U.S. Marine Pfc. Bao Tuong, a 20-year-old armorer with

U.S. Marine Pfc. Bao Tuong, a 20-year-old armorer with Guard Force Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and native of Garden Grove, Calif., smiles at a fellow Marine’s comment while waiting for his handheld system to process the biometric data of a local farmer stopped at Checkpoint Drahbiash during Operation Gridlock here, March 21. During the three-day Afghan New Year celebration, held from March 19-21 to highlight the transition from winter into spring, the partnered forces manned vehicle checkpoints throughout Helmand province’s Garmsir district to disrupt insurgent logistical movement along routes leading into its bazaars. The Afghan forces halted and searched vehicles while Marines provided overwatch from the periphery and biometrically enrolled passersby.