(Top left to right) Catonsville, Md., native Cpl. Patrick Morgan; Southport, N.C., native Cpl. Seth Ryman; Weslaco, Texas, native Esequiel Rivera; Philadelphia, native Cpl. Keith Bluzard; Granite Falls, N.C., native Lance Cpl. Jeremy Preston; (bottom left) Brewster, N.Y., native Pfc. Lance Longchamps and Sumner, Ga., native Sgt. Timothy Dorminey pose for a photo. These Marines are all motor transportation mechanics with Regimental Combat Team-8 attached to the Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, and are responsible for fixing the military vehicles that which keeps the battalion operational. - (Top left to right) Catonsville, Md., native Cpl. Patrick Morgan; Southport, N.C., native Cpl. Seth Ryman; Weslaco, Texas, native Esequiel Rivera; Philadelphia, native Cpl. Keith Bluzard; Granite Falls, N.C., native Lance Cpl. Jeremy Preston; (bottom left) Brewster, N.Y., native Pfc. Lance Longchamps and Sumner, Ga., native Sgt. Timothy Dorminey pose for a photo. These Marines are all motor transportation mechanics with Regimental Combat Team-8 attached to the Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, and are responsible for fixing the military vehicles that which keeps the battalion operational.

Macon, Ga., native Sgt. Stephen M. Smith, the armory maintenance chief for 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, is a left leg, below-the-knee amputee. He survived an Improvised Explosive Device blast in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006, but didn’t let it stop him from being a Marine. He re-enlisted as an armorer after recovering from his injury, and requested to be deployed to Afghanistan. - Macon, Ga., native Sgt. Stephen M. Smith, the armory maintenance chief for 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, is a left leg, below-the-knee amputee. He survived an Improvised Explosive Device blast in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006, but didn’t let it stop him from being a Marine. He re-enlisted as an armorer after recovering from his injury, and requested to be deployed to Afghanistan.

Honolulu, native Petty Officer 1st Class Flo Baltazar (center), a civil engineer corps chief, walks through the construction site of Sangin High School during a recent visit. Baltazar is responsible for inspecting the integrity and quality of the school throughout its construction. - Honolulu, native Petty Officer 1st Class Flo Baltazar (center), a civil engineer corps chief, walks through the construction site of Sangin High School during a recent visit. Baltazar is responsible for inspecting the integrity and quality of the school throughout its construction.

Pittsburgh native Cpl. Zachary Beamer, an assaultman with the Personal Security Detachment of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, recently survived an Improvised Explosive Device blast while on patrol. Beamer was hit with shrapnel in his left arm and torso, but was back with his unit in two weeks. - Pittsburgh native Cpl. Zachary Beamer, an assaultman with the Personal Security Detachment of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, recently survived an Improvised Explosive Device blast while on patrol. Beamer was hit with shrapnel in his left arm and torso, but was back with his unit in two weeks.

Scarborough, Maine, native Lance Cpl. Chris Ventura sits outside his tent during a recent break. The 23-year-old assaultman with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, said he is looking forward to heading home and is most excited to see his seven-month old daughter when he returns to the United States. Marines with the company spent the deployment setting up local security and clearing the insurgency from the area of Trek Nawa. - Scarborough, Maine, native Lance Cpl. Chris Ventura sits outside his tent during a recent break. The 23-year-old assaultman with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, said he is looking forward to heading home and is most excited to see his seven-month old daughter when he returns to the United States. Marines with the company spent the deployment setting up local security and clearing the insurgency from the area of Trek Nawa.

Corporal Nicholas Lavery (left) of Akron, Ohio, refuels dozens of fuel cans during a convoy mission. He and the two other fuel drivers with the logistics train, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, have collectively supplied the unit with more than 250,000 gallons of fuel. - Corporal Nicholas Lavery (left) of Akron, Ohio, refuels dozens of fuel cans during a convoy mission. He and the two other fuel drivers with the logistics train, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, have collectively supplied the unit with more than 250,000 gallons of fuel.

A Marine plays a game on his portable media player as the moon rises over the horizon behind the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle. The Marines and sailors say it’s a treat to sleep outside because they get to see a sky that’s untainted by artificial light. They stay pretty busy during the day, so at night, when all becomes calm, the Marines try to unwind by playing video games or cards and sleeping after a hard day’s work. ::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - A Marine plays a game on his portable media player as the moon rises over the horizon behind the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle. The Marines and sailors say it’s a treat to sleep outside because they get to see a sky that’s untainted by artificial light. They stay pretty busy during the day, so at night, when all becomes calm, the Marines try to unwind by playing video games or cards and sleeping after a hard day’s work. ::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::

Fallsington, Penn., native Maj. Kevin Bicking completes his daily tasks on the computer. The family man always keeps his six-month-old son’s photo on his wall to keep him company throughout the workday. Bicking works as the staff secretary for 2nd Marine Division (Forward), but when Bicking isn’t chiseling away at his daily tasks, he takes the little spare time he has to stay connected with his loving family back home. ::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - Fallsington, Penn., native Maj. Kevin Bicking completes his daily tasks on the computer. The family man always keeps his six-month-old son’s photo on his wall to keep him company throughout the workday. Bicking works as the staff secretary for 2nd Marine Division (Forward), but when Bicking isn’t chiseling away at his daily tasks, he takes the little spare time he has to stay connected with his loving family back home. ::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::

Commanding officers for the Afghan National Army and Afghan Uniformed Police interact with their troops as they go from patrol base to patrol base. The personal security detachment with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, has quickly learned to work alongside the Afghan National Army and Afghan Uniformed Police. The Marines work, sleep, and eat in the same patrol bases as the ANA and AUP. ::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n:: - Commanding officers for the Afghan National Army and Afghan Uniformed Police interact with their troops as they go from patrol base to patrol base. The personal security detachment with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, has quickly learned to work alongside the Afghan National Army and Afghan Uniformed Police. The Marines work, sleep, and eat in the same patrol bases as the ANA and AUP. ::r::::n::::r::::n::::r::::n::