Stories

Corporal Alex Roberts, a turret gunner and weapons noncommissioned officer with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, mounts his M240B machine gun into the turret of his Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, July 14, 2014. Roberts, a native of Dunnellon, Fla., and his fellow turret gunners with CLB-7 act as the eyes and ears while being the guardian angels of each combat logistics patrol conducted during their deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Frances Johnson/Released) - Corporal Alex Roberts, a turret gunner and weapons noncommissioned officer with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, mounts his M240B machine gun into the turret of his Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, July 14, 2014. Roberts, a native of Dunnellon, Fla., and his fellow turret gunners with CLB-7 act as the eyes and ears while being the guardian angels of each combat logistics patrol conducted during their deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Frances Johnson/Released)

Turret gunners of Combat Logistics Battalion 7 keep convoy safe

While most aboard Camp Leatherneck were eating breakfast as the early morning sun began burning the earth in a golden heat wave, turret gunners of Combat Logistics Battalion 7 were already mounting .50 caliber and M240B machine guns inside the turrets of their vehicles, preparing for one of the battalion’s last missions, July 14.The gunners and the

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Corporal Jacob Hall, a crew chief with Marine Aerial Refueling Transportation Squadron 352, stands in front of an American Flag as a forklift shines its light, casting his shadow behind him after a battlefield illumination mission aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, July 18, 2014. Battlefield illumination missions are implemented to light up areas in support of nighttime coalition operations within Regional Command (Southwest). (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by: Sgt. Frances Johnson/Released) - Corporal Jacob Hall, a crew chief with Marine Aerial Refueling Transportation Squadron 352, stands in front of an American Flag as a forklift shines its light, casting his shadow behind him after a battlefield illumination mission aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, July 18, 2014. Battlefield illumination missions are implemented to light up areas in support of nighttime coalition operations within Regional Command (Southwest). (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by: Sgt. Frances Johnson/Released)

VMGR-352 lights up night sky for battlefield illumination mission

A six-man air crew with Marine Aerial Refueling Transportation Squadron 352 prepared their KC-130J Hercules for a battlefield illumination mission over Helmand province, July 18.The squadron conducts various types of missions throughout Helmand province, including battlefield illumination missions that light up areas in support of coalition

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Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. John M. Paxton Jr. speaks to Marines and sailors during a town hall meeting aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 18, 2014. During the meeting, Gen. Paxton discussed the restructuring of the Corps, how Marines will reset into peacetime as a crisis response force, as well as the integration of women into ground combat jobs. - Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. John M. Paxton Jr. speaks to Marines and sailors during a town hall meeting aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 18, 2014. During the meeting, Gen. Paxton discussed the restructuring of the Corps, how Marines will reset into peacetime as a crisis response force, as well as the integration of women into ground combat jobs.

Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps visits Marines, sailors in Afghanistan

Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. John M. Paxton Jr. held a town hall meeting for Marines and sailors aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 18, 2014.The town hall meeting began with Paxton expressing his gratitude to service members for their service and sacrifice to the country and the Corps. “There are three

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Cpl. Taylor Cross, a working-dog handler with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, comforts his working dog, Vito, aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 7, 2014. Vito, a 6-year-old purebred black lab, is trained to detect explosive material, both military and homemade. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released) - Cpl. Taylor Cross, a working-dog handler with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, comforts his working dog, Vito, aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 7, 2014. Vito, a 6-year-old purebred black lab, is trained to detect explosive material, both military and homemade. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released)

Working dog, handler prove useful in Afghanistan

Improvised explosive devices remain a major threat to Marines conducting security patrols in Helmand province.To help mitigate the threat, working-dog handlers and IED detection dogs are used to find possible IEDs before Marines get too close.“I use Vito to search anything from roads and open areas to vehicles and buildings for IEDs or explosive

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The devil is in the details: R3B streamlines retrograde decisions

One by one they trickled in, notebook in one hand, the other wiping a dripping brow resulting from even a brief walk in the sweltering summer heat. Soon, the seats were filled with captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and their counterparts, master sergeants and master gunnery sergeants, from what seemed to be nearly every staff section of

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Motor transport Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, prepare to wash a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 11, 2014. All the vehicles are cleaned, inside and out, and then fluids and fuel are drained to a safe level before being retrograded. - Motor transport Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, prepare to wash a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 11, 2014. All the vehicles are cleaned, inside and out, and then fluids and fuel are drained to a safe level before being retrograded.

1/2 Motor transport Marines aid Camp Leatherneck while retrograding vehicles home

Motor Transport Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, have a distinct and important role keeping the coalition forces with Regional Command (Southwest) mobilized aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan.“Our job is to provide motor transport support to our battalion, but here we also support the task force since they don’t

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Corporal Charles Daniels, supply warehouse chief, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, takes inventory of some of the battalion's gear aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, July 9, 2014. Daniels, a native of Baton Rouge, La., and only four other Marines are the responsible holders and maintainers of 1st Bn., 2nd Marines' $117 million supply of gear and equipment to be retrograded upon the unit's redeployment. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson) - Corporal Charles Daniels, supply warehouse chief, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, takes inventory of some of the battalion's gear aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, July 9, 2014. Daniels, a native of Baton Rouge, La., and only four other Marines are the responsible holders and maintainers of 1st Bn., 2nd Marines' $117 million supply of gear and equipment to be retrograded upon the unit's redeployment. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson)

1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, supply Marines account for $117 million worth of gear

Tracking equipment required to sustain missions for an infantry battalion in a combat zone may seem like it would be the work for an entire battalion itself. For 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, the supply shop consists of only five Marines.The supply section is the responsible holder and maintainer of all of the battalion’s gear, equipment and

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First Lt. Joshua Bridges, a native of Morganton, N.C., and assessments and plans officer, Regional Command (Southwest), poses for a photo after being awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal during a ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, July 13, 2014. Bridges deployed to Helmand province during Jan. 2014 and was vital to RC(SW) planning efforts during the 2014 Afghan presidential elections and the upcoming transition of full security responsibility to the Afghan National Security Forces in the region by the end of 2014. - First Lt. Joshua Bridges, a native of Morganton, N.C., and assessments and plans officer, Regional Command (Southwest), poses for a photo after being awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal during a ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, July 13, 2014. Bridges deployed to Helmand province during Jan. 2014 and was vital to RC(SW) planning efforts during the 2014 Afghan presidential elections and the upcoming transition of full security responsibility to the Afghan National Security Forces in the region by the end of 2014.

Morganton, N.C. Marine officer receives achievement medal in Afghanistan

U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Joshua Bridges, a native of Morganton, North Carolina, and assessments and plans officer with Regional Command (Southwest), was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal during a ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 13, 2014.The 27- year-old graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Public

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Col. Roman Jokhadze, left, Deputy Chief of General Staff of Georgia, addresses service members during the Georgian flag-lowering ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 15, 2014. The ceremony marked the end of mission for the Republic of Georgia's army serving with Regional Command (Southwest). - Col. Roman Jokhadze, left, Deputy Chief of General Staff of Georgia, addresses service members during the Georgian flag-lowering ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 15, 2014. The ceremony marked the end of mission for the Republic of Georgia's army serving with Regional Command (Southwest).

Georgian Army ends mission in Helmand province, Afghanistan

Soldiers with the Republic of Georgia gathered for a ceremony marking their end of mission with Regional Command (Southwest) aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, as they bid farewell to their coalition counterparts, July 15, 2014.While deployed in support of the International Security Assistance Force, Georgian soldiers worked

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Afghan National Army soldiers with the 215th Corps stand in formation during their graduation ceremony aboard Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, July 10, 2014. More than 650 soldiers graduated a completely Afghan-led, six-week combat training course, which consisted of 29 courses varying from hands-on weapons training to rifleman tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released) - Afghan National Army soldiers with the 215th Corps stand in formation during their graduation ceremony aboard Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, July 10, 2014. More than 650 soldiers graduated a completely Afghan-led, six-week combat training course, which consisted of 29 courses varying from hands-on weapons training to rifleman tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released)

Afghan National Army soldiers train, graduate their own at Regional Corps Battle School for first time in Afghanistan

Soldiers with the Afghan National Army graduated from a six-week combat training course at the Regional Corps Battle School aboard Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, July 10, 2014.This graduation was significant because it was the first combat training course completely operated by Afghan instructors without any influence by coalition forces.“This was the

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