Lance Cpl. Anthony Quintanilla makes his way into a well in an abandoned compound during Operation Sangin United Horizons here, May 17, 2012. Quintanilla, a native of Los Angeles, found narcotics, weapons, and components to construct an improvised explosive device hidden inside the well. - Lance Cpl. Anthony Quintanilla makes his way into a well in an abandoned compound during Operation Sangin United Horizons here, May 17, 2012. Quintanilla, a native of Los Angeles, found narcotics, weapons, and components to construct an improvised explosive device hidden inside the well.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David H. Berger, right, commanding general of Task Force Leatherneck (TFL) and Sgt. Maj. Terry L. Jones, TFL Sergeant Major, salute the American Flag during an evening colors ceremony on Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province Afghanistan May 28, 2012. Berger held the ceremony as a Memorial Day Commemoration in remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Sheila M. Brooks)::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David H. Berger, right, commanding general of Task Force Leatherneck (TFL) and Sgt. Maj. Terry L. Jones, TFL Sergeant Major, salute the American Flag during an evening colors ceremony on Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province Afghanistan May 28, 2012. Berger held the ceremony as a Memorial Day Commemoration in remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Sheila M. Brooks)::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::

Navy Cross recipient Cpl. Christopher B. Farias is congratulated by Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, commanding general of 1st Marine Division, after an award ceremony here, May 18. Farias received the nation's second highest award for bravery for actions in Kajaki district, Afghanistan. On Oct. 5, 2010, Farias and his squad were struck by a 73-millimeter recoilless rifle and received fire from three enemy positions during a night ambush. Farias received a concussion and was wounded by shrapnel but exposed himself on a rooftop to direct suppressive fire, allowing casualties to be evacuated. Farias remained in the fight until an airstrike ended the engagement. After the firefight, Farias walked while bleeding more than 2,000 meters to a pickup point. - Navy Cross recipient Cpl. Christopher B. Farias is congratulated by Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, commanding general of 1st Marine Division, after an award ceremony here, May 18. Farias received the nation's second highest award for bravery for actions in Kajaki district, Afghanistan. On Oct. 5, 2010, Farias and his squad were struck by a 73-millimeter recoilless rifle and received fire from three enemy positions during a night ambush. Farias received a concussion and was wounded by shrapnel but exposed himself on a rooftop to direct suppressive fire, allowing casualties to be evacuated. Farias remained in the fight until an airstrike ended the engagement. After the firefight, Farias walked while bleeding more than 2,000 meters to a pickup point.

A Marine Corps eight-point cover lays next to family photos, showcasing Staff Sgt. Maribel Valdez's balancing act between her family and her military career, May 15, 2012. She is the adjutant with 1st Marine Division (Forward). Valdez said she knows it's difficult for her family while she's deployed but plans on spending a lot of time with her family when she returns home.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - A Marine Corps eight-point cover lays next to family photos, showcasing Staff Sgt. Maribel Valdez's balancing act between her family and her military career, May 15, 2012. She is the adjutant with 1st Marine Division (Forward). Valdez said she knows it's difficult for her family while she's deployed but plans on spending a lot of time with her family when she returns home.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::

Lance Cpl. McKenzie Schmalz, an anti-tank missile man, Personal Security Detachment, Regimental Combat Team 7, and Petty Officer Third Class David Ferguson, a corpsman, PSD, RCT-7, clear a room during urban combat training, May 10. The Marines practiced clearing rooms and shooting on the move during training as part of Spartan Resolve 3-2012. SR 3-12 is an exercise designed to prepare the Marines and sailors of RCT-7 for their upcoming deployment to Helmand province, Afghanistan. “The important thing is that we work together as a team and start coming together,” said Schmalz, a 19-year-old native of Barrington, N.H. “All of this training, not just the close quarters stuff, helps us know what each other is going to do so we can establish good routines.” - Lance Cpl. McKenzie Schmalz, an anti-tank missile man, Personal Security Detachment, Regimental Combat Team 7, and Petty Officer Third Class David Ferguson, a corpsman, PSD, RCT-7, clear a room during urban combat training, May 10. The Marines practiced clearing rooms and shooting on the move during training as part of Spartan Resolve 3-2012. SR 3-12 is an exercise designed to prepare the Marines and sailors of RCT-7 for their upcoming deployment to Helmand province, Afghanistan. “The important thing is that we work together as a team and start coming together,” said Schmalz, a 19-year-old native of Barrington, N.H. “All of this training, not just the close quarters stuff, helps us know what each other is going to do so we can establish good routines.”

U.S. Marine Pfc. Taurean Benn (left), a small arms mechanic, and Lance Cpl. Seth Isaacs, a rifleman, both serving with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, share some small talk as they guard one of the base’s entry control points here May 6, 2012. As they keep vigilant, scanning the scenery immediately in front of them all the way back to the horizon, on the lookout for threats and enemy activity, they often think about home. Benn is from Three Rivers, Mich., and Isaacs is from Sophia, N.C. - U.S. Marine Pfc. Taurean Benn (left), a small arms mechanic, and Lance Cpl. Seth Isaacs, a rifleman, both serving with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, share some small talk as they guard one of the base’s entry control points here May 6, 2012. As they keep vigilant, scanning the scenery immediately in front of them all the way back to the horizon, on the lookout for threats and enemy activity, they often think about home. Benn is from Three Rivers, Mich., and Isaacs is from Sophia, N.C.

Sergeant Christopher Scott, the logistics advisor with the Embedded Training Team, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, eats a meal of bread, beef and fresh vegetables with his Afghan allies, April 29, 2012. Scott was a guest of his Afghan National Army soldiers serving with 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps. Scott regularly spends extra time getting to know his Afghan National Army coworkers.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - Sergeant Christopher Scott, the logistics advisor with the Embedded Training Team, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, eats a meal of bread, beef and fresh vegetables with his Afghan allies, April 29, 2012. Scott was a guest of his Afghan National Army soldiers serving with 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps. Scott regularly spends extra time getting to know his Afghan National Army coworkers.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::

Afghan National Army Gunnery Sgt. Mohammad Hasan, sights in on his target with his M24 sniper rifle, May 2, 2012. Hasan was the high shooter on the first day of the range and said he remembered to control his breathing and to relax while firing the new weapon.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - Afghan National Army Gunnery Sgt. Mohammad Hasan, sights in on his target with his M24 sniper rifle, May 2, 2012. Hasan was the high shooter on the first day of the range and said he remembered to control his breathing and to relax while firing the new weapon.::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::

An Afghan child watches as a squad of Marines patrol by the bazaar here May 3, 2012, on their way to the Afghan Uniformed Police precinct. Recently, 1st Platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, has been tasked to mentor and provide support to the local Afghan Uniformed Police precinct in northern Marjah. - An Afghan child watches as a squad of Marines patrol by the bazaar here May 3, 2012, on their way to the Afghan Uniformed Police precinct. Recently, 1st Platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, has been tasked to mentor and provide support to the local Afghan Uniformed Police precinct in northern Marjah.

Sergeant Timothy Brookshire, a combat engineer serving with Engineers Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, provides security over watch as his Marines construct new fortified walls around the base’s perimeter here May 4, 2012. Combat engineers have torn down some of the fortified walls to shrink the base’s perimeter. The Marines plan to reduce their base’s guard posts in half by the end of their seven-month deployment. Brookshire is a Homer, Ga., native. - Sergeant Timothy Brookshire, a combat engineer serving with Engineers Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, provides security over watch as his Marines construct new fortified walls around the base’s perimeter here May 4, 2012. Combat engineers have torn down some of the fortified walls to shrink the base’s perimeter. The Marines plan to reduce their base’s guard posts in half by the end of their seven-month deployment. Brookshire is a Homer, Ga., native.