CAMP SHORAB, Afghanistan — Senior leaders with the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces and Marines render salutes during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Shorab, Afghanistan, January 15, 2018. D More
Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, Task Force Southwest 18.1 commanding general, greets Lt. Gen. Michael H. Shields, Director of the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization, at Camp Shorab, Afghanistan, Jan. 18 More
Col. Shahwali Khan, commander of the Regional Military Training Center, speaks at the graduation for the Tactical Site Exploitation Course where soldiers from the Afghan National Army 215th Corps were presented More
Brig. Gen. Hussain Gul, Shorab Regional Hospital commander with the Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps, laughs during a conversation with his Task Force Southwest (TFSW) counterparts at Shorab Regional Hosp More
Soldiers of the 3rd Kandak, 2nd Mobile Strike Force Brigade listen during a train-the-trainer class about mounted heavy machine guns and operations taught by Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest at Camp Sh More
Service members with Afghanistan Air Force (AAF) and the 738th Aviation Expeditionary Advisor Group watch a C208 pilot perform an air drop at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 7, 2018. The training enhances the More
Sgt. Maj. Waheddin Wafa, command sergeant major of the Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps, visits with wounded soldiers of the ANA 215th Corps at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 8, 2018. Wafa personally vi More
A Marine with Task Force Southwest walks with an Afghan soldier at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 8, 2018. It is tradition in the Afghan culture to hold hands as a display of friendship and trust. Approximate More
Afghan soldiers with the Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps listen to a speech by Maj. Gen. Wali Mohammed Ahmadzai, commanding general of the ANA 215th Corps, at the Regional Military Training Center (RMTC) More
Brig. Gen. Dawood Tarakhil, commanding general of the 505th Zone Afghan National Police (left), Mr. Hayatullah Hayat, governor of Helmand province (middle), and Maj. Gen. Wali Mohammed Ahmadzai, commanding gene More
Sgt. Maj. Jason K. Jones, sergeant major of Task Force Southwest (TFSW) (left), Lt. Gen. William D. Beydler, commanding general of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command (MARCENT) (center), and Brig. Gen. Ben More
An Afghan soldier with the 3rd Kandak, 2nd Mobile Strike Force Brigade works to boresight a heavy machine gun during a train-the-trainer class taught by Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest at Camp Shoraba More
Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, commanding general of Task Force Southwest, talks with his Marines before the Operational Readiness Cycle (ORC) opening ceremony for 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army More
U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, commanding general of Task Force Southwest (middle), and Maj. Gen. Wali Mohammed Ahmadzai, commanding general of the Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps (right), aw More
U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest examine empty shell casings to determine proper disposal procedures at Camp Shorab, Afghanistan, Feb. 22, 2018. Aside from ensuring the safety of the task force, Marine e More
Soldiers with the Afghan National Army 215th Corps examine communications equipment during a route clearance course at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 22, 2018. The eight-week course enhances mounted and dismo More
The commanding officer of the 3rd Kandak, 2nd Mobile Strike Force Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps, addresses his soldiers during a graduation ceremony of a train-the-trainer course at Camp Shora More
A Marine with Task Force Southwest exchanges greetings with Col. Abdull Latif, operations officer of the Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps, before celebrating ANA Day at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 28 More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) waits to board a helicopter departing for Camp Shorserack at Camp Shorab, Afghanistan, March 6, 2018. Marines with TFSW form expeditionary advising packages at for More
Afghan instructors teach a soldier with the 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps about 60mm mortars as a Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest observes at Camp Shorabak, Afghanista More
Afghan soldiers with the 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps reassemble a M249 Squad Automatic Weapon during a training day of the Operational Readiness Cycle (ORC) at Camp Shorabak, More
Soldiers with the 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps practice how to assess a soldier’s injury during a training day of the Operational Readiness Cycle (ORC) at Camp Shorabak, Afgha More
A soldier with the 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army 215th Corps locates grid coordinates during a map-reading class of the Operational Readiness Cycle (ORC) at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, March 7, More
U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) fire a 120mm mortar as a show of force at Camp Shorab, Afghanistan, March 10, 2018. Approximately 300 Marines with TFSW are deployed to the Helmand province to prov More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) monitors a surface burn to properly dispose of ammunition packaging at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, March 9, 2018. Explosive ordnance disposal Marines planned, cond More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) and soldiers with the Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps listen during a shura at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, March 13, 2018. Leaders of the ANA 215th Corps an More
Leaders from Marine subordinate commands of II Marine Expeditionary Force take notes and discuss updates to NATO Exercise Trident Juncture 18 during a planning meeting at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 20, 2018. Lea More
Sgt. Maj. Bradley Simmons, outgoing II Marine Expeditionary Force Support Battalion sergeant major, stands relieved and Sgt. Maj. Don Hernandez, incoming II MEF Support Battalion sergeant major, is appointed du More
CAMP SHORAB, Afghanistan — Sgt. Maj. Jason Jones, incoming sergeant major of Task Force Southwest, salutes the colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Shorab, Afghanistan, January 15, 2018. Durin More
Col. Shahwali Khan, commander of the Regional Military Training Center, shakes the hand of a soldier from the Afghan National Army 215th Corps during the graduation from the Tactical Site Exploitation Course at More
Leadership of Task Force Southwest walks with Lt. Gen. Michael H. Shields (third from left), director of the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization, off the landing zone at Camp Shorab, Afghanistan, Jan. More
Brig. Gen. Hussain Gul, Shorab Regional Hospital commander, with the Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps talks with his of Task Force Southwest counterpart at Shorab Regional Hospital, at Camp Shorabak, Afg More
A soldier of the 3rd Kandak, 2nd Mobile Strike Force Brigade takes notes during a train-the-trainer class about mounted heavy machine guns and operations taught by Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest at C More
A pilot with the Afghanistan Air Force (AAF) stands in front of his C208 airplane after conducting an air drop at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 7, 2018. The training enhances the readiness of their pilots to More
Mr. Hayatullah Hayat, governor of Helmand province, and Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, commanding general of Task Force Southwest converse and share a meal after the NASRAT Shura at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, More
Col. Matthew R. Nation, plans officer for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command (MARCENT) (left) and Col. John Armellino, deputy commander of Task Force Southwest (TFSW) walk together during tour of Camp Sho More
An Afghan soldier with the 3rd Kandak, 2nd Mobile Strike Force Brigade checks the aim of a heavy machine gun while performing a boresight during a train-the-trainer class taught by Marine advisors with Task For More
Leaders with Task Force Southwest and the Afghan National Army 215th Corps observe the Operational Readiness Cycle (ORC) opening ceremony for 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade at the Helmand Regional Military Training Ce More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest examines empty shell casings to determine proper disposal procedures at Camp Shorab, Afghanistan, Feb. 22, 2018. Aside from ensuring the safety of the task force, Marine More
Soldiers with the Afghan National Army 215th Corps wait to begin searching for notional improvised explosive devices (IED) during a training day of the route clearance course at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. More
A soldier with the 3rd Kandak, 2nd Mobile Strike Force Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps, receives his certificate of completion for a train-the-trainer course at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. More
Sgt. Maj. Waheddin Wafa, command sergeant major of the Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps, and a Marine with Task Force Southwest, socialize before celebrating ANA Day at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 28 More
U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) prepare to load equipment onto a helicopter departing to Shorserack at Camp Shorab, Afghanistan, March 6, 2018. Marines with TFSW form expeditionary advising packag More
A soldier with the 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps checks for a pulse of an injured soldier during a training day of the Operational Readiness Cycle (ORC) at Camp Shorabak, Afgha More
An Afghan soldier with the 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps demonstrates how to reassemble a M249 Squad Automatic Weapon during a training day of the Operational Readiness Cycle ( More
Soldiers with the 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army 215th Corps locate grid coordinates during a map-reading class of the Operational Readiness Cycle (ORC) at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, March 7, 20 More
A soldier with the 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps adjusts a 60mm mortar system during a training day of the Operational Readiness Cycle (ORC) at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Marc More
U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) survey ammunition packaging before conducting a surface burn to properly dispose of the packaging at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, March 9, 2018. Explosive ordnance d More
U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) and soldiers with the Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps listen during a shura at Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, March 13, 2018. Leaders of the ANA and 505th Zone More
Lt. Col. Per-Erik Bjoernstadbraatem, the Norwegian Chief of the Army liaison officer to II Marine Expeditionary Force takes notes during a planning meeting for NATO exercise Trident Juncture 18 at Camp Lejeune, More
Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force, along with Norwegian military leadership, conduct a townhall meeting with local civilians in Vaernes, Norway, Sept. 29-30, 2018, for the municipality of Stjordal. The More
CAMP SHORAB, Afghanistan — Brig. Gen. Roger B. Turner, Jr., outgoing commanding general of Task Force Southwest, speaks to an audience of senior leaders with the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces and More
Col. Shahwali Khan, commander of the Regional Military Training Center, hugs a soldier from the Afghan National Army 215th Corps at the graduation for the Tactical Site Exploitation Course at Camp Shorabak, Af More
Lt. Gen. Michael H. Shields, director of the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization, and Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, commanding general of Task Force Southwest, meet briefly before a meeting at Camp Sho More
Service members of Task Force Southwest (TFSW) talk with leadership of the Shorab Regional Hospital at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 1, 2018. Afghan and TFSW counterparts discussed the sustainment and improv More
Soldiers of the 3rd Kandak, 2nd Mobile Strike Force Brigade listen during a during a train-the-trainer class about mounted heavy machine guns and operations taught by Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest a More
A Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest waits for a C208 airplane during an air drop at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 7, 2018. The training enhances the readiness of their pilots to improve the delivery o More
A Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest greets an Afghan soldier recovering at the Wounded Transition Unit at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 8, 2018. Sgt. Maj. Waheddin Wafa, command sergeant major of the More
Key leaders of the Afghan National Defense and Security Force (ANDSF), Task Force Southwest, and Helmand province share a meal after the NASRAT Shura at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 10, 2018. Operation NASR More
Lt. Gen. William D. Beydler, commanding general of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command (MARCENT), learns about new assets and capabilities of Task Force Southwest (TFSW) while touring Camp Shorab, Afghanis More
A Marine with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) and an Afghan solider with the 3rd Kandak, 2nd Mobile Strike Force Brigade say goodbye after boresight alignment class taught by Marine advisors with TFSW at Camp Shora More
U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, commanding general of Task Force Southwest, and Maj. Gen. Wali Mohammed Ahmadzai, commanding general of the ANA 215th Corps, greet each other before the Operational Re More
A soldier with the Afghan National Army 215th Corps looks for notional improvised explosive devices (IED) during a training day of the route clearance course at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 22, 2018. The ei More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest examines an empty shell casing to determine proper disposal procedures at Camp Shorab, Afghanistan, Feb. 22, 2018. Aside from ensuring the safety of the task force, Mari More
A soldier with the 3rd Kandak, 2nd Mobile Strike Force Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps, displays his certification of completion from a train-the-trainer course at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Fe More
A Marine with Task Force Southwest exchanges greetings with soldiers of the Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps before celebrating ANA Day at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 28, 2018. President Mohammad Ash More
U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) load a Utility Terrain Vehicle onto a helicopter departing to Shorserack at Camp Shorab, Afghanistan, March 6, 2018. Marines with TFSW form expeditionary advising p More
An Afghan instructor teaches soldiers with the 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps how to properly use a nasal pharyngeal tube on an injured soldier during a training day of the Oper More
Soldiers with the 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army 215th Corps and a Marine with Task Force Southwest locate grid coordinates during a map-reading class of the Operational Readiness Cycle (ORC) at More
An Afghan instructor teaches a soldier with the 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps about 60mm mortars at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, March 7, 2018. Infantry training is part of the More
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) prepares C-4 before conducting a surface burn to properly dispose of ammunition packaging at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, March 9, 2018. Explosive ordnance disposal More
Brig. Gen. Ahaj Gul Mohammad Chakhansori, deputy commander of the 505th Zone Afghan National Police (ANP), and U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, commanding general of Task Force Southwest (TFSW), excha More
Sgt. Maj. Bradley Simmons, outgoing II Marine Expeditionary Force Support Battalion sergeant major, receives an award during his retirement ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Dec. 14, 2018. Sgt. Maj.Don Hernandez, More
CAMP SHORAB, Afghanistan — Brig. Gen. Roger B. Turner, Jr., commanding general of Task Force Southwest, receives the colors from Sgt. Maj. Darrell Carver, Task Force Southwest sergeant major during a transfer o More
Soldiers of the Afghan National Army 215th Corps listen to closing remarks at the graduation for the Tactical Site Exploitation Course where soldiers from the Afghan National Army 215th Corps were presented cer More
Lt. Gen. Michael H. Shields (left), director of the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization, meets with personnel at Camp Shorab, Afghanistan, Jan. 18, 2018. Shields discussed the current situation of U.S. More
An Afghan solider recovering from injuries in Marjah is visited by service members of Task Force Southwest (TFSW) and medical leadership of the Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps hosptial at Camp Shorabak, More
A Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest points out specific parts of the Mk-19 Grenade Launcher to soldiers of the 3rd Kandak, 2nd Mobile Strike Force Brigade during a train-the-trainer class about mounted h More
Brig. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, commanding general of Task Force Southwest, advises Afghan National Defense (ANDSF) and Security Force and Helmand leadership during the NASRAT Shura at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan More
Lt. Gen. William D. Beydler, commanding general of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command (MARCENT), talks to Marines and Sailors of Task Force Southwest (TFSW) during a town hall on Camp Shorab, Afghanistan, More
A Marine advisor with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) and Afghan soldiers with the 3rd Kandak, 2nd Mobile Strike Force Brigade greet each other before a train-the-trainer class taught by Marine advisors with TFSW More
Soldiers with 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army 215th Corps wait for the Operational Readiness Cycle (ORC) opening ceremony to begin at the Helmand Regional Military Training Center at Camp Shorabak More
A soldier with the Afghan National Army 215th Corps signals to his group while they search for notional improvised explosive devices (IED) during the route clearance course at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 2 More
Soldiers with the 3rd Kandak, 2nd Mobile Strike Force Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps, exchange salutes during the graduation from a train-the-trainer course at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. More
An Afghan instructor demonstrates how to properly remove a nasal pharyngeal tube from a soldier with the 1st Kandak, 3rd Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps during a training day of the Operational More
U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) monitor a surface burn to properly dispose of ammunition packaging at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, March 9, 2018. Explosive ordnance disposal Marines planned, conduc More
Col. Christopher J. Douglas, senior advisor to the 505th Zone Afghan National Police (ANP) with Task Force Southwest (TFSW), an Afghan policeman (middle), and Brig. Gen. Ahaj Gul Mohammad Chakhansori, deputy co More
Sgt. Maj. Bradley Simmons, outgoing II Marine Expeditionary Force Support Battalion sergeant major, receives an award during his retirement ceremony at Camp Lejeune, Dec. 14, 2018. Sgt. Maj. Don Hernandez, inco More
A soldier from the Afghan National Army 215th Corps holds his certificate after graduating from the Tactical Site Exploitation Course at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Jan. 18, 2018. The course teaches follow-on s More
Medical leadership of the Shorab Regional Hospital and advisors of Task Force Southwest (TFSW) visit an Afghan solider recovering from injuries at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 1, 2018. The solider was injur More