More than one hundred Marines with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines from Camp Lejeune were out on patrol Thursday in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.

Hundreds of Marines and sailors returned to their base at Camp Pendleton, California on Thursday.

Army Chief of Staff General George Casey visited troops in eastern Afghanistan Thursday, stopping at Bagram Air Field, Forward Operating Base Lightning and Combat Outpost Narizah.

As more American troops head to Afghanistan, defense officials say the Pakistani government is also committed to helping in the fight against the Taliban and al Qaeda.