Marines provide security during patrol through Musa Qal’eh
Corporal John Noh, non-commissioned-officer with the Civil Affairs Group attached to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 8, is greeted by several Afghans during a patrol through the bazaar in Musa Qal’eh, Jan. 28. During the patrol the Marines inspected the location of a planned soccer field. Noh, 25, is a native of Los Angeles Calif. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua J. Hines).


Dragoon Devil Doc diagnoses a brighter future for Afghan
Petty Officer 3rd Class Dylan Morris, a corpsman with Delta Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), talks to a local Afghan man during a patrol just outside Combat Outpost Castle, Jan. 27. Morris, a 25-year-old native of Dayton, Ohio, talked to the man about the project he was working on and how the coalition forces could help (Photo by Cpl. Ned Johnson).


Marines patrol Afghan shops
Cpl. John Noh, civil affairs non-commissioned-officer with the Civil Affairs Group attached to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, passes by shops and salesmen during a patrol through the bazaar in Musa Qal’eh, Jan. 22. During the patrol Marines worked alongside Afghan Uniformed Police to provide security for the Musa Qal’eh District Governor, Governor Naimatullah and the Deputy provincial Governor, Governor Sattar. (Official US Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua J. Hines)


Marines cross a canal in Afghanistan
U.S. Marines with 1st Platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment cross a canal during a security patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan, on Jan. 8, 2011. Marines conducted counterinsurgency operations with the International Security Assistance Force to suppress insurgent activity and gain the trust of Afghan citizens. DoD photo by Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Ortiz, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

Cpl. John Noh, civil affairs non-commissioned-officer with the Civil Affairs Group attached to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, passes by shops and salesmen during a patrol through the bazaar in Musa Qal’eh, Jan. 22. During the patrol Marines worked alongside Afghan Uniformed Police to provide security for the Musa Qal’eh District Governor, Governor Naimatullah and the Deputy provincial Governor, Governor Sattar. (Official US Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua J. Hines)


Marines have an eye out for insurgent activity
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Eric Rose, rifleman with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, conducts a security patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan, Jan. 10, 2011. Marines conducted security patrols to decrease insurgency and gain the trust of the people. The battalion, assigned to Regimental Combat Team 2, conducted counterinsurgency operations in partnership with the International Security Assistance Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Ortiz/Released)


Marines pass out candy to children
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Robert Murphy, left, a rifleman with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, hands out candy to Afghan children as he conducts a security patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan, Jan. 11, 2011. Marines conducted security patrols to decrease insurgency and gain the trust of the people. The battalion, assigned to Regimental Combat Team 2, conducted counterinsurgency operations in partnership with the International Security Assistance Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Ortiz/Released)

A Marines scans the area for the enemy
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Michael Williamson, rifleman with 3rd Platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion 5th Marines, provides security as he conducts a patrol with Afghan National Army soldiers in Sangin, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2011. Marines conducted security patrols to decrease insurgency and gain the trust of the people. The battalion, assigned to Regimental Combat Team 2, conducted counterinsurgency operations in partnership with the International Security Assistance Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Ortiz/Released)


Marines in search of insurgents
U.S. Marines with 1st Platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment stand guard during a patrol in Sangin, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 8, 2010. Marines conducted counterinsurgency operations with the International Security Assistance Force to suppress insurgent activity and gain the trust of Afghan citizens. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Ortiz/Released)


Making friends with the locals
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Raymond Riis, a rifleman with 2nd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, speaks with Afghan children during a census patrol in Sangin, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 6, 2011. Marines conducted counterinsurgency operations with the International Security Assistance Force to suppress insurgent activity and gain the trust of Afghan citizens. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dexter S. Saulisbury/Released)


Marines look for IEDs
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. LLyndun Cooper with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, searches for Improvised Explosive Devices during a census patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan on Jan. 9, 2011. U.S. Marines conduct security patrols in partnership with the International Security Assistance Force to decrease insurgent activity and gain the trust of the local people.The battalion is assigned to Regimental Combat Team 2. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dexter S. Saulisbury/Released)


Marines take on the enemy
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rick Menard, an automatic rifleman with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, provides protection for his unit during a census patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan, Jan. 9, 2011. U.S. Marines conducted security patrols with the International Security Assistance Force to decrease insurgent activity and gain the trust of Afghan citizens. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dexter S. Saulisbury/Released)