U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. John M. Foster III, platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon, Company L, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Regimental Combat Team 2, converses with local Afgan children while on patrol near Combat Outpost Ouellette in the Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 2. Elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed to Afghanistan to provide regional security in Helmand province in support of the International Security Assistance Force.