Col. Yori R. Escalante (middle), the assistant chief of staff C-9 for Regional Command Southwest, sits down for a meeting with Deputy Minister Suraya Paikan (front left), Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 26, 2011. Escalante and other senior leaders informed Paikan of projects taking place in Helmand province and also talked about future plans for Southwestern Afghanistan. - Col. Yori R. Escalante (middle), the assistant chief of staff C-9 for Regional Command Southwest, sits down for a meeting with Deputy Minister Suraya Paikan (front left), Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 26, 2011. Escalante and other senior leaders informed Paikan of projects taking place in Helmand province and also talked about future plans for Southwestern Afghanistan.

Marines from the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) Embedded Partnering Team pose for a picture with Sgt. Azim Sultanzi after a graduation ceremony at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, July 28, 2011. Sultanzi, a soldier from the 215th Corps Logistics Brigade, Afghan National Army, graduated from the Joint Administration Course, which will allow him to efficiently complete administrative work like pay issues and monthly inspections. - Marines from the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) Embedded Partnering Team pose for a picture with Sgt. Azim Sultanzi after a graduation ceremony at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, July 28, 2011. Sultanzi, a soldier from the 215th Corps Logistics Brigade, Afghan National Army, graduated from the Joint Administration Course, which will allow him to efficiently complete administrative work like pay issues and monthly inspections.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua D. Croxton, the blood coordinator for 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), carries a box of blood to the Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, flight operations tent so it can be shipped to a forward operating base, July 16, 2011. Croxton, a Niceville, Fla., native, restructured the way blood is distributed throughout Helmand province, Afghanistan, which resulted in approximately a 30 percent decrease of wasted blood. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua D. Croxton, the blood coordinator for 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), carries a box of blood to the Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, flight operations tent so it can be shipped to a forward operating base, July 16, 2011. Croxton, a Niceville, Fla., native, restructured the way blood is distributed throughout Helmand province, Afghanistan, which resulted in approximately a 30 percent decrease of wasted blood.

Lt. Cmdr. Michael Tomlinson, from Keene, Texas, the chaplain for 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), gave the invocation during a cake cutting ceremony in commemoration of the 113th birthday of the hospital corps aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, June 17, 2011. More than 150 service members and civilians celebrated the birthday with a 5 km run at 6 a.m. and then in the afternoon with a ceremony and cake. ::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - Lt. Cmdr. Michael Tomlinson, from Keene, Texas, the chaplain for 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), gave the invocation during a cake cutting ceremony in commemoration of the 113th birthday of the hospital corps aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, June 17, 2011. More than 150 service members and civilians celebrated the birthday with a 5 km run at 6 a.m. and then in the afternoon with a ceremony and cake. ::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::

Soldiers with the 215th Corps Logistics Battalion, Afghan National Army participate in a basic radio operator course led by ANA Sgt. Khair Mohammad, a basic radio operator instructor, June 7, 2011, at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan. This portion of the curriculum was the final test of a week-long radio operator instructor course taught by Marines with the Embedded Partnering Team, 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward). Khair is one out of six soldiers to graduate from the course and is now capable of teaching his fellow ANA soldiers basic radio operations. - Soldiers with the 215th Corps Logistics Battalion, Afghan National Army participate in a basic radio operator course led by ANA Sgt. Khair Mohammad, a basic radio operator instructor, June 7, 2011, at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan. This portion of the curriculum was the final test of a week-long radio operator instructor course taught by Marines with the Embedded Partnering Team, 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward). Khair is one out of six soldiers to graduate from the course and is now capable of teaching his fellow ANA soldiers basic radio operations.

Soldiers with the 215th Corps Logistics Battalion, Afghan National Army participate in a basic radio operator course led by ANA Sgt. Khair Mohammad, a basic radio operator instructor, June 7, 2011, at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan. This portion of the curriculum was the final test of a week-long radio operator instructor course taught by Marines with the Embedded Partnering Team, 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward). Khair is one out of six soldiers to graduate from the course and is now capable of teaching his fellow ANA soldiers basic radio operations. - Soldiers with the 215th Corps Logistics Battalion, Afghan National Army participate in a basic radio operator course led by ANA Sgt. Khair Mohammad, a basic radio operator instructor, June 7, 2011, at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan. This portion of the curriculum was the final test of a week-long radio operator instructor course taught by Marines with the Embedded Partnering Team, 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward). Khair is one out of six soldiers to graduate from the course and is now capable of teaching his fellow ANA soldiers basic radio operations.

Lance Cpl. Thomas C. Martin (left), from Rutherford, N.C., a metal worker, and Cpl. Quinntin T. Smith (right), the tire shop non commissioned officer in charge with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), install an air seal inside a new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle tire June 6, 2011, aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. Since arriving in Afghanistan in January, the Marines at the tire shop rebuilt 512 tires for all types of motor transportation and heavy equipment, providing units within Regional Command Southwest, including the embedded partnering teams across the area of operation and even the fire department aboard Camp Leatherneck, with brand new tires for their vehicles. - Lance Cpl. Thomas C. Martin (left), from Rutherford, N.C., a metal worker, and Cpl. Quinntin T. Smith (right), the tire shop non commissioned officer in charge with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), install an air seal inside a new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle tire June 6, 2011, aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. Since arriving in Afghanistan in January, the Marines at the tire shop rebuilt 512 tires for all types of motor transportation and heavy equipment, providing units within Regional Command Southwest, including the embedded partnering teams across the area of operation and even the fire department aboard Camp Leatherneck, with brand new tires for their vehicles.

(From left to right) Lance Cpl. Christopher A. Hernandez, Cpl. Anthony J. Rosa, 1st Lt. David L. Koch, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Jerkovich, Lance Cpl. Courtney Mahle and Cpl. Richard M. Canfield, all with 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), pose for a picture before taking off on a five-kilometer run for Memorial Day at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 30, 2011. The run gave troops and civilians deployed to Camp Leatherneck a chance to take a moment to honor fallen heroes on Memorial Day. - (From left to right) Lance Cpl. Christopher A. Hernandez, Cpl. Anthony J. Rosa, 1st Lt. David L. Koch, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Jerkovich, Lance Cpl. Courtney Mahle and Cpl. Richard M. Canfield, all with 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), pose for a picture before taking off on a five-kilometer run for Memorial Day at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 30, 2011. The run gave troops and civilians deployed to Camp Leatherneck a chance to take a moment to honor fallen heroes on Memorial Day.

Afghan National Army soldiers from the 4th Kandak provide security during a recent convoy from Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, to the Marjah district of Helmand province. The Embedded Partnering Teams from Combat Logistics Battalion 7 and 2nd Maintenance Battalion (Forward), both with 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), and the Embedded Training Team from Regimental Combat Team 1, Task Force Leatherneck escorted the 4th Kandak to their new home in Marjah where they will support 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, ANA with an engineer company, a reconnaissance company and an artillery company. - Afghan National Army soldiers from the 4th Kandak provide security during a recent convoy from Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, to the Marjah district of Helmand province. The Embedded Partnering Teams from Combat Logistics Battalion 7 and 2nd Maintenance Battalion (Forward), both with 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), and the Embedded Training Team from Regimental Combat Team 1, Task Force Leatherneck escorted the 4th Kandak to their new home in Marjah where they will support 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, ANA with an engineer company, a reconnaissance company and an artillery company.

Two Afghan children pose for a picture as a joint-service combat logistics patrol rolls through their village, May 10, 2011. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), the Route Clearance Platoon from Joint-Task Force Paladin, and soldiers with the 541st Transportation Company, 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion partnered to deliver mission-essential supplies to coalition forces operating near Forward Operating Base Shukvani, Afghanistan. It is common for Afghan children to approach the convoy, and if possible interact with the troops. - Two Afghan children pose for a picture as a joint-service combat logistics patrol rolls through their village, May 10, 2011. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), the Route Clearance Platoon from Joint-Task Force Paladin, and soldiers with the 541st Transportation Company, 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion partnered to deliver mission-essential supplies to coalition forces operating near Forward Operating Base Shukvani, Afghanistan. It is common for Afghan children to approach the convoy, and if possible interact with the troops.