Sergeant Thomas Z. Spitzer, professionally instructed gunman, Scout Sniper Platoon, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, poses for a photo shortly after arriving in Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 20, 2014. Spitzer, a 23-year-old native of New Braunfels, Texas, was killed while conducting combat operations, June 25, 2014. - Sergeant Thomas Z. Spitzer, professionally instructed gunman, Scout Sniper Platoon, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, poses for a photo shortly after arriving in Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 20, 2014. Spitzer, a 23-year-old native of New Braunfels, Texas, was killed while conducting combat operations, June 25, 2014.

Lance Cpl. Christopher Yudin, a machinegunner with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, looks through the sights of his M240 machinegun, May 30, 2012. - Lance Cpl. Christopher Yudin, a machinegunner with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, looks through the sights of his M240 machinegun, May 30, 2012.

Petty Officer 3rd Class, Norberto Zamora, a hospital corpsman with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, watches the horizon during a security halt, July 1, 2012. Zamora’s training was put to the test within his first week in Afghanistan when troops step on an improvised explosive device while on a patrol. - Petty Officer 3rd Class, Norberto Zamora, a hospital corpsman with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, watches the horizon during a security halt, July 1, 2012. Zamora’s training was put to the test within his first week in Afghanistan when troops step on an improvised explosive device while on a patrol.

Navy Cross recipient Cpl. Christopher B. Farias is congratulated by Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, commanding general of 1st Marine Division, after an award ceremony here, May 18. Farias received the nation's second highest award for bravery for actions in Kajaki district, Afghanistan. On Oct. 5, 2010, Farias and his squad were struck by a 73-millimeter recoilless rifle and received fire from three enemy positions during a night ambush. Farias received a concussion and was wounded by shrapnel but exposed himself on a rooftop to direct suppressive fire, allowing casualties to be evacuated. Farias remained in the fight until an airstrike ended the engagement. After the firefight, Farias walked while bleeding more than 2,000 meters to a pickup point. - Navy Cross recipient Cpl. Christopher B. Farias is congratulated by Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, commanding general of 1st Marine Division, after an award ceremony here, May 18. Farias received the nation's second highest award for bravery for actions in Kajaki district, Afghanistan. On Oct. 5, 2010, Farias and his squad were struck by a 73-millimeter recoilless rifle and received fire from three enemy positions during a night ambush. Farias received a concussion and was wounded by shrapnel but exposed himself on a rooftop to direct suppressive fire, allowing casualties to be evacuated. Farias remained in the fight until an airstrike ended the engagement. After the firefight, Farias walked while bleeding more than 2,000 meters to a pickup point.

A Marine Corps eight-point cover lays next to family photos, showcasing Staff Sgt. Maribel Valdez's balancing act between her family and her military career, May 15, 2012. She is the adjutant with 1st Marine Division (Forward). Valdez said she knows it's difficult for her family while she's deployed but plans on spending a lot of time with her family when she returns home.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - A Marine Corps eight-point cover lays next to family photos, showcasing Staff Sgt. Maribel Valdez's balancing act between her family and her military career, May 15, 2012. She is the adjutant with 1st Marine Division (Forward). Valdez said she knows it's difficult for her family while she's deployed but plans on spending a lot of time with her family when she returns home.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::

Sergeant Christopher Scott, the logistics advisor with the Embedded Training Team, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, eats a meal of bread, beef and fresh vegetables with his Afghan allies, April 29, 2012. Scott was a guest of his Afghan National Army soldiers serving with 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps. Scott regularly spends extra time getting to know his Afghan National Army coworkers.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - Sergeant Christopher Scott, the logistics advisor with the Embedded Training Team, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, eats a meal of bread, beef and fresh vegetables with his Afghan allies, April 29, 2012. Scott was a guest of his Afghan National Army soldiers serving with 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps. Scott regularly spends extra time getting to know his Afghan National Army coworkers.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::

Afghan National Army Gunnery Sgt. Mohammad Hasan, sights in on his target with his M24 sniper rifle, May 2, 2012. Hasan was the high shooter on the first day of the range and said he remembered to control his breathing and to relax while firing the new weapon.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - Afghan National Army Gunnery Sgt. Mohammad Hasan, sights in on his target with his M24 sniper rifle, May 2, 2012. Hasan was the high shooter on the first day of the range and said he remembered to control his breathing and to relax while firing the new weapon.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::

Corporal Ryan Theis, a squad leader with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, rests during a clearing patrol, April 26, 2012. This is Theis’ second deployment to Afghanistan and his first as a squad leader. - Corporal Ryan Theis, a squad leader with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, rests during a clearing patrol, April 26, 2012. This is Theis’ second deployment to Afghanistan and his first as a squad leader.

After an Afghan National Army soldier was injured by a an explosion from what fellow soldiers described as a blasting cap-like device, Staff Sgt. Yobany Flores used his linguist’s belt as an improvised tourniquet to stop the bleeding from the soldier’s hand. Flores is a motor transport maintenance advisor to 5th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps with Embedded Partnering Team, Combat Logistics Battalion 5. The West New York, N.J. native is on his third deployment to a combat zone, having previously deployed to Iraq in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2010. - After an Afghan National Army soldier was injured by a an explosion from what fellow soldiers described as a blasting cap-like device, Staff Sgt. Yobany Flores used his linguist’s belt as an improvised tourniquet to stop the bleeding from the soldier’s hand. Flores is a motor transport maintenance advisor to 5th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps with Embedded Partnering Team, Combat Logistics Battalion 5. The West New York, N.J. native is on his third deployment to a combat zone, having previously deployed to Iraq in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2010.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Cortez Greene (left), 21, from West Helena, Ark., Lance Cpl. Tyler Riddle (center), 19, from Baltimore, Md., and Cpl. Jacob Morris (right), 22, from Iowa Park, Texas, an electrician and motor transport Marines with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepare to load a refrigerator onto the bed of a 7-ton truck while retrograding military equipment here, April 15, 2012, in preparation for the position’s transfer to Afghan forces. Over the last 16 months, Afghan and coalition forces employed Combat Outpost Torbert as a key location for stabilization and the growth of governance in the once-volatile Banadar region of Helmand province’s Garmsir district. The nearing assumption of lead security responsibility in Garmsir by Afghan forces enabled Marines with Weapons Company, 3rd Bn., 3rd Marines, to transfer COP Torbert to Afghan Border Police, April 20. The position was named in honor of fallen Marine Cpl. Eric M. Torbert, Jr., a 25-year-old combat engineer from Lancaster, Pa., who was killed by an improvised explosive device in Banadar, Dec. 18, 2010. Though COP Torbert is now run by Afghan forces, they’ve honored Cpl. Torbert’s sacrifice by maintaining the position’s name. - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Cortez Greene (left), 21, from West Helena, Ark., Lance Cpl. Tyler Riddle (center), 19, from Baltimore, Md., and Cpl. Jacob Morris (right), 22, from Iowa Park, Texas, an electrician and motor transport Marines with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepare to load a refrigerator onto the bed of a 7-ton truck while retrograding military equipment here, April 15, 2012, in preparation for the position’s transfer to Afghan forces. Over the last 16 months, Afghan and coalition forces employed Combat Outpost Torbert as a key location for stabilization and the growth of governance in the once-volatile Banadar region of Helmand province’s Garmsir district. The nearing assumption of lead security responsibility in Garmsir by Afghan forces enabled Marines with Weapons Company, 3rd Bn., 3rd Marines, to transfer COP Torbert to Afghan Border Police, April 20. The position was named in honor of fallen Marine Cpl. Eric M. Torbert, Jr., a 25-year-old combat engineer from Lancaster, Pa., who was killed by an improvised explosive device in Banadar, Dec. 18, 2010. Though COP Torbert is now run by Afghan forces, they’ve honored Cpl. Torbert’s sacrifice by maintaining the position’s name.