Staff Sgt. Jaime Benavides, linguist manager, and Cpl. James Whitehead, administrative clerk, both with Headquarters Company, Regimental Combat Team 5, unload care packages during a dust storm on Camp Ripper, Iraq, June 30. The care packages where sent by Words of Comfort, Hope and Promise, a military outreach group in San Clemente, Calif. Since arriving in Iraq in January, RCT-5 has received hundreds of care packages from groups and communities in Southern California.::r::::n:: - Staff Sgt. Jaime Benavides, linguist manager, and Cpl. James Whitehead, administrative clerk, both with Headquarters Company, Regimental Combat Team 5, unload care packages during a dust storm on Camp Ripper, Iraq, June 30. The care packages where sent by Words of Comfort, Hope and Promise, a military outreach group in San Clemente, Calif. Since arriving in Iraq in January, RCT-5 has received hundreds of care packages from groups and communities in Southern California.::r::::n::
Lance Cpl. Chris McKenzie, 23, from Moore, N.C., serves with Headquarters Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Regimental Combat Team 5. - Lance Cpl. Chris McKenzie, 23, from Moore, N.C., serves with Headquarters Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Regimental Combat Team 5.
Gunnery Sgt. Curtis T. Rinker, company gunnery sergeant, Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, watches as the sign of the new internet and phone center is mounted after the center was named after him at Camp Korean Village, Iraq, May 28. The building for the new internet and phone center was named after Rinker because of his hard work building it. The new center, which took about a month to complete, has more than 16 computers and 10 phones for service members to use.::r::::n:: - Gunnery Sgt. Curtis T. Rinker, company gunnery sergeant, Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, watches as the sign of the new internet and phone center is mounted after the center was named after him at Camp Korean Village, Iraq, May 28. The building for the new internet and phone center was named after Rinker because of his hard work building it. The new center, which took about a month to complete, has more than 16 computers and 10 phones for service members to use.::r::::n::
Navy Lt. Joel Degraeve, the chaplain with Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, carries a package sent by the newly instituted Parent Network of the battalion at Camp Al Qa'im, Iraq, June 23. The network started shortly before the battalion's deployment to western Al Anbar province and continues to expand all over the United States. The network, which has over 1,000 parents of Marines with 2nd Bn., 2nd Marines, provides a way for parents to obtain information on their Marines. - Navy Lt. Joel Degraeve, the chaplain with Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, carries a package sent by the newly instituted Parent Network of the battalion at Camp Al Qa'im, Iraq, June 23. The network started shortly before the battalion's deployment to western Al Anbar province and continues to expand all over the United States. The network, which has over 1,000 parents of Marines with 2nd Bn., 2nd Marines, provides a way for parents to obtain information on their Marines.
Lance Cpl. Will Cumming, a machine gunner with Headquarters and Service Company, Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, gets a radio check through his headset while working at Combat Outpost Rawah, Iraq, June 20. Despite being a machine gunner, when Cumming arrived at COP Rawah he was put at the flight line and is responsible for any cargo or personnel traveling through the area by helicopter. - Lance Cpl. Will Cumming, a machine gunner with Headquarters and Service Company, Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, gets a radio check through his headset while working at Combat Outpost Rawah, Iraq, June 20. Despite being a machine gunner, when Cumming arrived at COP Rawah he was put at the flight line and is responsible for any cargo or personnel traveling through the area by helicopter.
Marines with Alpha Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 arrive back to Camp Korean Village, Iraq, June 23, after an initial meeting with local leaders in the town of Nukhayb. During the mission, Marines with Alpha Co. and members of SEAL Team 3, visited the mayor of the town, Sheik Lawrence Mutib Hazan, and discussed ways to better the town and living conditions for the people. ::r::::n:: - Marines with Alpha Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 arrive back to Camp Korean Village, Iraq, June 23, after an initial meeting with local leaders in the town of Nukhayb. During the mission, Marines with Alpha Co. and members of SEAL Team 3, visited the mayor of the town, Sheik Lawrence Mutib Hazan, and discussed ways to better the town and living conditions for the people. ::r::::n::
Cpl. Isaac M. Hanson, 30, an assaultman with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, searches the passenger area of a vehicle in Hit, Iraq, June 21. Marines detained the driver of the vehicle after they confirmed he was a known insurgent. Marines were able to detain three additional insurgents by the end of the day that will help make Hit safer for everyone.::r::::n:: - Cpl. Isaac M. Hanson, 30, an assaultman with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, searches the passenger area of a vehicle in Hit, Iraq, June 21. Marines detained the driver of the vehicle after they confirmed he was a known insurgent. Marines were able to detain three additional insurgents by the end of the day that will help make Hit safer for everyone.::r::::n::
Marines with 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, and Iraqi Police conduct a joint patrol though the streets of Rutbah, Iraq, June 28. The members of the battery have been conducting consolidated patrols with the IP of Rutbah to improve the policemenâ??s skill at conducting patrols. - Marines with 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, and Iraqi Police conduct a joint patrol though the streets of Rutbah, Iraq, June 28. The members of the battery have been conducting consolidated patrols with the IP of Rutbah to improve the policemenâ??s skill at conducting patrols.
Gunnery Sgt. Daniel T. Jones, a platoon sergeant with Mike Battery, 14th Marine Regiment, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, hammers a door to a storage space during a cache search in Rutbah, Iraq, June 20. Although the city of Rutbah has become safer, the insurgency is still out there and the Marines with the Chattanooga, Tenn., based unit will be there to there to find them.::r::::n:: - Gunnery Sgt. Daniel T. Jones, a platoon sergeant with Mike Battery, 14th Marine Regiment, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, hammers a door to a storage space during a cache search in Rutbah, Iraq, June 20. Although the city of Rutbah has become safer, the insurgency is still out there and the Marines with the Chattanooga, Tenn., based unit will be there to there to find them.::r::::n::
Amenah Al'a Thabit, 3, stands close to her mother, Maha Muhamed Bandar, during a visit with Marines with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, at her home in Haditha, Iraq, June 20 . Amenah traveled to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., in January to receive surgery to correct a congenital heart condition. She was the first of three children who have received the surgery. Months after the surgery, she is now running around with her siblings with no problem. ::r::::n:: - Amenah Al'a Thabit, 3, stands close to her mother, Maha Muhamed Bandar, during a visit with Marines with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, at her home in Haditha, Iraq, June 20 . Amenah traveled to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., in January to receive surgery to correct a congenital heart condition. She was the first of three children who have received the surgery. Months after the surgery, she is now running around with her siblings with no problem. ::r::::n::