Lance Cpl. Cody Goebel, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, marches in front of the colors during his Silver Star award ceremony, Dec. 14, 2011. Goebel was awarded the Silver Star for actions while he was in Afghanistan with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Goebel was shot in the neck while on post in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Ignoring his wound, he returned fire and refused medical attention until he was properly relieved. Goebel will return to Afghanistan next year with 2nd Battalion. - Lance Cpl. Cody Goebel, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, marches in front of the colors during his Silver Star award ceremony, Dec. 14, 2011. Goebel was awarded the Silver Star for actions while he was in Afghanistan with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Goebel was shot in the neck while on post in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Ignoring his wound, he returned fire and refused medical attention until he was properly relieved. Goebel will return to Afghanistan next year with 2nd Battalion.

U.S. Marines from 2nd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment stand atop Patrol Base Barcha following a security patrol here, Dec. 12. The Marines pictured (left to right) are Lance Cpl. James Blomstran and his improvised explosive device detection dog Sage, Sgt. Matt Garst and Lance Cpls. Ryan Gerrity and Nicholas Dumke. The four Marines saved nine Afghans from a canal during a Dec. 2 night patrol. Near the end of their patrol, a vehicle carrying an Afghan family struck an Afghan National Army soldier and sent both plunging into the frigid canal. The ANA soldiers provided security while the 2nd Platoon Marines braved the swiftly moving current to recover the accident victims. Blomstran, 22, is from Cortland, Ohio; Garst, 23, is from Charlotte, N.C.; Gerrity, 21, is from Cranford, N.J.; and Dumke, 20, is from Huron, S.D. - U.S. Marines from 2nd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment stand atop Patrol Base Barcha following a security patrol here, Dec. 12. The Marines pictured (left to right) are Lance Cpl. James Blomstran and his improvised explosive device detection dog Sage, Sgt. Matt Garst and Lance Cpls. Ryan Gerrity and Nicholas Dumke. The four Marines saved nine Afghans from a canal during a Dec. 2 night patrol. Near the end of their patrol, a vehicle carrying an Afghan family struck an Afghan National Army soldier and sent both plunging into the frigid canal. The ANA soldiers provided security while the 2nd Platoon Marines braved the swiftly moving current to recover the accident victims. Blomstran, 22, is from Cortland, Ohio; Garst, 23, is from Charlotte, N.C.; Gerrity, 21, is from Cranford, N.J.; and Dumke, 20, is from Huron, S.D.

U.S. Marines with the air interdiction force composed of 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, and 2nd Bn., 11th Marines, pause for a break as a CH-53 Sea Stallion refuels during an Afghan Border Police led clearing operation here, Dec. 7. The AIF circles high in sky above, searching for suspicious vehicles or personnel, and plays a unique role in counter-insurgency operations in southern Helmand. - U.S. Marines with the air interdiction force composed of 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, and 2nd Bn., 11th Marines, pause for a break as a CH-53 Sea Stallion refuels during an Afghan Border Police led clearing operation here, Dec. 7. The AIF circles high in sky above, searching for suspicious vehicles or personnel, and plays a unique role in counter-insurgency operations in southern Helmand.

An Afghan National Army soldier and U.S. Marines stand with Sayed Gul, a 15-year old Afghan amputee, during a visit to the Baluch Jan village here, Dec. 2. The Marines ‚ (from left) Cpl. Travis Hayes, Gunnery Sgt. Todd Leahey and Staff Sgt. Christopher Balance ‚ are assigned to Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, at nearby Patrol Base 00. Gul lost half of his left leg when he was struck by a 20-pound improvised explosive device in March near the patrol base. He was evacuated by helicopter to receive three weeks of advanced care at Camp Dwyer‚s Combat Support Hospital. After returning to his village and becoming extremely sick, he received life-saving care from Weapons Co. Marines and corpsmen. He returns to them weekly for continued care. ‚If the Marines weren‚t here, maybe I‚d have lost my life because nobody else would‚ve been able to help me,‚ Gul said. - An Afghan National Army soldier and U.S. Marines stand with Sayed Gul, a 15-year old Afghan amputee, during a visit to the Baluch Jan village here, Dec. 2. The Marines ‚ (from left) Cpl. Travis Hayes, Gunnery Sgt. Todd Leahey and Staff Sgt. Christopher Balance ‚ are assigned to Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, at nearby Patrol Base 00. Gul lost half of his left leg when he was struck by a 20-pound improvised explosive device in March near the patrol base. He was evacuated by helicopter to receive three weeks of advanced care at Camp Dwyer‚s Combat Support Hospital. After returning to his village and becoming extremely sick, he received life-saving care from Weapons Co. Marines and corpsmen. He returns to them weekly for continued care. ‚If the Marines weren‚t here, maybe I‚d have lost my life because nobody else would‚ve been able to help me,‚ Gul said.

Cpl. Miles E. Cooley, a team leader for the sniper platoon, Headquarters and Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, tests the rigging that has been placed inside the door of a Navy Sikorsky HH-60H Rescue Hawk at Camp Horno, Nov. 29. Marines from the platoon were given the rare opportunity to go up in a helicopter and practice allocating targets through their scopes. The rigging is one of the most important parts of the exercise and using different ways to set up is vital for them because they may employ these types of tactics on their upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. - Cpl. Miles E. Cooley, a team leader for the sniper platoon, Headquarters and Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, tests the rigging that has been placed inside the door of a Navy Sikorsky HH-60H Rescue Hawk at Camp Horno, Nov. 29. Marines from the platoon were given the rare opportunity to go up in a helicopter and practice allocating targets through their scopes. The rigging is one of the most important parts of the exercise and using different ways to set up is vital for them because they may employ these types of tactics on their upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan - A member of the Afghan National Police searches a local elder as he enters the district center here for the funeral of District Chief of Police Lt. Col. Sayfullah Khan Rashidi, Nov. 13. Sayfullah died when his vehicle was destroyed by an improvised explosive device that detonated while he traveled on a Garmsir road, Nov. 6. Two other ANP members were killed in the explosion, which occurred on the first day of the three-day Islamic festival of sacrifice Eid al-Adha. Amidst the challenging circumstances, 25-year-old District Governor Mohammad Fahim said Garmsir’s stability remains unshaken by Sayfullah’s death. “Lt. Col. Sayfullah was brave and it’s unfortunate we lost him, but we still have security and stability in Garmsir — this hasn’t changed,” Fahim said. Photo by Cpl. Colby Brown - GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan - A member of the Afghan National Police searches a local elder as he enters the district center here for the funeral of District Chief of Police Lt. Col. Sayfullah Khan Rashidi, Nov. 13. Sayfullah died when his vehicle was destroyed by an improvised explosive device that detonated while he traveled on a Garmsir road, Nov. 6. Two other ANP members were killed in the explosion, which occurred on the first day of the three-day Islamic festival of sacrifice Eid al-Adha. Amidst the challenging circumstances, 25-year-old District Governor Mohammad Fahim said Garmsir’s stability remains unshaken by Sayfullah’s death. “Lt. Col. Sayfullah was brave and it’s unfortunate we lost him, but we still have security and stability in Garmsir — this hasn’t changed,” Fahim said. Photo by Cpl. Colby Brown

Cpl. Eric McMullen, a combat engineer with Alpha Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 1 and 21-year-old native of Lake Tahoe, Calif., guides a bulldozer to fill a culvert here, Nov. 12. The Marines are currently repairing the support structure on a bridge located at a major intersection that connects Marjah and Nawa districts. The bridge receives heavy foot and vehicle traffic due to the local bazaar, as well as Afghan and coalition military convoys. - Cpl. Eric McMullen, a combat engineer with Alpha Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 1 and 21-year-old native of Lake Tahoe, Calif., guides a bulldozer to fill a culvert here, Nov. 12. The Marines are currently repairing the support structure on a bridge located at a major intersection that connects Marjah and Nawa districts. The bridge receives heavy foot and vehicle traffic due to the local bazaar, as well as Afghan and coalition military convoys.

Nawa District Governor Abdul Manaf (far left) gives a tour of a local bazaar to Ambassador Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, (second from right) here, Oct. 31. Crocker used the visit as an opportunity to see firsthand the progress Afghan security forces and the district government are making in Nawa. “We have been pleased to be your partners in security and economic support, but the real reason for the success here is all of you,” Crocker said in an address to local district leaders and residents. Your courage and commitment to make this community and district a better place is what accounts for the success.” During the ambassador's visit, Manaf highlighted plans for Nawa's future, emphsizing his enduring objectives of peace, poppy eradication, education and security. - Nawa District Governor Abdul Manaf (far left) gives a tour of a local bazaar to Ambassador Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, (second from right) here, Oct. 31. Crocker used the visit as an opportunity to see firsthand the progress Afghan security forces and the district government are making in Nawa. “We have been pleased to be your partners in security and economic support, but the real reason for the success here is all of you,” Crocker said in an address to local district leaders and residents. Your courage and commitment to make this community and district a better place is what accounts for the success.” During the ambassador's visit, Manaf highlighted plans for Nawa's future, emphsizing his enduring objectives of peace, poppy eradication, education and security.

Lance Cpl. Barney Oldfield, a rifleman with Jump Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, uses a bottle cap to mark the location of a metal object during metal detector training on Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, Nov. 3, 2011. After departing home in Hawaii from Oct. 27 through Nov. 1, the Marines and sailors of “America’s Battalion” arrived in Afghanistan’s Helmand province to begin their seven-month deployment in support of Regimental Combat Team 5. They are filtering into the province’s Garmsir District to relieve fellow Hawaii-based 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, who arrived here in April. Oldfield, 23, is from Longmont, Colo. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Reece Lodder / RELEASED) - Lance Cpl. Barney Oldfield, a rifleman with Jump Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, uses a bottle cap to mark the location of a metal object during metal detector training on Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, Nov. 3, 2011. After departing home in Hawaii from Oct. 27 through Nov. 1, the Marines and sailors of “America’s Battalion” arrived in Afghanistan’s Helmand province to begin their seven-month deployment in support of Regimental Combat Team 5. They are filtering into the province’s Garmsir District to relieve fellow Hawaii-based 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, who arrived here in April. Oldfield, 23, is from Longmont, Colo. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Reece Lodder / RELEASED)

Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, commander of 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, accompanied by his wife Filomena, acts as a military marshal 143rd Annual Italian Heritage Parade, Oct. 9, 2011. Marines and sailors with the expeditionary force traveled to San Francisco aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard to participate in Fleet Week to showcase the Navy and Marine Corps’ amphibious nature, readiness and ability to respond to disasters. - Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, commander of 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, accompanied by his wife Filomena, acts as a military marshal 143rd Annual Italian Heritage Parade, Oct. 9, 2011. Marines and sailors with the expeditionary force traveled to San Francisco aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard to participate in Fleet Week to showcase the Navy and Marine Corps’ amphibious nature, readiness and ability to respond to disasters.