GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Carter Malkasian speaks to a local village elder before an informal district community council here, May 11. Malkasian, a native of Huntington Beach, Calif., is the U.S. Department of State's political advisor in Garmsir. He and other members of the District Support Team, who support 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, regularly participate in the community council to mentor local elders in the governance of their village. The 1/3 "Lava Dogs" support Regimental Combat Team 1, the Marine ground combat element in Southern Helmand province. The mission of the RCT is to partner with Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations to secure the Afghan people, defeat insurgent forces, and enable Afghanistan to assume security responsibilities in the region. Ultimately, the partnered forces promote the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.