The oldest Marine of Special Operations Task Force West passes a piece of cake to the youngest Marine of SOTF-W during a Marine Corps birthday celebration on Camp Calero, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 10. More
An Afghan Uniformed Policeman salutes during the Afghan National Anthem during a graduation ceremony, Nov. 15, in Guzarah district. Nineteen policemen and women became police trainers after completing a three w More
Afghan children head to school as they pass by Afghan Local Police recruits begin their first day of training in Farah province, Dec. 1. The recruits joined the ALP in order to protect their villages from the More
An Afghan Local Police recruit marks a point in a shadow boxing exercise during marksmanship training in Farah province, Dec. 2. Local Afghans are going through the training in order to be certified to bring More
Afghan Local Police recruits attend a class in Farah province, Dec. 3. The Afghans received classes on the Afghanistan constitution, rules of engagement and ethics, as part of their training to be certified to More
An Afghan National Army soldier speaks with an Afghan Local Police recruit in Farah province, Dec. 4. The ALP recruits participated in patrolling class as part of their training to be certified to provide secur More
A coalition force member with Special Operations Task Force West, gives a class to Afghan Local Police recruits on how to cordon an area after discovering an improvised explosive device, Dec. 5, in Farah provin More
An Afghan Local Police recruit takes cover behind a building after taking notional fire during a patrolling exercise in Farah province, Dec. 6. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supp More
Afghan Local Police recruits check their pulse during a first aid class, Dec. 8, in Farah province. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporting rural areas with limited Afghan Natio More
Afghan Local Police recruits practice how to properly search somebody during a vehicle checkpoint class, Dec. 9, in Farah province. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporting rural More
Afghan Local Police recruits begin a patrol during their final exercise Dec. 10 in Farah province. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporting rural areas with limited Afghan Nation More
District governor Haji Sayed Mohammed speaks to Afghan Local Police during their graduation, Dec. 11, at Shewan Garrison in Farah province. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporti More
A coalition force member instructs Maj. Gen. Mark A. Clark, commanding general, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, how to shoot one of the weapon systems, Dec. 24, in Shindand district, Herat More
Coalition force members listen to a prayer given by the auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of L'Aquila, Giovanni D'Ercole, during Christmas Mass, Dec. 25, 2012, in Herat province. The bishop tra More
Afghan National Army soldiers provide security during a district shura in Bala Boluk district, Farah province, Jan. 15, 2013. Members of district and provincial government met with village elders from around t More
An Afghan National Army soldier and coalition force members provide security during a security operation in Farah province, Jan. 19, 2013. The Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead in planning and More
Afghan National Army soldiers depart to begin a security operation, Jan. 29, 2013, in Farah province. The Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead in planning and conducting operations in order to he More
An Afghan Local Police commander briefs a patrol route to coalition force members before a presence patrol Feb. 7, 2013, in Farah province. The Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead in planning an More
Coalition Force members patrol behind Afghan National Army soldiers in Farah province during a presence patrol, Feb. 13, 2013. The Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead in planning and conducting More
Afghan National Army soldiers receive a class from coalition force members on the fundamentals of marksmanship in Farah province, Feb. 14, 2013. The Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead in planni More
Afghan girls line up to be examined by coalition force medical personnel at the Farah Orphanage, Feb. 17, 2013, in Farah province. Coalition forces visited the orphanage in order to see the quality of living an More
Village elders listen to provincial leaders during a shura, Feb. 23, 2013, in Farah province. The shura marked the transition of security in Khak-e-Sayfed district from coalition forces to Afghan National Secur More
Afghan National Army soldiers inspect their tourniquets during a medical class, Feb. 25, 2013, in Farah province. The soldiers received a class from Afghan medics and coalition forces on how to properly use tou More
Members of the Farah Provincial Governor's personal security detachment listen to a marksmanship class given by coalition forces, March 3, 2013, in Farah province. The security detachment, comprised of commando More
Commandos with 2nd Company, 9th Special Operations Kandak, run toward their fighting position during a live fire exercise in Herat province, Afghanistan, March 18, 2013. The commandos conducted a live fire and More
A team leader with 2nd Company, 9th Special Operations Kandak, gives a commando instruction during a live fire exercise in Herat province, Afghanistan, March 19, 2013. The commandos conducted a live fire and ma More
Coalition force members prepare to deploy leaflets over a rural area in Herat province, Afghanistan, April 10, 2013. Leaflets are used as a mean to inform local Afghans, who don't have the luxuries such as tele More
Lieutenant Col. Larry E. Huggins, Jr., passes the battle colors to Lt. Col. Benjamin J. Pappas as Sgt. Maj. Tracy Linch looks on, during a change of command ceremony in the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Ope More
Major Gen. Mark Clark, commanding general, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command (MARSOC), escorts U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel around Stone Bay, July 17, 2013. Hagel visited Marines and More
Marines with Special Operations Task Force West escort a birthday cake to the front of a ceremony on Camp Calero, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 10. Marines of SOTF-W held a cake cutting ceremony in honor More
Colonel Allah Noor Mohammadi, commander, Regional Training Center, speaks to Afghan Uniformed Police during a graduation ceremony, Nov. 15, in Guzarah district. Nineteen policemen and women became police traine More
Afghan Local Police recruits read through a book about different uniforms during their first day of training in Farah province, Dec. 1. The recruits joined the ALP in order to protect their villages from the T More
An Afghan Local Police recruit signals which way to move the marker as a peer looks on during a shadow boxing exercise to enhance marksmanship in Farah province, Dec. 2. Local Afghans are going through the tr More
An Afghan Local Police recruit asks a question during a class about Afghanistan's constitution, Dec. 3, in Farah province. The Afghans received classes on the constitution, rules of engagement and ethics, as pa More
Afghan Local Police recruits prepare to step off in a file formation after receiving a class about patrolling from coalition forces Dec. 4, in Farah province. The ALP recruits participated in patrolling class a More
An Afghan Local Police recruit instructs his squad to take cover behind a building after taking notional fire during a patrolling exercise in Farah province, Dec. 6. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts More
An Afghan Local Police recruit checks his pulse during a first aid class, Dec. 8, in Farah province. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporting rural areas with limited Afghan Nati More
An Afghan Local Police recruit provides security as another searches a person during a vehicle checkpoint class, Dec. 9, in Farah province. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporti More
The Farah provincial governor speaks to coalition force members before a district shura in Bala Boluk district, Farah province, Jan. 15, 2013. Members of district and provincial government met with village eld More
Afghan National Army soldiers provide security during a security operation in Farah province, Jan. 19, 2013. The Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead in planning and conducting operations in orde More
An Afghan National Army soldier checks his communication with a patrol as the sun begins to rise before a security operation, Jan. 29, 2013, in Farah province. The Afghan National Security Forces have taken the More
Afghan children look on as Afghan Local Police, partnered with coalition forces, conduct a presence patrol Feb. 7, 2013, in Farah province. The Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead in planning an More
Afghan National Army soldiers speak to local children in Farah province during a presence patrol, Feb. 13, 2013. The Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead in planning and conducting operations in More
Afghan National Army soldiers practice the prone shooting position during a class given by coalition force members on the fundamentals of marksmanship in Farah province, Feb. 14, 2013. The Afghan National Secur More
Coalition force members give children candy as they wait to be examined by medical personnel at the Farah Orphanage, Feb. 17, 2013, in Farah province. Coalition forces visited the orphanage in order to see the More
An Afghan policeman keeps security as a provincial official speaks during a shura, Feb. 23, 2013, in Farah province. The shura marked the transition of security in Khak-e-Sayfed district from coalition forces t More
Afghan National Army soldiers listen to a medical class, Feb. 25, 2013, in Farah province. The soldiers received a class from Afghan medics and coalition forces on how to properly use tourniquets in hopes to he More
A member of the Farah Provincial Governor's personal security detachment practices getting a good sight picture in the prone position, March 3, 2013, while receiving coaching from a coalition force member in Fa More
A team leader with 2nd Company, 9th Special Operations Kandak, instructs his team where to set up positions during a live fire exercise in Herat province, Afghanistan, March 18, 2013. The commandos conducted a More
A team leader with 2nd Company, 9th Special Operations Kandak, prepares to move from his position during a live fire exercise in Herat province, Afghanistan, March 19, 2013. The commandos conducted a live fire More
Brigadier Gen. Kevin J. Nally, director, C4 and Maj. Gen. Robert E. Schmidle, deputy commandant, U.S. Cyber Command, presented awards to members of U.S. Marine Special Operations Command at the Ninth Annual Ma More
Marines with Special Operations Task Force West cut a birthday cake with a bayonet in celebration of the Marine Corps’ 237th birthday on Camp Calero, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 10. The Marines held a c More
Colonel Allah Noor Mohammadi, commander, Regional Training Center, speaks to Afghan Uniformed Police during graduation ceremony, Nov. 15, in Guzarah district. Nineteen policemen and women became police trainers More
Afghan Local Police recruits read through a book about different uniforms during their first day of training in Farah province, Dec. 1. The recruits joined the ALP in order to protect their villages from the More
An Afghan Local Police recruit signals which way to move the marker during a shadow boxing exercise to enhance marksmanship in Farah province, Dec. 2. Local Afghans are going through the training in order to b More
A special operations member with Special Operations Task Force West stands outside a classroom as Afghan Local police recruits receive classes in Farah province, Dec. 3. The Afghans received classes on the Afgh More
Afghan Local Police recruits practice patrolling in a file formation after receiving a class about patrolling from coalition forces Dec. 4, in Farah province. The ALP recruits participated in patrolling class a More
An Afghan Local Police recruit halts his patrol after discovering a dummy improvised explosive device during a patrolling exercise, Dec. 5, in Farah province. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by ass More
An Afghan Local Police recruit provides notional cover fire as a coalition force member acts as an insurgent fighter, Dec. 6, in Farah province. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and sup More
Afghan Local Police recruits practice putting on a tourniquet using available resources, Dec. 8, in Farah province. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporting rural areas with limi More
A coalition force member dances with Afghan Local Police recruits before a class on vehicle checkpoint procedures, Dec. 9, in Farah province. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and suppor More
Afghan Local Police listen to district governor, Haji Sayed Mohammed, during their graduation, Dec. 11, at Shewan Garrison in Farah province. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and suppor More
Major Gen. Mark A. Clark, commanding general, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, speaks with Marine operators, Dec. 24, in Shindand district, Herat province. Clark visited Afghanistan in orde More
An Afghan National Army soldier provides security during a district shura in Bala Boluk district, Farah province, Jan. 15, 2013. Members of district and provincial government met with village elders from arou More
An Afghan National Army soldier peers through the smoke of a smoke grenade during a security operation in Farah province, Jan. 19, 2013. The Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead in planning and c More
An Afghan National Army soldier stands guard as the sun begins to rise before a security operation, Jan. 29, 2013, in Farah province. The Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead in planning and cond More
Afghan National Army soldiers practice the kneeling shooting position during a class given by coalition force members on the fundamentals of marksmanship in Farah province, Feb. 14, 2013. The Afghan National Se More
A coalition force member gives children candy as they wait to be examined by medical personnel at the Farah Orphanage, Feb. 17, 2013, in Farah province. Coalition forces visited the orphanage in order to see th More
The Farah provincial governor, Dr. Mohammed Akram Khpalwak, speaks during a shura, Feb. 23, 2013, in Farah province. The shura marked the transition of security in Khak-e-Sayfed district from coalition forces t More
An Afghan National Army soldier shows his peers how to use a tourniquet during a medical class, Feb. 25, 2013, in Farah province. The soldiers received a class from Afghan medics and coalition forces on how to More
A team leader with 2nd Company, 9th Special Operations Kandak, gives instruction to his team during a live fire exercise in Herat province, Afghanistan, March 18, 2013. The commandos conducted a live fire and m More
A commando with 2nd Company, 9th Special Operations Kandak, provides security for the assault team during a live fire exercise in Herat province, Afghanistan, March 19, 2013. The commandos conducted a live fire More
Coalition force members deploy leaflets over a rural area in Herat province, Afghanistan, April 10, 2013. Leaflets are used as a mean to inform local Afghans, who don't have the luxuries such as televisions, ra More
Colonel Allah Noor Mohammadi, commander, Regional Training Center, shakes hands with a graduate, Nov. 15, in Guzarah district. Nineteen policemen and women became police trainers after completing a three week c More
A special operations team member with Special Operations Task Force West greets new Afghan Local Police recruits on their first day of training in Farah province, Dec. 1. The recruits joined the ALP in order to More
An Afghan Local Police recruit examines his shot grouping during marksmanship training in Farah province, Dec. 2. Local Afghans are going through the training in order to be certified to bring security to the More
A coalition forces member provides security as Afghan Local police recruits receive classes in Farah province, Dec. 3. The Afghans received classes on the Afghanistan constitution, rules of engagement and ethic More
An Afghan Local Police recruit signals to his squad to step off during a patrolling exercise Dec. 4, in Farah province. The ALP recruits participated in patrolling class as part of their training to be certifie More
An Afghan Local Police recruit provides security after his patrol discovered a dummy improvised explosive device during a patrolling exercise, Dec. 5, in Farah province. The ALP complement counterinsurgency eff More
Afghan Local Police recruits practice ambush techniques with their fellow recruits acting as insurgent fighters, Dec. 9, in Farah province. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporti More
An Afghan Local Police recruit takes cover after receiving simulated enemy fire during their final exercise Dec. 10 in Farah province. The ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporting ru More
An Afghan Local Policeman receives his certificate of completion from the district governor, Haji Sayed Mohammed, during an ALP graduation, Dec. 11, at Shewan Garrison in Farah province. The ALP complement coun More
Major Gen. Mark A. Clark, commanding general, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, and Sgt. Maj. Thomas F. Hall, sergeant major, MARSOC, look at a memorial in honor of Marine operators who have More
An Afghan National Army soldier listens to his radio during a security operation in Farah province, Jan. 19, 2013. The Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead in planning and conducting operations i More
Afghan National Army commander tells an Afghan soldier where to set up security positions during a security operation, Jan. 29, 2013, in Farah province. The Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead i More
An Afghan Local Policeman looks at a village across a river during a presence patrol Feb. 7, 2013, in Farah province. The Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead in planning and conducting operatio More