God bless and protect them.
Marines with Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, fire an M982 Excalibur round from an M777 howitzer during a recent fire support mission. In between fire missions, the Marines continue with daily life. They also mentor their Afghan National Army counterparts and constantly rehearse their positions to guarantee their artillery rounds hit their targets when coalition forces need their help.
An M777 howitzer kicks rocks and dust into the air after firing during a recent mission. The Marines with Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, remain undaunted as they listen to the recorder to see if they have another mission.
Marines with Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, fire an M982 Excalibur round from an M777 howitzer during a recent fire support mission. The artillerymen spend hours each day running through dry-fire training drills to keep their skills sharp in preparation for requests for fire support.
A Coalition Special Operations Forces team member searches a compound during a clearing operation in Chak district, Wardak province, Oct. 13, 2011. Coalition Special Operations Forces team members and Afghan National Army commandos conducted the clearing operation to disrupt insurgent safe havens and activity in the area.
A Coalition Special Operations Forces team member sits in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter before mission at FOB Shank, Logar province, Afghanistan, Oct. 12, 2011. Coalition Special Operations Forces and Afghan commandos conducted a clearing operation to disrupt insurgent safe havens and activity in the area.
U.S. Army Sgt. Sean Matthews, team leader attached to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, pulls security for members of the PRT while on a patrol in Mehtar Lam district, Laghman province, Oct. 8. The PRT traveled to visit with the social affairs committee to discuss building a second orphanage to provide care to children who have lost their family.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jason Roberts, a squad leader assigned to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), observes a busy street from a rooftop as members of the PRT meet with residents in Mehtar Lam district, Laghman province, Afghanistan, Oct. 8, 2011. The PRT visited the social affairs committee to discuss building a second orphanage. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane/Released)
1st Lt. Ryan Tahbo, commander of with Mobile Assault Platoon 4, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment and native of Ariz., points out the path the platoon while patrolling in the southern portion of the Washir district, Helmand province, Oct. 4. The Marines of Weapons Co. have been familiarizing themselves with the southern border of Task Force Belleau Wood’s battle-space in central Helmand since arriving in Afghanistan in September.
Lance Cpl. Brendan Thrasher, a mortarman with Mobile Assault Platoon 4, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment and native of Mass., looks for insurgent activity while on patrol in the southern portion of the Washir district, Helmand province, Oct. 4. The Marines of Weapons Co. have been familiarizing themselves with the southern border of Task Force Belleau Wood’s battle-space in central Helmand since arriving in Afghanistan in September.
Cpl. Marcus Yeakel, an anti-tank missleman with Mobile Assault Platoon 4, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment and a native of Kan., pauses during a patrol in the southern portion of the Washir district, Helmand province, Oct. 2 The Marines of Weapons Co. have been familiarizing themselves with the southern border of Task Force Belleau Wood’s battle-space in central Helmand since arriving in Afghanistan in September.
Lance Cpl. Peter Gard Jr., a mortarman with Mobile Assault Platoon 4, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, and a native of Mass., operates a .50-caliber Browning machine gun in the turret of a 7-ton truck while Marines with MAP 4 conduct a foot patrol in the southern portion of the Washir district, Helmand province, Oct. 4. The Marines of Weapons Co. have been familiarizing themselves with the southern border of Task Force Belleau Wood’s battle-space in central Helmand since arriving in Afghanistan in September.