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A U.S. Soldier, right, with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, thanks an Afghan man for his assistance during clearing operations in Monga Z More

A U.S. Soldier with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division talks to an Afghan boy in Monga Zoldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 27, 2010 More

A U.S. Soldier, right, with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division uses an interpreter to speak with residents about an item found during clearin More

U.S. service members prepare themselves to honor a fallen comrade at Bagram Air Force Base, Parwan province, Afghanistan, Sept. 28, 2010.

Members from Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah listen as the Governor Rahool Amin addresses the villagers of Togj in Farah Afghanistan, Sept. 29. After three years of contract refinements and construction, F More

A policeman with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Afghan National Civil Order Police Brigade, practices his rifle marksmanship during a day of training with U.S. Special Forces at a range in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, S More

A U.S. Air Force Aircrew from the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron reviews maintenance logs for a KC-135 Stratotanker before an air refueling mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at an und More

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Arnold Fields, special inspector general for Afghanistan Reconstruction, meets with Laghman Gov. Mohammed Iqbal Azizi at the governor's compound in Mehtar Lam in eastern Afgh More

Soldiers with Special Operations Task Force - South prepare to load an all-terrain vehicle on to a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in preparation for a rapid offload during operations Oct. 1 in the Maruf District, Kan More

Sgt. Christine C. Kurkerewicz re-enlists to serve four more years in the Army, during a ceremony on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Kurkerewicz is a native of Eagle River, Wisc., and now serves as a personnel a More

U.S. Navy Special Amphibious Reconnaissance corpsman, Daniel Lang (left), with Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), gets his MC-7 parachute gear inspected prior to boardin More

Gunnery Sgt. Brian Maass (right), jumpmaster Force Reconnaissance, Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), inspects the emergency release mechanism of a Multi Mission Parachu More

British Army Maj. Gen. Nick Carter, left, the commander of Regional Command South, attends a meeting at the Panjwai district center, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Oct. 4, 2010. Carter met with leaders with th More

A young Afghan girl, dressed in colorful Kuchi regalia, herds sheep in a rural area outside Kandahar, Afghanistan, Oct. 4. The Kuchi, Persian for 'those who move,' are a nomadic tribespeople who have traveled a More

Three soldiers board a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Combat Outpost Jelewar, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Oct. 4.

U.S. and foreign service members gather to discuss the operation of the Afghan air force in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Oct. 7, 2010. The purpose of the meeting was to ensure that proper guidance was follow More

Gunnery Sgt. Brian Maass, jumpmaster Force Reconnaissance, Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), gives his jumpers the six minute warning sign during a jump operation over More

Lt. Col. Steven N. Carozza, support operations officer in charge, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, prepares to brief a handful of general officers on the brigade's ongoing logistics operations, during the Joint Sustai More

The Army is phasing out the cannon-delivered cluster munitions it has used until recently because they are not effective against armored targets, and the “dud rate” is higher than DOD guidance now allows. The d More

Command Sgt. Maj. Pamela M. Higgins, 158th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion command sergeant major, congratulates each of the Soldiers under her wing for a job well done, during the battalion's end-of-tour More

A U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, Task Force No Mercy takes off from Forward Operating Base Tirin Kot, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, Oct. 14, 2010. The helicopter More

An AH-64 Apache takes flight from Forward Operating Base Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, Oct. 14, 2010. The helicopter was one of two AH-64 Apaches that were providing security for multiple helicop More

Australian special forces soldiers prepare to board a UH-60 Black Hawk at Forward Operation Base Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan on Oct. 14, 2010. The Australian special forces group were going to a More

An aerial view of Afghanistan Oct. 15, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kaitlin M. Joiner/Released)

Dr. M. Haroon, with 3rd Commando Kandak based in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, holds the hand of 10-month-old Nawida as she is examined by a Special Operations Task Force - South doctor Oct. 18. Nawida had an in More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Caldwell, right, with the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, directs fellow Soldiers as they load supplies onto a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Kandahar province, More

U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Crouch, with the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, provides security while manning the left gun on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during sling load operations over Kandah More

Pfc. Abigail M. Benson, of St. Paul, Minn., now an intelligence analyst with the 43rd Sustainment Brigade, prepares to recite the oath re-enlistment during a ceremony on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Oct. 19. More

An Afghan National Police student loads a magazine into his AK-47 at the range while his instructor, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. George Phillips, Team 2, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, II Marine Expedition More

An Afghan National Police student practices aiming an M9 pistol during weapon familiarization training at Forward Operating Base Tirin Kot, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, Oct. 21, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Staf More

An Afghan National Police student practices aiming a 9mm pistol at Forward Operation Base Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, Oct. 21, 2010. The students were instructed on disassemble, reassemble, manipulation of, and lo More

Service members and civilians stretch out and warm up before running the Army Ten-Miler shadow run on Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 23.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Christopher Possehl, Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team commander, visits with U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles Lyon, director, Air Component Coordination Element, Air Forces Central More

U.S. Army Cpl. Robert Thaler, right, with the 55th Signal Company, shows photos on his camera to children while working with U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 344th Psychological Operations Company in Kutchie villa More

Afghan National Army Master Sgt. Sediq Kamran, center left, walks with Sal Jan, center right, a civilian with the U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. Army Cpl. Carol Lehman, left, and Sgt. Kartton Killebrew, b More

U.S. Army Spc. Zachariah Vershay, left, with the 344th Psychological Operations Company, performs card tricks for children in a village in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Oct. 28, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. More

Afghan National Police students prepare to conduct riot control operations during training at Forward Operating Base Tirin Kot, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, Oct. 30, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Tracy More

Afghan National Police students conduct riot control operations during training at Forward Operating Base Tirin Kot, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, Oct. 30, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Tracy Hohman/Released)

The 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, color guard participates in a transfer of authority ceremony Oct. 31 at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. The ceremony marked the end of a y More

A member of the Afghan National Police (ANP) attends a briefing before a marksmanship competition at Camp Nathan Smith, Afghanistan, Nov. 3, 2010. U.S. Soldiers with the 552nd Military Police Company, 504th Mil More

Water is sprayed over a fire at the Afghan National Army compound at Forward Operating Base Tirin Kot, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, Nov. 4, 2010. The fire burned five sleeping tents. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. More

An Afghan National Police student, right, marches toward Hajy Khuday Rahim, the governor of Uruzgan province, to receive his diploma during a graduation ceremony at Forward Operating Base Tirin Kot, Uruzgan pro More

A member of the Afghan National Police (ANP), left, stands guard at the main gate of ANP headquarters in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, Nov. 4, 2010. U.S. Soldiers with the 552nd Military Police Company, 504th Mil More

Members of the Afghan Border Police (ABP) line up during a logistics assessment at Lakaray checkpoint in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Nov. 6, 2010. The assessments were part of a joint effort between coaliti More

Four bells ring for U.S. Navy Cmdr. John Doolittle, the Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team incoming commander, during the change of command ceremony Nov. 6. The ceremony recognized the success of the past PR More

U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, sits on the flightline during cargo upload at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Nov. 12, 2010.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Patton, 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, prepares for a mission to transport cargo and passengers to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan aboard a C-17 Globemaster III in support More

Afghan National Army Maj. Akhtar, left, with the ANA 205 Corps, speaks with Afghan civilians about hand-held radios during a civil affairs patrol in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, Nov. 13, 2010. U.S. and ANA soldi More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. David Capelli, with the 344 Psychological Operations Company, 17th Psychological Operations Battalion, 7th Psychological Operations Group, speaks with Afghan men during a civil affairs patr More

Muslims participate in morning prayer during the Eid al-Adha festival at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 16, 2010. Eid al-Adha is a religious holiday that commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifi More

An Mi-17 helicopter flies to Kabul, coming back from a humanitarian assistance mission in Baharak, Badakhshan province, Afghanistan.

The terrain in the city of Ghazni ranges from flat plains to mountainous. Ghazni, Afghanistan, Nov. 18. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Justin Howe)

An Afghan National soldier advances the patrol while a Polish soldier pulls security in the city of Ghazni, Afghanistan. Afghan troops, and uniformed police are stepping up their involvement and taking a more a More

An Afghan family lives in a tent in Ghazni province, Afghanistan. Many families in Afghanistan are very poor and forced to live in poverty, Nov. 20. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Justin Howe)

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Brian Burke, a U-2 Dragon Lady crewchief assigned to the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadrom, waits on apprach of U-2 aircraft after flying mission while deployed t More

U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender aircraft assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, park in line on the flight line while deployed at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia on Nov. 25.

U.S. Air Force Capt. William Izzo a RQ-4 Global Hawk pilot assigned to the 380th Expeditionary Operations Group, takes the role of Hawkeye as he races down the runway in the chase car directing RQ-4 pilot durin More

Staff Sgt. Erin Keogh goes through system checks before refueling aircraft Nov. 25, over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Keogh is a KC-10 Extender boom operator assigned to the 908th Exped More

LEP Nick Denu pulls security while waiting for a controlled detonation of an improvised explosvie device, Ghazni, Afghanistan, Nov. 26. Coalition soldiers are taking a more active role to secure the stability a More

A billboard in Ghazni promotes the security and stability of Afghanistan, Nov. 26, 2010. (Photo by: Sgt. Justin Howe)

U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III crew members, assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, ties an American flag onto a M1A1 Abrams tank during an air transport to Afghanistan in support of Operati More

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Travys Keto, a C-17 Globemaster III loadmaster assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, goes over pre-flight checks to his aircraft prior to a U.S. Marine Corps M1A1 More

Hospital corpsmen assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment and 1st Marine Logistics Group render medical assistance to an Afghan National Army soldier at Forward Operating Base Jackson. The battalion is o More

Spc. Robert A. Ousley Jr., a culinary specialist in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, Fort Carson, Colo., recites the Oath of Enlistment during a re-enlistment ceremony on Kandaha More

Cpl. Noah Berry, an infantryman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, is greeted by fellow 3/3 Marines and sailors following his return to Marine Corps Base Hawaii from a seven-month deployment to Afghanista More

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Adam Scripture, a Globemaster III loadmaster assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, signals in the k-loader during cargo upload prior to air drop mission in support of O More

A Polish soldier pulls security while his unit sets up a humanitarian aid station, Dec. 10. Coalition forces have been working with Afghan national army and Afghan uniformed police to help give back to the loca More

From left, U.S. Army Maj. Scott DeJesse, the district support team chief with the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT); Mehirulla Muslim, the Nurgaram district subgovernor; and U.S. Army Capt. Jyan Beva More

U.S. Army Sgt. Michael L. Zickefoose, a team leader assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, jokes with children at the Charkh bazaar, Dec. More

U.S. Army Maj. Scott DeJesse, third from left, the district support team chief with the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), listens to Mehirulla Muslim, right, the Nurgaram District subgovernor, durin More

Army 1st Lt. Sean M. Cockrill (near) and Army Sgt. Michael L. Zickefoose (far), both assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, observe shop activity at t More

U.S. Army Maj. Ted A. Broome, Gainesville, Fla., native and officer in charge of the veterinarian services clinic at Bagram Air Field, checks donkey feed at Combat Outpost Charkh, Dec. 12.

U.S. Army soldiers from Task Force Saber, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, take a group photo before running the Honolulu Marathon shadow run on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 12. T More

An Afghan National Police officer cooks lunch for the elders and military members during a visit to the Deh Yak District Center, Dec. 11. The purpose of the visit was to conduct a site survey and meet with elde More

A Polish soldier pulls overwatch security in Zezelah, Afghanistan, Jan. 3, 2011. (Photo by: Sgt. Justin Howe)

U.S. Army Col. Cox, Task Force Iron, walks with U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Stephen Townsend, Task Force Iron, at the Deh Yak District Center, Dec. 14. They are headed back to their helicopter after conducting a meeti More

Spc. Nolan R. Barbone, rigger, Special Operations Task Force – South, prepares fuel drums for an aerial resupply Dec. 14 at Kandahar Air Field, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Barbone, who hails from Crown Poi More

Cpl. Hilary Dalson, an amphibious assault vehicle crew chief, Combat Assault Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, hangs the dog tags of fallen Marines and sailors from 3rd Marine Regiment before the Fallen Heroes Run More

Children of the orphanage take turns enjoying the slide while Musa Khan (left), provincial governor of Ghazni, watches during the playground dedication at the Ghazni City Orphanage in Ghazni City Dec. 15. The p More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Gary Baker, left, waits as Lt. Col. David Haugh, right, the commander of Security Force Advise and Assist Team 3rd Zone Afghan Border Police, reviews the concept of operations for Operation More

Maj. John M. Ruths, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, Fort Carson, Colo., is awarded a Bronze Star Medal by Lt. Col. Charles Demery, deputy commanding officer, 43rd SB, for his efforts as officer in charge of operation More

Commandos with the 3rd Afghan National Army Commando Kandak stand with their backs to incoming aircraft prior to loading for a two-day operation Dec. 19 and 20, in Zhari District, Kandahar province, Afghanistan More

An Afghan man gives his identification to coalition forces in Espandi, Afghanistan, Dec. 23, 2010. (Photo by: Sgt. Justin Howe)

Gen. George W. Casey Jr., U.S. Army Chief of Staff, speaks with the soldiers of the 43rd Sustainment Brigade, Fort Carson, Colo., on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan Dec. 23.

Soldiers of the 43rd Sustainment Brigade accompany a Christmas Eve mail-delivery flight on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to deliver holiday packages to Soldiers on outlying Forward Operating Bases near Kandahar Ai More

A gingerbread cathedral decorates a table at Independence Hall Dining Facility on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, for Christmas dinner, Dec. 25.

An F/A-18 Super Hornet lands on flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln at night. Lincoln launched its 1,000th sortie mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Dec. 28. The Abraham L More

Cpl. Donovan Barnes, a vehicle commander for the personal security detachment, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, stands security outside of a bazaar in the streets of Marjah, Dec. 28, 2010. Marines from Compa More

U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2 salute with members of the Afghan National Security Forces as taps is played during a memorial service for Lance Cp More

Soldiers in a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle maneuver across rough terrain while on patrol in Ghazni, Afghanistan, Dec. 23, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Justin Howe)

A Polish soldier pulls security out of the back of a Rosomak vehicle during a patrol in Espandi, Afghanistan, Dec. 31, 2010. (Photo by: Sgt. Justin Howe)

Soldiers of the 24th and 287th Transportation Companies conduct one of numerous logistics convoys in southern Afghanistan. The convoy was part of a joint effort between U.S. and Dutch forces to relocate equipme More

An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Kestrels of Strike Fighter Squadron 137 prepares to launch aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is deployed in the U. More

Polish infantry soldiers prepare to dismount to begin Cordon and Search operations, Jan. 5, in Waghez, Afghanistan. (Photo by: Sgt. Justin Howe)

U.S. Army Maj. Bobbie Mayes, a resident of Lawrenceberg, Ky., and the Women's Empowerment Coordinator with Kentucky Agribusiness Development team and U.S. Army Col. Stephen Bentley, a resident of Austin, Texas More

Polish Army Cpl. Maritik searches a suspected insurgent, while another Polish soldier pulls security, Jan. 7, in Ghazni, Afghanistan. (Photo by: Sgt. Justin Howe)

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Bruce Brott, platoon sergeant, 3rd Platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, uses his radio to call in the Anti Air-Craft weapon mount found during the More

U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Glen D. Pegher of Mars, Pa., a platoon leader assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Task Force Storm, ensures his soldi More

Polish army Cpl. Stocztek watches a suspicious vehicle from a distance. Jan. 10, Espandi, Afghanistan. (Photo by: Sgt. Justin Howe)

Petty Officer 1st Class John Overy, steel worker, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 18, welds CONEX boxes to create a new post office for U. S. troops at Kandahar Air Field. The new post office wi More