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.
U.S. Marine Cpl. Austin Aliferis, a fire team leader with the Regimental Combat Team 5 Police Advisor Team working in support of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, applies a bandage to an Afghan child's foot during a clearing operation here March 1, 2012. Aliferis and his team passed out food, water and candy to the group of children before moving to support Afghan police clearing the area of suspected insurgent activity. In addition to advising Afghan forces in the blocks of Marjah, 2nd Bn., 9th Marines conducted partnered counternarcotics missions with the Afghan National Interdiction Unit in the Bari Desert during Operation Psarlay Taba. The partnered force captured around 26,000 pounds of assorted opium products over the course of the four-month operation. Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz - U.S. Marine Cpl. Austin Aliferis, a fire team leader with the Regimental Combat Team 5 Police Advisor Team working in support of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, applies a bandage to an Afghan child's foot during a clearing operation here March 1, 2012. Aliferis and his team passed out food, water and candy to the group of children before moving to support Afghan police clearing the area of suspected insurgent activity. In addition to advising Afghan forces in the blocks of Marjah, 2nd Bn., 9th Marines conducted partnered counternarcotics missions with the Afghan National Interdiction Unit in the Bari Desert during Operation Psarlay Taba. The partnered force captured around 26,000 pounds of assorted opium products over the course of the four-month operation. Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz
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.
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::