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
Afghans discuss projects for the local villages during a shura held at a compound in Marjah, Feb. 12. Issues discussed included the need for bridges and other projects to improve living conditions.
Buck McKeon R-Calif., House Armed Services Committee Chairman, talks to a group of school girls in Marjah District, Afghanistan. McKeon was there for the girls' school grand opening was, Sunday, Feb. 6.
Gunnery Sgt. José D. Marquez, civil affairs chief with 3rd Civil Affairs Group, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, posts security in a crowded bazaar in Marjah, Afghanistan, Sept. 27, 2010. Marines and sailors More
Sgt. Daniel Pluth, from San Marcos, Texas, patrols the city of Marjah, March 10, 2010. Pluth, a 2003 El Capitan High school, Lakeside Calif., graduate is now on his fourth deployment where he serves with 1st Ba More
Lance Cpl. Kathryn Mannion speaks to an Afghan woman while assigned to the Female Engagement team with Regimental Combat Team 7 in Marjah, Afghanistan, July 7, 2010. Mannion, originally a military policeman, vo More
Soldiers from the Afghan National Army take cover in a field after exchanging fire with the enemy in Karez-e Sayyidi, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 9. Soldiers from the ANA and Marines from Lima Company, More
Petty Officer 3rd Class Liz J. Arevalo, a corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 5, looks over a young Afghan child during a village medical engagement, just outside Patrol Base Siapan, Marjah, Helmand provin More
Sgt. Stephen J. Ross, a section leader with Regimental Combat Team 7 Personal Security Detachment, provides security for Col. Randall P. Newman, commanding officer of RCT-7, in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghani More
Thousands of pounds of food and water bundled together hang underneath a CH-53D Sea Stallion July 27. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 used three helicopters to move 10,000 pounds of food and water to an ar More
A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, carefully dusts the ground after receiving a confirmation sound from his metal detector during 2/9’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal Support Company’s advanced improvised More
Afghan children listen as the Marjah district education director, Nazar Khan Taukalyar, reveals plans for a new school in the Koreh Chareh bazaar area during a school ground-breaking ceremony in Marjah, Afghani More
Yar Mohammad Barak, the district financial minister of Marjah, hands Afghani to an Afghan child in exchange for watermelon at the Koru Chareh bazaar in Marjah, Afghanistan, Aug. 9. The bazaar has seen business More
Lt. Col. Kyle B. Ellison, left, commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and Sgt. Maj. William Frye, sergeant major of 2/6, salute the memorial stand of Lance Cpl. Abram L. Howard during a memo More
Marines and sailors with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, share a lighthearted moment minutes before conducting an enemy contact patrol in Marjah, Afghanistan, Aug. 14.
An Afghan National Army soldier spikes a volleyball over the net during an evening pickup game of volleyball at Combat Outpost Angry in Marjah, Afghanistan, Aug. 14. The ANA is co-located with the Marines of Ec More
Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion construct a guard shed for the Afghan Uniformed Police which will be used as a police sub-station in Marjah, Afghanistan, Aug. 16. Marines constructed a perimeter, es More
Lance Cpl. Jack Hamilton, a rifleman with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, scans the horizon for insurgents behind a canal bank while taking enemy contact in Marjah, Afghanistan, Aug. 16. The s More
Capt. Daniel Nilsson, commanding officer for Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, discusses future community improvement projects with locals after opening a mosque to the public, Aug. 20, in Marja More
A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, sets up desks at Yellow School, Sept. 2, in Marjah. Yellow School is one of the many community restoration projects 3rd Civil Affairs Group, 2/9 has accomplished. The u More
Cpl. John A. Galvan, an assistant squad leader with Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected Company, 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, takes a knee by his unit logo poster he drew for his tents, as a show of unit prid More
Afghan men, women, and children throughout northern Marjah gathered outside Forward Operating Base Sher Wali in Marjah, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, to attend an anti-drug summit that ultimately unified a plan for all More
Marines from Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, pray in front of battlefield memorials for Sgt. Jason D. Calo and Lance Cpl. Nathaniel J. Schultz during a joint memorial service at Patrol Base Be More
The personal security detachment for Regimental Combat Team 7, patrols through the Loy Chareh bazaar in Marjah, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, to engage local residents.
Cmdr. Rodney Pray, the surgeon for Regimental Combat Team 7, pulls out his harmonica and plays a few songs whenever he finds a little down time while in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 8. Pray, 56, More
A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, shovels dirt from a newly installed culvert pipe to help the flow of water in a clogged canal during the construction of Typhoon 3 in Marjah, Afghanistan, Sept. 8. Mari More
Local government officials and many merchants from all over gather in Marjah for the reopening and ribbon cutting ceremony of the Marketplace in Marjah, Afghanistan, Sept. 11. The reopening of the market marks More
Battlefield crosses represent three recently fallen Marines of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment: Cpl. Philip Charte and Lance Cpl. Cody Roberts, riflemen with the company; and Lance Cpl. Ross Ca More
The identification tags of Cpl. John C. Bishop, a machine gunner with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, are displayed at his memorial service in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 16.
An Afghan farmer wheels a load of fertilizer to his truck during the fall seed distribution program in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 20. Marines and sailors with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment began More
Excess water from a well project pours into a filling tank during the construction of a well at Marine Corps Forward Operating Base Camp Hansen, Oct. 1. Navy Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Fiv More
Marines with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, patrol back to an awaiting convoy during a battlefield assessment tour ran by Maj. Henry Parrish, executive officer for 2/9. Parrish, along with other key indivi More
Lance Cpl. Jorge Martinez, a civil affairs specialist with 3rd Civil Affairs Group, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, pours tea for local elders and villagers at a shura, Oct. 6, in Marjah, Afghanistan. The More
Marines with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment rifle salute during a memorial service in honor of Lance Cpl. Scott A. Lynch, a rifleman with 2/6 and Sgt. Anthony D. Matteoni, a machine gunner in 2/6, in Marjah More
A battlefield memorial cross rifle display honoring Sgt. Frank R. Zaehringer, an anti-tank missile-man with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, stands at attention, Oct. 19, during a memorial s More
Lance Cpl. Anthony J. Macozzie, a Marine with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, exits a local’s compound after searching for weapons, bomb making materials, contraband and Taliban propaganda More
Lt. Col. Mubark Sha, commanding officer for Afghanistan National Police in Marjah, addresses a crowd in front of Afghani Press during a security shura at a Marine Corps Base in Northern Marjah, Oct. 22. As part More
U.S. Marine First Lt. Taylor Williams, platoon commander for Weapons Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, speaks with local shopkeepers about renovations to the nearby bazaar in Marjah, Oct More
Marines with Bridge Platoon, Company A, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) install a 4-bay double story medium girder bridge in Marjah, Afghanistan, Oct. 23. The Marines remove More
Chief Warrant Officer 2 John L. Allnut, the battalion gunner for 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, congratulates a soldier with the Afghanistan National Army, who recently completed a tactical small unit lead More
Cpl. Amos T. Benjamin, an infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, grabs the American flag during evening colors at Marine Corps Forward Operating Base Camp Hansen, Helmand province, Afghanistan, No More
A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, pays his respect in front of a battlefield cross display honoring Lance Cpl. Terry E. Honeycutt Jr., a machine-gunner with Fox Company, 2/9, during a memorial s More
Marines with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment kneel before a memorial display in honor of Staff Sgt. Jordan Emrick, an explosive ordnance disposal technician attached to Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Ma More
Alisha Khan Muslimyar, cultural chief of Helmand province, speaks to a crowd of local elders during a shura at Marine Corps Forward Operating Base Camp Hanson, Marjah, Afghanistan, Nov. 13, to denounce the Tali More
Chief Petty Officer Robert Davis, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, holds an infant that was brought to the Afghan National Army medical outreach in Marjah, Afghanistan, to receive a physical exam More
A memorial display honoring Lance Cpl. Dakota R. Huse, a rifleman with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, stands during a memorial service at Marine Corps Combat Outpost Coutu, Nov. 11. Huse gave More
Senator McCain explores Nawa, Nov. 11, with an entourage of Marines throughout Regional Command Southwest, including Col. David Furness, the commanding officer or Regimental Combat Team 1, who appears behind an More
Local Afghans play the drums during intermission at an Eid celebratory soccer tournament at Camp Hanson, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 20. Marines, Afghan National Army soldiers, interpreters and local na More
More than 100 village elders, and coalition forces representatives gathered at the District Center in Marjah, Nov. 24, to discuss important issues during a Regional Stability Shura. The District of Marjah is co More
Cpl. Michael H. Whorton, an intelligence analyst, with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, smiles while eating his Thanksgiving Day dinner at Marine Corps Forward Operating Base Camp Hansen, Nov 25. Marine food special More
Niam Atullah, a contractor in Marjah, sits with Sgt. John Strosnider, the Civil Affairs Group pay agent for the Marjah District Center as they discuss a contract for building a woman’s center in Marjah, Afghani More
A student at the Balakino School writes part of the English alphabet on a chalkboard in front of his class, Dec. 1. The Balakino School had its grand opening, Dec.1, after Abdul Mutalib Majbor, the district gov More
Sgt. David C. Gentry, 25, combat engineer, Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) monitors the progress of a bridge construction project in Marjah, Afghanistan, Dec More
A heavy equipment vehicle operated by Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 3, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), moves a metal storage container to be used as the foundation of a bridge in Marjah, Afghani More
While demolishing an old structure, local workers are busy constructing the new Koru Chareh School, Dec 3. The school is located in North Marjah, next to the Koru Chareh Bazaar and Koru Village. The new school More
Lance Cpl. David J. Paul, an infantryman with Combined Anti-Armored Team, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, posts security in a cotton field during a security patrol in Marjah, Helmand provin More
A young Afghan girl smiles after receiving a winter hat from Marines with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Dec. 8, at Yellow School in Marjah, Afghanistan. Cpl. Trinidad Rodriguez, a civil affairs specialist More
A young Afghan girl peeks over her desk to see what’s going on during a visit from the district governor of Marjah, Dec. 8, at Yellow School in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. With a recent spike in atte More
A memorial display honoring Lance Cpl. Michael E. Geary, a rifleman with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, stands at attention during a memorial service at Camp Hanson in Marjah, Helmand province More
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus attaches a sergeant's pin on the collar of a Marine assigned to 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines following an all-hands call. Mabus spent the day touring forward operating bases in the More
A Marine with Support Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), cuts pieces of steel with a cutting torch during the fabrication of a bridge at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan More
Gen. James Amos, the commandant of the Marine Corps and Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, speak to Marines with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, at Camp Hanson in Marjah, Helmand pr 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
Lance Cpl. Christopher A. Buie, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, takes a picture to enroll a local Afghan into an identification database during Operation Oasis at a bazaar in Marjah, Helmand More
1st Lt. Stephen J. Osowski, a platoon commander with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, pays his respects to Sgt. Garrett A. Misener, a squad leader with Fox Company, 2/9, during a memorial servic More
Afghan children wave and beg for candy from a passing convoy (not shown) conducted by 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), in Marjah District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan More
This before and after photo shows the difference between the beginning and end phase of construction project Logcamp at Camp Hanson in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Once complete, Logcamp will consist More
Lance Cpl. Glenn A. Cocagne, a team leader with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, carefully steps across an open causeway to cross a canal during Operation Integrity, in Marjah, Helmand provi More
A local Afghan contractor helps build new columns for a gate at Forward Operating Base Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 19.
Abdul Mutalib Majbor, the district governor of Marjah, speaks to a crowd of locals at the Izmat Bazaar in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 24. The bazaar is located in a region that has been disconne More
Marines with 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), complete road improvements in Marjah, Afghanistan, Jan. 27, improving road conditions for coalition forces and local villagers. More
Afghans unload two trucks full of diammonium phosphate fertilizer bags outside Forward Operating Base Marjah, Afghanistan, Feb. 1. The bags will be distributed to farmers participating in the sapling project cu More
Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, bow their heads in prayer during the memorial ceremony for Cpl. Joseph C. Whitehead, a combat engineer with 2nd Combat Engi More
Members of the Interim Security Critical Infrastructure search a local national during Operation Sulaiman, Feb. 17. The ISCI worked side-by-side with Marines during the operation.
An Afghan National Army soldier along with an interpreter speaks with a local Afghan at a compound in Marjah, Afghanistan, Feb. 16. During the conversation the Afghan boy gave information about a suspected impr More
The candidates for the elections stand in front of the Marjah District Center as local Afghans from their respective districts gather to cast their votes in Marjah, Afghanistan, March 1, 2011. Elections are be More
A meal is served after the elections are finished in Marjah, Afghanistan, March 1. Elections are being held to elect district community representatives for the Marjah District. (Photo by: Cpl Nicholas S. Edinger)
Capt. Joshua Biggers, executive officer of the Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry - East, stands after receiving the Bronze Star Medal with V following his award ceremony aboard Camp Geiger, March More
Lance Cpl. Joseph Marshall, a squad automatic weapon gunner with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, gears up for a patrol in Northern Marjah, March 19. Marshall is from Houston.
Cpl. Anesone Bentley, a driver for Shaker Mobile, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, unloads boxes of water at a patrol base in northern Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 19.
Lance Cpl. Parker Hobbs, a combat engineer with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, searches for weapons caches in a village in Southern Marjah, March 23, during Operation Watchtower. Watchtower, d More
Coalition personnel depart a shura in Southern Marjah District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, via an MV-22 Osprey, concluding Operation Watchtower, March 25.
Afghan National Security forces oversee poppy eradication in Northern Marjah, March 26. Afghanistan's active destruction of poppy, which began this year, is the second phase of a nationwide poppy eradication pr More
Karima (front), a Provincial Council member from Lashkar Gah, enjoys a cup of tea with fellow Provincial Council members, a member of the Department of Women's Affairs and Marines with the Female Engagement Tea More
Cpl. Jarrod Knorr interacts with Afghan children at the Marjah District Center, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 3. The 22-year-old Adrian, Mich., native is a vehicle commander for the Personal Security Det More
Staff Sgt. Maximo Veliz, the Personal Security Detachment commander for 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, provides security for his team while they park their vehicles during a movement through Marjah Distric More
U.S. Marine, Lance Cpl. Alberto Vazquez, from Combat Camera, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, stands during a security holt in northern Marjah, Afghanistan on Apirl 5. Vazquez was documenting Civil Affairs M More
An Afghan child observes Marines with Bridge Platoon, Bravo Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) work on a non-standard bridge during a bridge operation in the Sistani P More
MARJAH, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Corporal Mark Hickok, a 23-year-old combat engineer from North Olmstead, Ohio, patrols through a field during a clearing mission April 9. Marines wit 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
Master Chief Petty Officer James Remmert, the construction chief with Regional Command Southwest, speaks with a Marjah native in front of the site for a new building during a ground-breaking ceremony, May 29. 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
Lance Cpl. Justin F. Pickett, from Fitzpatrick, Ala., a combat engineer with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), observes his surroundings during a security foot patrol July 12, More
First Lt. Garrett J. Verhagen (left), originally from Cincinnati, the engineer platoon commander with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) speaks to Lt. Col. Craig P. Barnett (righ More
CAMP HANSON, Helmand province, Afghanistan -- Lance Cpl. Ernest Prempeh, a mail clerk with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment poses for a photo at Camp Hanson, Helmand province More
MARJAH DISTRICT, Helmand Province, Afghanistan – A Marine with Guard Force, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment steps out on patrol here, July 29. The Marines and sailors of 1/6 took part in the initial offensiv More
MARJAH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Gen. John Allen, the commanding general of International Security Assistance Force, talks with a police official in Marjah district during his first visit to the More
MARJAH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Marines with 2nd Squad, 4th Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment sprint for cover during a firefight with insurgents, in the Polpazai vil More