Practicing Pashto
U.S. Marine Sgt. Marcus Martin, a 32-year-old squad leader with Guard Force Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment and native of Charlottesville, Va., practices Pashto with Afghan boys while providing security outside the district center here, Nov. 28. Guard Force isn’t a traditional infantry platoon. It’s a melting pot of Marines from various occupational specialties that functions as the main security element for the battalion headquarters at Forward Operating Base Delhi. During their seven-month deployment, the Guard Force Marines will labor through an endless cycle of standing post and conducting security patrols in the local area. In their down time, they stand ready to function as a quick reaction team.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Reece Lodder). Original public domain image from Flickr