Navy Lt. Karen Rector, chaplain for Combat Logistics Battalion-3, leads prayer during the unit's first religious service at Kandahar Air Field, Nov. 9.
Sgt. Maj. Paul Mckenna, the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Afghanistan sergeant major, salutes Col. Peter Petronzio, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit commanding officer, during the Marine Corps More
Marines with the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Afghanistan participated in the Marine Corps birthday at Kandahar Air Field, while deployed, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Nov. 10, 2008.
Cpl. Humberto E. Rodriguez, maintenance management office clerk with Headquarters Company, Combat Logistics Battalion-3, part of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Afghanistan, looks around his pe More
Sgt. Jose Garza, 21, takes his oath to defend the constitution after he was meritoriously promoted by Maj. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, Nov. 17, at Kandahar Air Field in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Pfc. Luis Buzani, 20, looks over a potential purchase at a bazaar on Kandahar Air Field. Buzani, a Camp Verde, Ariz., native, is a field radio operator with the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles used by Marines with Motor Transportation Company Combat Logistics Battalion-3, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Afghanistan, keep a safe distance from eac More
Pfc. Joshua P. Bender fires an M240B 7.62 mm medium machine gun, while Gunnery Sgt. Rudy Rodriguez, a sweep team leader with Motor-T Company, coaches him during crew-served weapons training at Tarnak Farm Range More
Col. Duffy W. White, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan commander, meets with Afghan national army 207th Corps Commander Brig. Gen. Fazil Ahmad Sayer, Nov. 25 in the Herat province of th More
Sgt. Christopher Hampton plots the route on the KC-130J cargo transport aircraft before take-off Dec. 1 at Kandahar Air Field. Hampton is a KC-130J crew chief with the air combat element of Special Marine Air G More
(right to left) Lt. Col. David L. Odom, Lt. Gen. Peter Wall and Lt. Col. Michael Jernigan take their seats during a briefing at Camp Barber, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 6. Wall is the deputy chief of More
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham shakes hands with U.S. Marine Lt. Col. David L. Odom, the commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force- More
Sgt. Joshua Newman cleans a CH-53E Super Stallion after conducting Phase A maintenance, the lowest level of helicopter maintenance, Dec. 12 on Kandahar Air Field. Without maintainers, Special Purpose Marine Air More
Marine Lance Cpl. Jason Mueske, an engineer with Route Clearance Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Afghanistan, tightens part of a wheel module to a "Husk More
Smoke from illumination flares hangs in the night sky over Camp Barber Dec. 9. U.S. Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Ta More
U.S. Marines patrol the streets of Golestan, Farah Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, conducting civil engagements, Dec. 10, 2008. The Marines are part of a civil affairs team with Special Purpose Marin More
(From left to right) Col. Duffy W. White, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Sgt. Maj. Paul G. McKenna. Gates spoke to more than 100 U.S. service members, Dec. 11, on Kandahar Air Field, Islamic Republic More
A U.S. Marine holds onto a parachute attached to a supply of water and food dropped by a C-130 cargo transport aircraft during Operation Backstop Dec. 11 in Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Th More
Petty Officer 2nd Class Charles Swoboda (left) and Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Shaw (right) organize boxes donated by citizens across America on Camp Barber, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 12. Swoboda More
Pfc. William Jones interacts with local Afghan children, Dec. 12, in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Jones is a radio operator with Combined Anti-Armor Team, Weapons Company, 3rd Ba More
Staff Sgt. Justin Doll unloads supplies from a 7-ton truck during a supply convoy from Camp Barber to Forward Operating Base Delaram, Dec. 12. Doll is a Logistics Vehicle System operator with 2nd Platoon, Motor More
Gov. Rohullah Amin speaks to a group of local military leaders and members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team during the Farah province security meeting, Dec. 13, in Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afgha More
Navy Lt. Christine R. Stehman treats an Afghan boy Dec. 17 during her semi-monthly women's clinic on Camp Hero, Afghanistan. Afghanistan has the second-highest mortality rate for mothers and infant children. To More
Pfc. Rebecca L. Ortego reads "Fancy Nancy," a children's book, to two young ladies in the United States, while participating in the United Through Reading program at Camp Barber, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan More
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen speaks to Marines with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, at Forward Operating Base Bakwa, Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec More
Cpl. Louise M. Nowak shakes hands with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen during his visit to Camp Barber, Dec. 21. Nowak is a combat engineer with Combat Logistics Battalion 3, the logistic More
2nd Lt. John Langer, a platoon commander with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, walks down an alley in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 22. 3/8 is the ground combat More
Gen. James T. Conway discusses operations with Col. Duffy W. White Dec. 23 on Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan. Conway visited Afghanistan to thank Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Afgha More
Lt. Gen. Richard C. Zilmer eats with Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force Dec. 23 on Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan. Zilmer visited Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Afghanistan More
Sgt. Josh Westman (left), Staff Sgt. Cole Smigelski (center) and Lance Cpl. Jenny Watkins (right), of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 load a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter before takeoff Christmas mornin More
Lance Cpl. Michael Swagger remains vigilant while patrolling during Operation Gateway III in Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 30, 2008. Swagger is a fireteam leader with Company I, 3rd Batt More
Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), fire 120 mm mortars on a combat outpost during Operation Gateway III Jan. 2, 2009, in the Farah province of Afghanistan. 3/8 is the ground combat el More
A CH-53E Super Stallion picks up a shipping container with more than 20,000 pounds of supplies Jan. 2 on Forward Operating Base Delaram, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The supplies in the containers are every More
Afghan national police stand guard outside of a meeting of key leaders in Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jan. 3. Gov. Rohullah Amin, the governor of Farah province, met with military leaders w More
Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 3 dismount a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle during improvised explosive device lane training at Kandahar Air Field, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Nov. 17, 2008 More
Combat Outpost Geiger sits on barren land in Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, during Operation Gateway III, Jan. 7. Operation Gateway III was a strategically planned operation to place combat ou More
Farah Provincial Gov. Rohullah Amin (center) speaks at a shura (town council meeting) in Delaram, Farah Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jan. 6, 2009. Amin and his sub-governors addressed the locals' More
The Husky tactical support vehicle is an important tool in defeating improvised explosive devices used by insurgents against alliance forces in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The Huskies were successful i More
Interpreter Malmoddi Nasir explains to an Afghan man how he will be paid for digging irrigation ditches along Route 515, Jan. 21, in Delaram District, Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Dozens of More
A young Afghan boy works in a garage as U.S. Marines with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and Afghan National Police officers patrol through a bazaar in Farah province, Afghanistan, Jan. 24, 2009. More
A local Haitian man watches U.S. Marines and sailors with Operation Continuing Promise 2010, work together in Port-de Paix, Haiti, on the morning of July 29, 2010. CP10 is a collaborative effort that involves m More
Guyana President H.E. Bharrat Jagdeo speaks to more than 100 people at the Continuing Promise 2010 opening ceremony at the Berbice Regional Health Authority, Oct. 20.
U.S. Marines assigned to 7th Communications Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, set up tents for a site on the Philippine Marine Headquarters base Manila, Philippines, Oct. 5, 2011. The site will be host More
Navy Lt. Karen Rector, chaplain for Combat Logistics Battalion-3, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Afghanistan, conducts the battalion's first religious service at Kandahar Air Field, Nov. 9. Despit More
Marines prepare to present the oldest and youngest Marines in attendance during the 233rd Marine Corps birthday ceremony at Kandahar Air Field on Nov. 10, 2008.
Lance Cpl. Francisco Martinez, 19, a sweep team member with Motor Transportation Company, Combat Logistics Battalion-3, and youngest Marine present, receives a piece of the birthday cake from Col. Gary P. Shaw, More
Cpl. Humberto E. Rodriguez, maintenance management office clerk with Headquarters Company, Combat Logistics Battalion-3, makes a sight adjustment on his M16-A4 service rifle during battle-sight zeroing at Kanda More
A local Afghan vendor stands in front of his merchandise at a bazaar on Kandahar Air Field, Nov. 15. The bazaar stimulated the local economy while giving service members a chance to purchase unique Afghan and P More
Combat Logistics Battalion-3 Marines review routine convoy countermeasures during improvised explosive device lane training at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, Nov. 16. The Marines are assigned to Special Purpo More
Sgt. Jose Garza, 21, stands in front of a Marine Corps KC-130J cargo transport aircraft. Garza was meritoriously promoted on the spot by Maj. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, Nov. 17, at Kandahar Air Field in the Islami More
Staff Sgt. Alfonso Albarado, a turret gunner with the sweep team, Motor Transportation Company, Combat Logistics Battalion-3, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Afghanistan, mans his .50 caliber mac More
Sgt. Maj. Danny D. Duvall, Combat Logistics Battalion-3, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Afghanistan, browses through wooden sculptures at an Afghan vendor's stand during a weekly bazaar near Kan More
Lance Cpl. William C. Robins stares down the barrel of an M240B 7.62 mm medium machine gun during crew-served weapons training at Tarnak Farm Range, Nov. 25. Robins is a sweep team member with Motor Transportat More
Master Gunnery Sgt. Jeron Chapman guides a forklift to begin unloading a KC-130J cargo transport aircraft on Dec. 1 at Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan. Chapman is the detachment sergeant major of Special Purpose More
Afghan Uniformed Policemen march Basic Police Training Graduation Ceremony with their new equipment and uniforms Dec. 1 at Shouz Regional Training Center, in Western Afghanistan. After their graduation ceremony More
Marines from 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and Combat Logistics Battalion-3, the ground combat element and logistics combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan, brief Lt. More
U.S. Marine Lt Col. David L. Odom greets U.S. Senator John McCain Dec. 7 on Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. U.S. Military service members with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Afghanistan and British Roy More
U.S. Marines in a Humvee overlook a village close to Now Zad, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, while in a deliberate defense during Operation Backstop Dec. 7-12. The Marines of Company I, 3rd More
Cpl. Andrew Pearson, an engineer with Route Clearance Platoon, prepares a wheel module to be attached to the main hull of a Husky tactical support vehicle on Camp Barber, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 9 More
Illumination flares light the sky over Camp Barber Dec. 9. U.S. Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Afghanistan More
Cpl. Andrew Pearson, an engineer with Route Clearance Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Afghanistan, prepares a wheel module to be attached to the main hu More
Gov. Rohullah Amin greets Col. Naimatallah Khalil during the Farah province security meeting, Dec. 13, in Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Amin is the governor of Farah province, and Khalil is t More
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffery B. Pritchett displays the pop-up pictures in a book to his son while participating in the United Through Reading program at Camp Barber, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec More
Lance Cpl. Harrison Bruining, a rifleman with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, turns around during a census patrol in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 22. 3/8 is t More
Gen. James T. Conway and Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent answer questions and speak to Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Afghanistan Dec. 23 on Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan. Conway and Kent More
Cpl. Louise M. Nowak speaks with U.S. President George W. Bush on the phone, Dec. 24, 2008, in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Nowak received the special phone call from the comman More
A CH-53E Super Stallion flies over southern Afghanistan with more than 20,000 pounds of supplies Jan. 2. The supplies in the containers are everything a Marine unit needs to construct a forward operating base o More
A military front-end loader, carried by Motor Transportation Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, is unloaded from a trailer in Farah Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, during a combat logistics patro More
Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), cover their ears in a cloud of sand while firing the 120 mm mortar system on a combat outpost during Operation Gateway III in the Farah province of More
A local Afghan villager herds his livestock through a wadi, or river bed, Jan. 9, in Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Marines of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced) and Combat Logist More
U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden (second from right), arrives at the Camp Bastion mess hall, Jan. 11. Biden, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. military leaders in the Islamic Republic of Afghanista More
An AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter sits on the flight deck of Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jan. 12. Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, a section of the air combat elem More
Afghan national policemen receive training instruction from U.S. Marines with the help of an interpreter in Golestan, Farah Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 10, 2008. The Marines, assigned to Com More
Afghan national police hand out candy to local children while providing security for a road improvement project along Route 515 in Delaram District, Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jan. 21. Doz More
Continuing Promise 2010 – Navy Capt. Thomas M. Negus, commodore of Continuing Promise 2010, Guyana Chief of Mission Tom Pierce and Guyana President H.E. Bharrat Jagdeo prepare for the opening ceremony speeches More
Navy Lt. Karen Rector, chaplain for Combat Logistics Battalion-3, bows her head while leading prayer during the unit's first religious service at Kandahar Airfield Field, Nov. 9.
Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Afghanistan prepare to cut the Marine Corps birthday cake as Sgt. Major Paul Mckenna looks on during the 233rd Marine Corps birthday ceremony at Kandaha More
Combat Logistics Battalion-3 Marines take part in the Marine Corps birthday as the Corps' newest battalion at Kandahar Air Field, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Nov. 10, 2008.
Lance Cpl. Alberto Fajardo, food service specialist with Headquarters Company, Combat Logistics Battalion-3, sights-in on his target through his rifle combat optics during battle-sight zeroing at Kandahar Air F More
Combat Logistics Battalion-3 Marines, with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Afghanistan, perform a ground sweep during improvised explosive device lane training at Kandahar Air Field Nov. 16. The S More
Afghan children wait while their mother receives medical treatment from U.S. Navy medical personnel assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Afghanistan at an Afghan regional military hospital More
Rounds fired from a M240B 7.62 mm medium machine gun produce enough muzzle blast to ripple the earth beneath them.
Col. Duffy W. White observes the Basic Police Training Graduation Ceramony Dec. 1 at Shouz Regional Training Center, in Western Afghanistan. White is the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Afghanistan More
Master Gunnery Sgt. Jeron Chapman prepares a hose to begin a rapid ground refueling operation Dec. 1 at Shindand Air Base in Afghanistan. Chapman is the detachment sergeant major of Special Purpose Marine Air G More
Marines from 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and Combat Logistics Battalion-3, the ground combat element and logistics combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task - Afghanistan, hail Lt. Gen. Pe More
Sgt. Shannon M. Flaherty replaces a CH-53E Super Stallion's automated flight control computer Dec. 12 on Kandahar Air Field. Without maintainers, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Afghanistan's air c More
U.S. Senator John McCain speaks with members of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Afghanistan's ground combat element Dec. 7 on Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. U.S. Military service members with SPMAGTF-A More
A Marine with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, provides security with an M249 squad automatic weapon Dec. 8 in Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Under the request of Regional Comm More
Lance Cpl. Jason Mueske, an engineer with Route Clearance Platoon, prepares to attach a wheel module to the main hull of a Husky tactical support vehicle on Camp Barber, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 9, More
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates speaks to more than 100 U.S. service members, Dec. 11, on Kandahar Air Field, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The purpose of the event was to answer the questions of forwar More
Lance Cpl. Wayne Brinkley fires his M4 carbine rifle from the turret of a humvee during a weapons training exercise, Dec. 12, in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Brinkley is a Tube-L More
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Shaw, with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, organizes boxes donated by U.S. military supporters across America on Camp Barber, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 12. 3/8 is t More
Farah province Gov. Rohullah Amin greets an injured Afghan child in a local hospital after the Farah province security meeting, Dec. 13, in Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.