. Zackery Haglund and Anthony Carapucci, and Lance Cpl. Samuel Pennington, a team leader, machinegunner and rifleman serving with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, pose with a More

U.S. Marine Col. Roger B. Turner Jr., the commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 5, presents a letter of appreciation to Amir Shah Jan, a member of the Garmsir district community council, here, June 28, 2 More

National Army Lt. Col. Sultan Muhammad, a religious and cultural affairs officer, speaks to Regimental Combat Team 5 Marines and sailors during a brief on Afghan culture and religion here, July 7, 2012. Members More

U.S. Marines, sailors and soldiers render a salute during the playing of the British National Anthem at a decommissioning ceremony for the Camp Dwyer Memorial here, July 30, 2012. Lance Bombardier James Dwyer, More

Staff Sgt. Javier Acosta, a platoon sergeant with Charlie Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, was on his usual commute home to Hemet, Calif., when he jumped into action and used his combat life saving ski More

Anti-tank Missilemen with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, fire the FGM-148 Javelin weapon system in a live fire training exercise, August 29, 2013. Firing the Javelin is Sgt. Patrick Harrington an Anti-Tank More

U.S. Marine Col. Roger B. Turner, the commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 5, addresses guests during a ceremony held in celebration of the 5th Marine Regiment’s 95th birthday here, June 11, 2012. The r More

U.S. Marine Sgt. Sebastian Chenault, a 27-year-old anti-tank missileman with Jump Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and a native of Lacon, Ill., walks among Afghan students just released from classes More

Yeager, an improvised explosive device detection dog, looks on as a firing detail with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, fires a three-volley salute during a memorial service in honor of Lanc More

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Tenski, a dog handler with Blue Platoon, Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and 20-year-old native of Longmont, Colo., and Morgan, an improvised explosive de More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Sean Grady, a dog handler and pointman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and Ace, an improvised explosive device detection dog, post security during a dismounted pa More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Kleber Villalva, a section leader with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, receives a spot from Cpl. Matt Reincke, a light armored vehicle crewman with Echo Co., during an More

Sergeant Timothy Brookshire, a combat engineer serving with Engineers Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, provides security over watch as his Marines construct new fortified walls around the base's per More

Afghan National Army engineers with 4th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, use heavy equipment to level and reconstruct part of a patrol base here, June 11, 2012. The ANA engineers completed several projects ear More

U.S. Marine Col. Roger B. Turner Jr., the commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 5, gives challenge coins to Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, here, June 28, 2012. Turner and his More

U.S. Marine Col. Roger B. Turner Jr., the commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 5, speaks to Marines, sailors and soldiers during the decommissioning of the Camp Dwyer Memorial here, July 30, 2012. Lance More

Sergeant Johnny Jernigan, an Anti-Tank Missileman with 2nd Battalion 9th Marine Regiment, fires the FGM-148 Javelin as his A–gunner, Cpl. James Darius makes sure the back blast area is clear. Although, Jernigan More

U.S. Marine Col. Roger B. Turner, the commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 5, cuts a birthday cake during a ceremony held in celebration of the 5th Marine Regiment’s 95th birthday here, June 11, 2012. T More

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon Mann, a dog handler with Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and native of Arlington, Texas, helps Sgt. Guillermo Floresmartines, an assistant squad leader More

A firing detail of Marines with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, salute as taps is played during a memorial service in honor of Lance Cpl. Abraham Tarwoe, a dog handler and mortarman who ser More

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Roberto Ramirez, an infantry automatic rifleman with Red Platoon, Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and 20-year-old native of Brownsville, Texas, posts security dur More

U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Aguilera, a platoon sergeant with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Battalion, and 31-year-old native of Los Angeles, pumps iron during an overnight post here, April 26, 2012. Due More

Marines serving with Engineers Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, construct a new perimeter surrounding the base using HESCO walls and concertina wire May 4, 2012. Combat engineers have torn down some More

Afghan National Army engineers with 4th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, use heavy equipment to level and reconstruct part of a patrol base here, June 11, 2012. The ANA engineers have completed several project 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, speak to Marines and sailors with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance More

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Mark Winward, the Regimental Combat Team 5 chaplain, speaks to Marines, sailors and soldiers during the decommissioning of the Camp Dwyer Memorial here, July 30, 2012. Lance Bombardier James Dwy More

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Eric M. Brown, the battalion gunner, for 2nd Battalion 9th Marine Regiment kneels beside the Humvee as the BGM-71 Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided missile is fired, August 2 More

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Cody George, a 19-year-old native of Orlando, Fla., and ground transportation clerk with Regimental Combat Team 5, prepares to take a bite of the birthday cake during a ceremony held in c More

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon Mann, a dog handler with Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and native of Arlington, Texas, sights in with his infantry automatic rifle while providing sec More

U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Robert Marroquin, a protocol chief and small ensemble leader with the staff section of 1st Marine Division (Forward) plays taps during a memorial service in honor of Lance Cpl. Abraham More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Josh Kern, a chief scout with Red Platoon, Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and 25-year-old native of Redmond, Ore., speaks with locals during a dismounted patrol here, More

U.S. Marine Cpl. Kleber Villalva, a section leader with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, works out with resistance bands during an overnight post here, April 26, 2012. Due to the high o More