II MEF News

Cpl. Michael Kelley, a native of Philadelphia, is a police sergeant with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. He is responsible for logistical operations in Bravo’s area of operations as well as any Marine of lesser rank here. This is Kelley’s second deployment. He graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., in 2008 and deployed to Afghanistan for the first time in 2009. - Cpl. Michael Kelley, a native of Philadelphia, is a police sergeant with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. He is responsible for logistical operations in Bravo’s area of operations as well as any Marine of lesser rank here. This is Kelley’s second deployment. He graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., in 2008 and deployed to Afghanistan for the first time in 2009.

An Afghanistan National Army soldier with the 2nd Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps talks to local children during a momentary halt during a security patrol here, July 1. The partnership between the Marines of 2nd Squad, Weapons Platoon, Alpha Company and their Afghan brothers-in-arms is an example for the rest of the infantry squads in 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment to emulate. The ANA soldiers partnered with 2nd Squad have taken on independent responsibility of the operations in their area to include sweeping for improvised explosive devices and taking part in the planning of the patrols in the area. - An Afghanistan National Army soldier with the 2nd Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps talks to local children during a momentary halt during a security patrol here, July 1. The partnership between the Marines of 2nd Squad, Weapons Platoon, Alpha Company and their Afghan brothers-in-arms is an example for the rest of the infantry squads in 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment to emulate. The ANA soldiers partnered with 2nd Squad have taken on independent responsibility of the operations in their area to include sweeping for improvised explosive devices and taking part in the planning of the patrols in the area.

Pfc. Clark Kirkley, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., diligently scans his surroundings while standing post here, April 29. Kirkley, a member of 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment’s Guard Force Platoon, stands post and goes on patrols regularly as part of the guard force’s security responsibilities of the area. This is Kirkley’s first deployment. The battalion supports Regimental Combat Team 1, the Marine ground combat element in Southern Helmand province. The mission of the RCT is to partner with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations to secure the Afghan people, defeat insurgent forces, and enable Afghanistan to assume security responsibilities in the region. Ultimately, the partnered forces promote the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance. - Pfc. Clark Kirkley, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., diligently scans his surroundings while standing post here, April 29. Kirkley, a member of 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment’s Guard Force Platoon, stands post and goes on patrols regularly as part of the guard force’s security responsibilities of the area. This is Kirkley’s first deployment. The battalion supports Regimental Combat Team 1, the Marine ground combat element in Southern Helmand province. The mission of the RCT is to partner with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations to secure the Afghan people, defeat insurgent forces, and enable Afghanistan to assume security responsibilities in the region. Ultimately, the partnered forces promote the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.