Stories

A soldier with 4th Tolay, 6th Kandak, 4th Brigade, Afghan National Army, provides security during a final training exercise for the security training program with Regional Corps Battle School aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, April 1, 2014. - A soldier with 4th Tolay, 6th Kandak, 4th Brigade, Afghan National Army, provides security during a final training exercise for the security training program with Regional Corps Battle School aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, April 1, 2014.

Afghan National Army (ANA) Maj. Gen. Sayed Malook, commander of Afghanistan's 215th Corps, shows a purple fingertip as he walks back to the Operational Coordination Center- Regional (OCC-R) aboard Camp Shorabak, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 5, 2014. A purple fingertip shows that an Afghan citizen voted the 1393 (2014) Afghan presidential elections. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Darien J. Bjorndal, Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan/ Not Released) - Afghan National Army (ANA) Maj. Gen. Sayed Malook, commander of Afghanistan's 215th Corps, shows a purple fingertip as he walks back to the Operational Coordination Center- Regional (OCC-R) aboard Camp Shorabak, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 5, 2014. A purple fingertip shows that an Afghan citizen voted the 1393 (2014) Afghan presidential elections. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Darien J. Bjorndal, Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan/ Not Released)

First Lt. John Moore, intelligence officer and aerial observer with Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 prepares to take photos for an aerial reconnaissance mission over Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 2, 2014. The Super Stallions conducted an aerial reconnaissance mission in support of ground troops by flying over areas of interest and bringing back requested information. (USMC Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson/Released) - First Lt. John Moore, intelligence officer and aerial observer with Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 prepares to take photos for an aerial reconnaissance mission over Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 2, 2014. The Super Stallions conducted an aerial reconnaissance mission in support of ground troops by flying over areas of interest and bringing back requested information. (USMC Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson/Released)

Sergeant Warren Sparks, squad leader, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, is currently deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Sparks was raised in Baton Rouge, La., by a family with generations of military service. He chose to continue his family’s legacy during 2007 when he became a Marine. Sparks deployed in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Okinawa, Japan, and was an instructor at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., prior to his current combat deployment.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan / Released) - Sergeant Warren Sparks, squad leader, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, is currently deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Sparks was raised in Baton Rouge, La., by a family with generations of military service. He chose to continue his family’s legacy during 2007 when he became a Marine. Sparks deployed in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Okinawa, Japan, and was an instructor at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., prior to his current combat deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan / Released)

Brigadier James Woodham, right, commander of Task Force Helmand, gives the final salute to Brigadier Gen. Daniel Yoo, commander of Regional Command (Southwest), symbolizing the closure of Task Force Helmand during a merger ceremony for the task force and RC(SW) aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, April 1, 2014. Following eight years of combat operations in Helmand province, the ceremony marked the end of the United Kingdom’s military headquarters in southwestern Afghanistan. The functions of the British headquarters element now reside with RC(SW). The task force was established in April 2006 and has conducted 16 rotations since its beginning. - Brigadier James Woodham, right, commander of Task Force Helmand, gives the final salute to Brigadier Gen. Daniel Yoo, commander of Regional Command (Southwest), symbolizing the closure of Task Force Helmand during a merger ceremony for the task force and RC(SW) aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, April 1, 2014. Following eight years of combat operations in Helmand province, the ceremony marked the end of the United Kingdom’s military headquarters in southwestern Afghanistan. The functions of the British headquarters element now reside with RC(SW). The task force was established in April 2006 and has conducted 16 rotations since its beginning.

Deputy Provincial Governor Massoud Bakhtawar expresses his thanks and farewell to British Army Brigadier James Woodham, commanding general of Task Force Helmand, following a provincial security shura held on Camp Leatherneck, March 26, 2014. The leaders of Regional Command (Southwest) and key leaders of Helmand province met for a provincial security shura to discuss how the security forces will approach safety concerns and provide security for the population of Helmand during the upcoming elections. (USMC Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson/Released) - Deputy Provincial Governor Massoud Bakhtawar expresses his thanks and farewell to British Army Brigadier James Woodham, commanding general of Task Force Helmand, following a provincial security shura held on Camp Leatherneck, March 26, 2014. The leaders of Regional Command (Southwest) and key leaders of Helmand province met for a provincial security shura to discuss how the security forces will approach safety concerns and provide security for the population of Helmand during the upcoming elections. (USMC Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson/Released)

Marines with 4th platoon, Mobility Assault Company, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, listen to a debrief of their route clearance mission through Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 24, 2014. Route clearance missions are conducted in frequently traveled areas around Camp Leatherneck, ridding it of any explosive hazards along the way and allowing for better freedom of movement for coalition forces and the civilian population along the route. (USMC Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson/Released) - Marines with 4th platoon, Mobility Assault Company, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, listen to a debrief of their route clearance mission through Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 24, 2014. Route clearance missions are conducted in frequently traveled areas around Camp Leatherneck, ridding it of any explosive hazards along the way and allowing for better freedom of movement for coalition forces and the civilian population along the route. (USMC Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson/Released)

Navy Lt. j.g. James M. Nicholson, left, Afghan National Army, senior medical advisor with Security Force Assistant Advisor Team 2-215, speaks to Lt. Col. Abdullah Sultani, right, lead medic with the 2nd Brigade, Afghan National Army, aboard Forward Operating Base Nolay, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 21, 2014. Nicholson, 33, from St. Petersburg, Fla., visits the ANA medics daily to offer advice and see the progress they are making. (USMC photo by Cpl. Joshua Young) - Navy Lt. j.g. James M. Nicholson, left, Afghan National Army, senior medical advisor with Security Force Assistant Advisor Team 2-215, speaks to Lt. Col. Abdullah Sultani, right, lead medic with the 2nd Brigade, Afghan National Army, aboard Forward Operating Base Nolay, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 21, 2014. Nicholson, 33, from St. Petersburg, Fla., visits the ANA medics daily to offer advice and see the progress they are making. (USMC photo by Cpl. Joshua Young)

U.S. Army soldiers with the 65th Engineer Battalion install culvert denial systems along Highway 1 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 24, 2014 The system is comprised of two metal-bar grates that are placed at either ends of the culvert and held together by tension force cables, with an anti-tampering device secured to the grates. The device can detect any type of disturbance from vibrations to heat and will initiate a camera to record any tampering with the system. - U.S. Army soldiers with the 65th Engineer Battalion install culvert denial systems along Highway 1 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 24, 2014 The system is comprised of two metal-bar grates that are placed at either ends of the culvert and held together by tension force cables, with an anti-tampering device secured to the grates. The device can detect any type of disturbance from vibrations to heat and will initiate a camera to record any tampering with the system.

Lance Cpl. Kalib Walker, an automatic rifleman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and a native of Freeport, N.Y., departed the United States for his second tour to Afghanistan ten days prior to the birth of his first child, Kylie. Walker had been training for his current deployment when his wife, Mariolbis, became pregnant. Since his arrival in Afghanistan, he has been able to occasionally visually contact his wife and child through video messaging. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan / released) - Lance Cpl. Kalib Walker, an automatic rifleman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and a native of Freeport, N.Y., departed the United States for his second tour to Afghanistan ten days prior to the birth of his first child, Kylie. Walker had been training for his current deployment when his wife, Mariolbis, became pregnant. Since his arrival in Afghanistan, he has been able to occasionally visually contact his wife and child through video messaging. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan / released)