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.

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.

Lance Cpl. Matthew Spencer, a police advisor with Regimental Combat Team 5 Police Advisory Team, instructs Afghan Uniformed Police officers in proper techniques and procedures to use at vehicle check points. The advisory team spent four days conducting refresher courses to help the Afghan police in their role providing security for Marjah. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz) - Lance Cpl. Matthew Spencer, a police advisor with Regimental Combat Team 5 Police Advisory Team, instructs Afghan Uniformed Police officers in proper techniques and procedures to use at vehicle check points. The advisory team spent four days conducting refresher courses to help the Afghan police in their role providing security for Marjah. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz)

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::

A 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion bulldozer maneuvers through rubble during the patrol base reduction, Feb. 23. The 3rd CEB reduced the base in half, making it easier to maintain. Fewer Coalition Forces are stationed at the patrol base and the Afghan National Civil Order Police force is capable of taking the lead. - A 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion bulldozer maneuvers through rubble during the patrol base reduction, Feb. 23. The 3rd CEB reduced the base in half, making it easier to maintain. Fewer Coalition Forces are stationed at the patrol base and the Afghan National Civil Order Police force is capable of taking the lead.

Afghan National Army Sgt. Shah Mohammed, a noncommissioned officer-in-charge with 3rd Tolai, 2nd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps, moves his soldiers past Patrol Base Almas during a security patrol here, Feb. 9. Afghan soldiers took over a local patrol base, Hanjar Yak, on Feb. 8. They provide security for the local area by conducting independent patrols and maintaining positive relations with local villagers. - Afghan National Army Sgt. Shah Mohammed, a noncommissioned officer-in-charge with 3rd Tolai, 2nd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps, moves his soldiers past Patrol Base Almas during a security patrol here, Feb. 9. Afghan soldiers took over a local patrol base, Hanjar Yak, on Feb. 8. They provide security for the local area by conducting independent patrols and maintaining positive relations with local villagers.

Lance Cpl. Edgar Lima (right), a sweeper with 2nd squad, 1st platoon, Lima Company, searches for improvised explosive devices with PFC. Christopher Birdt, a machine gunner, covering him, during an afternoon patrol in Wishtan, Feb. 22. Their patrol talked to as many local people as they could, gathering information about the area and building relationships with the people. Lima, a San Diego native, uses humor to interact and build connections with the children who sometimes surround the Marines. - Lance Cpl. Edgar Lima (right), a sweeper with 2nd squad, 1st platoon, Lima Company, searches for improvised explosive devices with PFC. Christopher Birdt, a machine gunner, covering him, during an afternoon patrol in Wishtan, Feb. 22. Their patrol talked to as many local people as they could, gathering information about the area and building relationships with the people. Lima, a San Diego native, uses humor to interact and build connections with the children who sometimes surround the Marines.

Afghan National Army Sgt. Shah Mohammed, a noncommissioned officer-in-charge with 3rd Tolai, 2nd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps, moves his soldiers past Patrol Base Almas during a security patrol here, Feb. 9. Afghan soldiers took over a local patrol base, Hanjar Yak, on Feb. 8. They provide security for the local area by conducting independent patrols and maintaining positive relations with local villagers. - Afghan National Army Sgt. Shah Mohammed, a noncommissioned officer-in-charge with 3rd Tolai, 2nd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps, moves his soldiers past Patrol Base Almas during a security patrol here, Feb. 9. Afghan soldiers took over a local patrol base, Hanjar Yak, on Feb. 8. They provide security for the local area by conducting independent patrols and maintaining positive relations with local villagers.