Pfc. Steven L. Blizzard, a driver with Jump Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provides security while escorting media through the Nawa Bazaar in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 22, 2010. Jump Platoon’s primary mission is to provide security for the battalion commander and transport him throughout 3/3’s battle space, but the platoon performs a variety of tasks from providing supplementary security and running vehicle checkpoints, to masonry and gardening. Blizzard is from Clare, Mich.



Chief Warrant Officer 2 James Law, the Jump Platoon commander and battalion gunner for 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, walks across a bridge in Nawa, Helmand province, Afghanistan, while providing security during a media escort.





Pfc. Steven L. Blizzard, a driver with Jump Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provides security while escorting media through the Nawa Bazaar in Helmand province, Afghanistan.



Lance Cpl. James Torres, a rifleman with Jump Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, mans a vehicle checkpoint in Helmand province, Afghanistan.



Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jadoine Graham, a corpsman with Jump Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provides security while escorting media through the Nawa Bazaar in Helmand province, Afghanistan.



Cpl. Brandon Owensby, a radio operator with Jump Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, looks back during a patrol while escorting media through the Nawa Bazaar in Helmand province, Afghanistan.



Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jorge Medina, a corpsman with Jump Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provides security while escorting the deputy secretary of defense through the Nawa Bazaar in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 28, 2010.



Cpl. Anthony Patris, a vehicle commander with Jump Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provides security from the rooftop of the Nawa District Governance Center, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, during a visit by the deputy secretary of defense.



Cpl. Calvin Vaulner, the acting platoon sergeant for Jump Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, scans the surrounding area while providing security for the battalion commander in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, Nov. 4.



Lt. Col. James R. Fullwood, commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, hands sidewalk chalk to a local Afghan child outside a shura a during a clear, hold, and build operation, Oct. 21, in Northern Marjah, Afghanistan. The main purpose of the operation was established security for the construction of a new patrol base while conducting searches of local’s compounds in the area. Locals were invited to a centralized location where key Marine leaders were present to answer any questions or concerns they had about the operation.



Lt. Col. James R. Fullwood, commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, hands toys out to local Afghani children outside a shura during a during a clear, hold, and build operation, Oct. 21, in Northern Marjah, Afghanistan.





Cpl. Ernesto Garibay, an electrical engineer attached to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and Cpl. Phillip J. Hargrave, a combat engineer attached to 2/9, carefully measure the perimeter of a new patrol base during a clear, hold, and build operation, Oct. 21, in Northern Marjah, Afghanistan.



Cpl. Aneidie E. Crespo, a machine gunner with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, scans the horizon for enemy activity during a clear, hold, and build operation.



Lance Cpl. Anthony J. Macozzie, a Marine with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, exits a local’s compound after searching for weapons, bomb making materials, contraband and Taliban propaganda during a clear, hold, and build operation.



Lance Cpl. William Crabbe, combat engineer, Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), helps straighten a Hesco barrier in Trakh Nawa, Afghanistan, Oct. 27. Approximately 40 Marines with CLB-3 constructed a bridge to be used for military personnel and civilians in the area.



Residents of Trakh Nawa, Afghanistan, watch as the final touches are placed on a bridge construction project, Oct. 28.


Lance Cpl. Jonathan Jessee, combat engineer, Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), scans the area during a foot patrol in Trakh Nawa, Afghanistan.