An official website of the United States Government 
Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Photos

Snapshots of what’s happening in the Defense Department.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. James Hernandez offers a word of encouragement and motivation to the Marines under his charge on Firebase Saenz in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Dec. 14, 2011. Flores is a combat engineer assigned to Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion. The firebase is the first of several patrol bases being demilitarized by the Marines in December.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. James Hernandez offers a word of encouragement and motivation to the Marines under his charge on Firebase Saenz in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Dec. 14, 2011. Flores is a combat engineer assigned to Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion. The firebase is the first of several patrol bases being demilitarized by the Marines in December.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. James Hernandez offers a word of encouragement and motivation to the Marines under his charge on Firebase Saenz in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Dec. 14, 2011. Flores is a combat engineer assigned to Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion. The firebase is the first of several patrol bases being demilitarized by the Marines in December.

Photo Gallery