Stories

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – The Buffalo, a mine-protected vehicle with a robotic arm with a claw and spike attached, uses its claw to search for more buried anti-tank mines during a route clearance course conducted for the Marines of Mobile Assault Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Nov. 17. Throughout the day the instructors took note of their dispersion, radio communications, reaction time, how Husky was maneuvering and scanning for IEDs, how the unit set up security and many other details that will affect them when they deploy. - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – The Buffalo, a mine-protected vehicle with a robotic arm with a claw and spike attached, uses its claw to search for more buried anti-tank mines during a route clearance course conducted for the Marines of Mobile Assault Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Nov. 17. Throughout the day the instructors took note of their dispersion, radio communications, reaction time, how Husky was maneuvering and scanning for IEDs, how the unit set up security and many other details that will affect them when they deploy.

The Estonian Contingent poses for a picture with Estonia’s Minister of Defence, Sven Mikser, center, and other coalition force officials after their farewell ceremony held aboard Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 9, 2014. This was the 17th and last Estonian Contingent to deploy to Afghanistan. - The Estonian Contingent poses for a picture with Estonia’s Minister of Defence, Sven Mikser, center, and other coalition force officials after their farewell ceremony held aboard Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 9, 2014. This was the 17th and last Estonian Contingent to deploy to Afghanistan.

Corporal John Chavez, a motor transportation operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, tightens a chain holding a Tractor, Rubber-Tired, Articulated Steering, Multi-Purpose vehicle during a retrograde operation aboard Forward Operating Base Nolay, Afghanistan, May 4, 2014. During the operation, Marines and sailors collected two TRAMs and two living quarter containers for future use aboard Camp Leatherneck. - Corporal John Chavez, a motor transportation operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, tightens a chain holding a Tractor, Rubber-Tired, Articulated Steering, Multi-Purpose vehicle during a retrograde operation aboard Forward Operating Base Nolay, Afghanistan, May 4, 2014. During the operation, Marines and sailors collected two TRAMs and two living quarter containers for future use aboard Camp Leatherneck.

An Afghan National Army soldier with the 215th Corps carefully makes adjustments to the D-30 122 mm howitzer during training aboard Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 7, 2014. The training is part of a six-week course taught at the Regional Corps Battle School that gives Afghan instructors the opportunity to train their fellow soldiers on the howitzer weapons system. - An Afghan National Army soldier with the 215th Corps carefully makes adjustments to the D-30 122 mm howitzer during training aboard Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 7, 2014. The training is part of a six-week course taught at the Regional Corps Battle School that gives Afghan instructors the opportunity to train their fellow soldiers on the howitzer weapons system.

A convoy of vehicles with some of the last Marines, sailors and equipment returning from Sangin Valley entered friendly lines aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 5, 2014. The last Marines, sailors and equipment exited FOBs Nolay and Sabit Qadam, May 5, 2014, leaving the 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps, Afghan National Army in full control of the FOBs and the surrounding area for the first time without advisors in place since coalition forces entered during 2006. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson/Released) - A convoy of vehicles with some of the last Marines, sailors and equipment returning from Sangin Valley entered friendly lines aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 5, 2014. The last Marines, sailors and equipment exited FOBs Nolay and Sabit Qadam, May 5, 2014, leaving the 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps, Afghan National Army in full control of the FOBs and the surrounding area for the first time without advisors in place since coalition forces entered during 2006. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson/Released)

Royal Tongan Marines assigned to Tranche 7, the seventh and final rotational contingent of Royal Tongan Marines to Afghanistan, lower their nation's flag while participating in a ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 28, 2014. The lowering of the flag symbolizes the end of the Kingdom of Tonga's participation in Operation Enduring Freedom and return to their homeland. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Darien J. Bjorndal, Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan/ Released) - Royal Tongan Marines assigned to Tranche 7, the seventh and final rotational contingent of Royal Tongan Marines to Afghanistan, lower their nation's flag while participating in a ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 28, 2014. The lowering of the flag symbolizes the end of the Kingdom of Tonga's participation in Operation Enduring Freedom and return to their homeland. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Darien J. Bjorndal, Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan/ Released)

Corporal Shawn Rozicka, right, a combat engineer with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Regional Command (Southwest), conducts a door lever inspection on a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle during a daily vehicle inspection aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 25, 2014. The Marines and sailors of 2nd CEB have deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to continue where 1st CEB left off, route clearing assistance in Helmand province and the surrounding areas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released) - Corporal Shawn Rozicka, right, a combat engineer with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Regional Command (Southwest), conducts a door lever inspection on a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle during a daily vehicle inspection aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 25, 2014. The Marines and sailors of 2nd CEB have deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to continue where 1st CEB left off, route clearing assistance in Helmand province and the surrounding areas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released)

Instructors with 4th Tolai, 6th Kandak, 4th Brigade, 215th Corps, Afghan National Army, give soldiers a class on patrolling tactics during an exercise aboard Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, April 19, 2014. The training exercise was designed to ensure the efficiency of the soldiers before they begin conducting perimeter patrols with Marines in the area surrounding Camps Bastion, Leatherneck, Shorabak complex. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ released) - Instructors with 4th Tolai, 6th Kandak, 4th Brigade, 215th Corps, Afghan National Army, give soldiers a class on patrolling tactics during an exercise aboard Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, April 19, 2014. The training exercise was designed to ensure the efficiency of the soldiers before they begin conducting perimeter patrols with Marines in the area surrounding Camps Bastion, Leatherneck, Shorabak complex. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ released)

A Georgian soldier with the 31st Georgian Light Infantry Battalion stands outside a compound and watches for suspicious activity as his fellow soldiers post security for the Afghan National Army soldiers clearing the compound in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 12, 2014. The platoon of Georgian soldiers with the 31st GLIB and Marines of the Georgian Liaison Team conducted a synchronized helicopter-borne and motorized raid in order to capture a high-value target, led by ANA soldiers. (USMC Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson/released) - A Georgian soldier with the 31st Georgian Light Infantry Battalion stands outside a compound and watches for suspicious activity as his fellow soldiers post security for the Afghan National Army soldiers clearing the compound in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 12, 2014. The platoon of Georgian soldiers with the 31st GLIB and Marines of the Georgian Liaison Team conducted a synchronized helicopter-borne and motorized raid in order to capture a high-value target, led by ANA soldiers. (USMC Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson/released)