U.S. Marines with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines provide security while Marines search a compound during a patrol in Sangin Valley, Afghanistan Nov. 24, 2010. Marines conduct security patrols to decrease insurgent activity and gain the trust of the local population. The battalion is one of the combat elements of Regimental Combat Team 2 whose mission is to conduct counterinsurgency operations in partnership with International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. David Hernandez /Released)

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates addresses more than 200 service members with 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Dec. 8. During Gates’ visit, he applauded the troops for their accomplishments and dedication. He shook hands with each service member, thanking them for their service.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates addresses more than 200 service members with 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Dec. 8. During Gates’ visit, he applauded the troops for their accomplishments and dedication. He shook hands with each service member, thanking them for their service.

Lance Cpl. Jonathan Garvey, a rifleman with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, along with fellow Marines and Afghan National Army soldiers from the 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, halts briefly while patrolling through Trek Nawa, Afghanistan, during Operation Black Tip, Oct. 14, 2010. Black Tip was a one-day clearing operation to disrupt enemy activity, during which the Marines and Afghan soldiers detained four men suspected of combatant activity and removed a weapons cache from the area. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mark Fayloga)

Sgt. Charles Carder, 23, Headquarters & Service Company mentor, Embedded Partnering Team, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), teaches Afghan National Army soldiers proper weapons maintenance on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Nov. 21. The 20 Marines and sailors with CLB-3’s EPT are mentoring and training the soldiers of 5/1/215 – an ANA logistics battalion – so they can operate independently.

Mohammad Zaman, a soldier with the Afghan National Army’s 5th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, serves as a spotter as Cpl. Phillip Sever, 20, Headquarters & Service Company mentor, Embedded Partnering Team, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), sights in during a weapons class on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Nov. 21. The 20 Marines and sailors with CLB-3’s EPT are mentoring and training the soldiers of 5/1/215 – an ANA logistics battalion – so they can operate independently.

Engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), fill Hesco barriers at a new combat outpost in Musa Qal’eh, Nov. 13. Afghan forces were in need of a defensive position due to enemy activity in a near by town.

Engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), move a stack of Hesco barriers at a new combat outpost in Musa Qal’eh, Nov. 13. Building an elevated position at the top of a hill allows Afghan forces the ability to watch over the surrounding area.

U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) take a group photo with country music singer Ayla Brown on Nov. 14 at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan. U.S. Marines with 9th ESB, 1st MLG (FWD) demonstrated various military equipment used to support the International Security Assistance Force.

Marines with the Police Mentoring Team here speak with the Afghan National Police before stepping off on a patrol August 3, to show the people here that the ANP are taking charge of the security in the area.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Demarcus M. Mcghee, with 3rd Platoon, Military Police Comapny, Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, talks with Afghan National Police officers before a security patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 3, 2009. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan are deployed to support NATO's International Security Assistance Force and will participate in counterinsurgency operations. They will train and mentor Afghan National Security Forces to improve security and stability in the country. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Paul Miller/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Ryan Pettit (left) and Cpl. Matthew Miller with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment fire their service rifles during an operation in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan on July 3. The Marines are part of the ground combat element of Regiment Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

2nd Lt. Mark H. Tetzel, Company D platoon commander, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, contacts his interpreter to assist him in communicating with local community members near the newly-established Patrol Base Khanjar Aug. 17, 2009. Many locals have a misconception that the Marines will leave the area shortly after the Aug. 20 elections. This patrol base is meant to give the community peace of mind that the Marines aren?t leaving any time soon.

Cpl. A.J. Manglona, a machine gunner with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, fires his M240G medium machinegun at Taliban insurgents here after drawing fire here Aug. 15.

1st Lt. Josh Faucett, a joint terminal attack controller with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, calls for close air support on insurgent positions during a seven-hour firefight with Taliban insurgents here Aug. 13. Faucett is from Elwood, Ind.

Lance Cpl. Javier Rohas, 19, of West Palm Beach, Fla., with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, post security on the perimeter of a compound recently occupied by insurgents where their patrol found a cache of IED-making materials here Aug. 10.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Taylor Bastein, with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, talks to a suspected insurgent during a compound search through the Nawa district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 3, 2009. Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan are deployed to support NATO's International Security Assistance Force and will participate in counterinsurgency operations. They will train and mentor Afghan National Security Forces to improve security and stability in the country. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Artur Shvartsberg/Released)

A U.S. Navy hospital corpsman with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment treats a wounded Afghan National Police officer at Patrol Base Jaker in the Nawa district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 5, 2009. The officer was hit with shrapnel when an improvised explosive device detonated near him. U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan are deployed here to support NATO's International Security Assistance Force and will participate in counterinsurgency operations. They will train and mentor Afghan National Security Forces to improve security and stability in the country. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. William Greeson/Released)

Marines with the Police Mentoring Team here speak with the Afghan National Police before stepping off on a patrol August 3, to show the people here that the ANP are taking charge of the security in the area.

Lance Cpl. Samuel Meyer provides security during a patrol in Nawa District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Aug. 24, 2009. Meyer is a 20 year old machine gunner from Pasadena, Calif., deployed with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marines are conducting security patrols in the area to speak with the local populace to identify their issues and concerns. 1/5 is deployed with Regimental Combat Team 3, whose mission is to conduct counterinsurgency operations in partnership with the Afghan national security forces in southern Afghanistan.

1st Platoon Commander 1st Lt. Patrick O'Shea, from C Co., 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, speaks to a local farmer during a patrol Aug. 25, 2009.

Sgt. Mathew Roell, a PMT Marine originally from Regimental Combat Team 3 personal security detail and an Indianapolis, In., native; Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Tucker, corpsman with the PMT and Arrington Park, N.J., native, and Cpl. Joshua Johnston, a PMT Marine, Rayne, La., post security on the outside of a compound wall while waiting for it to be cleared Sept. 7, 2009, here.