the Iraqi government, operations were very limited and the battalion served in an "operational overwatch" role for the Iraqi forces. They returned from that deployment in March 2009. Operation Enduring Freedom 2010 - 6th Tour 3/7 deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan from March 2010 to October 2010. During this deployment, the Marines of 3/7 faced daily attacks and operated in various locations including Musa Qaleh, Marjah, and Sangin. In Sangin, 3/7 relieved the 40 Commando of the British Royal Marines and began clearing operations in some of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan. The Marines of 3/7 encountered heavy resistance and are reported to have experienced some of the highest amounts of enemy contact during the Global War on Terrorism. 2011 - 2012 - 7th Tour In September and October 2011, 3/7 relieved 1/5 and elements of 1/6 in both the "green" and "brown" zones of the Sangin District for a second tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The battalion conducted daily security patrols along with several clearing operations in an environment heavily laced with IED's. The battalion took 9 KIA and returned home in April 2012. 2013 - 2014 - 8th Tour In September 2013, 3/7 returned to Northern Helmand province and relieved 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, in Afghanistan for a third tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Battalion conducted distributed operations providing support to the Afghan Security Forces with companies located in Musa Q'ala, Sangin, Kajaki and FOB Shukvani in the Southern Musa Q'ala Wadi. This deployment was much different than the two previous as the Battalion was focused on supporting the Afghan Security Forces and conducting retrograde operations by transferring the Combat Outposts to the Afghan National Army. India Co, as well as Kilo Co, tactically enabled by British SAS and Afghan Special Forces, conducted various offensive operations in 5 districts within Afghanistan. Operation Inherent Resolve / SPMAGTF-CR-CC 2015 - 9th Tour The Blade's inaugural Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC) GWOT deployment from March through October 2015. Consisted of supporting U.S. interests throughout the United States Central Command and Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve; serving in joint, disaggregated crisis response and contingency options across the 20 countries in the Area of Operations, including but not limited to Iraq, Jordan, and Kuwait. SPMAGTF-CR-CC was commanded by both 5th Marines and 7th Marines during this