Graduates stand at attention during the Afghan Local Police (ALP) graduation ceremony at Forward Operating Base Marjah, Afghanistan, April 4, 2011. After 3 weeks of training with the U.S. Marine Corps Police Mentor Team, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, the Interim Security Critical Infrastructure members graduated to the newly constructed ALP. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher M. Carroll/Released) - Graduates stand at attention during the Afghan Local Police (ALP) graduation ceremony at Forward Operating Base Marjah, Afghanistan, April 4, 2011. After 3 weeks of training with the U.S. Marine Corps Police Mentor Team, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, the Interim Security Critical Infrastructure members graduated to the newly constructed ALP. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher M. Carroll/Released)

Hospital Apprentice Jesse Stephens, a native of Hartselle, Al., pauses to catch his breath after a firefight with insurgents in the Polpazai village, here, Aug. 11. The 19-year old Stephens, serves as a Navy corpsman with, 2nd Squad, 4th Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and is on his first deployment. - Hospital Apprentice Jesse Stephens, a native of Hartselle, Al., pauses to catch his breath after a firefight with insurgents in the Polpazai village, here, Aug. 11. The 19-year old Stephens, serves as a Navy corpsman with, 2nd Squad, 4th Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and is on his first deployment.

Cpl. Matthew Craven, quality control floor chief, Motor and Transportation section, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine, performs maintenance on a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle here, Aug. 8. The Marines of Motor T., 1/6, are responsible for resupply operations within the area, as well as the maintenance and upkeep of all vehicles within the battalion. - Cpl. Matthew Craven, quality control floor chief, Motor and Transportation section, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine, performs maintenance on a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle here, Aug. 8. The Marines of Motor T., 1/6, are responsible for resupply operations within the area, as well as the maintenance and upkeep of all vehicles within the battalion.

Lance Cpl. Jose Contreras quenches his thirst while completing the Rankel Workout here, Aug. 1. Contreras, a native of San Antonio, is a team leader with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. The Rankel workout is dedicated to Sgt. John Rankel, who died while deployed here in 2010. - Lance Cpl. Jose Contreras quenches his thirst while completing the Rankel Workout here, Aug. 1. Contreras, a native of San Antonio, is a team leader with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. The Rankel workout is dedicated to Sgt. John Rankel, who died while deployed here in 2010.

A local man speaks at the graduation of a farming cooperative course here, Aug. 14. Local farmers participated in the training. - A local man speaks at the graduation of a farming cooperative course here, Aug. 14. Local farmers participated in the training.

Maj. Gen. Ronald Bailey, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, presents an award to 1st Lt. Scott A. Whipple, a platoon commander with Hotel Company, 3rd Assault Amphibious Battalion, and wife Meera Whipple, July 18. Whipple received the award for saving an officer when he swam more than 400 meters in rough water from the shoreline to pull a drowning officer to safety. (U.S. Marines Corps photo by Pfc. Timothy J. Lenzo) - Maj. Gen. Ronald Bailey, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, presents an award to 1st Lt. Scott A. Whipple, a platoon commander with Hotel Company, 3rd Assault Amphibious Battalion, and wife Meera Whipple, July 18. Whipple received the award for saving an officer when he swam more than 400 meters in rough water from the shoreline to pull a drowning officer to safety. (U.S. Marines Corps photo by Pfc. Timothy J. Lenzo)

An Afghan National Army soldier with Route Clearance Company, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, scours an improvised explosive device course at Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 23. - An Afghan National Army soldier with Route Clearance Company, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, scours an improvised explosive device course at Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 23.

First Lieutenant Jason Gates, a mentor with Border Advisory Team-1 assigned to 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), talks to local nationals during a patrol, Jan. 27, 2011. Gates, a 33-year-old native of Douglas, Wyo., and fellow Marines patrolled with the Afghan Border Police to provide security and assistance to their Afghan neighbors.::r::::n:: - First Lieutenant Jason Gates, a mentor with Border Advisory Team-1 assigned to 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), talks to local nationals during a patrol, Jan. 27, 2011. Gates, a 33-year-old native of Douglas, Wyo., and fellow Marines patrolled with the Afghan Border Police to provide security and assistance to their Afghan neighbors.::r::::n::

Haji Abdul Manaf, the district governor of Nawa, addresses a crowd of elders during a shura, in Trek Nawa, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 19. Trek Nawa, a relatively ungoverned region between the Marjah and Nawa districts, is home to approximately 200 families from three Pashtun clans, the Alizai, Hasanzai and Barakzai. Few families officially own land there, and the region is loosely monitored in comparison to nearby districts. Coalition officials consider Trek Nawa a hideout for Taliban who have been driven out of Marjah and Nawa over the past year. However, for the first time, one clan from Trek Nawa expressed willingness to support several coalition initiatives, including the eradication of poppy and taking up arms against the Taliban. However, their tentative support is contingent upon support from local security forces. - Haji Abdul Manaf, the district governor of Nawa, addresses a crowd of elders during a shura, in Trek Nawa, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 19. Trek Nawa, a relatively ungoverned region between the Marjah and Nawa districts, is home to approximately 200 families from three Pashtun clans, the Alizai, Hasanzai and Barakzai. Few families officially own land there, and the region is loosely monitored in comparison to nearby districts. Coalition officials consider Trek Nawa a hideout for Taliban who have been driven out of Marjah and Nawa over the past year. However, for the first time, one clan from Trek Nawa expressed willingness to support several coalition initiatives, including the eradication of poppy and taking up arms against the Taliban. However, their tentative support is contingent upon support from local security forces.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Kevin Pollock, a corpsman with Delta Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), hands a bag of hygiene supplies to an Afghan buy after a hygiene class at a local school, Jan. 19, 2011. Pollock, a 21-year-old native of Tampa Bay, Florida, and his fellow Marines and sailors gave the children bags containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, hand soap, and shampoo. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Kevin Pollock, a corpsman with Delta Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), hands a bag of hygiene supplies to an Afghan buy after a hygiene class at a local school, Jan. 19, 2011. Pollock, a 21-year-old native of Tampa Bay, Florida, and his fellow Marines and sailors gave the children bags containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, hand soap, and shampoo.