Photos

Staff Sgt. Eric F. Gross, a 35-year-old from Sturtevant, Wis., takes a knee to chat an interested toddler during a Cooperative Medical Engagement event in as-Saqlawiyah, Iraq, Feb. 29. The event took place at the village schoolhouse and provided free medical care for more than 200 civilians in the community. Iraqi culture discourages male-female interaction in public, so a female team provided care and posted security for women and children. The CME events are continuous throughout Al Anbar Province and are part of the Iraqi Women's Engagement program driven by the U.S. Department of State. Gross is currently deployed to Camp Habbaniyah as the platoon sergeant for Mobile Assault Platoon 5, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.