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An Iraqi soldier with 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, hands candy bars out to the children of Ghartan after a combined medical engagement held here Oct. 18. The CME was held in a local school and surrounding the school were Iraqi soldiers standing security, searching and conducting vehicle checkpoints. Female Marines with 2nd Marine Logistics Group politely searched females in a private shelter outside the school. Corpsmen from Camp Al Taqaddum Surgical and Marines with the Military Transition Team helped provide and coordinate medical care for the local Iraqi population who were entering the school. - An Iraqi soldier with 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, hands candy bars out to the children of Ghartan after a combined medical engagement held here Oct. 18. The CME was held in a local school and surrounding the school were Iraqi soldiers standing security, searching and conducting vehicle checkpoints. Female Marines with 2nd Marine Logistics Group politely searched females in a private shelter outside the school. Corpsmen from Camp Al Taqaddum Surgical and Marines with the Military Transition Team helped provide and coordinate medical care for the local Iraqi population who were entering the school.

Lt. Hammed Najam, an Iraqi soldier with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, receives and friendly kiss from a small child after Najam gave him an ice cold bottle of water during a combined medical engagement here Oct. 20. Marines from 1st Bn., 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, also helped the Iraqi army during the CME, which provided Iraqis from the local town of Kahalid a chance to receive free examinations, medical care and prescriptions in a safe and secure environment. - Lt. Hammed Najam, an Iraqi soldier with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, receives and friendly kiss from a small child after Najam gave him an ice cold bottle of water during a combined medical engagement here Oct. 20. Marines from 1st Bn., 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, also helped the Iraqi army during the CME, which provided Iraqis from the local town of Kahalid a chance to receive free examinations, medical care and prescriptions in a safe and secure environment.

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq, (Oct. 17, 2007) – Marines with Company C, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, search a tanker truck left in the middle of the desert. The company swept through the valley in the western Anbar Province searching for insurgents, weapons, and illegal material during Operation Mawtini III. Official Marine Corps Photo By Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser. - COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq, (Oct. 17, 2007) – Marines with Company C, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, search a tanker truck left in the middle of the desert. The company swept through the valley in the western Anbar Province searching for insurgents, weapons, and illegal material during Operation Mawtini III. Official Marine Corps Photo By Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser.

Children mass in the doorway of their Zaidon, Iraq, classroom Oct. 22 after receiving school supplies from Iraqi Police and Marines from Company I, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6. The supply run served the dual purpose of both helping schoolchildren by providing much-needed pens, pencils and bookbags, in addition to introducing the city's new mayor, Iraqi Police Lt. Col. Ishmael, to the people. “The relationship between us and the IPs is absolutely critical. Lt. Col. Ishamel established the IPs, and they have made it possible for the kids to come back to school after four years,” said Capt. John Allsup, commanding officer of Company I. - Children mass in the doorway of their Zaidon, Iraq, classroom Oct. 22 after receiving school supplies from Iraqi Police and Marines from Company I, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6. The supply run served the dual purpose of both helping schoolchildren by providing much-needed pens, pencils and bookbags, in addition to introducing the city's new mayor, Iraqi Police Lt. Col. Ishmael, to the people. “The relationship between us and the IPs is absolutely critical. Lt. Col. Ishamel established the IPs, and they have made it possible for the kids to come back to school after four years,” said Capt. John Allsup, commanding officer of Company I.

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq, (Oct. 15, 2007) – Cpl. Matthew R. Boeck (right), a patrol leader with Company A, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, leads a joint patrol with several Iraqi policemen through the city streets. The company, which has set an initial goal of 600 patrols a month, plans to continue the close relationship with Iraqi security forces in hopes of completely eliminating the threat of insurgency and firmly establishing a safe environment for provincial Iraqi control. Official Marine Corps Photo By Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser. - COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq, (Oct. 15, 2007) – Cpl. Matthew R. Boeck (right), a patrol leader with Company A, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, leads a joint patrol with several Iraqi policemen through the city streets. The company, which has set an initial goal of 600 patrols a month, plans to continue the close relationship with Iraqi security forces in hopes of completely eliminating the threat of insurgency and firmly establishing a safe environment for provincial Iraqi control. Official Marine Corps Photo By Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser.

CAMP RAMADI, IRAQ (OCTOBER 6, 2007)—First Lt. Jeromy Johnson, executive officer, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, currently attached to the U.S. Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Multi National Force-West, briefs Marines of the battalion’s military police transition team before a convoy into Ar Ramadi. The team’s mission is to work with Iraqi security forces in joint security operations (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David A. Weikle). - CAMP RAMADI, IRAQ (OCTOBER 6, 2007)—First Lt. Jeromy Johnson, executive officer, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, currently attached to the U.S. Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Multi National Force-West, briefs Marines of the battalion’s military police transition team before a convoy into Ar Ramadi. The team’s mission is to work with Iraqi security forces in joint security operations (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David A. Weikle).

CAMP RAMADI, IRAQ (OCTOBER 6, 2007)—First Lt. Jeromy Johnson, executive officer, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, currently attached to the U.S. Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Multi National Force-West, briefs Marines of the battalion’s military police transition team before a convoy into Ar Ramadi. The team’s mission is to work with Iraqi security forces in joint security operations (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David A. Weikle). - CAMP RAMADI, IRAQ (OCTOBER 6, 2007)—First Lt. Jeromy Johnson, executive officer, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, currently attached to the U.S. Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Multi National Force-West, briefs Marines of the battalion’s military police transition team before a convoy into Ar Ramadi. The team’s mission is to work with Iraqi security forces in joint security operations (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David A. Weikle).

Iraqi Police Maj. Mohammed, executive officer for the Fallujah IPs, pinpoints the location of a local school in need of supplies to Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, here Oct. 17. The mission to provide the school and students with backpacks, supplies and shirts was coordinated by the IPs. Coalition Forces are keeping as hands-off as possible while training the IPs in the finer points of community involvement with an eye toward future independent operations. - Iraqi Police Maj. Mohammed, executive officer for the Fallujah IPs, pinpoints the location of a local school in need of supplies to Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, here Oct. 17. The mission to provide the school and students with backpacks, supplies and shirts was coordinated by the IPs. Coalition Forces are keeping as hands-off as possible while training the IPs in the finer points of community involvement with an eye toward future independent operations.

EXPEDITIONARY PATROL BASE - DULAB, Iraq, (Sept. 26, 2007) – Marines with 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, sweep through the desert on the outside of the city in a column. The company, known as the Animals, frequently goes on patrols lasting more than six hours, and regularly covers a dozen miles each day. (Official USMC photograph by Cpl. Shane S. Keller) - EXPEDITIONARY PATROL BASE - DULAB, Iraq, (Sept. 26, 2007) – Marines with 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, sweep through the desert on the outside of the city in a column. The company, known as the Animals, frequently goes on patrols lasting more than six hours, and regularly covers a dozen miles each day. (Official USMC photograph by Cpl. Shane S. Keller)

EXPEDITIONARY PATROL BASE - DULAB, Iraq, (Sept. 26, 2007) – An Iraqi policeman smiles while Lance Cpl. Patrick K. Mason (center), a squad leader with Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, directs the members of his squad on a patrol during Operation Bell Hurriyah. Bell Hurriyah, which means Enjoy Freedom, is battalion-wide operation directed at stopping the increase of insurgent activity during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Official Marine Corps Photo By Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser. - EXPEDITIONARY PATROL BASE - DULAB, Iraq, (Sept. 26, 2007) – An Iraqi policeman smiles while Lance Cpl. Patrick K. Mason (center), a squad leader with Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, directs the members of his squad on a patrol during Operation Bell Hurriyah. Bell Hurriyah, which means Enjoy Freedom, is battalion-wide operation directed at stopping the increase of insurgent activity during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Official Marine Corps Photo By Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser.