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Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company provide security for units operating in Helmand province, Afghanistan - Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company provide security for units operating in Helmand province, Afghanistan

Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company provide security for units operating in Helmand province, Afghanistan

During the early morning hours before sunrise, Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company donned their gear for a security operation in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 8.Marines mounted in vehicles and convoyed approximately two hours from Camp Leatherneck to Patrol Base Boldak to redeploy excess supplies while 1st ANGLICO provided

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Lance Cpl. Andrea M. Robb, currently the Theater Provided Equipment clerk with Marine Expeditionary Brigade - Afghanistan, poses for a picture with her husband, Cpl. Seth Robb, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. The two first met in middle school, grew up together as best friends, and married during 2010. - Lance Cpl. Andrea M. Robb, currently the Theater Provided Equipment clerk with Marine Expeditionary Brigade - Afghanistan, poses for a picture with her husband, Cpl. Seth Robb, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. The two first met in middle school, grew up together as best friends, and married during 2010.

Greely, Colorado, native receives meritorious promotion while deployed to Afghanistan

Former U.S. senator, Olympic gold medalist and professional NBA athlete Bill Bradley once said, “Ambition is the path to success, and persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.”For Sgt. Andrea M. Robb, a 24-year-old from Greeley, Colorado, persistence has paid off on her journey from becoming a U.S. Marine to serving on her first combat deployment

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Corporal Shane Byram, a native of Sacramento, California and towed artillery system technician with Tango Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, poses for a photo next to a M777 howitzer aboard Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 21, 2014. Tango Battery has been vital to safeguarding the remaining U.S. and coalition forces in the region during 2014. - Corporal Shane Byram, a native of Sacramento, California and towed artillery system technician with Tango Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, poses for a photo next to a M777 howitzer aboard Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 21, 2014. Tango Battery has been vital to safeguarding the remaining U.S. and coalition forces in the region during 2014.

Sacramento Marine keeps artillery unit primed during Afghan drawdown

Hugging the fence line along the perimeter of Camp Bastion, dusty artillery firing positions are dug into the rocky earth. Three M777 Howitzers nicknamed “Death Wish,” “Steve Bolton” and “Zeus,” peer across the desert horizon, ready for a fire mission at a moment’s notice.The howitzers safeguard the remaining U.S. and coalition forces serving

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Food service specialists with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, prepare to serve troops at the Harvest Falcon dining facility aboard Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 21, 2014. The food service Marines at the Harvest Falcon are in charge of making sure meals are served at the correct temperature, the facility is cleaned daily and food is cooked properly for every meal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released) - Food service specialists with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, prepare to serve troops at the Harvest Falcon dining facility aboard Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 21, 2014. The food service Marines at the Harvest Falcon are in charge of making sure meals are served at the correct temperature, the facility is cleaned daily and food is cooked properly for every meal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released)

Food service Marines offer homemade meals aboard Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan

Culinary excellence is not the first thing to come to mind for most people when thinking about deployed service members in Afghanistan. However, food service specialists at Camp Dwyer strive to serve Marines and sailors a delicious meal three times a day at the Harvest Falcon dining facility.Sergeant Anthony Zappone, a food service specialist with

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Lt. Col. Joon H. Um, left, commanding officer, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, shakes hands with Lt. Col. Sid R. Welch, commanding officer, CLB-7, after a transfer of authority ceremony held aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1, 2014. Combat Logistics Battalion 1 replaced CLB-7 as the last unit to aid Regional Command (Southwest) with tactical-level logistical support and will close out another chapter in Marine Corps history as the last unit to serve as the logistics combat element for RC(SW). - Lt. Col. Joon H. Um, left, commanding officer, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, shakes hands with Lt. Col. Sid R. Welch, commanding officer, CLB-7, after a transfer of authority ceremony held aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1, 2014. Combat Logistics Battalion 1 replaced CLB-7 as the last unit to aid Regional Command (Southwest) with tactical-level logistical support and will close out another chapter in Marine Corps history as the last unit to serve as the logistics combat element for RC(SW).

CLB-7 redeploys, CLB-1 is last Marine logistical combat unit to deploy in support of OEF

Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 7 handed over responsibilities as the logistics combat element for Regional Command (Southwest) to Combat Logistics Battalion 1 during a transfer of authority ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1.This was the third deployment to Afghanistan for the unit based in

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Lance Cpl. Andrew Witte, a motor transportation mechanic with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, removes bolts from a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle in order to replace a broken window aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, July 22, 2014. Witte, a native of Phoenix, and four other lance corporals are the five mechanics responsible for all maintenance performed on vehicles in the battalion to ensure mission success during combat operations.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan / released) - Lance Cpl. Andrew Witte, a motor transportation mechanic with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, removes bolts from a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle in order to replace a broken window aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, July 22, 2014. Witte, a native of Phoenix, and four other lance corporals are the five mechanics responsible for all maintenance performed on vehicles in the battalion to ensure mission success during combat operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan / released)

Marine mechanics ensure success during combat operations in Afghanistan

The ground assault force is a crucial element during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. To ensure the force’s vehicles can move to and from objectives, which can entail a life or death situation, motor transportation mechanics are relied on to keep each vehicle properly functioning at all times.From sunrise until sunset, the clicks

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Corporal Marc-Anthony Diplacido, a water support technician with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, monitors a water pump system during a daily inspection aboard Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 21, 2014. Water support technician Marines produce approximately 50,000 gallons of water each day to support coalition forces stationed aboard Camp Dwyer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released) - Corporal Marc-Anthony Diplacido, a water support technician with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, monitors a water pump system during a daily inspection aboard Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 21, 2014. Water support technician Marines produce approximately 50,000 gallons of water each day to support coalition forces stationed aboard Camp Dwyer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released)

Water technicians keep Camp Dwyer afloat

For service members deployed to the middle of a desert in Helmand province, Afghanistan, water is a valuable commodity. Troops depend on water for hydration, food preparation, showering and keeping vehicles and gear clean.A small team of eight water support technician Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 1 and Combat Logistics Battalion 7 are

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Coalition service members and civilian contractors participate in an Eid al-Fitr ceremony held aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 28, 2014. The ceremony marked the end of Ramadan, which is a monthlong holiday that millions of Muslims observe each year by fasting from morning to evening. - Coalition service members and civilian contractors participate in an Eid al-Fitr ceremony held aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 28, 2014. The ceremony marked the end of Ramadan, which is a monthlong holiday that millions of Muslims observe each year by fasting from morning to evening.

Eid al-Fitr ceremony held aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan

Coalition service members and civilian contractors came together during an Eid al-Fitr ceremony held aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 28, 2014.The ceremony marked the end of Ramadan, which is a monthlong holiday that millions of Muslims observe each year by fasting from morning to evening. During the fasting period, they

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Two teams of Marines with Charley Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, with Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles provide security during an operation in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 19, 2014. During the two-day operation, Marines with Charley Co. watched over nearby routes close to Camp Dwyer and the surrounding area to help mitigate enemy insurgents smuggling small arms weapons and explosive material through the area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released) - Two teams of Marines with Charley Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, with Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles provide security during an operation in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 19, 2014. During the two-day operation, Marines with Charley Co. watched over nearby routes close to Camp Dwyer and the surrounding area to help mitigate enemy insurgents smuggling small arms weapons and explosive material through the area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released)

Marines, sailors with Charley Company ensure Camp Dwyer’s safety in Helmand province

Improvised explosive devices and small arms fire from insurgents remain a threat to units patrolling in Helmand province.Marines with Charley Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, conducted an operation near commonly traveled routes near Camp Dwyer and the surrounding area in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 19-20.Insurgents have been

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First Lt. Michael Wish, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., and executive officer of Tango Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, poses for a photo next to an M777 Howitzer nicknamed "Death Wish," aboard Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 21, 2014. Wish deployed to Helmand during 2012 and served in Now Zad. During his current deployment, Tango Battery has provided additional security for coalition forces during the Helmand drawdown as forces prepare to retrograde and redeploy by the end of 2014. - First Lt. Michael Wish, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., and executive officer of Tango Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, poses for a photo next to an M777 Howitzer nicknamed "Death Wish," aboard Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 21, 2014. Wish deployed to Helmand during 2012 and served in Now Zad. During his current deployment, Tango Battery has provided additional security for coalition forces during the Helmand drawdown as forces prepare to retrograde and redeploy by the end of 2014.

Colorado Springs Marine proud to serve twice during Afghan drawdown

During America’s longest war, many newly-minted Marines’ have wished for an opportunity to dirty their boots in Afghanistan. In the past year, however, deployments to Helmand have slowed and the remaining forces are focused on the redeployment and retrograde effort, while others continue to advise and assist the Afghan National Security Forces.

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