Sergeant Bryce W. Cherryholmsnoll, a native of Huxley, Iowa, unfolds the American flag as Marines prepare to fly the flag next to the Afghan flag above the Task Force Leatherneck compound here April 28, 2012. Marines serving here have the opportunity to fly a 3-by-5-foot American flag for a day and dedicate it to someone of their choice. - Sergeant Bryce W. Cherryholmsnoll, a native of Huxley, Iowa, unfolds the American flag as Marines prepare to fly the flag next to the Afghan flag above the Task Force Leatherneck compound here April 28, 2012. Marines serving here have the opportunity to fly a 3-by-5-foot American flag for a day and dedicate it to someone of their choice.
U.S. Marine Cpl. Sean Grady, a dog handler and pointman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and Ace, an improvised explosive device detection dog, pause for a break while sweeping a chokepoint during a patrol here, April 27, 2012. Grady, a 27-year-old native of Otho, Iowa, and Ace have successfully located 16 IEDs, the most of any team in their battalion, since arriving in southern Helmand in October 2011. - U.S. Marine Cpl. Sean Grady, a dog handler and pointman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and Ace, an improvised explosive device detection dog, pause for a break while sweeping a chokepoint during a patrol here, April 27, 2012. Grady, a 27-year-old native of Otho, Iowa, and Ace have successfully located 16 IEDs, the most of any team in their battalion, since arriving in southern Helmand in October 2011.
Lance Cpl. Samantha C. Catoe, a data network specialist working with Headquarters Detachment, Task Force Leatherneck, 1st Marine Division (Forward), was selected as this period's detachment Marine of the Quarter. The 21-year-old native of Irmo, S.C., is tasked with resolving trouble tickets submitted by headquarters personnel at the Task Force Leatherneck compound here. She deployed with the 1st MarDiv (Fwd) in February, and so far displayed strong technical skills at her job. - Lance Cpl. Samantha C. Catoe, a data network specialist working with Headquarters Detachment, Task Force Leatherneck, 1st Marine Division (Forward), was selected as this period's detachment Marine of the Quarter. The 21-year-old native of Irmo, S.C., is tasked with resolving trouble tickets submitted by headquarters personnel at the Task Force Leatherneck compound here. She deployed with the 1st MarDiv (Fwd) in February, and so far displayed strong technical skills at her job.
U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Derick Clark, a kennel supervisor with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and 26-year-old native of Hillsdale, Mich., comforts Yeager, an improvised explosive device detection dog, as they wait for the beginning of a memorial service in honor of Lance Cpl. Abraham Tarwoe, a dog handler and mortarman who served with Weapons Company, 2nd Bn., 9th Marines, here, April 22, 2012. Tarwoe, who became Yeager’s handler in July 2011, was killed in action during a dismounted patrol in support of combat operations in Helmand province’s Marjah district, April 12. Tarwoe’s fellow Marines remember him for his contagious laughter and smile, and his unfaltering courage on the battlefield. - U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Derick Clark, a kennel supervisor with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and 26-year-old native of Hillsdale, Mich., comforts Yeager, an improvised explosive device detection dog, as they wait for the beginning of a memorial service in honor of Lance Cpl. Abraham Tarwoe, a dog handler and mortarman who served with Weapons Company, 2nd Bn., 9th Marines, here, April 22, 2012. Tarwoe, who became Yeager’s handler in July 2011, was killed in action during a dismounted patrol in support of combat operations in Helmand province’s Marjah district, April 12. Tarwoe’s fellow Marines remember him for his contagious laughter and smile, and his unfaltering courage on the battlefield.
Sergeant Ricardo A. Monge, a section chief with 3rd Platoon, Tango Battery, 5th Bn., 11th Marine Regiment, arms the training module of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during a dry-fire drill here, Feb. 26. Monge, a 24-year-old native of Los Angeles, leads a three-man launcher team in daily drills to increase their response time to support requests. The HIMARS allows the Marines to support fire missions within minutes and deliver precision fire within one meter of the target location. - Sergeant Ricardo A. Monge, a section chief with 3rd Platoon, Tango Battery, 5th Bn., 11th Marine Regiment, arms the training module of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during a dry-fire drill here, Feb. 26. Monge, a 24-year-old native of Los Angeles, leads a three-man launcher team in daily drills to increase their response time to support requests. The HIMARS allows the Marines to support fire missions within minutes and deliver precision fire within one meter of the target location.
Sgt. Ricardo A. Monge, a launcher chief with 3rd Platoon, Tango Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, receives information from the fire direction center during a dry-fire drill for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System here, Feb. 26. Monge, a 24-year-old native of Los Angeles, leads a three-man launcher team in daily drills to increase their response time to support requests. The HIMARS allows the Marines to support fire missions within minutes and deliver precision fire within one meter of the target location. - Sgt. Ricardo A. Monge, a launcher chief with 3rd Platoon, Tango Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, receives information from the fire direction center during a dry-fire drill for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System here, Feb. 26. Monge, a 24-year-old native of Los Angeles, leads a three-man launcher team in daily drills to increase their response time to support requests. The HIMARS allows the Marines to support fire missions within minutes and deliver precision fire within one meter of the target location.
Capt. Jesse Hills, the team leader of Team 3, Civil Affairs Detachment 11-2, climbs a dump truck to inspect the contents during a patrol in Khan Neshin, Afghanistan, Feb. 29, 2012. The truck was carrying gravel to place over a culvert in the road. Afghans are currently paving a road in Khan Neshin, equipped with culverts to allow canals to pass though to the surrounding farms. The road is a civil affairs –initiated project to help the locals build an infrastructure on their own. Hills is a 28-year-old native of Terre Haute, Ind., who served as an intelligence officer with 11th Marine Regiment before detaching to the civil affairs team. - Capt. Jesse Hills, the team leader of Team 3, Civil Affairs Detachment 11-2, climbs a dump truck to inspect the contents during a patrol in Khan Neshin, Afghanistan, Feb. 29, 2012. The truck was carrying gravel to place over a culvert in the road. Afghans are currently paving a road in Khan Neshin, equipped with culverts to allow canals to pass though to the surrounding farms. The road is a civil affairs –initiated project to help the locals build an infrastructure on their own. Hills is a 28-year-old native of Terre Haute, Ind., who served as an intelligence officer with 11th Marine Regiment before detaching to the civil affairs team.
Afghan National Army Sgt. Dunya Gul, a squad leader with 2nd Tolai, 3rd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps, looks through his Leopold Mark 4 telescopic sight during advance marksmanship training here, Feb. 24. The top shooters from 3rd Kandak were selected to learn precision shooting from scout snipers with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. The Marines chose the best students to serve as marksmanship instructors and pass on their new skills to other Afghan soldiers. - Afghan National Army Sgt. Dunya Gul, a squad leader with 2nd Tolai, 3rd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps, looks through his Leopold Mark 4 telescopic sight during advance marksmanship training here, Feb. 24. The top shooters from 3rd Kandak were selected to learn precision shooting from scout snipers with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. The Marines chose the best students to serve as marksmanship instructors and pass on their new skills to other Afghan soldiers.
Corporal Randy Cripe, a squad leader with 2nd Platoon, Lima Company, talks to a local Afghan child while patrolling Feb. 27, 2012. Cripe, currently deployed with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, patrolled, with his squad, to talk to local Afghan leaders and to detain a suspected insurgent. - Corporal Randy Cripe, a squad leader with 2nd Platoon, Lima Company, talks to a local Afghan child while patrolling Feb. 27, 2012. Cripe, currently deployed with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, patrolled, with his squad, to talk to local Afghan leaders and to detain a suspected insurgent.
Corporal Ian Ward, a squad leader with 3rd Platoon, Lima Company, looks through the scope of his rifle to identify some suspicious people, with Cpl. Manuel Ortiz, a team leader with the platoon, during a patrol Feb. 27, 2012. ::r::::n::Ward, currently deployed with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, mentored his Marines, training them for when he leaves the squad. Ward put junior Marines in leadership billets, giving them valuable experience.::r::::n:: - Corporal Ian Ward, a squad leader with 3rd Platoon, Lima Company, looks through the scope of his rifle to identify some suspicious people, with Cpl. Manuel Ortiz, a team leader with the platoon, during a patrol Feb. 27, 2012. ::r::::n::Ward, currently deployed with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, mentored his Marines, training them for when he leaves the squad. Ward put junior Marines in leadership billets, giving them valuable experience.::r::::n::