U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nicholas Kien (right) and Lance Cpl. William Brancalasso (left), both with 2nd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, provide security during a patrol in the Sangin district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Jan. 25, 2011. The Marines conducted patrols to suppress insurgent activity and gain the trust of Afghan citizens. The battalion was one of the combat elements of Regimental Combat Team 2, whose mission was to conduct counterinsurgency operations in partnership with the International Security Assistance Force.