Aug. 7, 2012

Afghan commandos take flight in Shinwar district

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (August 7, 2012) — Members of the 3rd Company, 1st Commando Kandak cleared an insurgent safe haven with the help of four of their own helicopters in Shinwar district, July 25.

Aug. 6, 2012

Afghan combat support soldiers work with Marine advisors

COMBAT OUTPOST FIDDLERS GREEN, Afghanistan (August 6, 2012) — The future success of Afghanistan’s security depends largely on the abilities of the country’s armed forces.

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.

July 30, 2012

‘Dragon’ female engagement teams making change in Paktika Province

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan (July 30, 2012) — Since arriving in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division’s female engagement teams have already conducted several missions rendering humanitarian aid to remote villages and conducting drip bucket irrigation classes.

July 26, 2012

Marine born in Afghanistan gives back to home nation

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan (July 26, 2012) —“I remember the day I heard that America was going into Afghanistan,” said Lance Cpl. Behzad Razzada, a member of the Embedded Partnering Team, Combat Logistics Battalion 4, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward). “My parents were happy because it was a chance for Afghanistan to unite and fight for freedom. They said it was the only way that injustice in Afghanistan would be finished.”

July 24, 2012

ISAF transfers security responsibility for districts in Logar

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (July 24, 2012) — The Governor of Logar province, Assistant to the Ministries of Defense, members of Parliament, tribal elders, the 203rd Afghan National Army Corps commander and soldiers, and Afghan National Police commander and police were all in attendance for a ceremony at Camp Miawon to mark the official transfer of power of three districts within Logar province from the International Security Assistance Force to Afghan forces July 12.