Stories

U.S. Marines with Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, and Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, currently deployed in support of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command 16.1, prepare the hook block of a MAC-50 Crane to move Alaskan walls at Al Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 25, 2015. The 12-ton T-walls are placed around key structures to provide protection from shrapnel. - U.S. Marines with Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, and Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, currently deployed in support of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command 16.1, prepare the hook block of a MAC-50 Crane to move Alaskan walls at Al Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 25, 2015. The 12-ton T-walls are placed around key structures to provide protection from shrapnel.

Lt. Cmdr. James L. Johnson, chaplain for 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion kneels before a lighted cross before an evening prayer service here. 'The honor, privilege and challenge of serving with the Marines are things that truly make for an amazing occupation, and I am here to assist them and be a counsel for them wherever they may go,' said Johnson. - Lt. Cmdr. James L. Johnson, chaplain for 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion kneels before a lighted cross before an evening prayer service here. 'The honor, privilege and challenge of serving with the Marines are things that truly make for an amazing occupation, and I am here to assist them and be a counsel for them wherever they may go,' said Johnson.

Cpl. Jose N. Parra, 25, Loredo, Texas, and other advisers with Border Transition Team 4222 spent the day giving aid to small remote villages here Oct. 24. Their mission is to train, mentor and advise, but the Marines of BTT 4222 don’t forget to provide help to western Anbar’s civilian population. The transition team headed up a small civil affairs engagement to provide local Iraqis with medical, dental and logistical aid. Though it’s not part of their primary mission, team members here have learned that reaching out to the Iraqi people will make the people more likely to reach out to Marines. Intelligence gathering and improved security is just a byproduct of good relations. The real purpose here was to see some smiles. Marines handed out toothbrushes, toothpaste and teddy bears to each patient finished with the check up. The corpsman spoke to parents about how to treat with the medicine Marines supplied to them. Kids also received a class on proper tooth brushing techniques. - Cpl. Jose N. Parra, 25, Loredo, Texas, and other advisers with Border Transition Team 4222 spent the day giving aid to small remote villages here Oct. 24. Their mission is to train, mentor and advise, but the Marines of BTT 4222 don’t forget to provide help to western Anbar’s civilian population. The transition team headed up a small civil affairs engagement to provide local Iraqis with medical, dental and logistical aid. Though it’s not part of their primary mission, team members here have learned that reaching out to the Iraqi people will make the people more likely to reach out to Marines. Intelligence gathering and improved security is just a byproduct of good relations. The real purpose here was to see some smiles. Marines handed out toothbrushes, toothpaste and teddy bears to each patient finished with the check up. The corpsman spoke to parents about how to treat with the medicine Marines supplied to them. Kids also received a class on proper tooth brushing techniques.