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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.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO – Afghan Natioanl Army First Sgt. Mubarak, the operations first sergeant with 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, levels out a plot of land with Capt. Stephen Walker, the operations advisor with the Embedded Training Team, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, April 21, 2012. Mubarak worked with Walker to build a permanent terrain model for the Kandak. A terrain model is a 3-D map, outlining roads and other major geographical features. - FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO – Afghan Natioanl Army First Sgt. Mubarak, the operations first sergeant with 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, levels out a plot of land with Capt. Stephen Walker, the operations advisor with the Embedded Training Team, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, April 21, 2012. Mubarak worked with Walker to build a permanent terrain model for the Kandak. A terrain model is a 3-D map, outlining roads and other major geographical features.

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.

Citizens of Kajaki attend a shura here, April 14, 2012. The villagers had the opportunity to speak directly to commanders of the Marines and Afghan National Civil Order Police who provide security for their community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz) - Citizens of Kajaki attend a shura here, April 14, 2012. The villagers had the opportunity to speak directly to commanders of the Marines and Afghan National Civil Order Police who provide security for their community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz)

Sergeant Joshua V. Armstrong, team leader serving with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Police Advisory Team 1, coaches an Afghan Uniformed Police officer during a rifle marksmanship range here April 19, 2012. Armstrong, a native of Timber Lake, N.C., and the Marines of the PAT train and work with Afghan Security forces to prepare them to take full responsibility for security operations in the area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz) - Sergeant Joshua V. Armstrong, team leader serving with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Police Advisory Team 1, coaches an Afghan Uniformed Police officer during a rifle marksmanship range here April 19, 2012. Armstrong, a native of Timber Lake, N.C., and the Marines of the PAT train and work with Afghan Security forces to prepare them to take full responsibility for security operations in the area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz)

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.

Lance Cpl. Daniel Grant, a native of Detroit and rifleman serving with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, departs Patrol Base Virginia, an Afghan National Civil Order Police position in Kajaki, as his squad begins a foot patrol here, April 14, 2012. Marines formerly operated PB Virginia until the ANCOP officers took full responsibility for maintaining security in the local area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz) - Lance Cpl. Daniel Grant, a native of Detroit and rifleman serving with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, departs Patrol Base Virginia, an Afghan National Civil Order Police position in Kajaki, as his squad begins a foot patrol here, April 14, 2012. Marines formerly operated PB Virginia until the ANCOP officers took full responsibility for maintaining security in the local area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz)

Corporal Christopher E. Gregory, a heavy equipment operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 4, extends the arm of his Millennia Military Vehicle to lift supplies for Marines here, April 11, 2012. Gregory, a native of Kimble, Neb., uses several large machines to move heavy loads around the base. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz) - Corporal Christopher E. Gregory, a heavy equipment operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 4, extends the arm of his Millennia Military Vehicle to lift supplies for Marines here, April 11, 2012. Gregory, a native of Kimble, Neb., uses several large machines to move heavy loads around the base. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz)

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.

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.