Local sheikhs or tribal leaders from Karmah, Iraq, held a meeting with Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, Aug. 20 at the Iraqi Army Base located in the city. These local meetings were halted for almost two months because of a suicide vest attack that killed several local leaders and three Marines. (Official Marine Corps photo by 1st Lieutenant Andrew W. Duncan) - Local sheikhs or tribal leaders from Karmah, Iraq, held a meeting with Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, Aug. 20 at the Iraqi Army Base located in the city. These local meetings were halted for almost two months because of a suicide vest attack that killed several local leaders and three Marines. (Official Marine Corps photo by 1st Lieutenant Andrew W. Duncan)

Lance Cpl. Michael Stangelo, a rifleman with Company F, Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Regimental Combat Team 5, climbs a barrier while en route to the civic center in Rawah, Iraq, August 17. Marines with Company F have moved out of the city of Rawah, but still patrol the streets of the city to assist the Iraqi Security Forces.::r::::n::::r::::n:: - Lance Cpl. Michael Stangelo, a rifleman with Company F, Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Regimental Combat Team 5, climbs a barrier while en route to the civic center in Rawah, Iraq, August 17. Marines with Company F have moved out of the city of Rawah, but still patrol the streets of the city to assist the Iraqi Security Forces.::r::::n::::r::::n::

RAMADI, Iraq - Marines and sailors from 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, take part in a three-mile formation run in honor of fallen comrades August 24. “Recently, we came together as a unit to run for our fallen comrades in an event called ‘Run for the Fallen,’” said Gunnery Sgt. Frederick White, the Headquarters and Service Company gunnery sergeant for the battalion, who helped coordinate the run. “We lost two of our Marines over here, and we just wanted to take time to pay tribute to them.” (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Casey Jones) (RELEASED) - RAMADI, Iraq - Marines and sailors from 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, take part in a three-mile formation run in honor of fallen comrades August 24. “Recently, we came together as a unit to run for our fallen comrades in an event called ‘Run for the Fallen,’” said Gunnery Sgt. Frederick White, the Headquarters and Service Company gunnery sergeant for the battalion, who helped coordinate the run. “We lost two of our Marines over here, and we just wanted to take time to pay tribute to them.” (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Casey Jones) (RELEASED)

Private First Class Joe N. Viruet, a field radio operator with Jump Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, provides security during an operation in Hit, Iraq, Aug. 21. Marines with Jump Platoon have been performing combat patrols through Hit to assist the battalionâ??s law enforcement professional. The platoon has been conducting the missions when they are not escorting the battalionâ??s commanding officer through their large area of operations.::r::::n:: - Private First Class Joe N. Viruet, a field radio operator with Jump Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, provides security during an operation in Hit, Iraq, Aug. 21. Marines with Jump Platoon have been performing combat patrols through Hit to assist the battalionâ??s law enforcement professional. The platoon has been conducting the missions when they are not escorting the battalionâ??s commanding officer through their large area of operations.::r::::n::

KHALIDYAH, Iraq (August 24, 2008) – Travis Pruitt, a city management advisor with the embedded provincial reconstruction team from Ramadi, discusses potential progress in governance and future projects to improve essential services and foster economic development, Aug. 24. This was the area’s director general’s opportunity to disclose their respective field’s needs for fiscal year 2009’s budget. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Scott Schmidt) - KHALIDYAH, Iraq (August 24, 2008) – Travis Pruitt, a city management advisor with the embedded provincial reconstruction team from Ramadi, discusses potential progress in governance and future projects to improve essential services and foster economic development, Aug. 24. This was the area’s director general’s opportunity to disclose their respective field’s needs for fiscal year 2009’s budget. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Scott Schmidt)

A bulldozer pushes up dirt to create a berm Aug. 13 along the Iraq and Syrian border. Approximately 30,000 yards of berm were created during an almost two-week-long mission. Marines with Support Platoon, Company A, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 surveyed the entire border, filling in gaps on the berm in order to prevent people from crossing the border illegally. - A bulldozer pushes up dirt to create a berm Aug. 13 along the Iraq and Syrian border. Approximately 30,000 yards of berm were created during an almost two-week-long mission. Marines with Support Platoon, Company A, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 surveyed the entire border, filling in gaps on the berm in order to prevent people from crossing the border illegally.

Two of the six fragmentation mines that were discovered by Route Clearance Platoon, Company A, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, are detonated Aug. 20 on the Iraq and Syrian border. Route Clearance Platoonâ??s responsibilities normally include patrolling the streets of Iraq ensuring the streets are safe for Coalition forces. Though trained in dismantling explosives, this is the first time this deployment that the platoon has detonated any explosives they have found. - Two of the six fragmentation mines that were discovered by Route Clearance Platoon, Company A, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, are detonated Aug. 20 on the Iraq and Syrian border. Route Clearance Platoonâ??s responsibilities normally include patrolling the streets of Iraq ensuring the streets are safe for Coalition forces. Though trained in dismantling explosives, this is the first time this deployment that the platoon has detonated any explosives they have found.

FARAH PROVINCE, Delaram, Afghanistan (July 20, 2008) – Gunnery Sgt. Omar Palaciosreal and 1st Lt. Erik M. Lukas calm Miriam, a three-year-old Afghan girl, during a Marine-led health cooperative called Medical Capabilities (MEDCAP) event here. The two Marines, along with other service members assigned to TF 2/7, were instrumental in removing an infected boil from the girl’s neck. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ray Lewis) - FARAH PROVINCE, Delaram, Afghanistan (July 20, 2008) – Gunnery Sgt. Omar Palaciosreal and 1st Lt. Erik M. Lukas calm Miriam, a three-year-old Afghan girl, during a Marine-led health cooperative called Medical Capabilities (MEDCAP) event here. The two Marines, along with other service members assigned to TF 2/7, were instrumental in removing an infected boil from the girl’s neck. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ray Lewis)

A Marine working at the chow hall in Combat Outpost Rawah, Iraq, dishes up green peas to servicemembers August 19. Currently the chow hall serves two hot meals per day and cold-cut sandwiches, fruit and snacks for lunch. A new chow hall, along with other facilities such as a gym and living quarters will improve the quality of life at the outpost for the Marines. - A Marine working at the chow hall in Combat Outpost Rawah, Iraq, dishes up green peas to servicemembers August 19. Currently the chow hall serves two hot meals per day and cold-cut sandwiches, fruit and snacks for lunch. A new chow hall, along with other facilities such as a gym and living quarters will improve the quality of life at the outpost for the Marines.

Seaman Efren Estrada, a corpsman with Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Regimental Combat Team 5, examines a simulated casualty inside a new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Ambulance at Camp Al Qaâ??im, Iraq, August 15. After the manufacturers of the MRAP redesigned the standard equipment layout, the MRAP Ambulance has vital sign machines, hydraulic litter skids, suction machines and medical supply kits. - Seaman Efren Estrada, a corpsman with Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Regimental Combat Team 5, examines a simulated casualty inside a new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Ambulance at Camp Al Qaâ??im, Iraq, August 15. After the manufacturers of the MRAP redesigned the standard equipment layout, the MRAP Ambulance has vital sign machines, hydraulic litter skids, suction machines and medical supply kits.