Stories

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, right, who leads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the military services, conducts Easter Vigil Mass aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 19, 2014. The mass included several baptisms and confirmations into the Catholic faith. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Young) - Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, right, who leads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the military services, conducts Easter Vigil Mass aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 19, 2014. The mass included several baptisms and confirmations into the Catholic faith. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Young)

Corporal Nicholas Perrorazio, an infantry Marine with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, speaks about noncommissioned officer leadership traits during a Coalition Committed and Engaged Leadership Symposium aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 20, 2014. The class gave NCOs the opportunity to speak about leadership within their units as well as to become familiar with their counterparts in joint services. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released) - Corporal Nicholas Perrorazio, an infantry Marine with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, speaks about noncommissioned officer leadership traits during a Coalition Committed and Engaged Leadership Symposium aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 20, 2014. The class gave NCOs the opportunity to speak about leadership within their units as well as to become familiar with their counterparts in joint services. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released)

Sergeant Billy Cynor, joint terminal attack controller, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and a native of Hays, N.C., reviews a critical document prior to a mission in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 17. The company's two-day mission was to disrupt lethal enemy aid and to search three compounds of interest in an area suspected of Taliban influence. The compounds were suspected to contain a homemade-explosive lab, a cache for narcotics and be home to local Taliban leadership. - Sergeant Billy Cynor, joint terminal attack controller, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and a native of Hays, N.C., reviews a critical document prior to a mission in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 17. The company's two-day mission was to disrupt lethal enemy aid and to search three compounds of interest in an area suspected of Taliban influence. The compounds were suspected to contain a homemade-explosive lab, a cache for narcotics and be home to local Taliban leadership.

Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 7 secure a generator on the back of a trailer as they prepare to convoy back with the last supplies, equipment and team members of Security Force Assistance Advisor Team 4-215 from Forward Operating Base Delaram II, Nimroz province, Afghanistan, April 8, 2014. The Marines and sailors of CLB-7 were instrumental in retrograding more than 302,000 pounds of equipment and supplies and the last of the Marines and sailors of SFAAT 4-215 back to Camp Leatherneck from FOB Delaram II. Combat Logistics Battalion 7 arrived at FOB Delaram II on the morning of April 7 and began loading all the cargo, including generators, shipping containers and heavy equipment, onto their trucks in preparation for their journey back to Camp Leatherneck, the largest military base in southwestern Afghanistan. (Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson/released) - Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 7 secure a generator on the back of a trailer as they prepare to convoy back with the last supplies, equipment and team members of Security Force Assistance Advisor Team 4-215 from Forward Operating Base Delaram II, Nimroz province, Afghanistan, April 8, 2014. The Marines and sailors of CLB-7 were instrumental in retrograding more than 302,000 pounds of equipment and supplies and the last of the Marines and sailors of SFAAT 4-215 back to Camp Leatherneck from FOB Delaram II. Combat Logistics Battalion 7 arrived at FOB Delaram II on the morning of April 7 and began loading all the cargo, including generators, shipping containers and heavy equipment, onto their trucks in preparation for their journey back to Camp Leatherneck, the largest military base in southwestern Afghanistan. (Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson/released)

Lance Cpl. Kyler Nielson, rifleman and mine sweeper, Charley Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, engages targets aboard Forward Operating Base Sabit Qadam, April 9, 2014. Nielson, a native of Las Vegas, enlisted in the Marine Corps when he was 17. He departed for recruit training a month after graduating high school and was set on becoming an infantryman. Shortly after arriving at 1st Bn., 7th Marines, he began a rigorous predeployment training schedule before deploying to Afghanistan. His current mission with Charley Co. is to prepare the transfer of full security responsibilities of Forward Operating Base Sabit Qadam to the Afghan National Army.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan / released) - Lance Cpl. Kyler Nielson, rifleman and mine sweeper, Charley Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, engages targets aboard Forward Operating Base Sabit Qadam, April 9, 2014. Nielson, a native of Las Vegas, enlisted in the Marine Corps when he was 17. He departed for recruit training a month after graduating high school and was set on becoming an infantryman. Shortly after arriving at 1st Bn., 7th Marines, he began a rigorous predeployment training schedule before deploying to Afghanistan. His current mission with Charley Co. is to prepare the transfer of full security responsibilities of Forward Operating Base Sabit Qadam to the Afghan National Army. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan / released)

A Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle pulls forward into the convoy transporting the last team members of Security Force Assistance Advisor Team 4-215 out of Forward Operating Base Delaram II for the last time, April 8, 2014. The Marines and sailors of SFAAT 4-215 have steadily advised and supported the ANA soldiers in areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and casualty evacuation support, watching them grow in their confidence and ability to stand on their own. While advisors remain at the headquarters level in Helmand province in order to advise and assist as needed, the transfer signifies that 4th Brigade is ready to operate independently of coalition advisors. (USMC Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson/Released) - A Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle pulls forward into the convoy transporting the last team members of Security Force Assistance Advisor Team 4-215 out of Forward Operating Base Delaram II for the last time, April 8, 2014. The Marines and sailors of SFAAT 4-215 have steadily advised and supported the ANA soldiers in areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and casualty evacuation support, watching them grow in their confidence and ability to stand on their own. While advisors remain at the headquarters level in Helmand province in order to advise and assist as needed, the transfer signifies that 4th Brigade is ready to operate independently of coalition advisors. (USMC Photo By: Sgt. Frances Johnson/Released)

Afghan National Army soldiers with the 215th Corps pause for a picture following the curriculum review for the upcoming Communication Electronics Maintenance Course aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 6, 2014. The course is scheduled to begin this month. - Afghan National Army soldiers with the 215th Corps pause for a picture following the curriculum review for the upcoming Communication Electronics Maintenance Course aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 6, 2014. The course is scheduled to begin this month.

Lieutenant Col. Sean C. Killeen, right, commanding officer, Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, shakes hands with Lt. Col. Maura M. Hennigan, commanding officer, MWSS-372, after a transfer of authority ceremony held aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, April 7, 2014. Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 was replaced by MWSS-274, which took on the responsibility of providing ground support for the aviation combat element with Regional Command (Southwest). - Lieutenant Col. Sean C. Killeen, right, commanding officer, Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, shakes hands with Lt. Col. Maura M. Hennigan, commanding officer, MWSS-372, after a transfer of authority ceremony held aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, April 7, 2014. Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 was replaced by MWSS-274, which took on the responsibility of providing ground support for the aviation combat element with Regional Command (Southwest).

Sergeant Troy Garza, then a fire team leader with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, talks to an Afghan child during his first deployment to Sangin, Afghanistan, during 2010. During his first deployment in Sangin, the battalion sustained more than 200 Marines wounded in action and 28 Marines killed in action, which rendered them almost combat ineffective. Now Garza is deployed to Sangin again, this time as a squad leader with Charley Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and his mission is entirely different this time. The Afghans are now the lead element, and Charley Co. is preparing to transfer full security responsibilities to them. - Sergeant Troy Garza, then a fire team leader with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, talks to an Afghan child during his first deployment to Sangin, Afghanistan, during 2010. During his first deployment in Sangin, the battalion sustained more than 200 Marines wounded in action and 28 Marines killed in action, which rendered them almost combat ineffective. Now Garza is deployed to Sangin again, this time as a squad leader with Charley Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and his mission is entirely different this time. The Afghans are now the lead element, and Charley Co. is preparing to transfer full security responsibilities to them.

Sergeant Josiah M. Fox, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, stands beside an MV-22B Osprey aboard Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 5, 2014. The Marine Corps unit has the responsibility for being the first responders for casualty evacuations throughout the Regional Command (Southwest) area of operations. - Sergeant Josiah M. Fox, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, stands beside an MV-22B Osprey aboard Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 5, 2014. The Marine Corps unit has the responsibility for being the first responders for casualty evacuations throughout the Regional Command (Southwest) area of operations.