February 6, 2012 8:49 AM ET
Posted by Bill Ardolino

An 8th Commando Kandak soldier fires a rocket-propelled grenade during a live-fire exercise in Tarin Kowt district, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, Feb. 2. The 8th Commando Kandak soldiers partner with Coalition special operations forces to conduct operations throughout Uruzgan and Zabul provinces. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Dillon.

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February 2, 2012 10:09 AM ET
Posted by Bill Ardolino

Afghan Border Police Pvt. Ghul Faruq, a medic with 2nd Tolai, 2nd Kandak, Helmand ABP, walks through a village during a partnered security patrol with US Marines from Combined Anti-Armor Team 2, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, southern Garmsir district, Jan. 30. Photo by Corporal Reece Lodder.

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January 31, 2012 10:13 AM ET
Posted by Bill Ardolino

A member of the Coalition special operations forces begins to recover pallets of supplies in the snow during an airdrop in the Shah Joy district in Afghanistan's Zabul province, Jan. 25, 2012. Photo by US Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jon Rasmussen.

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January 25, 2012 8:30 AM ET
Posted by Bill Ardolino

Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, scan their surroundings for enemy combatants as an adjacent element of their patrol takes fire during Operation Double Check. Fox Company Marines, Afghan National Police, and Afghan National Security Force personnel are currently operating in historically-troubled areas of southern Musa Qala, such as Mosulmani, Khwajadad, and Surkyan, which had no Coalition presence prior to the start of the operation, Jan. 3. Photo by Corporal Tommy Bellegarde.

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January 23, 2012 9:35 AM ET
Posted by Bill Ardolino

Via DOD:

Marines and Afghan forces prepare for opening ceremonies for the Musa Qala water crossing built by Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 Seabees. The crossing connects the two parts of the district and allows residents to reach the government center and markets during the winter months. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Russell Stewart.

The bridge was one of five major infrastructure projects requested by a shura of Musa Qala elders in March of 2010. In July 2010, some Musa Qala residents expressed skepticism about reconstruction projects promised by the Marines:

"They haven't started in these areas in the time they are here," said a merchant who declined to be named. "We don't know about the future, but in the past, we haven't seen anything from them."

"No [reconstruction progress]," added another passerby. "They just build a bridge from sand." [A reference to the temporary bridges Marines [had] placed across the wadi]

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January 20, 2012 10:21 AM ET
Posted by Bill Ardolino

Afghan commandos patrol the Ghorak district in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, Jan. 17, 2012. US Army photo by Jonathan Hudson.

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January 18, 2012 9:29 AM ET
Posted by Bill Ardolino

Sergeant Kathryn Comfort, a US Marine Female Engagement Team 2 member, poses for a photo with a local Afghan girl following the opening ceremony of the Now Zad District Women's Center, Jan. 11. Photo by Corporal Meredith Brown.

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January 15, 2012 1:21 PM ET
Posted by Bill Ardolino

A US Marine Corps CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter discharges flares during a routine flight operation in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 5, 2012. US Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert R. Carrasco.

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January 12, 2012 9:26 AM ET
Posted by Bill Ardolino

An Afghan soldier enters an elder's home while clearing compounds with US Marines during Operation Tageer Shamal in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 4, 2012. US Marine Corps photo by Corporal Reece Lodder.

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January 9, 2012 8:45 AM ET
Posted by Bill Ardolino

A coalition Special Operations Forces soldier provides security while an airstike takes out an enemy fighting position during a firefight in the Gelan district in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, Dec. 27, 2011. The airstrike occurred during a clearing operation aimed at disrupting insurgent supply lines and safe havens. US Army photo by Sergeant Michael S. Creech.

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January 6, 2012 11:09 AM ET
Posted by Bill Ardolino

US Marine Corps Corporal William Cox shields himself from flying rocks and sand as an MV-22 Osprey aircraft prepares to take off in Nimroz province, Afghanistan, Dec. 30, 2011. Cox is an armorer assigned to the Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest. US Marine Corps photo by Corporal Bryan Nygaard.

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January 4, 2012 9:34 AM ET
Posted by Bill Ardolino

US soldiers inspect a greenhouse in Mahmod-e Raqi district in Kapisa province, Afghanistan, Dec. 28, 2011. The soldiers are assigned to the Kentucky National Guard Agribusiness Development Team 3. US Army photo by Specialist Amber Leach.

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January 2, 2012 11:57 AM ET
Posted by Bill Ardolino

A member of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) looks into a biometric eye scanner during in-processing by members of the Afghan Ministry of Interior in the Gizab district of Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, Dec. 18, 2011. DOD photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class David Brandenburg.

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December 28, 2011 12:07 PM ET
Posted by Bill Ardolino

US Army Colonel Todd Royar and Army Major Travis Habhab land their AH-64 Apache helicopter as the sun sets over Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 25, 2011. Royar is commander and Habhab is executive officer of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade. US Army photo by Sergeant First Class Stephanie Carl.

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December 26, 2011 12:24 PM ET
Posted by Bill Roggio

US Marine Corps Sergeant Cody Palfreyman guides a bulldozer as it moves the berm surrounding a guard post on Firebase Saenz in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Dec. 14, 2011. Palfreyman is a combat engineer assigned to Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion. The firebase is the first of several patrol bases being demilitarized by the Marines in December. US Marine Corps photo by Corporal Bryan Nygaard.

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