NEWS

Commandant, Sergeant Major of Marine Corps visit Marines in Afghanistan

Story and photos by Regional Command Southwest Team HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The Marine Corps top general and his senior enlisted advisor visited Marines throughout southern Afghanistan to thank them for their service and sacrifice, July 17. General James F. Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps, and Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Micheal P. Barrett were greeted by formations of Marines at six locations throughout Helmand province. The stops were spread through the far corners of the province and included Camp Leatherneck, Forward Operating Base Payne, FOB Geronimo, FOB Jackson, FOB Zeebrugge and Combat Outpost Shir Ghazi. General Amos said that just three years ago, Helmand province was one of the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan, but thats changed. Marines have taken the fight to insurgents and mentors have partnered with the ANSF, training them to become self-sufficient. (Read the STORY)

Connecting a Country Road, bridge projects bring Afghanistan together

Story and photos by Marine Sgt. James Mercure MARJAH, Afghanistan - When America moved west within its own borders, the construction of roads and bridges was vital to make trade and national commerce possible. The Afghans too are building their own roads and now governance and commerce is flourishing in what used to be one of the most dangerous places in the world. From Marjah to Lashkar Gah, two main economic hubs in Helmand province, where once was a simple dirt road, now stands Route 608, a two-lane, paved Afghan highway connecting these two districts for the first time. The 12-kilometer project was started by the International Security Assistance Forces Provincial Reconstruction Team and the Special Team Royal Engineers, to enhance the road network in the province. Now days from completion and five months ahead of schedule, those who assisted with the project consider it a tremendous success. (Read the STORY)

USAID brings development to Kajaki

Story and photos by Marine Cpl. Kenneth Jasik KAJAKI DISTRICT, Afghanistan For the first time since the 1970s, the U.S. Agency for International Development has begun implementing projects in Kajaki District. On July 7th, Afghan workers started refurbishing the Kajaki District Center, the local headquarters for the Afghan government. The projects have been in the planning stage for the past couple months now, said Rob R. Walker, a U.S. State Department officer. Today was the first day in the district center refurbishment, which is the first in a series of projects (the) Central Asia Development Group is doing. CADG is a non-governmental organization partnered with USAID. The group also plans on refurbishing a health clinic and about 50 stalls within a local bazaar. CADG hired local workers to help with all the projects. (Read the STORY)

Police Advisor Team develops, mentors Afghan police

Story and photos by Marine Cpl. Mark Garcia FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan As Afghans assume more security responsibilities in southern Afghanistan, Marines are focused on training Afghans who want to protect their districts and villages. In the Sangin district of Helmand province, Marines with Police Advisor Team 2, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, are training Afghan police by running an Afghan Local Police academy. The academy is located at Kashty Lara, an Afghan Uniformed Police compound near Forward Operating Base Jackson. During the three-week course, future police train in the basics of patrolling, vehicle and personnel searches, checkpoints, escalation of force, detainee procedures, marksmanship and Afghan law. After completing training, the new ALP are stationed at patrol bases in their hometowns. I have learned a lot during this course, and I appreciate the Marines helping us, said Hasti Mohammed, an ALP trainee from Kajaki district. I wanted to become a police officer because I want to be able to provide peace and security for my people and for myself. (Read the STORY)

Afghan forces graduate 19 advance administrators under Marine tutelage

Story and photos by Marine Master Sgt. Grady Fontana CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - After more than 10 years of war in Afghanistan, the Afghan National Security Forces have gained a certain proficiency in war fighting unlike any they have ever experienced in past years. As theyve developed their tactics, techniques and procedures in counterinsurgency operations while fighting alongside U.S. forces, theyve earned the respect of their people and have gained experience on the Afghan battlefield. However, while developing the ANSF into a professional fighting force, theyve also shifted some of the developmental focus on the combat arms support functions such as logistics, communications and administration. As the ANSF progresses through the maturation process, theyve acknowledged the need to get better in terms of supporting roles within military units. (Read the STORY)

Maintenance Marines keep base running

Story and photos by Marine Cpl. Ed Galo FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, Afghanistan In the sweltering heat of the day at the maintenance lot at Forward Operating Base Payne, Marines wrench on generators and engines, their sweat drips down on the oil-covered rocks and their grunts echo through the bays where they work. The small group of Marines in the maintenance section of 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 6, has the task of ensuring everything from vehicles to generators and air conditioning units work. According to Staff Sgt. Brian Lerner, engineer chief, 3rd LAR, his Marines provide general engineer support for all bases in 3rd LARs area of operations. The hardest part has to be keeping everything running in this kind of heat, Lerner, from Munster, Ind., said. A lot of the stuff goes down in the heat. A lot of it is just pretty worn out, but we do a pretty good job of keeping it running. (Read the STORY)

VIGNETTES
Radio Operator vital to Personal Security Detachment
Story and photos by Marine Cpl. Mark Stroud HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan Communication is everything for what we do, said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Morgan, personal security detachment chief, Personal Security Detachment, Combat Logistics Battalion 4, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward). If you cant communicate you dont know what is happening, you cant coordinate with other elements and you cant reinforce yourself; your command and signal is gone. The task of maintaining the CLB-4 PSDs communications and ensuring that their command and signal capability is not interrupted falls to the radio operator, Cpl. Alfredo Salcido, a 30-year-old native of El Paso, Texas. Communications are especially important for the

PSD, which is responsible for providing security for the CLB-4 Commanding Officer as he travels throughout the battlespace. My mission is to provide the lieutenant colonel uninterrupted communication and so far I have accomplished my mission, said Salcido. (Read the STORY)

Texas native serves country by saving lives

Story and photos by Marine Cpl. Mark Garcia FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan As a senior in high school, Navy Seaman Christian Adkins knew he wanted to serve his country. Two months after his graduation, he was on his way to basic training. Adkins, corpsman, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, credits the drive to join the military to his mother and stepfather. Adkins parents divorced when he was young, and after living with his father during his freshman and sophomore years in high school, he moved in with his mother and stepfather. They encouraged him to consider the military after high school. They knew just as well as I did that school wasnt for me, said Adkins, from Athens, Texas. Not to say that they didnt have faith in me, but they just knew I dont do well in school. They wanted me to go into the military because they thought I would be successful in it. (Read the STORY)

Roanoke native serves Corps, lives up to family tradition

Story and photos by Marine Sgt. Michele Watson PATROL BASE EREDVI, Afghanistan Each Marine has his or her own personal reason for joining the Corps, whether it is a sense of duty to ones country, a chance to travel the world, or tradition. For Cpl. Dustin Carlton, it was all of the above. My great grandfather served with Chesty Puller, said Carlton, 23, a native of Roanoke, Va. All of my family has served in the military. After following in his familys footsteps, Carlton said he is grateful for the opportunities the Marine Corps has afforded him. There is no other job in the world that would let me serve my country as a tow truck driver, said Carlton. I have been able to see so many different places through my job. Since he joined in early 2007, Carlton has traveled to more than 20 countries with the Marine Corps. In addition to combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Carlton also deployed in support of Africa Partnership Station 10 where he visited multiple countries in Africa and worked with foreign militaries. (Read the STORY)

Duty Expert keeps combat logistics patrols moving

Story and photos by Marine Cpl. Mark Stroud HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan Flat tires, blown transmissions, and even vehicle accidents are common occurrences in the harsh environment and inherent danger of a war zone, said Staff Sgt. Brendan H. Chamburs, company gunnery sergeant, Support Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 4, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward). The wrecker section has the responsibility to maintain convoy momentum when things go wrong. Cpl. Adam R. Tornatore, a 26-year-old native of Syracuse, N.Y., is one of the wrecker operators tasked with making sure that each vehicle in the convoy makes it to its destination. Tornatores technical expertise and ability to manage the stress and responsibility of such an important billet are the reasons that he earned his nickname, Duty-Expert. Tornatore has been called upon to recover 80 vehicles so far, said Chamburs. He has built a reputation for being the go-to Marine for unique and difficult recoveries. (Read the STORY)

VIDEOS
Marines honor fallen brothers in Afghanistan
Video by Marine Cpl. Mark Garcia On somber Sunday afternoon more than 200 servicemembers gathered to honor fallen comrades during a memorial ceremony under a canopy to shade them from the blazing Afghanistan sunlight, July 8, 2012. During the ceremony Marines paid tribute to Pfc. Steven P. Stevens II, Lance Cpl. Niall W. CotiSears, Lance Cpl. Hunter D. Hogan and Lance Cpl. Eugene C. Mills III all were killed in action while conducting combat operations in Sangin Valley District. Stevens was a combat engineer with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, supporting Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. Coti-Sears

was a rifleman deployed with Weapons Co. Hogan and Mills were riflemen deployed with Bravo Co., 1st Bn., 8th Marines and were attached to Weapons Co., during the operation. (Watch the VIDEO)

Operation Bold Yak

Video by Army Sgt. Frank Thompson Artillery company, 4th Kandak, 1/215 Corps Afghan National Army conduct a live fire artillery range with the aid of the RCT-5 Combat Support Advisory Team (CSAT). (Watch the VIDEO)

Marketed/Republished Combat Correspondent Product

Terry Walker live interview with FOX News N.Y. Sgt. James Peacock talks to a WRAS-FM reporter from Atlanta, G.A. Sgt. James Peacock talks to a WGAU-AM reporter Face of Defense: Marine Reflects on Second Afghan Tour story by Cpl. Jasik Lance Cpl. Ramon Rodriguez talks to a Jacksonville, N.C. reporter Lance Cpl. Elliot Cunningham talks to a Jacksonville, N.C. reporter Sgt. Jason Cortes talks to a Jacksonville, N.C. radio station Sgt. Allen Stover talks to a Jacksonville, N.C. reporter Immigrant Marine Enjoys American Citizenship on WWYN-TV Marines capture 20 during operation in northern Musa Qa'leh on WWYN-TV Face of Defense: Deployed Marine builds gym in spare time Jacksonville Daily News - Deployed Marine builds gym in spare time Face of Defense: Marine reflects on second Afghan tour USAID brings development to Kajaki on blackanthem.com Lance Cpl. Dean Ray Fox Sports

HMH-362 Episode 1 on Marines TV and Military Times