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Sergeant Derrick Organo, a squad leader and machine-gun section leader with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, talks to an Afghan Nation Army soldier at a vehicle checkpoint here, May 21, 2013, during Operation Gridlock. "They're pretty good," said Organo, a 23-year-old native of San Francisco. "They knew what to do, and they didn't have to ask us any questions. We're trying to build their confidence in their vehicle checkpoints. When we have a day like today, they know they did well." - Sergeant Derrick Organo, a squad leader and machine-gun section leader with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, talks to an Afghan Nation Army soldier at a vehicle checkpoint here, May 21, 2013, during Operation Gridlock. "They're pretty good," said Organo, a 23-year-old native of San Francisco. "They knew what to do, and they didn't have to ask us any questions. We're trying to build their confidence in their vehicle checkpoints. When we have a day like today, they know they did well."

Cpl. Larry Jackson, a squad leader with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and Han Mamad Lala, an Afghan National Policeman, pose for a picture at an ANP base here, April 4, 2013. Jackson and Lala stood post together for several months during Jackson's first deployment to Now Zad District from October 2009 to March 2010. (Courtesy photo) - Cpl. Larry Jackson, a squad leader with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and Han Mamad Lala, an Afghan National Policeman, pose for a picture at an ANP base here, April 4, 2013. Jackson and Lala stood post together for several months during Jackson's first deployment to Now Zad District from October 2009 to March 2010. (Courtesy photo)

Members of the country music band The Frontmen pose for a picture with Marines of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, and the staff at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) center here, May 23, 2013. "We needed this performance just as much as these guys did," said Erick Baker. "We're here for the troops and to say thank you, and the crowd today really picked us up." (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mel Johnson) - Members of the country music band The Frontmen pose for a picture with Marines of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, and the staff at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) center here, May 23, 2013. "We needed this performance just as much as these guys did," said Erick Baker. "We're here for the troops and to say thank you, and the crowd today really picked us up." (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mel Johnson)

Sergeant Philip Noble, the assistant gunner and training non-commissioned officer for Regimental Combat Team 7, is responsible for coordinating Reset, Staging, Onward movement and Integration for all coalition forces that arrive in Helmand province. Noble, a 32-year-old native of Corsicana, Texas, recently received an award from International Security Assistance Forces Joint Command, the second highest command in Afghanistan, for being "the foremost authority on training and RSO&I in Afghanistan." He has deployed 4 times to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. Editors Note: Reset, Staging, Onward movement, and Integration is the initial process each coalition force unit must go through upon arrival in Afghanistan. It includes refresher-training courses, live-fire ranges, counter improvised explosive device training and movement to the unit's area of operation. - Sergeant Philip Noble, the assistant gunner and training non-commissioned officer for Regimental Combat Team 7, is responsible for coordinating Reset, Staging, Onward movement and Integration for all coalition forces that arrive in Helmand province. Noble, a 32-year-old native of Corsicana, Texas, recently received an award from International Security Assistance Forces Joint Command, the second highest command in Afghanistan, for being "the foremost authority on training and RSO&I in Afghanistan." He has deployed 4 times to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. Editors Note: Reset, Staging, Onward movement, and Integration is the initial process each coalition force unit must go through upon arrival in Afghanistan. It includes refresher-training courses, live-fire ranges, counter improvised explosive device training and movement to the unit's area of operation.

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, retrograde gear and equipment as part of the demilitarization process here, May 11. "America's Battalion" completes combat logistics convoys that aid in the demilitarization and closing of FOBs within their area of operation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo taken by Lance Cpl. Mel Johnson) - Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, retrograde gear and equipment as part of the demilitarization process here, May 11. "America's Battalion" completes combat logistics convoys that aid in the demilitarization and closing of FOBs within their area of operation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo taken by Lance Cpl. Mel Johnson)

Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Lockwood, the Afghan National Security Forces Cell chief with Regimental Combat Team 7, and 1st Lt. Jeremy Prout, the Afghan National Security Forces Cell liaison officer, pose for a picture during lunch with the Sangin District Chief of Police. The Marines with the cell provide support to the Security Forces Assistance Advisor Teams through administrative and logistical assistance. - Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Lockwood, the Afghan National Security Forces Cell chief with Regimental Combat Team 7, and 1st Lt. Jeremy Prout, the Afghan National Security Forces Cell liaison officer, pose for a picture during lunch with the Sangin District Chief of Police. The Marines with the cell provide support to the Security Forces Assistance Advisor Teams through administrative and logistical assistance.

Staff Sgt. Mariajose Borja, a linguist manager with Regimental Combat team 7, holds her daughter, Isabella Smith Borja, during their first Christmas season at Camp Pendleton, Dec. 14. Borja, a 32-year-old from Newark, N.J., said her daughter is her inspiration and the motivation to get her through the tough times on a yearlong deployment. - Staff Sgt. Mariajose Borja, a linguist manager with Regimental Combat team 7, holds her daughter, Isabella Smith Borja, during their first Christmas season at Camp Pendleton, Dec. 14. Borja, a 32-year-old from Newark, N.J., said her daughter is her inspiration and the motivation to get her through the tough times on a yearlong deployment.

Marines of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 built a new sign to honor Maj. James Matthew Weis, an AH-1W Cobra pilot who was killed in action in 2010, so his brother, Maj. Scott Weis, the current operations officer with Regimental Combat Team 7, can take the original sign back home to his family. Scott plans to take the original sign, which hung outside the squadron flight line, to the Weis family home in Key Largo, Fla. - Marines of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 built a new sign to honor Maj. James Matthew Weis, an AH-1W Cobra pilot who was killed in action in 2010, so his brother, Maj. Scott Weis, the current operations officer with Regimental Combat Team 7, can take the original sign back home to his family. Scott plans to take the original sign, which hung outside the squadron flight line, to the Weis family home in Key Largo, Fla.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Dustin Palmer, right, a heavy equipment operator with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 7 (RCT) 7, provides feedback to an Afghan National Army heavy equipment operator during a clearing operation near Camp Shorabak, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, March 16, 2013. The operation was designed to eliminate possible enemy firing positions in preparation for the upcoming fighting season. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Dustin Palmer, right, a heavy equipment operator with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 7 (RCT) 7, provides feedback to an Afghan National Army heavy equipment operator during a clearing operation near Camp Shorabak, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, March 16, 2013. The operation was designed to eliminate possible enemy firing positions in preparation for the upcoming fighting season. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe/Released)

Lance Cpl. Kyle Ford, an electrical engineer technician specialist with Regimental Combat Team 7, works on a generator here, April 15. Ford, a 21-year-old native of Wantagh, N.Y., is responsible for preventive maintenance and repairs of the generators in the RCT-7 area of operations. - Lance Cpl. Kyle Ford, an electrical engineer technician specialist with Regimental Combat Team 7, works on a generator here, April 15. Ford, a 21-year-old native of Wantagh, N.Y., is responsible for preventive maintenance and repairs of the generators in the RCT-7 area of operations.