FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELHI, Helmand Province, Islamic

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELHI, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — An Afghan man helps serve food at a farewell dinner to 2nd battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, May 3. Afghanistan National Police and Afghanistan National Army local leaders hosted the dinner. The battalion staff of 2/1 and 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment attended the dinner, which is a traditional part of transitioning a new unit in to the Garmsir District. Based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, 1/3 will take authority of Garmsir after 2/1 heads home to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., in May.
The 1/3 “Lava Dogs” will support Regimental Combat Team 1, the Marine ground combat element in Southern Helmand province. The mission of the RCT is to partner with Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations to secure the Afghan people, defeat insurgent forces, and enable Afghanistan to assume security responsibilities in the region. Ultimately, the partnered forces promote the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.