News

Captain Kyle Larish, the executive officer of Police Advisor Team 4, and 31-year-old native of Buffalo, New York, engages with the assistant district chief of police and other Afghan Uniformed Police during a patrol to the Kajaki Police Headquarters, Feb. 11. "(We) are advising their key staff members in their functional areas to coordinate their efforts with their higher headquarters," said 1st Lt. Chad Ernst, the fires officer and Joint Terminal Attack Controller with PAT-4. "We are trying to help them get the Afghan support they need in the correct format." - Captain Kyle Larish, the executive officer of Police Advisor Team 4, and 31-year-old native of Buffalo, New York, engages with the assistant district chief of police and other Afghan Uniformed Police during a patrol to the Kajaki Police Headquarters, Feb. 11. "(We) are advising their key staff members in their functional areas to coordinate their efforts with their higher headquarters," said 1st Lt. Chad Ernst, the fires officer and Joint Terminal Attack Controller with PAT-4. "We are trying to help them get the Afghan support they need in the correct format."

Marine mentors continue professional development

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ZEEBRUGGE, Afghanistan — Marines have been patrolling and fighting alongside Afghan Uniformed Police for several years, but in Kajaki the Marines are focused on a different fight: staying out of the way.Marines and sailors with Police Advisor Team 4 have established relationships with the local AUP and are now in a strictly

Read More

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David H. Berger, right, commanding general of Task Force Leatherneck (TFL) and Sgt. Maj. Terry L. Jones, TFL Sergeant Major, salute the American Flag during an evening colors ceremony on Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province Afghanistan May 28, 2012. Berger held the ceremony as a Memorial Day Commemoration in remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Sheila M. Brooks)::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David H. Berger, right, commanding general of Task Force Leatherneck (TFL) and Sgt. Maj. Terry L. Jones, TFL Sergeant Major, salute the American Flag during an evening colors ceremony on Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province Afghanistan May 28, 2012. Berger held the ceremony as a Memorial Day Commemoration in remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Sheila M. Brooks)::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::

Memorial Day for Marines at Afghanistan’s Helmand post honors fallen warriors

As the blistering sun sets, disappearing in the horizon, a solemn wind of silence breezes through the dusky sky along with the first hints of cool evening air here at this remotely located operating base in Helmand province at precisely 7:12 p.m., May 28, 2012. Flanked by a bugler, who plays the ceremonial hymn, Retreat, three formations of U.S.

Read More

An Afghan child watches as a squad of Marines patrol by the bazaar here May 3, 2012, on their way to the Afghan Uniformed Police precinct. Recently, 1st Platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, has been tasked to mentor and provide support to the local Afghan Uniformed Police precinct in northern Marjah. - An Afghan child watches as a squad of Marines patrol by the bazaar here May 3, 2012, on their way to the Afghan Uniformed Police precinct. Recently, 1st Platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, has been tasked to mentor and provide support to the local Afghan Uniformed Police precinct in northern Marjah.

Junior Marines ready for more responsibilities in rifle platoon

Lance Cpl. Taylor Adkins has been a Marine for nearly a year and a half and is already taking advantage of leadership opportunities.The 20-year-old rifleman said he knows that roles of being in charge of Marines or equipment isn’t something that’s handed out; rather it’s something Marines his rank are striving for.He’s currently serving with 1st

Read More

Afghan National Army Sgt. Jawad, a range instructor with 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, watches an ANA soldier during a live-fire range April 29, 2012. The range is completely Afghan led, with Marines providing only the range and targets.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - Afghan National Army Sgt. Jawad, a range instructor with 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, watches an ANA soldier during a live-fire range April 29, 2012. The range is completely Afghan led, with Marines providing only the range and targets.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::

Sighting in on the big picture: Afghans see independence

The unmistakable sound of gunfire breaks the mid-morning calm. The Afghan instructor paces behind several Afghan National Army soldiers, who are lying in the prone position. The sun is rising to their backs, casting long shadows, stretching before the green targets in front of them.He kneels down and positions the end of rifle squarely into the

Read More

Dharma, a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever, take a break during a patrol, April 25, 2012. Lance Cpl. Jeffery Rodriguez, a dog handler with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, exercises Dharma twice a day to keep her stamina up on patrols.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - Dharma, a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever, take a break during a patrol, April 25, 2012. Lance Cpl. Jeffery Rodriguez, a dog handler with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, exercises Dharma twice a day to keep her stamina up on patrols.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::

Georgia native goes above, beyond for man’s best friend

Many children beg their parents for a dog. The floppy ears and wagging tail seems to attract children to man’s best friend. But many parents know that caring for a dog means a lot of responsibility, training and effort.Dog handlers in the Marine Corps not only shoulder those same responsibilities — they volunteer for it. Then take on the

Read More

Lance Cpl. Brandon Debruler, a squad automatic weapon gunner with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, patrols through an open field with his Afghan National Army counterparts, April 26, 2012. Marines with 2nd Bn., 6th Marines participated in a support role during, the Afghan-led, Operation High Noon 15.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - Lance Cpl. Brandon Debruler, a squad automatic weapon gunner with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, patrols through an open field with his Afghan National Army counterparts, April 26, 2012. Marines with 2nd Bn., 6th Marines participated in a support role during, the Afghan-led, Operation High Noon 15.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::

Through dust, heat, Afghan National Army lead operation to success

The people in Trek Nawa, an area between the Marjah and Nawa district, were witnesses to an unusual sight April 23-26. The Afghan National Army dispatched about 190 soldiers from various tolais within 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, to areas throughout the expanding landscape. During this maneuver, Marines with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine

Read More

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)

Afghan forces, Marines connect with Kajaki citizens through weekly shura

As Afghan forces take responsibility for more civil and security operations in Kajaki, Marines serving with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, are staying connected with the local community.“One of the things we did when we first got to Kajaki was establish weekly shuras in some of the villages,” said 1st Lt. Kevin J. Fitzsimmons,

Read More

Captain Joshua B. Kling, commanding officer of Golf Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, inspects the post here, April 20, 2012. Marine and Afghan National Army officials toured the observation post, which is the northernmost Marine position in Kajaki. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz) - Captain Joshua B. Kling, commanding officer of Golf Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, inspects the post here, April 20, 2012. Marine and Afghan National Army officials toured the observation post, which is the northernmost Marine position in Kajaki. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz)

'Eyes on the enemy': Marines man northernmost position in Kajaki

Key commanders of Afghan and Marine forces took a tour of a vital partnered position in Kajaki, April 20.Brigadier General Abdul Wasea, commanding general of 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps, and Colonel John R. Shafer, commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 6, inspected the position and talked to Marines and Afghan National Army soldiers at

Read More

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)

Afghan forces prepare to take reigns in Kajaki security

On a damp and cloudy Kajaki morning, the Marines of 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment Police Advisory Team, drove up a steep mountainside and across a road atop the Kajaki Dam to instruct a rifle marksmanship class for Afghan Uniformed Police officers, April 19.The class was part of a larger effort by the Marines to prepare the Afghan National

Read More

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)

Nebraska Marine bears big burden on deployment

When a big job calls for a big machine, the Marines call on the expertise of a heavy equipment operator to get the job done.Corporal Christopher E. Gregory, 23, a native of Kimble, Neb., is one of the few heavy equipment operators here. That means whenever heavy equipment is needed, he needs to be ready.“There is never a set schedule out here,”

Read More