More than 1,500 Iraqi soldiers who were absent without leave return to duty after reporting to Camp Habbaniyah between Sept. 20 and Oct. 1. The Iraqi defense ministry offered dispensation to those who went AWOL, attracting entire families back to the fighting forces. ?The fact that they came back on their own volition shows that they want to serve,? said Col. Juan Ayala, senior advisor to the 1st Iraqi Army Division. ?It?s going to give this division a much needed influx of soldiers.? - More than 1,500 Iraqi soldiers who were absent without leave return to duty after reporting to Camp Habbaniyah between Sept. 20 and Oct. 1. The Iraqi defense ministry offered dispensation to those who went AWOL, attracting entire families back to the fighting forces. ?The fact that they came back on their own volition shows that they want to serve,? said Col. Juan Ayala, senior advisor to the 1st Iraqi Army Division. ?It?s going to give this division a much needed influx of soldiers.?

Lance Cpl. Christopher T. Hart, 22, a combat engineer with 1st Platoon, Alpha Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) and a native of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., stirs a bucket of wet concrete before repairing a hole in the road while engaging in a route repair mission in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. ?We make the roads safe so the rest of the Marine Corps could travel on them without the worry of getting blown up by an improvised explosive device,? said Cpl. Marcos D. Valadez, 21, mine-sweeping team leader of 1st Platoon, Alpha Engineer Company. ?If there?s a chance for insurgents to use that hole to their advantage, we fill it.? 1st platoon is split into three teams: the mixing team fills the holes with cement; hole-repair team digs up the old hole for filling; and mine-sweeping team eliminates explosive threats. - Lance Cpl. Christopher T. Hart, 22, a combat engineer with 1st Platoon, Alpha Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) and a native of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., stirs a bucket of wet concrete before repairing a hole in the road while engaging in a route repair mission in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. ?We make the roads safe so the rest of the Marine Corps could travel on them without the worry of getting blown up by an improvised explosive device,? said Cpl. Marcos D. Valadez, 21, mine-sweeping team leader of 1st Platoon, Alpha Engineer Company. ?If there?s a chance for insurgents to use that hole to their advantage, we fill it.? 1st platoon is split into three teams: the mixing team fills the holes with cement; hole-repair team digs up the old hole for filling; and mine-sweeping team eliminates explosive threats.

Service members with Helicopter Support Team, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), secure a damaged Black Hawk helicopter while engaged in a helicopter recover mission in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. The hand-picked, seven-member team is always on call. As soon as they hear the news of a downed helicopter, they gear up and go. The team?s primary mission is to lead planes down the runway and ensure they make it to their destination, but while on recovery operations, they have successfully rescued four helicopters since arriving here spring 2006. ?It is an adrenaline rush,? said Cpl. Levi M. Gubbels, 22, team leader of HST. ?It?s something that everyone in our (military occupational specialty) loves to do every single opportunity.? - Service members with Helicopter Support Team, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), secure a damaged Black Hawk helicopter while engaged in a helicopter recover mission in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. The hand-picked, seven-member team is always on call. As soon as they hear the news of a downed helicopter, they gear up and go. The team?s primary mission is to lead planes down the runway and ensure they make it to their destination, but while on recovery operations, they have successfully rescued four helicopters since arriving here spring 2006. ?It is an adrenaline rush,? said Cpl. Levi M. Gubbels, 22, team leader of HST. ?It?s something that everyone in our (military occupational specialty) loves to do every single opportunity.?

Staff Sgt. James L. Aultman, 27, chief of training for Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Fwd), stands under the National Emblem. The Sylvester, Ga., native was awarded the Capital One Marine Security Guard of the Year for his efforts during his three year tour with Alpha and Bravo Company, Marine Security Guard Battalion, 4th Marine Expeditionary Force. ?From where I came from, I would have never expected this? Aultman said. ?Coming from nothing and going so far with achieving so much.? - Staff Sgt. James L. Aultman, 27, chief of training for Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Fwd), stands under the National Emblem. The Sylvester, Ga., native was awarded the Capital One Marine Security Guard of the Year for his efforts during his three year tour with Alpha and Bravo Company, Marine Security Guard Battalion, 4th Marine Expeditionary Force. ?From where I came from, I would have never expected this? Aultman said. ?Coming from nothing and going so far with achieving so much.?

Cpl. Brian A. McCourt, a heavy-equipment mechanic and contact noncommissioned officer with 2nd Platoon, Maintenance Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 5-2, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), stands on a forklift platform to repair the boom cylinder on the arm of a 25-ton crane. McCourt, a 23-year-old from Pinellas Park, Fla., extended to serve a third deployment in Iraq and offers ?a wealth of knowledge to the platoon,? said Gunnery Sgt. Joseph P. Schaff, staff noncommissioned officer in charge and utilities chief for 2nd Platoon. Combat Logistics Battalion 5-2 is made of Marines and sailors from 56 separate battalions ? active and reserve ? representing each of the three Marine Expeditionary Forces and Marine Forces Reserve. - Cpl. Brian A. McCourt, a heavy-equipment mechanic and contact noncommissioned officer with 2nd Platoon, Maintenance Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 5-2, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), stands on a forklift platform to repair the boom cylinder on the arm of a 25-ton crane. McCourt, a 23-year-old from Pinellas Park, Fla., extended to serve a third deployment in Iraq and offers ?a wealth of knowledge to the platoon,? said Gunnery Sgt. Joseph P. Schaff, staff noncommissioned officer in charge and utilities chief for 2nd Platoon. Combat Logistics Battalion 5-2 is made of Marines and sailors from 56 separate battalions ? active and reserve ? representing each of the three Marine Expeditionary Forces and Marine Forces Reserve.

Lance Cpl. Benjamin R. Nadall, 19, a motor vehicle operator with 3rd Platoon, Combat Logistics Company 111, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Fwd), and a native of Dallas, unwinds while laying inside of the weapon mount on the top of his vehicle after a eight-hour re-supply operation through the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. The platoon engages in re-supply missions throughout Al Anbar Province at least three times a week, running operations from base to base to supply other units with what they need to complete their mission, said Staff Sgt. Michael W. Nichols, 30, platoon sergeant for 3rd Platoon and native of Laplace, La. ?The most awarding factor is the fact that I can go home knowing that I did something to better myself and learned a lot about life,? said Nadall, a Dallas, native. - Lance Cpl. Benjamin R. Nadall, 19, a motor vehicle operator with 3rd Platoon, Combat Logistics Company 111, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Fwd), and a native of Dallas, unwinds while laying inside of the weapon mount on the top of his vehicle after a eight-hour re-supply operation through the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. The platoon engages in re-supply missions throughout Al Anbar Province at least three times a week, running operations from base to base to supply other units with what they need to complete their mission, said Staff Sgt. Michael W. Nichols, 30, platoon sergeant for 3rd Platoon and native of Laplace, La. ?The most awarding factor is the fact that I can go home knowing that I did something to better myself and learned a lot about life,? said Nadall, a Dallas, native.