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Lt. Col. Paul J. Nugent, commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, and Sameer Alhaddad, receivership secretariat and prime minister’s representative for the Government of Iraq, shake hands after transferring Combat Outpost Rawah from Coalition forces to the Government of Iraq, July 29, 2009. The transfer of COP Rawah is a result of the progress Iraqi Security Forces have made in preserving peace and stability throughout Al Anbar province. - Lt. Col. Paul J. Nugent, commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, and Sameer Alhaddad, receivership secretariat and prime minister’s representative for the Government of Iraq, shake hands after transferring Combat Outpost Rawah from Coalition forces to the Government of Iraq, July 29, 2009. The transfer of COP Rawah is a result of the progress Iraqi Security Forces have made in preserving peace and stability throughout Al Anbar province.

Marines with motor transport section, Headquarters and Service Company, Task Force 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, offload supplies to prepare them for a logistics movement, or logpack, July 11, 2009, at Sahl Sinjar, Iraq. Logpacks are meant to supply companies operating throughout the battalion area of operations who aren’t able to supply themselves due to mission requirements. - Marines with motor transport section, Headquarters and Service Company, Task Force 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, offload supplies to prepare them for a logistics movement, or logpack, July 11, 2009, at Sahl Sinjar, Iraq. Logpacks are meant to supply companies operating throughout the battalion area of operations who aren’t able to supply themselves due to mission requirements.

Sgt. William Caldwell, a Marine with Company C, Task Force 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, looks off into the distance while providing security for two Marines who are changing a damaged LAV tire in Ninewa province, Iraq, July 9, 2009. The battalion was one of the first LAR battalions to enter Iraq and will be the last LAR battalion to leave. - Sgt. William Caldwell, a Marine with Company C, Task Force 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, looks off into the distance while providing security for two Marines who are changing a damaged LAV tire in Ninewa province, Iraq, July 9, 2009. The battalion was one of the first LAR battalions to enter Iraq and will be the last LAR battalion to leave.

Then 1st Lt. Colter Bahlau, platoon commander for 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and currently the company commander for Company C, 2nd CEB, Regimental Combat Team 8, was named the 2008 Combat Engineer Officer of the Year by the Marine Corps Engineer Association. Bahlau, humbled by his award, gives all of the credit to the Marines he led during his tour in Operation Enduring Freedom. - Then 1st Lt. Colter Bahlau, platoon commander for 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and currently the company commander for Company C, 2nd CEB, Regimental Combat Team 8, was named the 2008 Combat Engineer Officer of the Year by the Marine Corps Engineer Association. Bahlau, humbled by his award, gives all of the credit to the Marines he led during his tour in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Williamson, the platoon sergeant of Reconnaissance Platoon, Regimental Combat Team 8, congratulates an Iraqi commando during the commandos’ graduation ceremony from their monthlong training exercise, July 2, 2009. Williamson said the commandos can take the training they received and build on it to become a stronger, more capable force. - Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Williamson, the platoon sergeant of Reconnaissance Platoon, Regimental Combat Team 8, congratulates an Iraqi commando during the commandos’ graduation ceremony from their monthlong training exercise, July 2, 2009. Williamson said the commandos can take the training they received and build on it to become a stronger, more capable force.