Forward Operating Base Geronimo

Cpl. Mary Warren and Waheed Mohammed teach Afghan boys during class at the Forward Operating Base Geronimo schoolhouse, July 18. Most of the kids who attend school are younger than the current war. The children More

Afghan day laborers work to fill sandbags right outside Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 14, 2010.

Haji Abdul Manaf, Nawa district governor, makes opening remarks during a regional stability shura at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Afghanistan, July 26. The shura provides a way for Afghan, coalition, milita More

Marines with Bravo Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), load a Humvee onto a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement at Forward Operating Base Geronimo in Helmand province, A More

Sgt. Zachary K. Tokomoto, an assistant convoy commander with Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, ground guides a vehicle into the motor transportation lot at Forward Operating Base Geronim More

Lt. Col. Michael A. Moore and Sgt. Maj. Douglas E. Berry, the commanding officer and the sergeant major of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, bow their heads in honor of pilots Lt. Col. Mario D. Caraz More

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - The Marines watched as the dust flitted across the barren dirt road. They looked on with interest as a truck drove past them More

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – A linguist interprets a conversation between 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment commanding officer Lt. Col. Tyler Zagurski, a More

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Lance Cpl. Andrew Fuller of Germantown, Md., and Cpl. Samuel Penaloza of Centerville, Va., work on a broken down generator. T More

A Tractor Rubber-Tired Articulated Steering Multipurpose vehicle, or TRAM, off loads drainage pipes from a trailer June 11, 2011, aboard Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Afghanistan. Marines with 7th Engineer More

Afghan Local Police recruits practice rushing toward a target during a training exercise at the ALP Academy on base. The recruits learned military and police tactics during their training and graduated Sept. 27 More

Afghan Local Police recruits practice basic the technique of entering a building at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Nawa district, Afghanistan, on Sept. 16, 2011. The training will enable the ALP recruits to l More

Marines with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment’s, Motor Transport Platoon perform a weapon’s check in the turret of a Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected vehicle before conducting a resupply convoy throughout the More

An Afghan Local Police (ALP) recruit practices patrolling tactics at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Nawa district, Afghanistan, Sept. 17, 2011. The training will enable the ALP recruits to learn the basics of More

Gen. James F. Amos (left), the 35th commandant of the Marine Corps, greets Lt. Col. Tyler J. Zagurski, the commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, upon Amos’ arrival Sept. 22. Amos and Sgt. M More

Nawa district governor Abdul Manaf speaks to Afghan Local Police (ALP) graduates during their graduating ceremony at Forward Operating Base Geronimo in Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Sept. 27, More

Lt. Bryan Davenport, the chaplain for 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward) and native of Poulsbo, Wash., watches from the back of a small tent as Marines from 4th CEB play Guitar Hero. D More

A construction vehicle belonging to Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), stands parked aboard Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Afghanistan, in the early morning hours of Nov. 22. 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

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

U.S. Marine Sgt. Shane Willis, the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment Police Adviser Team chief instructor and native of Manchester, N.H., teaches a class on handcuffing procedures to Afghan Local Police recrui More

U.S. Marine Sgt. Shane Willis, a 28 year-old Manchester, N.H., native and the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment Police Advisor Team chief instructor, teaches an Afghan Local Police recruit proper patrolling te 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

Cpl. Aaron Snively, a dog handler with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, calms his yellow Labrador retriever during a pistol qualification at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, March 2 More

A U.S. Marine Corps Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) provides security for 9th Engineer Support Battalion during a combat logistics patrol of Route Victoria near Helmand River Valley 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

Afghan National Army Sgt. Abdul Kareem, a soldier with 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, sights in with his M24 sniper rifle, during a live-fire range, May 2, 2012. The kandak will use the rifle in overwatc More

Captain Stephen Walker, operations advisor with the Embedded Training Team, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, uses 2-by-4s to form the outside edges of a terrain map, April 21, 2012. Walker learned to build a 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

Afghan National Army (ANA) Lt. Col. Gul Ahmad, commanding officer, 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps (1/1/215), strikes the volleyball during a game played at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Helmand provinc More

Afghan National Army (ANA) Lt. Col. Gul Ahmad, left, commanding officer, 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps (1/1/215) plays volleyball during down time at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Helmand province, Af More

An Afghan National Army soldier with Route Clearance Tolai, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, cleans his 240G medium machine gun after a convoy with U.S. Marines from 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, through southern Hel 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 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 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 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. Army Spc. Tristan Pettit with the 349th Psychological Operations Company checks the alignment of a satellite dish while installing a PTM-100 portable radio tower at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Helmand 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. 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

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 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

Secretary of the Navy Raymond Mabus, left, and U.S. Marine Corps Col. Austin E. Renforth, commanding officer, Regimental Combat Team 7, arrive at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Helmand province, Afghanistan, More

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus speaks with Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Oct. 28. Secretary Mabus spoke of the drastic changes More

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, commanding general, Regional Command (Southwest) addresses the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, on Forward Operating Base Geronim More

Marines with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, flip tires for more than one mile, Nov. 25, 2012. The workout pushes Marines to use their entire body to flip the large tires.

U.S. Marines with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9), Regimental Combat Team 7, stand in formation prior to a promotion ceremony on Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Helmand province, Afghanistan, No More

U.S. Marines with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, wait to depart with a squad of Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers to conduct a patrol around the surrounding area of Forwar More

U.S. Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion attached to 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, (3/9) Regimental Combat Team 7, hold a memorial service for Cpl. Alex F. Domion on Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Helman More

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Carl E. Cooper, commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9), Regimental Combat Team 7, promotes 1st Lt . Frank Swan, right, to the rank of Capt. on Dec. 1, 2012 aboard Forw More

U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Jose Hurtado, acting company 1st sergeant, Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, reads Gunnery Sgt. Edwin Ligorria's cert More

A U.S. Marine with the police advisor team (PAT), finger prints an Afghan Local Police officer at Nawa District Police Headquarters, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Dec. 16, 2012. The PAT teams advised local afg More

Lance Cpl. Robert Walters, combat photographer, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, takes a photograph while on a patrol through the battalion’s area of operations, Nov. 11, 2012. Walt More

U.S. Navy Hospitalman (HN) Terrance T. Miles, is read his Certificate of Honorable Discharge from the United States Armed Forces by Hospitalman 1st Class Bryan C. McDonald during his re-enlistment ceremony at F More

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, addresses the Marines and Sailors of 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Helma More

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 7, pose for a photo while waiting for a holiday raffle at the morale, welfare and recreation tent at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Helmand More

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Wali Morris, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, provides security while a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employee surveys a road in Nawa Distr More

U.S. Marines with the police advisor team (PAT), 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, meet with Afghan National Police (ANP) at a compound, near Forward Operating Base Delhi, Garmsir di More

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. James Martin, police advisor team (PAT), 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, speaks with an Afghan National Police (ANP) soldier at an ANP compound, near Forward More

A MV-22 Osprey (USMC) lands to drop off U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, commanding general, Regional Command (Southwest), I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) at Forward Operating Base Geroni More

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, prepare to raise the morning colors on Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 26, 2013. The Marines More

U.S. Marine Corps Battalion Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Monssen, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, observes construction workers paving a road in the Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanist More

The entrance to the Nawa District Government Headquarters as International Security Assistance Forces conduct a district transition assessment visit with district officials, Helmand province, Afghanistan Jan. 2 More

A curious Afghan child watches U.S. Marines and British Royal Engineers inspect a newly constructed canal in Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan Jan. 31, 2013. The construction of theses canals will pr More

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos, right, the commandant of the Marine Corps, exchanges greetings with a Marine at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 9, 2013. (U.S. Marine C More

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Justin Motich, fires radio operator, with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, engages a target during a combat marksmanship program(CMP) shoot at Forward Operati More

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Walter L. Mills, right, commanding general, Regional Command (Southwest), visits Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 12, 2013. The Senior leadership More

Capt. James Geiger, company commander with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, shakes hands with Manaf, the Nawa District Governor at Forwarding Operating Base Geronimo, More

Lala Jane, an Afghan day laborer, listens to a fellow day laborer as he names the day of the week in Pashtu and English during an English class at Forward Operating Base Geronimo's schoolhouse in Helmand provin More

District governors, Afghan national security forces, ISAF military and civilians break off into separate groups for break-out sessions before briefing one another during a regional stability shura at Forward Op More

Wali Muhammad and other Afghan boys call out the letter their teacher points to during class at the Forward Operating Base Geronimo schoolhouse in Afghanistan, JAug. 8. Most of the kids who attend school are yo More

A fork lift operator unloads a pallet of water from a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement after a combat logistics patrol to Forward Operating Base Geronimo in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 19. Marines wi More

Cpl. Josh Mapes, an organizational automotive mechanic with Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, works on a vehicle at the motor transportation lot of Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Afgha More

Cpl. Michael Lyons, the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, air non-commissioned officer, monitors the inbound descent of an UH-1 Huey onto the Forward Operating Base Geronimo landing zone in Afghanistan, Nov. 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

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Lance Cpl. Andrew Fuller, a generator mechanic and Germantown, Md., native uses a voltage meter to check a generator. The 26 More

A security truck, which is part of a 21-vehicle convoy, crosses a bridge while traveling to Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Afghanistan. Marines with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group More

An Afghan Local Police recruit practices patrolling tactics at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Nawa district, Afghanistan, on Sept. 16, 2011. The training will enable the ALP recruits to learn the basics of po More

Afghan Local Police recruits practice patrolling techniques under the supervision of Virginia Beach, Va., native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Doug Derring, the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, infantry weapons of More

An Afghan Local Police recruit practices the basic technique of entering a building at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Nawa district, Afghanistan, Sept. 17, 2011. The training will enable the ALP recruits to l More

A Marine with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment’s, Motor Transport Platoon, dismounts a Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected vehicle after making a stop during a resupply mission. The Marines work diligently to co More

Gen. James F. Amos (front left), the 35th commandant of the Marine Corps, walks to the mess hall on base with Lt. Col. Tyler J. Zagurski (front right), the commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regime More

Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Micheal P. Barrett (left) shakes hands with Sgt.Maj. Patrick Tracy, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines at Forward Operating Base Geronimo in Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, S More

Afghan Local Police graduates listen to a speech during their graduating ceremony at Forward Operating Base Geronimo in Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Sept. 27, 2011. The ALP graduates will pr More

Lt. Bryan Davenport, the chaplain for 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward) and native of Poulsbo, Wash., takes his turn at Guitar Hero. Playing Bon Jovi’s hit “Living on a Prayer” as a t More

Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), use various construction vehicles during the building of Route Victoria in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 22. The route will 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

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

Cpl. Linton C. Sangster, a 21-year-old native of Cleveland, Ga., and a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specialist with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, poses with his gas mask here, Ja More

Nawa district prosecutor Mohammed Aloah speaks to Afghan Local Police recruits during a class on the laws of land warfare here, Feb. 5. The 59 Afghan recruits will also be trained in basic infantry tactics, pol More

U.S. Marine Sgt. Joseph D. Carlisle, the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment Police Advisor Team chief instructor and native of Wylie, Texas, teaches a class on search procedures to Afghan Local Police recruits More

U.S. Marine Sgt. Shane Willis, a 28 year-old Manchester, N.H., native and the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment Police Advisor Team chief instructor, observes as Afghan Local Police recruits conduct patrolling More

U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew P. Tahmooressi, a native of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and section leader with the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment quick reaction force, poses for a photo here, March 3. Tahmooressi was me 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

Cpl. Aaron Snively, a dog handler with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, works with his retriever as part of the Improvised Detection Dog Program at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, More

U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. John J. Broadmeadow, Commanding General, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) conducts an assessment of route Victoria near Helmand River Valley in Nawa-I-Barakzayi district, Afghanistan, More

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Calvin T. Lundy stands security for a combat logistics patrol with 9th Engineer Support Battalion (Forward), 1st Marine Logistics Group, in support of route reconstruction at Helmand prov More