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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)