U.S. Marines, Afghan Soldiers Conduct Operation Tageer Shamal

An Afghan soldier enters an elder's home while clearing compounds with U.S. Marines during Operation Tageer Shamal in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 4, 2012. In recent years, Afghan and coalition forces have operated side by side, driving insurgents from populated areas in southern Helmand province. The Marines are assigned to Company L, 3d Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment.

An interpreter and an elder watch as Afghan soldier Abdul Karim, right, and U.S. Marine Corps 1stLt Alex Puente, second from left, examine bags of fertilizer and poppy seeds while clearing a housing compound during Operation Tageer Shamal in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 4, 2012. Puente is assigned to Co L, 3/3 Marines.

Afghan soldier Abdul Karim provides security while fellow soldiers and U.S. Marines clear a compound during Operation Tageer Shamal in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 4, 2012.

U.S. Marine Corps LCpls Joshua Prall, left, and Derrick Wastart, right, provide security while fellow U.S. Marines help Afghan soldiers clear a compound during Operation Tageer Shamal in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 4, 2012. Prall and Wastart are riflemen assigned to Co L, 3/3 Marines.

Rocky, an interpreter, second from right, speaks with Afghan soldiers while resting in an abandoned compound during Operation Tageer Shamal in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 4, 2012.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpls Matthew Scofield, left, and Jarrett Hatley, right, rest next to Hatley's military working dog, Blue, after clearing compounds with Afghan soldiers during Operation Tageer Shamal in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 4, 2012. Scofield, a squad automatic weapon gunner, and Hatley, a dog handler, are assigned to Co L, 3/3 Marines.

As seen through the window of an abandoned building, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Bryan Wigley rests his head on his Kevlar helmet after clearing compounds with Afghan soldiers during Operation Tageer Shamal in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 4, 2012. Wigley is a fire team leader assigned to Co L, 3/3 Marines.

U.S. Marine LCpl David Rodriguez walks along a ridgeline after clearing compounds with Afghan soldiers during Operation Tageer Shamal in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 4, 2012. Rodriguez is a fire team leader assigned to Co L, 3/3 Marines.

An Afghan soldier hands a bag of beef jerky to a boy while patrolling with U.S. Marines during Operation Tageer Shamal in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 5, 2012.

Afghan soldier Abdul Karim searches two Afghan men while patrolling with U.S. Marines during Operation Tageer Shamal in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 5, 2012.

An interpreter, center, explains the concerns of Afghan elders to U.S. Marine Corps Col Roger Turner, left, and LtCol Matthew Palma, far right, in a shura at a school during Operation Tageer Shamal in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 6, 2012. Turner is the commanding officer of the 5th Marine Regiment and Palma is the commanding officer of the 3/3 Marines.