Maj. Cliff Carpenter, S-4 officer, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, shares a laugh with his daughter during the 24th MEU homecoming. - Maj. Cliff Carpenter, S-4 officer, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, shares a laugh with his daughter during the 24th MEU homecoming.

Sgt. Eric Petersen, squad leader, 4th Platoon, Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, NATO-ISAF familiarizes Maj. James J.M. Driscoll, commanding officer, B Company, 2nd Battalion, The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, British Army through some of the Garmsir City Disctrict's fields in Hemland Province, Afghanistan during a relief-in-place. Marines returned military authority to British forces to maintain stability within Helmand Province. (Official Marine Corps photograph by Cpl Alex C. Guerra) - Sgt. Eric Petersen, squad leader, 4th Platoon, Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, NATO-ISAF familiarizes Maj. James J.M. Driscoll, commanding officer, B Company, 2nd Battalion, The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, British Army through some of the Garmsir City Disctrict's fields in Hemland Province, Afghanistan during a relief-in-place. Marines returned military authority to British forces to maintain stability within Helmand Province. (Official Marine Corps photograph by Cpl Alex C. Guerra)

Navy Lt. Dana Cash, medical officer, Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, hands out health care items to Afghan children at Camp Hero, Afghanistan. Humanitarian aid is an essential function of the CLB while deployed. - Navy Lt. Dana Cash, medical officer, Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, hands out health care items to Afghan children at Camp Hero, Afghanistan. Humanitarian aid is an essential function of the CLB while deployed.

A Marine with A Comapny, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, shares some gum with kids his patrol encountered in the Garmsir city district of Helmand Province. Marines have been training and conducting joint patrols with Afghanistan National Border Patrolmen to help prepare them to take over security operations once the Marines redeploy. - A Marine with A Comapny, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, shares some gum with kids his patrol encountered in the Garmsir city district of Helmand Province. Marines have been training and conducting joint patrols with Afghanistan National Border Patrolmen to help prepare them to take over security operations once the Marines redeploy.

Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit help Garmsir citizens make bricks to rebuild their homes. The MEU has focused efforts on Garmsir's infrastructure since kinetic operations slowed in June. - Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit help Garmsir citizens make bricks to rebuild their homes. The MEU has focused efforts on Garmsir's infrastructure since kinetic operations slowed in June.

KC-130J Hercules aircraft return to Kandahar after a suuply air drop in Garmsir. Three planes dropped more than 1, 000 pounds of supplies for the forces on the ground while performing a division drop. - KC-130J Hercules aircraft return to Kandahar after a suuply air drop in Garmsir. Three planes dropped more than 1, 000 pounds of supplies for the forces on the ground while performing a division drop.

Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, ISAF, watch as artillery rounds impact a known insurgent stronghold. - Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, ISAF, watch as artillery rounds impact a known insurgent stronghold.

Marines serving with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's infantry battalion congratulate Afghan police after a successful joint patrol in Garmsir. - Marines serving with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's infantry battalion congratulate Afghan police after a successful joint patrol in Garmsir.

Marines lead Afghanistan National Police members on a patrol from the Civil Military Operations Center in the Garmsir city district. These intergrated patrols demonstrate the transfer of responsibility in the region from the Marines to ISAF and Afghan forces. These patrols span the entire region are intended to not only provide security, but help identify damages that will receive repiration payment. - Marines lead Afghanistan National Police members on a patrol from the Civil Military Operations Center in the Garmsir city district. These intergrated patrols demonstrate the transfer of responsibility in the region from the Marines to ISAF and Afghan forces. These patrols span the entire region are intended to not only provide security, but help identify damages that will receive repiration payment.

A Marine with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, pays a local resident for damages his property incurred while Marines battled insurgents in Garmsir. The MEU recently opened a Civivl Military Operations Center in the region to begin the reconstruction phase in Garmsir. The MEU enetered Garmsir in Late April and quickly dispatched insurgents from an area that had not been under NATO-ISAF control previously. The MEU remains in Garmsir conductiong classic COIN operations. - A Marine with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, pays a local resident for damages his property incurred while Marines battled insurgents in Garmsir. The MEU recently opened a Civivl Military Operations Center in the region to begin the reconstruction phase in Garmsir. The MEU enetered Garmsir in Late April and quickly dispatched insurgents from an area that had not been under NATO-ISAF control previously. The MEU remains in Garmsir conductiong classic COIN operations.