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Musicians Kid Rock (left) and Zac Brown perform a song for service members, including Marines and sailors with Regimental Combat Team 5, aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Dec. 19. The musicians are part of a USO tour for service members deployed overseas during the holidays. Fellow musician Kellie Pickler and comedians Lewis Black, Kathleen Madigan, John Bowman and Tichina Arnold also performed for the service members.::r::::n:: - Musicians Kid Rock (left) and Zac Brown perform a song for service members, including Marines and sailors with Regimental Combat Team 5, aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Dec. 19. The musicians are part of a USO tour for service members deployed overseas during the holidays. Fellow musician Kellie Pickler and comedians Lewis Black, Kathleen Madigan, John Bowman and Tichina Arnold also performed for the service members.::r::::n::

Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Barrassco, 40, pitches to Petty Officer First Class Paul Campagna, 45, from Salem, Mass. inside the new batting cage built by the Seabees at Combat Outpost Ubaydi, Iraq, Dec. 12. Both sailors are builders with Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 27. The batting cage gives the Marines and sailors operating within sight of the Syrian border a way to relax when not operating in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.::r::::n:: - Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Barrassco, 40, pitches to Petty Officer First Class Paul Campagna, 45, from Salem, Mass. inside the new batting cage built by the Seabees at Combat Outpost Ubaydi, Iraq, Dec. 12. Both sailors are builders with Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 27. The batting cage gives the Marines and sailors operating within sight of the Syrian border a way to relax when not operating in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.::r::::n::

Sgt. Julian Bejarano, a 28-year-old section leader with Combined Anti-Armor Team Red, Weapons Company, Task Force 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, talks to Lt. Col. Hamid Kniyaf, battalion executive officer for the Iraqi border guards, about future training operations between the two elements in western al-Anbar province, Iraq, Dec. 18. The CAAT Marines plan to conduct training with the guards along the Iraqi and Syrian border to keep insurgents from crossing over the border.::r::::n:: - Sgt. Julian Bejarano, a 28-year-old section leader with Combined Anti-Armor Team Red, Weapons Company, Task Force 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, talks to Lt. Col. Hamid Kniyaf, battalion executive officer for the Iraqi border guards, about future training operations between the two elements in western al-Anbar province, Iraq, Dec. 18. The CAAT Marines plan to conduct training with the guards along the Iraqi and Syrian border to keep insurgents from crossing over the border.::r::::n::

Lance Cpl. Joseph T. McCarty, a 20-year-old combat engineer with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in support of Task Force 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, aims his field-expedient explosive toward targets at range at Combat Outpost Rawah, Iraq, Dec. 17. The demolition range was the first of a number of exercises the combat engineers plan to execute throughout the deployment to keep them proficient at their jobs while Iraqi Security Forces maintain control of Iraqâ??s security.::r::::n:: - Lance Cpl. Joseph T. McCarty, a 20-year-old combat engineer with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in support of Task Force 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, aims his field-expedient explosive toward targets at range at Combat Outpost Rawah, Iraq, Dec. 17. The demolition range was the first of a number of exercises the combat engineers plan to execute throughout the deployment to keep them proficient at their jobs while Iraqi Security Forces maintain control of Iraqâ??s security.::r::::n::

Iraqi Police from the Muallimeen IP Station pass out food bags during a humanitarian-aid operation in Fallujah, Iraq, Dec. 3. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Chris T. Mann)::r::::n::(Released)::r::::n:: - Iraqi Police from the Muallimeen IP Station pass out food bags during a humanitarian-aid operation in Fallujah, Iraq, Dec. 3. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Chris T. Mann)::r::::n::(Released)::r::::n::

Capt. Brian J. O’Shea, the company commander of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, speaks with the father and uncle of slain Iraqi Policeman Capt. Ali Rezaij, at their home in Jazeera, Iraq, Dec. 11. The Marines brought gifts for the family to help them through the winter months. - Capt. Brian J. O’Shea, the company commander of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, speaks with the father and uncle of slain Iraqi Policeman Capt. Ali Rezaij, at their home in Jazeera, Iraq, Dec. 11. The Marines brought gifts for the family to help them through the winter months.

An AH-1W Super Cobra bombards a target as Capt. Dave â??Penguinâ? Merrit, a 30-year-old air officer with Headquarters and Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, from Wilbraham, Mass., radios for the next pass over the target during an exercise at Combat Outpost Rawah, Iraq, Dec. 12. The exercise allowed the pilots and the Marines on the ground to maintain their skills while deployed.::r::::n:: - An AH-1W Super Cobra bombards a target as Capt. Dave â??Penguinâ? Merrit, a 30-year-old air officer with Headquarters and Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, from Wilbraham, Mass., radios for the next pass over the target during an exercise at Combat Outpost Rawah, Iraq, Dec. 12. The exercise allowed the pilots and the Marines on the ground to maintain their skills while deployed.::r::::n::

Two M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks patrol with Task Force Mech, Regimental Combat Team 5 in al-Anbar Province, Iraq, Nov. 29. Task Force Mech consists of Marines and sailors with Company A, 2nd Tank Battalion, in conjunction with elements of Company B, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Bn., and 1st Combat Engineer Bn. The Marines and sailors with Task Force Mech are conducting various missions in al-Anbar province to include presence patrols and humanitarian missions. - Two M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks patrol with Task Force Mech, Regimental Combat Team 5 in al-Anbar Province, Iraq, Nov. 29. Task Force Mech consists of Marines and sailors with Company A, 2nd Tank Battalion, in conjunction with elements of Company B, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Bn., and 1st Combat Engineer Bn. The Marines and sailors with Task Force Mech are conducting various missions in al-Anbar province to include presence patrols and humanitarian missions.

Cmdr. Gary Leigh, commander of Riverine Squadron 1, Regimental Combat Team 5, describes the features of the Mark 1 River Utility Craft to Staff Maj. Gen. Abdullah Mohammed Badir, commanding general of the 7th Iraqi Army Division, through an interpreter Dec. 16 at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. The boats will be used by Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police to patrol the Euphrates River and to maintain security on landmarks such as the Haditha Dam. ::r::::n:: - Cmdr. Gary Leigh, commander of Riverine Squadron 1, Regimental Combat Team 5, describes the features of the Mark 1 River Utility Craft to Staff Maj. Gen. Abdullah Mohammed Badir, commanding general of the 7th Iraqi Army Division, through an interpreter Dec. 16 at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. The boats will be used by Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police to patrol the Euphrates River and to maintain security on landmarks such as the Haditha Dam. ::r::::n::

A young Iraqi girl eats a piece of candy that was given to her by Marines with Company A, 2nd Tank Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 during a humanitarian mission in al-Anbar province, Iraq, Dec. 10. The Marines and sailors with Company A conducted operations in the area as part of Task Force Mech, RCT-5. Conducting security patrols and interacting with the local Iraqi civilians have afforded the service members an opportunity to distribute food, water and medical supplies. The Marines and sailors with Task Force Mech have also provided medical care to the local Iraqis - A young Iraqi girl eats a piece of candy that was given to her by Marines with Company A, 2nd Tank Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 during a humanitarian mission in al-Anbar province, Iraq, Dec. 10. The Marines and sailors with Company A conducted operations in the area as part of Task Force Mech, RCT-5. Conducting security patrols and interacting with the local Iraqi civilians have afforded the service members an opportunity to distribute food, water and medical supplies. The Marines and sailors with Task Force Mech have also provided medical care to the local Iraqis