OPTIC SCAN

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. William Kavanagh uses the optic lens on his M4 carbine to scan the area in the Kajak district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Feb. 8, 2013. Kavanagh, a company executive officer, is assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kowshon Ye

SHARING A MEAL

U.S. and Thai soldiers share a meal after learning various Thai infantry tactics during Exercise Cobra Gold 2013 on Camp Akatosrot in Phitsanulok province,Thailand, Feb. 15, 2013. As the largest multinational exercise in the Asia-Pacific region, Cobra Gold provides an opportunity for the United States, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia to maintain relationships and enhance interoperability. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Allison Bak

JUNGLE OBJECTIVE

U.S. Marines and sailors move through the jungle towards their objective during an amphibious assault as part of exercise Cobra Gold 2013 here, Feb. 14, 2013. The annual exercise aims to improve interoperability between the United States, Thailand and many other participating countries. The Marines are assigned to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Codey Underwood

IRON FIST

U.S. Marines and members of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force participate in Exercise Iron First 2013 on Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 13, 2013. The purpose of the bilateral amphibious exercise was to improve interoperability, enhance military-to-military relations and hone individual and small-unit skills for effective crisis response across the Pacific. The Marines are assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ammon W. Carter

COUGH MEDICINE

An Afghan girl, right, watches as a U.S. Marine gives her sister cough suppressant in Herat province, Afghanistan, Feb. 14, 2013. Coalition forces held a clinic for women and children in area villages to receive treatment and standard hygiene products. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau

LIGHT WIRES

U.S. and Thai marines work together to wire ceiling lights for a building under construction at Ban Nam Chiao Elementary School in the Laem Ngop district of Thailand's Trat province, Feb. 4, 2013, as part of exercise Cobra Gold 2013. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew Troyer

COPE NORTH EXERCISE

A a KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport refuels a Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornet while participating in Cope North 13 near Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 13, 2013. The F/A-18 Hornet is a fighter designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Cope North is an annual air combat tactics, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise to increase the readiness and interoperability of the U.S. Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Australian Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matthew Bruch

ARLINGTON VISIT

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and his wife, Sylvia, pay their respects at Arlington National Cemetery's Section 60, Feb. 14, 2013. Panetta is preparing to retire after nearly 50 years of public service. Panetta will remain secretary of defense until his successor is confirmed and sworn in. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley