GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand province, Islamic Republic

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — Capt. Daniel Petronzio speaks to a group of local elders and family leaders about a recent weapons cache find, during a shura here, May 30. Petronzio, a native of Beverly, Mass., is the officer-in-charge of 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment’s Embedded Training Team. He thanked them for their help to find the cache and patience during the operation to seize the stockpile. “The cache find wasn’t just an Afghan face on an operation,” said Petronzio. “It was the ANA’s operation, and the shura was held to notify the local populace (about) the progression of their army and the continued security of the area. A local elder said that the operation was conducted without disrespecting the local people, and that’s important.” The battalion supports Regimental Combat Team 1, under 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which serves as the ground combat element in Helmand. The mission of the division is to partner with Afghan National Security Forces to conduct counterinsurgency operations to secure the Afghan people, defeat insurgent forces, and enable ANSF to assume security responsibilities in the region. Ultimately, the partnered forces promote the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.