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Marines from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment and district government officials enjoy Iftar or ‘breaking of fast,’ which is the nightly meal during the month-long Islamic holiday Ramadan, Aug. 8. Marines from 1/3 are regularly invited to Iftar with their Afghan National Army and Police counterparts during Ramadan. - Marines from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment and district government officials enjoy Iftar or ‘breaking of fast,’ which is the nightly meal during the month-long Islamic holiday Ramadan, Aug. 8. Marines from 1/3 are regularly invited to Iftar with their Afghan National Army and Police counterparts during Ramadan.

Faith sustains Afghan soldiers during Ramadan

Without food, water or relief from 120-plus degree temperatures, an Afghan National Army soldier patrols with his Marine counterparts. He is observing Ramadan, a month-long Islamic holiday in which Muslims fast during daylight hours.The soldier has been fasting for two weeks, but a parched tongue and hunger pain aren’t things the human body gets

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Marines from 3rd Trucks Platoon unload supplies at Combat Outpost Gorgak here, Aug. 4. Originating from Marine Corps Bases Japan, 3rd Trucks Platoon is attached to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. Trucks Platoon is responsible for logistical deliveries throughout 1/3’s area of operations. - Marines from 3rd Trucks Platoon unload supplies at Combat Outpost Gorgak here, Aug. 4. Originating from Marine Corps Bases Japan, 3rd Trucks Platoon is attached to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. Trucks Platoon is responsible for logistical deliveries throughout 1/3’s area of operations.

1/3 Motor T rolls through Garmsir

There are no speed signs, signal lights or state troopers on the "Garmsir expressway," and no, TomTom won’t be able to map a route over the hard-packed dirt roads traveled by 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment’s Motor Transportation section.The "Motor T" Marines are the deliverymen of 1/3 in the rural Helmand district of Garmsir, and anything that

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Graduates stand at attention during the Afghan Local Police (ALP) graduation ceremony at Forward Operating Base Marjah, Afghanistan, April 4, 2011. After 3 weeks of training with the U.S. Marine Corps Police Mentor Team, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, the Interim Security Critical Infrastructure members graduated to the newly constructed ALP. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher M. Carroll/Released) - Graduates stand at attention during the Afghan Local Police (ALP) graduation ceremony at Forward Operating Base Marjah, Afghanistan, April 4, 2011. After 3 weeks of training with the U.S. Marine Corps Police Mentor Team, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, the Interim Security Critical Infrastructure members graduated to the newly constructed ALP. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher M. Carroll/Released)

As embattled district cools, battalion moves north

A battalion of Marines left Marjah District today, signaling coalition force’s growing confidence in Marjah’s Afghan National Security Forces.Two Marine battalions had been operating in Marjah, a district that was considered one of the worst in Helmand 18 months ago. Even after coalition forces gained control of the district center during Operation

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Hospital Apprentice Jesse Stephens, a native of Hartselle, Al., pauses to catch his breath after a firefight with insurgents in the Polpazai village, here, Aug. 11. The 19-year old Stephens, serves as a Navy corpsman with, 2nd Squad, 4th Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and is on his first deployment. - Hospital Apprentice Jesse Stephens, a native of Hartselle, Al., pauses to catch his breath after a firefight with insurgents in the Polpazai village, here, Aug. 11. The 19-year old Stephens, serves as a Navy corpsman with, 2nd Squad, 4th Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and is on his first deployment.

Coming of age through war: Hospital Apprentice Jesse Stephens

An easy smile accentuates the boyish features of Navy Hospital Assistant Jesse Stephens’ face - the faintest stubble dodging the blades of his electric razor as he shaves in the morning.Although he has the looks of an average teenager, Stephens stands apart from his fellow 19-year-olds back home in Hartselle, Ala. He is a corpsman, with 2nd Squad,

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Cpl. Matthew Craven, quality control floor chief, Motor and Transportation section, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine, performs maintenance on a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle here, Aug. 8. The Marines of Motor T., 1/6, are responsible for resupply operations within the area, as well as the maintenance and upkeep of all vehicles within the battalion. - Cpl. Matthew Craven, quality control floor chief, Motor and Transportation section, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine, performs maintenance on a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle here, Aug. 8. The Marines of Motor T., 1/6, are responsible for resupply operations within the area, as well as the maintenance and upkeep of all vehicles within the battalion.

Grease stained smiles: Motor T. Marines maintain vehicles, rule the road

Working hours worse than a 1940s Chicago beat cop, Motor Transportation Marines run on two hours of sleep, a steady diet of caffeine, nicotine and the occasional meal from the field mess. They can be picked out of a crowd with ease, with oil and soot on their hands, and dust and grease spots on their faces. Perhaps the most defining characteristic

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Lance Cpl. Jose Contreras quenches his thirst while completing the Rankel Workout here, Aug. 1. Contreras, a native of San Antonio, is a team leader with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. The Rankel workout is dedicated to Sgt. John Rankel, who died while deployed here in 2010. - Lance Cpl. Jose Contreras quenches his thirst while completing the Rankel Workout here, Aug. 1. Contreras, a native of San Antonio, is a team leader with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. The Rankel workout is dedicated to Sgt. John Rankel, who died while deployed here in 2010.

The Rankel Workout: Marines test limits to honor fallen Marine

It’s 120 degrees outside. Ten minutes have passed — the halfway point — and sweat is pouring off Lance Cpl. Jose Contreras’ face like a raging river. Oxygen escapes his lungs faster than it can be absorbed, and stars form in daylight because his brain is suffocating. Like an engine revving in the ‘red,’ Contreras’ heart pumps at an uncountable

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A local man speaks at the graduation of a farming cooperative course here, Aug. 14. Local farmers participated in the training. - A local man speaks at the graduation of a farming cooperative course here, Aug. 14. Local farmers participated in the training.

Afghan farmers build business savvy

More than 200 farmers throughout southern Helmand province graduated, Aug. 14, from a five-week farming cooperative course headed by Green Afghanistan Agriculture and Livestock Organization.Jon D. Kauffeld, the United States Department of Agricultural adviser in southern Helmand, said approximately 10,000 farmers from 98 local co-ops will

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