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Luca, a Military Working Dog with 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, is geared up for medical evacuation training at Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Feb. More

Staff Sgt. Mark Holden with 155th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, conducts an After Action Review during annual training at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, July. 28. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael More

Sgt. Christopher Burnett with the 278th Regimental Fire Squadron prepare for a fire mission at the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center during its Annual Training. July. 30 (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michae More

Mississippi Army National Guard soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conduct water insertions into the Ross Barnett reservoir as part of their readiness training for state emergenci More

An Afghan National Army soldier uses a marker to identify an area with an emplaced mine during a counterimprovised explosive device train the trainer course at Multi National Base Tarin Kot, Afghanistan, Nov. 2 More

Lt. Col. Deborah M. Ellis, commander of the 502d Military Intelligence Battalion, conducts an indefinite reenlistment ceremony for Staff Sgt. Marlon M. Clark, a signal intelligence analyst from Denver Colo. ass More

Afghan trainees apply skills learned in trade school at Multi-National Base Tarin Kot, Afghanistan, Jan. 16, 2013. Students of the trade school receive training in multiple job fields to prepare them for contra More

Army Sgt. David A. Hixson, a medic from Arlington, Texas with Security Force Assistance Team Tombstone, teaches Afghan Uniform Police members how to apply an improvised tourniquet during a joint medical trainin More

Afghan Uniform Police members make improvised tourniquets during a medical training event Jan. 19 at the District Police Headquarters in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan. The AUP unit received medical classes from Secu More

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kevin A. McAninch, commander of the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, re-enlists 19 THUNDER soldiers in front of Regional Command- South, Afghanis More

Soldiers with Blackfoot Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., provide security for a key leader engagement with the Afghan Border Police near Spin Boldak, Afghanis More

Senior Airman Benjamin Florez, 305th Aerial Support Squadron, 49th Joint Movement Control Battalion, reacts to tasting Vegemite introduced to him by Australian Pvt. Tara Pavel at Multi National Base Tarin Kot, More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ariel S. Sally, left, an infantryman with the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, secures an area near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border crossing known as the Friendship Gate during a key More

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Thomas M. Feltey (right), commander of Combined Task Force, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, and members of the task force District Support team, meet with Spin Boldak District, Afghani More

U.S. Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., ride out a dust storm while providing security for a leaders' shura in the village of Baki Tanna, Spin Boldak Dist More

U.S. Soldiers display letters sent to them by 4th and 5th grade school children of Whitehall Elementary School, out of Pittsburgh, Pa., while posing for a group photograph in Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afg More

U.S. Soldiers with the 569th Engineer Company stand at attention during a transfer of authority ceremony in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 3, 2013. The unit transferred responsibility to the 591st Enginee More

U.S. Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment watch the Super Bowl at the Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak dining facility in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 4, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by More

U.S. Army Soldiers with Security Force Assistance Team (SFAT) Liberty, conduct a check of the customs yard near the Afghanistan-Pakistan Border near Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 5, 2013. Th More

Afghan Border Police 1st Lt. Azim Noori, left, and 2nd Sgt. Abdul Khan, both explosive ordinance disposal technicians, conduct improvised explosive device disposal training with U.S. Air Force bomb technicians More

U.S. Army Sgt. Smith with Bravo Company, 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, checks his M249 light machine gun sight for zeroing, using his optic lens before engaging the paper target down range with three More

Lt. Col. Thomas M. Feltey, commander of Combined Task Force 2-23 (2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment), from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., presents soldiers from Blackfoot Company with Army Achievement Med More

A member of the Afghan Border Police counts counterfeit money seized near the town of Spin Boldak in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 10, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Shane Hamann/Released)

District leaders of Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, meet at the district center to discuss cooperation and the future of the district Feb. 11. The meeting was the first time government, military and civilian leaders More

U.S. Army soldiers with the Tactical Operations Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, assist Afghan Uniform Police and Afghan Border Police secure the district center during the first district leaders More

Soldiers with the Albanian Land Forces, Special Operations Force teams Eagle 5 and Eagle 6, pose after a joint patrol Feb. 13, 2013, at Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. (U.S More

Albanian army Special Operations Forces man the perimeter of an isolated Afghan Uniform Police Checkpoint while their leaders meet with the AUP commander Feb. 13 near Spin Boldak, Afghanistan. The Albanian SOF More

Afghan Uniform Police (AUP) Capt. Noorul Hayat (center) discusses planned topics with the “Voice of Spin Boldak” radio station disc jockeys near Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 21, 2013. Hayat More

U.S. Soldiers with Blackfoot Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment and Security Force Assistance Team 8, Texas Army National Guard, secure the area around an Afghan Border Police check point to enable More

U.S. Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, climb a ridge to assess security around an Afghan Uniformed Police (AUP) checkpoint in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 24, 2013. The AUP live a More

U.S. Army Spc. Alan L. Villalobos, an infantryman, and 1st Lt. James D. Whitler, a platoon leader, both with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, discuss security as Afghan Uniform Police(AUP) More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Thomas R. Banner, a squad leader from Lompoc, Calif., with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, performs pre-combat checks on his Soldiers before a mission at Forward Opera More

First Lt. James Frank, Security Force Assistance Team (SFAT) 20, Combined Task Force (CTF) 4-2, hands off a property book to Sgt. Jahweed Ahmad Sharafuddin, Logistics Sgt. for Spin Boldak Afghan Uniformed Polic More

U.S. Army Cpl. Alben Lamach prepares for a mission in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 3, 2013. Lamach is assigned to Security Force Assistance Team 10, Combined Task Force 4-2 (4th Stryker Brigade Combat More

U.S. Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment provide security as their military working dog drinks water after climbing a ridge in the Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province, More

U.S. Army Spc. Elliott Wiberg with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment prepares his Stryker armored vehicle for a mission at Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak in Kandahar province, Afghanistan More

Afghan policemen in the Qalat Reserve Kandak review their notes from a Counter-Improvised Explosive Device class held by Security Force Advisory Team 21, 29th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Hawaii National Guard, More

Soldiers of Combined Task Force (CTF) 4-2, enjoy the view with the locals from a local shrine, March 3, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Jennifer Frazer, 102nd Mobile Public Affair More

Afghan soldiers clear an area being used as an insurgent infiltration route during Operation Southern Fist III in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 4, 2013. The joint mission wit More

U.S. Soldiers prepare fighting positions in a Tactical Assembly Area to support coalition forces during Operation Southern Fist III, in the district of Spin Boldak at Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 4, 20 More

U.S. Army Capt. Derek C. Knapp, from Austin, Texas, with Security Force Assistance Team 10, Texas Army National Guard, and his Afghan Border Police counterpart discuss security during a shura near the area know More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mangnan Tan, left, a medic with the Texas National Guard's Security Force Assistance Team 10, treats a child who approached his unit during Operation Southern Fist III in the Spin Boldak di More

U.S. Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment guard the entrance to a tactical assembly area established during Operation Southern Fist III in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province, Afgha More

Army 1st Lt. Gerald Rogers, Security Force Assistance Team (SFAT) 20, Combined Task Force (CTF) 4-2, explains how to create a training schedule to Afghan Uniformed Policemen Sgt. Abdulla and Sgt. Noorulah, Marc More

Spc. Kelsea N. Wiley, a medic with Female Engagement Team 6, Combined Task Force (CTF) 4-2 listens to a local woman during a Medical Civic Action Program (MEDCAP), March 14, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. ( More

Afghan village locals show up for a Medical Civic Action Program in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 14, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Jennifer Frazer/Released)

Afghan local citizens gather for medical treatment during a Medical Civic Action Program at Combat Outpost Mushan in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 14, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Jennifer Frazer/Released)

Two crew members keep watch on the rear ramp of a CH-47 Chinook while flying over the mountains in the Khas Uruzgan district of Afghanistan on March 16, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jessi Ann McCormick)

An Afghan commando provides security as local Hazaran people await Provincial Governor Amir Mohammad Akhundzada's speech at a shura in northern Khas Uruzgan, Afghanistan, March 16, 2013. Akhundzada and local go More

A U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter carrying NFL players Champ Bailey, D'Qwell Jackson, Davin Joseph, Von Miller, Steve Smith and J.J. Watt arrives at Forward Operating Base Masum Ghar in Kandahar province, More

U.S. Soldiers with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, and Afghan Uniformed Police (AUP) provide security at an AUP checkpoint during a visit by International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) More

U.S. Army Sgt. Peter Willis, with the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Texas National Guard, watches traffic pass from a guard tower at a police station of Tarin Kot in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, March 25 More

U.S. Soldiers with the 591st Engineer Company prepare to launch an unmanned aerial vehicle to assist in security efforts while recovering a downed vehicle in Spin Boldak district at Kandahar province, Afghanist More

A Stryker armored vehicle manned by U.S. Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, provides security as Afghan Border Police (ABP) break ground on a new checkpoint in the district of Spin Boldak, Ka More

A route clearance vehicle with the 591st Engineer Company provides security for earthmoving equipment being used to construct a new Afghan Border Police checkpoint in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar provin More

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Lewis, center, the senior enlisted advisor to the commander of the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, addresses graders and competitors at the start of the Top Tomahawk co More

U.S. Soldiers and civilians attend a Holy Week service at Kandahar Airfield in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 30, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ashley Bell/Released)

A Royal Australian Air Force airman performs a communications check prior to leaving Multi National Base Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, March 31, 2013. Members of the Royal Australian Air Force we More

Afghan Policemen with the Qalat Reserve Battalion, secure a soldier to a stretcher during a practical exercise in a Combat Life Saver class taught by medics with the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment More

Afghan National Police officers stand in formation at the Police Training Center in Tarin Kot, Afghanistan, April 4, 2013. Certificates of completion were presented to 161 policemen from the PTC. (U.S. Army pho More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James Barnes, right, with the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, provides security during a checkpoint assessment at a remote Afghan Border Police checkpoint in Spin Boldak district of More

Cpt. Zachry W. Carroll, from San Antonio, Texas, with Security Force Assistance Team Liberty, Texas Army National Guard, provides security outside of an Afghan Border Police checkpoint near the Afghanistan-Paki More

Australian Army Capt. Chloe Dray, center, and U.S. Army 1st Lt. Anthony Kozubal, right, sing "Abide With Me," during the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Day dawn service at Multi-National Base Tar More

Members of the Combined Task Force 2-23 (2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment) and Task Force 435 law enforcement dismount a Stryker armored vehicle after arriving for the Tactical Site Exploitation class in t More

Children gaze curiously at soldiers of Aztec Company, Second Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Second Infantry Division, as they provide security for Afghan soldiers from the 4 More

A member of Australia's Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) provides security during a training validation exercise for Provincial Response Company - Uruzgan (PRC-U) in Tarin Kot, Afghanistan, April 27, 2013. More

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Player, Security Force Assistance Team (SFAT), Texas National Guard, talks to an Afghan Uniform Police (AUP) officer at a police station at Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province, Afgha More

Spc. Jacob R. Garza, a medic with Security Force Assistance Team 8, Texas Army National Guard, discusses the human body with Afghan Border and Uniformed Police during medical training April 29 at Forward Operat More

Afghan civilian, government and military leaders view Afghan Reintegration and Reconciliation Program handouts May 2 at the Takhteh Pol district center, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Staff More

Sgt. Jimmy L. Mosby, from Castleberry, Ala., and Spc. Yadeir Correderas, from Homestead, Fla., both food service specialists with 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry D More

Soldiers with Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment provide security during an Afghan Peace and Reconciliation Program shura May 2 in Takhteh Pol More

Spc. Andrew J. Torres, from Corpus Christi, Texas, with Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, works a guard tower May 3 at a checkpoint in Takhteh Pol district, Kandahar province, Afghani More

U.S. Army Security Force Advisory Team 21, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Hawaii National Guard, form together before their last mission to the Qalat Reserve Kandak in Qalat, Afghanistan, May 6. SFAT 21 is More

Soldiers of the 2nd Mobile Strike Force, Afghan National Army, huddle around a sandbox to plan their course of action for a gunnery exercise held by 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Comba More

Afghan Uniformed Police receive donated gear from U.S. Army Reserve Cpt. Gavino Rivas, a rule of law advisor and police officer from League City, Texas. The equipment was donated from the League City and Housto More

U.S. Soldiers with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment train to deploy an 82mm mortar while rehearsing battle drills at Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, May More

U.S. Army Lt. Col Thomas M. Feltey, commander of 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, passes the Headquarters Company guidon to Capt. Barry G. Ammons; symbolizing the trust being placed in the new commander d More

A CH-47 Chinook prepares to sling load a container in Chorah, Afghanistan, May 12, 2013. The Chinooks, flown by members of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment from the Connecticut and Pennsylv More

Specialist Zachary Anderson (left) and Staff Sgt. Tirza Moss prepare to attach a cable to an incoming CH-47 Chinook for sling load outside of Forward Operating Base Mirwais, Uruzgan Province, May 12, 2013. Afgh More

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Chase S. Burnett, a platoon leader with 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, checks on his platoon as the sun rises during overnight traffic checkpoint in Panjwai district, Kandahar province More

A Stryker armored vehicle manned by U.S. Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, provides security near an Afghan National Army checkpoint in Panjwai district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, May 2 More

U.S. Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment set up a traffic control point (TCP) at Panjwai district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, May 23, 2013. The TCP assisted the transfer of nearby co More

U.S. Soldiers with Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, carry concertina wire on a base defense patrol around Forward Operating Base Zangabad in Panjwai district, Kandahar province, Afghanista More

U.S. Army Spc. Kurt Anderson, with the 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, patrols outside a village in Zabul province, Afghanistan, May 26, 2013. U.S. Soldiers with the 2nd Squadron, 1st More

U.S. Soldiers with the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment and contractors read the names of service members who made the ultimate sacrifice before the wear blue: run to remember Memorial Day run May 27, 2013, More

U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas Banner, a squad leader with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, leads his squad on a dismounted presence patrol near Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak in Kandahar provin More

U.S. Army Col. James R. Crider, commander of 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, Third Infantry Division, Combined Task Force Raider, prepares to enter an Afghan armored security vehicle during a walkthrough assessm More

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Patrick Gurski, Security Force Assistance Team (SFAT), 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Texas Army National Guard, discusses current operations with Afghan National Police (ANP) Maj. Haji Ka More

Afghan National Army soldiers attend a safety briefing at the demolition range for the Explosive Hazard Reduction Course in Qalat, Afghanistan, June 5, 2013. The purpose of this course is train members of the A More

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Oxner, general surgeon for the Role Two Hospital, is currently serving with Combined Team Uruzgan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Multinational Base - Tarin Kot, Uruz More

Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz speaks to soldiers as part of Operation Honor Our Troops June 6, 2013 at Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Shane Hamann, More

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Juan Flores, laboratory technician for the Role Two Hospital, is currently serving with Combined Team Uruzgan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Multinational Base More

U.S. Army Cpl. Leroy Granado, a combat medic with 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Texas Army National Guard, is currently serving with Combined Team Uruzgan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Multin More

U.S. Army Sgt. James Spurlock, an infantryman with the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Texas Army National Guard, holds up a photo of his newborn son, Nolan at Multinational Base Tarin Kot in Uruzgan provinc More

U.S. Army Sgt. Jennifer Joseph, an intelligence analyst with Headquarters and Headquaters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, poses for a photo while on deployment in support of Operation E More

U.S. Army Sgt. Oscar Lagunas, a combat medic with 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Texas Army National Guard, is currently serving with Combined Team Uruzgan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Multin More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Vidal Rivera, with 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Combined Task Force Raider, provides over watch security for his team during t More

U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Prescott, an infantryman with 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Texas Army National Guard, is currently serving with Combined Team Uruzgan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Mult More

U.S. Army Maj. Bill Meredith, a brigade operations officer with 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, is currently serving with Combined Team Uruzgan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom a More

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Anthony Kozubal, a medical operations officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, is currently serving with Combined Team Uruzga More