Marine Corps Cpl. Rocio Sanchez left her career as a singer to enlist in the Marine Corps and is deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. - Marine Corps Cpl. Rocio Sanchez left her career as a singer to enlist in the Marine Corps and is deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.

Afghan National Army soldiers patrol over the frost covered ground during Operation New Hope, Kajaki, Afghanistan, Jan. 16. Moments after, they would receive fire from multiple enemy positions. During the operation, the ANA partnered with the Afghan National Civil Order Police and the Afghan Uniform Police in an effort to bring peace, stability and increase the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s influence in the area. - Afghan National Army soldiers patrol over the frost covered ground during Operation New Hope, Kajaki, Afghanistan, Jan. 16. Moments after, they would receive fire from multiple enemy positions. During the operation, the ANA partnered with the Afghan National Civil Order Police and the Afghan Uniform Police in an effort to bring peace, stability and increase the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s influence in the area.

Haji Mohammad, a village elder, passes a notebook to a student at a local school in Shir Ghazay, Afghanistan, Jan. 17, 2012. The school supplies were donated by the Marines of Georgian Liaison Team 6, Regimental Combat Team 7, Regional Command Southwest, which they received from their families, friends and companies. - Haji Mohammad, a village elder, passes a notebook to a student at a local school in Shir Ghazay, Afghanistan, Jan. 17, 2012. The school supplies were donated by the Marines of Georgian Liaison Team 6, Regimental Combat Team 7, Regional Command Southwest, which they received from their families, friends and companies.

Three 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment batteries fired a combined 400 High Mobility Rocket Artillery System rounds during 2012 in Helmand province in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. “It’s been very significant that the battery I command has hit this milestone, killed the enemy, and been able to save Marines’ lives,” said Capt. Jason Reukema, commanding officer of Sierra Battery, 5th Bn., 11th Marines. - Three 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment batteries fired a combined 400 High Mobility Rocket Artillery System rounds during 2012 in Helmand province in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. “It’s been very significant that the battery I command has hit this milestone, killed the enemy, and been able to save Marines’ lives,” said Capt. Jason Reukema, commanding officer of Sierra Battery, 5th Bn., 11th Marines.

Corporal Kenneth Nageotte, a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear specialist with Regimental Combat Team 7 and native of Redlands, Calif., served on Marine Security Guard duty in Latvia and Egypt, and now plans to exit the Marine Corps to get his degree and go back to Latvia as a civilian security expert. “He embodies our core values and truly lives his life as Marines should,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 William Orr, the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense officer with RCT-7. "He is aware of what the title he's earned represents, and he approaches every day as if he were trying to earn that title, over and over again. Nageotte will likely transition back to the civilian sector after his obligation is complete, but he will continue to represent our Corps well into the future, regardless of where he may find himself." - Corporal Kenneth Nageotte, a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear specialist with Regimental Combat Team 7 and native of Redlands, Calif., served on Marine Security Guard duty in Latvia and Egypt, and now plans to exit the Marine Corps to get his degree and go back to Latvia as a civilian security expert. “He embodies our core values and truly lives his life as Marines should,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 William Orr, the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense officer with RCT-7. "He is aware of what the title he's earned represents, and he approaches every day as if he were trying to earn that title, over and over again. Nageotte will likely transition back to the civilian sector after his obligation is complete, but he will continue to represent our Corps well into the future, regardless of where he may find himself."

Corporal Stephen Karavolos, a motor transport operator, is currently deployed to Afghanistan with the Georgian Liaison Team for Regimental Combat Team 7, Regional Command Southwest. Karavolos currently holds many different billets. He is the unit's convoy commander, motor transport chief and operations chief, all billets typically held by officers or staff noncommissioned officer. - Corporal Stephen Karavolos, a motor transport operator, is currently deployed to Afghanistan with the Georgian Liaison Team for Regimental Combat Team 7, Regional Command Southwest. Karavolos currently holds many different billets. He is the unit's convoy commander, motor transport chief and operations chief, all billets typically held by officers or staff noncommissioned officer.

Marines with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion stand in formation during an award ceremony here, Jan. 22, 2013. The Marines wore the service uniform to the ceremony as directed by the commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey. The service uniform is increasingly being worn throughout the Marine Corps because of guidance from commanders and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos. The service uniform requires strict maintenance and attention to be worn properly, and it trains Marines to pay attention to minute details.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph D. Scanlan) - Marines with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion stand in formation during an award ceremony here, Jan. 22, 2013. The Marines wore the service uniform to the ceremony as directed by the commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey. The service uniform is increasingly being worn throughout the Marine Corps because of guidance from commanders and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos. The service uniform requires strict maintenance and attention to be worn properly, and it trains Marines to pay attention to minute details.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph D. Scanlan)

Lance Cpl. Adam Henderson, a 19-year-old native of Clark, S.D., and the chaplain's assistant with Regimental Combat Team 7, is serving in a senior noncommissioned officer's job during a yearlong deployment to Helmand province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. "He's really good at organization and computers,"said Cmdr. Michael Williams, the chaplain with RCT-7. "The other thing that makes him really good is his heart. He understands there are people who need to be cared for, and he translates that into how he interacts with people." - Lance Cpl. Adam Henderson, a 19-year-old native of Clark, S.D., and the chaplain's assistant with Regimental Combat Team 7, is serving in a senior noncommissioned officer's job during a yearlong deployment to Helmand province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. "He's really good at organization and computers,"said Cmdr. Michael Williams, the chaplain with RCT-7. "The other thing that makes him really good is his heart. He understands there are people who need to be cared for, and he translates that into how he interacts with people."

Sergeant Christopher R. Contreras, a computer and telephone repairman, is currently deployed with Regimental Combat Team 7 to Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Contreras, a 26-year-old native of Novato, Calif., never passes up an opportunity to lead his Marines by example while serving as the assistant tech chief for RCT-7’s communication electronics maintenance section. - Sergeant Christopher R. Contreras, a computer and telephone repairman, is currently deployed with Regimental Combat Team 7 to Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Contreras, a 26-year-old native of Novato, Calif., never passes up an opportunity to lead his Marines by example while serving as the assistant tech chief for RCT-7’s communication electronics maintenance section.

Following in his ancestor's footsteps, Cpl. Wesley Giddens is currently serving on his second deployment. Giddens, an intelligence analyst with Regimental Combat Team 7, from Paris, Texas, is currently serving on a year-long deployment to Afghanistan. During his deployment, Giddens obtains and formulates information to give the troops on the ground a clearer picture of the situation. - Following in his ancestor's footsteps, Cpl. Wesley Giddens is currently serving on his second deployment. Giddens, an intelligence analyst with Regimental Combat Team 7, from Paris, Texas, is currently serving on a year-long deployment to Afghanistan. During his deployment, Giddens obtains and formulates information to give the troops on the ground a clearer picture of the situation.