FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELHI, Helmand province, Islamic

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELHI, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — Maj. Gen. John Toolan Jr. addresses Marines from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment during an official visit here, June 14. Toolan, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., is the commanding general of Regional Command Southwest. Toolan and Sgt. Maj. Michael Jones, sergeant major for RC(SW), were briefed by the battalion staff about the progress and ongoing operations in Garmsir District during their visit.
“You’re making your own carve of Marine Corps history while you’re here in Afghanistan,” said Toolan while addressing the Marines of 1/3. “You are doing a great job out here and I know that when your sister battalion, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, comes to replace you, Garmsir will be a better place than when you arrived.”
The battalion supports Regimental Combat Team 1, under 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which serves as the ground combat element in Helmand. The mission of the division is to partner with Afghan National Security Forces to conduct counterinsurgency operations to secure the Afghan people, defeat insurgent forces, and enable ANSF to assume security responsibilities in the region. Ultimately, the partnered forces promote the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.