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Corporal Christopher E. Gregory, a heavy equipment operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 4, extends the arm of his Millennia Military Vehicle to lift supplies for Marines here, April 11, 2012. Gregory, a native of Kimble, Neb., uses several large machines to move heavy loads around the base. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz) - Corporal Christopher E. Gregory, a heavy equipment operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 4, extends the arm of his Millennia Military Vehicle to lift supplies for Marines here, April 11, 2012. Gregory, a native of Kimble, Neb., uses several large machines to move heavy loads around the base. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz)

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Derick Clark, a kennel supervisor with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and 26-year-old native of Hillsdale, Mich., comforts Yeager, an improvised explosive device detection dog, as they wait for the beginning of a memorial service in honor of Lance Cpl. Abraham Tarwoe, a dog handler and mortarman who served with Weapons Company, 2nd Bn., 9th Marines, here, April 22, 2012. Tarwoe, who became Yeager’s handler in July 2011, was killed in action during a dismounted patrol in support of combat operations in Helmand province’s Marjah district, April 12. Tarwoe’s fellow Marines remember him for his contagious laughter and smile, and his unfaltering courage on the battlefield. - U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Derick Clark, a kennel supervisor with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and 26-year-old native of Hillsdale, Mich., comforts Yeager, an improvised explosive device detection dog, as they wait for the beginning of a memorial service in honor of Lance Cpl. Abraham Tarwoe, a dog handler and mortarman who served with Weapons Company, 2nd Bn., 9th Marines, here, April 22, 2012. Tarwoe, who became Yeager’s handler in July 2011, was killed in action during a dismounted patrol in support of combat operations in Helmand province’s Marjah district, April 12. Tarwoe’s fellow Marines remember him for his contagious laughter and smile, and his unfaltering courage on the battlefield.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Cortez Greene (left), 21, from West Helena, Ark., Lance Cpl. Tyler Riddle (center), 19, from Baltimore, Md., and Cpl. Jacob Morris (right), 22, from Iowa Park, Texas, an electrician and motor transport Marines with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepare to load a refrigerator onto the bed of a 7-ton truck while retrograding military equipment here, April 15, 2012, in preparation for the position’s transfer to Afghan forces. Over the last 16 months, Afghan and coalition forces employed Combat Outpost Torbert as a key location for stabilization and the growth of governance in the once-volatile Banadar region of Helmand province’s Garmsir district. The nearing assumption of lead security responsibility in Garmsir by Afghan forces enabled Marines with Weapons Company, 3rd Bn., 3rd Marines, to transfer COP Torbert to Afghan Border Police, April 20. The position was named in honor of fallen Marine Cpl. Eric M. Torbert, Jr., a 25-year-old combat engineer from Lancaster, Pa., who was killed by an improvised explosive device in Banadar, Dec. 18, 2010. Though COP Torbert is now run by Afghan forces, they’ve honored Cpl. Torbert’s sacrifice by maintaining the position’s name. - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Cortez Greene (left), 21, from West Helena, Ark., Lance Cpl. Tyler Riddle (center), 19, from Baltimore, Md., and Cpl. Jacob Morris (right), 22, from Iowa Park, Texas, an electrician and motor transport Marines with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, prepare to load a refrigerator onto the bed of a 7-ton truck while retrograding military equipment here, April 15, 2012, in preparation for the position’s transfer to Afghan forces. Over the last 16 months, Afghan and coalition forces employed Combat Outpost Torbert as a key location for stabilization and the growth of governance in the once-volatile Banadar region of Helmand province’s Garmsir district. The nearing assumption of lead security responsibility in Garmsir by Afghan forces enabled Marines with Weapons Company, 3rd Bn., 3rd Marines, to transfer COP Torbert to Afghan Border Police, April 20. The position was named in honor of fallen Marine Cpl. Eric M. Torbert, Jr., a 25-year-old combat engineer from Lancaster, Pa., who was killed by an improvised explosive device in Banadar, Dec. 18, 2010. Though COP Torbert is now run by Afghan forces, they’ve honored Cpl. Torbert’s sacrifice by maintaining the position’s name.

Corporal Ricardo J. Figueroa, an electrician and noncommissioned officer in charge of Marine Corps Integrated Maintenance Management System serving with Utilities Platoon, Regimental Combat Team 5, inspects a generator here used by Marines serving with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, April 5, 2012. Figueroa, a native of Temecula, Calif., is responsible for maintaining generators and air conditioning units used by four Marine battalions currently operating in southern Helmand province. - Corporal Ricardo J. Figueroa, an electrician and noncommissioned officer in charge of Marine Corps Integrated Maintenance Management System serving with Utilities Platoon, Regimental Combat Team 5, inspects a generator here used by Marines serving with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, April 5, 2012. Figueroa, a native of Temecula, Calif., is responsible for maintaining generators and air conditioning units used by four Marine battalions currently operating in southern Helmand province.

Lance Cpl. Juston Dickerson, supply administrator, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), looks at pictures of his newborn daughter, Itzel. Dickerson video chats with his family every night, singing songs and reading stories to the child. - Lance Cpl. Juston Dickerson, supply administrator, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), looks at pictures of his newborn daughter, Itzel. Dickerson video chats with his family every night, singing songs and reading stories to the child.

U.S. Marines with Alpha Company, 3D Amphibian Assault Battalion, 15TH Marine Expeditionary Unit, land their AAVPV7 amphibious assault crafts on to the well deck aboard the USS Comstock (LSD-45), Mar. 26, 2012. The landing is part of a 12 nautical-mile test to prove the vehicle's capabilities and viability to the U.S. Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jonathan Ross Waldman/Not Reviewed) - U.S. Marines with Alpha Company, 3D Amphibian Assault Battalion, 15TH Marine Expeditionary Unit, land their AAVPV7 amphibious assault crafts on to the well deck aboard the USS Comstock (LSD-45), Mar. 26, 2012. The landing is part of a 12 nautical-mile test to prove the vehicle's capabilities and viability to the U.S. Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jonathan Ross Waldman/Not Reviewed)

ON MARCH 9, 2012 3DAABN ENJOYED BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN TO WORK FOR THE DAY. DURING THE DAY THEY PARTICIPATED IN A WIDE ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES WHERE THE KIDS WERE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THEIR DADS DID ON A DAILY BASIS." - ON MARCH 9, 2012 3DAABN ENJOYED BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN TO WORK FOR THE DAY. DURING THE DAY THEY PARTICIPATED IN A WIDE ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES WHERE THE KIDS WERE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THEIR DADS DID ON A DAILY BASIS."

Sergeant Ricardo A. Monge, a section chief with 3rd Platoon, Tango Battery, 5th Bn., 11th Marine Regiment, arms the training module of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during a dry-fire drill here, Feb. 26. Monge, a 24-year-old native of Los Angeles, leads a three-man launcher team in daily drills to increase their response time to support requests. The HIMARS allows the Marines to support fire missions within minutes and deliver precision fire within one meter of the target location. - Sergeant Ricardo A. Monge, a section chief with 3rd Platoon, Tango Battery, 5th Bn., 11th Marine Regiment, arms the training module of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during a dry-fire drill here, Feb. 26. Monge, a 24-year-old native of Los Angeles, leads a three-man launcher team in daily drills to increase their response time to support requests. The HIMARS allows the Marines to support fire missions within minutes and deliver precision fire within one meter of the target location.

Corporal Joshua Brooks, a Marine serving with Team 3, Civil Affairs Detachment 11-2, greets students as they arrive for school here Feb. 25, 2012. The Marines of Team 3 provided guidance to the local government here to help them construct a new school. Brooks said visiting the school is the highlight of his deployment. The current school is made of mud and mortar, is overcrowded and only has enough capacity to hold up to sixth grade. The new school will have up to eighth grade and have more than enough room for students and teachers. Brooks is from Celeste, Texas, and is serving under Regimental Combat Team 5 and alongside 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in Helmand province. - Corporal Joshua Brooks, a Marine serving with Team 3, Civil Affairs Detachment 11-2, greets students as they arrive for school here Feb. 25, 2012. The Marines of Team 3 provided guidance to the local government here to help them construct a new school. Brooks said visiting the school is the highlight of his deployment. The current school is made of mud and mortar, is overcrowded and only has enough capacity to hold up to sixth grade. The new school will have up to eighth grade and have more than enough room for students and teachers. Brooks is from Celeste, Texas, and is serving under Regimental Combat Team 5 and alongside 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in Helmand province.