U.S. Marine Sgt. Nelson Blanco, a squad leader with

U.S. Marine Sgt. Nelson Blanco, a squad leader with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and 26-year-old native of Jacksonville, Fla., uses a sickle to investigate a mock improvised explosive device during an IED training course here, March 9. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Bn., 6th Marines, 3rd Bn., 3rd Marines, 1st LAR, and Regimental Combat Team 5 attended the course as part of a noncommissioned officer symposium hosted by RCT-5. The symposium allowed the NCOs from Marjah, Nawa, Garmsir and Khan Neshin districts to share their experiences, solutions to common issues they face on the battlefield and discuss current Marine Corps affairs.