PATROL BASE SHARK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - A small girl looks back after receiving a candy bar from a Marine outside the base. The Marines give these small gifts to help gain the trust of young children, who are the future of Afghanistan. The children have become much more receptive to Marines after a decade in the country.

PATROL BASE SHARK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Marines and Afghan National Army soldiers patrol through farmlands outside the base recently. Behind the small poppy field in the front of the photo is a wheat field. The local farmers are growing more and more of the wheat as an alternative to growing the illegal poppy.

Poppies grow in a field in the Maiwand district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, May 2, 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dillon Townsel/Released)

An Afghan commando with the Afghan National Army's 3rd Commando Kandak scans the surrounding area for enemy activity during a clearing operation in Maiwand District, May 1, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. The commandos, joined by Navy SEALs team members with Special Operations Task Force – South and members of the Afghan National Civil Order Police, destroyed an IED and recovered IED making materials and a weapons cache during the operation.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jason Phillips crosses a poppy field as Marines conduct a security patrol outside Forward Operating Base Hanson, Marjah, Afghanistan, April 30, 2011. The security patrol was done in order for Marines to inspect the well being of a nearby village. Phillips is with Guard Force, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alberto B. Vazquez/Released)

Dried out opium poppy plants occupy a field at Khan Neshin, Afghanistan, May 27, 2011. Afghan farmers harvest the scorn poppy bulbs from the plant to produce opium paste. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Charles T. Mabry II/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. James K. Peters stands in an opium poppy field while performing a foot patrol at Sangin, Afghanistan, May 19, 2011. Peters and his fellow Marines assigned to Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, are familiarizing the battalion?s commander with their area of operation during the patrol. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeremy C. Harris/Released)

A U.S. Marine displays a poppy flower after its been scored as Marines conduct a security patrol outside Forward Operating Base Hanson, Marjah, Afghanistan, April 30, 2011. The security patrol was done in order for Marines to inspect the well being of a nearby village. The Marines are with Guard Force, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alberto B. Vazquez/Released)

Dried, scored poppies remain after the harvest season as U.S. Marines with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1 conduct a patrol outside Combat Outpost (COP) Huskers in Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 22, 2011. The Marines patrolled outside the COP in order to maintain security and talk with villagers. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Loren P. Molumby/Released)

Poppy fields of the Maiwand District, taken May 2.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Mathew J. Gilabriest speaks with a villager as Marines conduct a security patrol outside Forward Operating Base Hanson, Marjah, Afghanistan, April 30, 2011. The security patrol was done in order for Marines to inspect the well being of a nearby village. Gilabriest is with Guard Force, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alberto B. Vazquez/Released)

The sun rises over a poppy field during a clearing operation conducted by Afghan Commandos with the Afghan National Army's 3rd Commando Kandak in Maiwand District, May 1, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. The commandos, joined by Navy SEALs team members with Special Operations Task Force South and members of the Afghan National Civil Order Police, destroyed an IED and recovered IED making materials and a weapons cache during the operation.

An Afghan commando with the Afghan National Army's 3rd Commando Kandak scans the surrounding area for enemy activity during a clearing operation in Maiwand District, May 1, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. The commandos, joined by Navy SEALs team members with Special Operations Task Force – South and members of the Afghan National Civil Order Police, destroyed an IED and recovered IED making materials and a weapons cache during the operation.

A field of scored poppies, as seen during a clearing operation conducted by Afghan commandos with the Afghan National Army's 3rd Commando Kandak in Maiwand district, May 1, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Poppy is cultivated and harvested for its powerful medicinal properties.

PATROL BASE SHARK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - A Marine with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, greets local children working in the farmlands near the base. The high-five exchanged is a symbol of the positive relationship the Marines have built with the local population.

In this photo provided by ISAF Regional Command - South, during Operation Spartan Strike, 2nd Platoon, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Thursday, April 21, cleared houses and questioned residents about Taliban activities and locations of weapons cashes in Zharay District, Afghanistan.