U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon Mann, a dog handler with Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and native of Arlington, Texas, sights in with his infantry automatic rifle while providing security with Ty, an improvised explosive device detection dog, during a patrol here, Feb. 16. Marines and sailors with 1st LAR and India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, conducted clearing and disrupting operations in and around the villages of Sre Kala and Paygel during Operation Highland Thunder. Marines with 1st LAR led the operation on foot, sweeping for enemy weapons and drug caches through 324 square kilometers of rough, previously unoccupied desert and marshland terrain. Mobile units with1st LAR set up blocking positions and vehicle check points while India Company, 3/3 conducted helicopter inserts to disrupt insurgent freedom of movement.

Three Marines with 3rd Platoon prepare for a patrol while two others take a load off during Operation Double Check, an ongoing operation to promote legitimate governance and security within the Musa Qalâ¤?eh district.  The Marines belonging to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, slept in the open during the operation and provided exterior security for their company, while their brother-in-arms with 2nd Platoon lived, operated and mentored the Afghan Uniformed Police in their newly established security outposts.

Stormy, a working dog with the 2nd Battalion 11th Marines Headquarters Battery, takes a break and gets a pat from her owner, Cpl. Bryant Wahlen during a mission in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon Mann, a dog handler with Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and native of Arlington, Texas, helps Sgt. Guillermo Floresmartines, an assistant squad leader with Alpha Co., 1st LAR, and 25-year-old native of Menifee, Calif., out of a canal during a patrol here, Feb. 16. Marines and sailors with 1st LAR and India Co., 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, conducted clearing and disrupting operations in and around the villages of Sre Kala and Paygel during Operation Highland Thunder. Marines with 1st LAR led the operation on foot, sweeping for enemy weapons and drug caches through 324 square kilometers of rough, previously unoccupied desert and marshland terrain. Mobile units with1st LAR set up blocking positions and vehicle check points while India Co., 3/3 conducted helicopter inserts to disrupt insurgent freedom of movement.

Read more about the Marine’s (not so) secret weapon in Afghanistan here! 

In case you missed or want to revisit prior weeks military dog picture of the week. Here are the most recent links.

Military Dog Picture of the Week: Troops & Their Puppies!

Military Working Dog Video and pictures from Afghanistan!

The Dog Teams of Regional Command – West, Afghanistan

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