afghan national police officers and u.s. marines cross a river during a security patrol in the garmsir district of the helmand province of afghanistan sept. 12, 2009. the marines, who are assigned to military police company, 5th battalion, 10th marine regiment, are deployed with 2nd marine expeditionary brigade to train and mentor anp in counterinsurgency operations.

u.s. marine corps staff sgt. nolan espiritu jumps across at a canal during a security patrol through helmand province's nawa district, afghanistan, sept. 10, 2009. espiritu is assigned to bravo company, 1st battalion, 5th marine regiment. u.s. marines conduct security patrols to decrease insurgent activity and gain the trust of the afghan people.

marines from 2nd battalion, 2nd marine regiment, stand guard at a detainment facility during the final exercise of mojave viper training aboard marine corps air ground combat center twentynine palms, calif., sept. 1, 2009. the final exercise was a 72-hour war that tested the abilities of the marines to utilize the clear, hold, build concept taught during mojave viper.

marines from 2nd battalion, 2nd marine regiment, patrol through the streets of fatwan, a town in the middle of the mojave desert and was the scene of the final exercise during mojave viper training aboard marine corps air ground combat center twentynine palms, calif., sept. 1, 2009. the final exercise was a 72-hour war that tested the abilities of the marines to utilize the clear, hold, build concept taught during mojave viper.

a marine from 2nd battalion, 2nd marine regiment, provides security for the flanks of a forward observation base during the final exercise of mojave viper training aboard marine corps air ground combat center twentynine palms, calif., sept. 1, 2009. the final exercise was a 72-hour war that tested the abilities of the marines to utilize the clear, hold, build concept taught during mojave viper.