Aug. 2, 2012

Afghan forces increasingly in security lead in southern Helmand province

COMBAT OUTPOST DEHLI, Afghanistan (August 2, 2012) — As Marines drove along the narrow dirt roads of southern Helmand province they watched farmers tend to their corn fields and livestock. They saw children running alongside vehicles and swimming in a river that irrigates the fields surrounding it. Trucks carrying bags of wheat and other products passed the Marines' convoy regularly on their way to deliver their goods to bazaars and customers in the area.

Aug. 2, 2012

Australian soldiers train Afghan heavy weapons platoon on mortar course

TARIN KOT, Afghanistan (August 2, 2012) — The thundering blast of mortar fire filled the air as Afghan National Army soldiers sent rounds down range during the validation portion of a mortars course taught at Patrol Base Sorkh Bid, Afghanistan, July 28.

Aug. 1, 2012

Service members successfully work themselves out of job

CAMP STONE, Afghanistan (July 31, 2012) — Most people wouldn't define success as working themselves out of a job, but for the Joint Medical Operations Cell located in western Afghanistan, that was exactly their goal.

Aug. 1, 2012

Making money without marijuana: Afghan farmers enabled to grow legal crops

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan (July 31, 2012) — With assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. Army civil affairs, farmers in Afghanistan now network with traders to sell legal crops such as melons for higher prices than illegal crops in markets such as India and Dubai.

Aug. 1, 2012

Afghan, Marine partnership bears fruit through progress, transition in southern Helmand

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (July 30, 2012) — When the Marines and sailors of Regimental Combat Team 5 arrived here in August 2011, their predecessors from RCT-1 had already planted the seeds of transition with Afghan National Security Forces.