Caption Information for February 16, 2011 Wednesday Warfighter A crew from U.S. Coast Guard Station Golden Gate responds to a grounded barge in San Francisco Bay, Tuesday, Feb. 15. The barge, which was participating in dredging operations in the bay, began taking on water before it was pushed to a sand bar to prevent its sinking. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sherri Eng) A Marine with 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) says goodbye to a friend prior to her departure from the French Creek Reception Center aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 15. The members of 2nd MLG (FWD) will embark on a year long deployment to Afghanistan's Helmand province in support of International Security Assistance Force operations. A Marine with 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) embraces a young family member prior to departing the French Creek Reception Center aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 15. The unit is slated for a year long deployment to Afghanistan's Helmand province in support of International Security Assistance Force operations. Petty Officer 2nd Class Mike Barber guides the cable hoisting a 40 year old fisherman, from the processor fishing vessel Golden Alaska, into a Kodiak based HH 65 Dolphin helicopter at 12:17 p.m., Feb. 14. The Dolphin helicopter crew was forward deployed to the Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau conducting a Bering Sea Partol. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Wright) U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Daniel Dempsey, 24, the platoon commander with 3rd platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Tank Battalion from Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., discusses upcoming plans during defensive combined training with the Japanese ground Self Defense Force, Western Army Infantry Regiment Feb. 14. As the bilateral training continues U.S. and Japanese troops will participate in additional training. Petty Officer 2nd Class Pierre Angeles, machinist's mate, a boiler technician of the watch aboard the U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge, speaks with Republic of the Philippines navy sailors about boiler console operations. During the port visit sailors aboard Blue Ridge will take part in community service projects, military to military dialogues and cultural exchanges.
An Afghan carrying a child approaches U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Peter Moeller of Atkins, Iowa, a medic with the 832nd Engineer Company, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Task Force Red Bulls, for humanitarian aid at Qale Mussa Pain Middle School in Parwan province, Feb. 14. The humanitarian aid, including clothing, blankets and gloves for children, was donated by the church Moeller's grandmother attends, St. John's Lutheran Church in Newhall, Iowa. Lance Cpl. Damon Bennett, a native of St. Louis, climbs a hill after checking on a water canal during a patrol in Musa Qal eh, Afghanistan, Feb. 14. The Marines inspected a number of current construction projects during their patrol. Bennett, 23, is a civil affairs Marine with Civil Affairs Group, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 8. Sgt. Tayler Jerome, an acting team leader, 1st Reconnaissance Platoon, Alpha Company, speaks to Japanese soldiers with the 51st Infantry Regiment during squad formation training, part of Exercise Iron Fist here, Feb. 14. The U.S. Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and soldiers with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, Western Army Infantry Regiment are participating in the bilateral training to advance their amphibious knowledge. Airman Tracey Gonzales, aviation support equipment technician, assigned to Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, performs maintenance on a mobile electric powerplant aboard the Nimitzclass aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is deployed supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy by Seaman Rosa A. Arzola) Spc. Jessica Fields, an Aviation Operations Specialist for 4th Inf. Div., and a native of Meryville, La. shoots a compact bow for the first time at the Archery Range at Contingency Operating Base Basra on Feb. 13. The Archery Range has a number of modern compact bows and even a few long bows for soldiers and civilian contractors to use and is open for certified user 24 hours a day. A California National Guardsman deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq, with the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade unloads a Chinook helicopter moments after arriving in Iraq, Feb. 13. The 40th CAB is scheduled to replace the Enhanced Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division next month.
Lance Cpl. Scott B. Taylor, an infantryman squad automatic weapons gunner with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force, provides security in the landing zone Feb. 13, during a helicopter raid for Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled multinational training exercise designed to improve partner nation interoperability. A paratrooper with the Thai army s 3 31st Infantry Regiment, King s Guard videos a team of Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment from Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska, as the two armies share urban combat techniques Feb. 12 during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Colin Johnston, diver, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, completes a 50 foot training dive aboard the Military Sealift Command rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor, at Naval Air Station North Island. MDSU 1 is undergoing an intensive training period in preparation for an upcoming deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. The U.S. Navy parachute demonstration team, the Leap Frogs, carry an American flag during a performance for spectators attending the Centennial of Naval Aviation Open House and Parade of Flight at Naval Air Station North Island. The Navy is observing the Centennial of Naval Aviation with a series of nationwide events celebrating 100 years of heritage, progress and achievement in naval aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd class James R. Stanley) CAMP ERAWAN, Thailand A paratrooper with the Thai Army s 3 31st Infantry Regiment, King s Guard videos a team of Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment from Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska, as the two armies share urban combat techniques Feb. 12 during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. (By Staff Sgt. Matthew E. Winstead/4 25th ABCT PAO). Sgt. Taylor Smith holds Reilyn Kachena during the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment's Freedom Salute in Grand Forks at the Alerus Center on Sunday, Feb. 13. (Photo by: Spc. Cassandra Simonton) A California National Guardsman deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq, with the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade unloads a Chinook helicopter moments after arriving in Iraq, Feb. 13. The 40th CAB is scheduled to replace the Enhanced Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division next month.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Tanan Tang, an aviation boatswain s mate (handling), cleans the windows of Primary Flight Control on the 09 level of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. Primary Flight Control oversees the safe takeoff and landing of all aircraft on the flight deck. The Ronald Reagan Strike Group is currently underway continuing training before deploying to the Western Pacific and Central Command areas of operation. (U.S. Navy Photo By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexander Tidd/Released) BAN CHAN KREM, Thailand Marines with Combat Assault Battalion, Ground Combat Element, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force train on crew served weapons here February 12 during Cobra Gold 2011. The Marines trained on M240G Medium Machine Guns, M2 Heavy Machine Guns and Mk19 Automatic Grenade Launchers as part of a seven day joint training cycle being conducted by Royal Thai, Republic of Korea and U.S. Marines here. Cobra Gold is a yearly multinational, joint training exercise hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand designed to improve partner nation interoperability. Seaman Aaron Cole, a boatswain's mate, logs a change of speed on the board in the pilot house of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. Enterprise is deployed as part of Enterprise Carrier Strike Group in support of Maritime Security Operations and Theater Security Cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Austin Rooney/Released)