Hand Signal

Posted By Blackfive

A U.S. Marine signals members of his squad toward several CH-46 Sea Knights, CH-53 Super Stallions and other aircraft that participated in the training extraction of his platoon from their position during a long-range helicopter raid on Camp Pendleton, Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 8, 2009. The Marines are assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Marine and Navy teams are testing interoperability before a deployment certification exercise.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeffrey Belovarac

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Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
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Before the Mission...

Posted By Blackfive

U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, along with approximately 650 Afghan soldiers and police officers from the Afghan national security force, prepare to board CH-53D Sea Stallion and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters at Forward Operating Base Dwyer, Afghanistan, July 2. The Marines and ANSF are partnered for a major operation in the Helmand Province to transition security responsibilities to the Afghan forces. The Marines and ANSF will move into towns and villages along the Helmand River Valley in an effort to secure the population from the threat of the Taliban and other insurgent intimidation and violence.
Regimental Combat Team 3 Photo by Philippe E. Chasse.

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Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
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Helping Hand

Posted By Blackfive

A U.S. Marine helps his buddy up as they prepare to board helicopters for a mission on Forward Operating Base Dwyer, Afghanistan, July 2, 2009. The Marines are assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Philippe E. Chasse

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Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
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No better friend...

Posted By Blackfive

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Barry Klinger makes a friend in the village of Altimur in Logar province, Afghanistan, June 20, 2009. U.S. soldiers, Afghan policemen and Czech soldiers visited the village to assess local needs and inform them of upcoming artillery training operations they were scheduled to conduct in the area. Klinger is assigned to Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment.
U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jaime DeLeon

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Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
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Op Khanjar

Posted By Blackfive

Officials described the offensive as the largest and fastest-moving of the war's new phase and the biggest Marine assault since the one in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004. It involves nearly 4,000 newly arrived Marines plus 650 Afghan forces. British forces last week led similar, but smaller, missions to clear out insurgents in Helmand and neighboring Kandahar province. - AP Report By JASON STRAZIUSO

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A U.S. Marine checks his equipment before joining other Marines and about 650 Afghan soldiers and police officers as they prepare to board CH-53D Sea Stallion and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters on Forward Operating Base Dwyer, Afghanistan, July 2, 2009. The Marines are assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Philippe E. Chasse


U.S. Marines and about 650 Afghan soldiers and police officers prepare to board CH-53D Sea Stallion and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters on Forward Operating Base Dwyer, Afghanistan, July 2, 2009. The Marines are assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. The Marines and Afghan forces are partnered for a major operation in Helmand province to transition security responsibilities to the Afghan forces.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Philippe E. Chasse

As seen through a night-vision device, U.S. Marines prepare to board a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter during the launching of Operation Khanjar on Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 2, 2009. About 4,000 Marines and sailors, and about 650 Afghan soldiers and police officers are involved in the operation. The Marines boarding the helicopter are assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Juan Vara

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Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
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Governor Sarah Palin Visits Alaska's Troops

Posted By Blackfive

"The characteristics that you all embody; your self-determination and self-sufficiency, combined with teamwork that is needed in order to get the job done. You embody that. You have that discipline and tenacity and that patriotism that I pray our younger generation will adopt. Our country will be better off if we have more of you out there serving something greater than self." - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Kosovo

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin took time to pose for photos with military policeman at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo. Palin traveled to Kosovo to visit Alaska Army National Guard troops stationed in the region as part of the Kosovo force peacekeeping mission.

Photo by Sgt. Adam-David Pepper, 69th Public Affairs Detachment

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Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
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The Warriors Return

Posted By Blackfive

Left to right; U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Brown, Staff. Sgt., retired, Bradley Gruetzner and Sgt. Christopher A. Burrell, soldiers wounded in combat while deployed to Iraq, walk through “Hero’s Highway” at Air Force Theater Hospital before returning to Camp Victory after a visit to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, June 25, 2009. Brown, Gruetzner, Burrell and four other soldiers had the opportunity to return to Iraq and to visit the places they once served. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Brian A. Barbour

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Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
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ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Posted By Blackfive

Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Nyman and Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Bob Haines pause on their way up Mount McKinley, sometimes known as Denali, June 9, 2009. Haines was part of the team that supported Nyman and three other wounded warriors during their effort to ascend to the summit. U.S Army courtesy photo

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Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
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A SEAL and his Dog - Northern Edge 2009

Posted By Blackfive

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska -- Operators from a west-coast based Navy SEAL team participated in infiltration and exfiltration training as part of Northern Edge 2009 June 15, 2009. Army Task Force 49, 1-52 Aviation Regiment, B company, transported the SEALS in CH-47D "Chinook" helicopters, performing two-wheel landings atop mountainous terrain in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. Exercise Northern Edge is a trainning exercise designed to promote and improve interoperability.
U.S. Marine Corps Photo/Lance Cpl. Ryan Rholes

More photos after the Jump

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Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
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Missile Check

Posted By Blackfive

Sen. Mark Begich, center left, and Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, center right, listen to a brief on a ground-based interceptor missile silo on Fort Greeley, Alaska, June 1, 2009. Gates is touring missile defense facilities in Alaska.
(DoD photo by Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison, U.S. Air Force/Released)

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Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
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