U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Tom Morton, a 23-year-old team leader with 3rd Platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and native of Nashville, Tenn., hands an Afghan child a toy during a security patrol here, Feb. 25, 2012.

On the patrol, the 3rd Platoon Marines partnered with Afghan National Police to search for insurgent activity in Safar Bazaar, Garmsir district's busiest commercial center.

They mentor the ANP in a partnered combat operations center at PB Bury, and patrol with them throughout Safar. The partnership is a vital part of preparing the Afghan National Security Forces to assume lead security responsibility in Garmsir.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Reece Lodder