Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commanding general, Multi-National Corps Iraq, speaks with Cpl. Michael Samuel, an administration clerk from Tuscaloosa, Ala., with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, during a holiday visit to Camp Baharia in Fallujah, Iraq, Dec. 25. - Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commanding general, Multi-National Corps Iraq, speaks with Cpl. Michael Samuel, an administration clerk from Tuscaloosa, Ala., with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, during a holiday visit to Camp Baharia in Fallujah, Iraq, Dec. 25.

Marines and sailors with Task Force 3rd Batalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 celebrated the holidays at Combat Outpost Ubaydi, Iraq, with a feast full of turkey, ham, desserts and other festive seasonal foods Dec. 25. Even though the Marines are away from families, a full schedule and camaraderie with other Marines have made it easier to cope with the distance.::r::::n:: - Marines and sailors with Task Force 3rd Batalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 celebrated the holidays at Combat Outpost Ubaydi, Iraq, with a feast full of turkey, ham, desserts and other festive seasonal foods Dec. 25. Even though the Marines are away from families, a full schedule and camaraderie with other Marines have made it easier to cope with the distance.::r::::n::

Two Marines with General Support Platoon, Company B, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, make use of the early sunrise light and unload pre-fabricated rafter forms from the back of a trailer near the city of Haditha, Iraq, Dec 15. The engineers worked in three teams of cutting, off-loading and constructing in order to erect the wooden huts in a timely fashion. The huts will be used by Iraqi Security Forces who will man a nearby Traffic Control Point. ::r::::n:: - Two Marines with General Support Platoon, Company B, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, make use of the early sunrise light and unload pre-fabricated rafter forms from the back of a trailer near the city of Haditha, Iraq, Dec 15. The engineers worked in three teams of cutting, off-loading and constructing in order to erect the wooden huts in a timely fashion. The huts will be used by Iraqi Security Forces who will man a nearby Traffic Control Point. ::r::::n::

Police officers training to be officers with the al-Anbar Iraqi River Police run ashore after practicing an insert technique Dec. 21 on Lake Thar Thar, Iraq. Sailors with Detachment 3, Riverine Squadron 1, Regimental Combat Team 5 conducted a week-long course to instruct select Iraqi policemen on how to conduct independent boat operations on the lake and surrounding waterways. ::r::::n:: - Police officers training to be officers with the al-Anbar Iraqi River Police run ashore after practicing an insert technique Dec. 21 on Lake Thar Thar, Iraq. Sailors with Detachment 3, Riverine Squadron 1, Regimental Combat Team 5 conducted a week-long course to instruct select Iraqi policemen on how to conduct independent boat operations on the lake and surrounding waterways. ::r::::n::

Petty Officer 2nd Class Gerad Hardin, religious programs specialist with Regimental Combat Team 5, sorts donated stockings to be distributed to Marines and sailors before Christmas. Hardin and Cpl. Alen Parkerson, chaplains assistant, collect and sort through scores of care packages daily so that RCT-5 personnel can readily take items they need.::r::::n:: - Petty Officer 2nd Class Gerad Hardin, religious programs specialist with Regimental Combat Team 5, sorts donated stockings to be distributed to Marines and sailors before Christmas. Hardin and Cpl. Alen Parkerson, chaplains assistant, collect and sort through scores of care packages daily so that RCT-5 personnel can readily take items they need.::r::::n::

Lt. Col. Geoff Rollins, commanding officer, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, presents Col. Abbas Aiyed Raddad, commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion, 29th Iraqi Army Brigade with a commemorative coin at the conclusion of the district's regional security meeting Dec. 20. This meeting at H3, an Iraqi Army outpost in western al-Anbar Province, was the first of several scheduled meetings for Iraqi and Coalition leadership. ::r::::n:: - Lt. Col. Geoff Rollins, commanding officer, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, presents Col. Abbas Aiyed Raddad, commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion, 29th Iraqi Army Brigade with a commemorative coin at the conclusion of the district's regional security meeting Dec. 20. This meeting at H3, an Iraqi Army outpost in western al-Anbar Province, was the first of several scheduled meetings for Iraqi and Coalition leadership. ::r::::n::

Staff Sgt. Edward Jacobs (left), 27, chief scout with Scout Sniper Platoon, Task Force 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, directs a sniper to a new target during a training exercise at Combat Outpost Rawah, Iraq, Dec. 18. The purpose of the training was to increase the proficiency levels of the snipers, while adapting both their weapons systems and themselves to the climate changes of a new area of operations. - Staff Sgt. Edward Jacobs (left), 27, chief scout with Scout Sniper Platoon, Task Force 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, directs a sniper to a new target during a training exercise at Combat Outpost Rawah, Iraq, Dec. 18. The purpose of the training was to increase the proficiency levels of the snipers, while adapting both their weapons systems and themselves to the climate changes of a new area of operations.

Cpl. Jeremy C. Olson, 22, tech shop supervisor for Headquarters and Service Company, Task Force 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, installs communication gear into a vehicle at Combat Outpost Ubaydi, Iraq, Dec. 18. From running wires and maintaining internet connectivity to fixing radios, the communications Marines work around the clock.::r::::n:: - Cpl. Jeremy C. Olson, 22, tech shop supervisor for Headquarters and Service Company, Task Force 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, installs communication gear into a vehicle at Combat Outpost Ubaydi, Iraq, Dec. 18. From running wires and maintaining internet connectivity to fixing radios, the communications Marines work around the clock.::r::::n::

Marines from Company C, Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, load equipment from Karmah Iraqi Police Station December 18. Marines departed KIPS throughout December as Iraqi police have progressed their operational capabilities and no longer need direct assistance from Coalition Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps Released) - Marines from Company C, Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, load equipment from Karmah Iraqi Police Station December 18. Marines departed KIPS throughout December as Iraqi police have progressed their operational capabilities and no longer need direct assistance from Coalition Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps Released)

Iraqi Police from several precincts in Fallujah, Iraq, take part in medical training at the Joint Command Center in Fallujah, Dec. 19. Navy Corpsmen with Headquarter Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, taught a four-day Combat Life Saver course to the policemen. - Iraqi Police from several precincts in Fallujah, Iraq, take part in medical training at the Joint Command Center in Fallujah, Dec. 19. Navy Corpsmen with Headquarter Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, taught a four-day Combat Life Saver course to the policemen.