II MEF News

Marines stand in formation during a transfer of authority ceremony on Camp Leatherneck, March 26. Maj. Gen. John Toolan, commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) assumed command of Regional Command Southwest from Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills, commanding general of I MEF (Fwd). - Marines stand in formation during a transfer of authority ceremony on Camp Leatherneck, March 26. Maj. Gen. John Toolan, commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) assumed command of Regional Command Southwest from Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills, commanding general of I MEF (Fwd).

Marjah District Governor Abdul Mutalib Majbor greets Lt. Col. David Hudspeth, the commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, before a shura in Southern Marjah District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, which concluded Operation Watchtower, March 25. - Marjah District Governor Abdul Mutalib Majbor greets Lt. Col. David Hudspeth, the commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, before a shura in Southern Marjah District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, which concluded Operation Watchtower, March 25.

Light armored vehicles with C Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, roll through the desert landscape of southern Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 8. During their deployment, 3rd LAR Marines have spent weeks and months at a time roving the open desert conducting interdictions against insurgent narcotics and weapons smuggling. - Light armored vehicles with C Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, roll through the desert landscape of southern Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 8. During their deployment, 3rd LAR Marines have spent weeks and months at a time roving the open desert conducting interdictions against insurgent narcotics and weapons smuggling.

Lance Cpl. Mitchell Brady (left), a scout with C Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and a native of Galesburg, Ill., relaxes in the shade of his light armored vehicle in southern Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 18, after a four-day raid against an insurgent stronghold on the Pakistan border. LAR Marines typically spend weeks and months away from bases, out in open country, making their vehicles a sort of mobile home during deployments. - Lance Cpl. Mitchell Brady (left), a scout with C Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and a native of Galesburg, Ill., relaxes in the shade of his light armored vehicle in southern Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 18, after a four-day raid against an insurgent stronghold on the Pakistan border. LAR Marines typically spend weeks and months away from bases, out in open country, making their vehicles a sort of mobile home during deployments.