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Spc. Katie Holt paints the 'toenails' of a hen held by Sgt. Savanna Smith. The hen is one of several chickens maintained by Arkansas Agribusiness Development Team 2. Holt and Smith are serving in Zabul province More

A soldier assigned to the 709th Transportation Company fires an M-9 pistol May 5, 2011, at a firing range held on the Army’s landing craft utility 2018, Five Forks, in the Persian Gulf. The range was for soldie More

Sgt. Dave Austin of Omaha, Neb., sharpens a drill bit on Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, May 7, 2011. Austin is an Allied Trade Specialist with the Nebraska Army National Guard's 195th Special Operations Forward More

Marines and Bahraini Special Security Forces share a homemade meal during a celebration for BSSF 1st Lt. Duaij Aljalahma's promotion at Camp Safra on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 7. The meal was followed More

A security force member for Arkansas Agribusiness Development Team 2 draws a couple of curious onlookers while providing perimeter security for an agriculture seminar in Arghandab District, Zabul province, Afghanistan.

Cpl. Marlon H. Bateman III, a team leader with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, poses for a photograph with his family during the battalion's homecoming at the 53 Area parade deck, May 11. The More

Spc. Robert Ratliff and Sgt. Jeremy Higgs, Arkansas Agribusiness Development Team 2, stand guard at an entry control point during an agricultural seminar being held at the Arghandab District Center, Zabul provi More

Lance Cpl. Mitchell T. Spead Jr., VMR BC Det crew chief, holds one of his young daughters after arriving home from a three-month deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. (U.S. Navy Photos by Tammy Prine)

Three U.S. Army soldiers from Joint Sustainment Command–Afghanistan pose for a photo with their sponsors during the 7th Special Troops Battalion Non-commissioned Officer Induction Ceremony at Kandahar Airfield, More

Lt. Col. Robert L. Wilson, commander of Special Operations Task Force-East, exchanges salutes with Command Sgt. Maj. Mark W Eckard during an awards ceremony on Camp Montrond, May 14. Soldiers were recognized fo More

U.S. Army Pfc. Russell Gaskin from Hempstead, N.Y., and Pfc. Warren Hruby from Gordon, Neb., with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, provide sec More

U.S. Army Pfc. Aaron S. Mauk, a designated marksman assigned to the personal security detail, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Task Force Warrior r More

Afghani National Army Capt. Naquib talks with a villager during Operation Oqab Behar VI at Paktika province, Afghanistan, May 14, 2011. The mission provided additional security in the province.

(Center) Maj. Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, commander, 1st Cavalry Division, conducts a press conference before the Combined Joint Task Force-101 to Combined Joint Task Force-1 Transfer of Authority ceremony held at B More

MARJAH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan -- Marines with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment and Afghan National Army soldiers conduct a census patrol here, May 20, 2011. The Marines wi More

During a medical training exercise at Camp Spann, Afghanistan, May 22, a medic with C Company, 24th Brigade Support Battalion, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team acts as a patient.

Spc. James G. Johnston, an Oak Ridge, Tenn., native, now a company intelligence support team analyst with A Battery, 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, waits outs More

An Afghan National Policeman speaks with police mentors in the Khakrez district of southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province, May 23. The topic of discussion was the checkpoint commander's readiness as the ANP b More

An Afghan civilian fixes his truck at a bazaar in the Khagrez district of southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, May 23.

Afghan National Army troops conduct an overwatch atop a mountain during Operation Gwashta Pass at Paktika province, Afghanistan, May 25, 2011. The mission provided additional security for a convoy that was trav More

Lt. Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, I Corps commanding general, observes the I Corps Color Guard during the I Corps deployment ceremony May 26 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. I Corps will augment International Securi More

Afghan commandos from 1st Company, 2nd Kandak, board a CH-47 Chinook helicopter for a mission May 28, 2011 in Paktya province, Afghanistan. The operation was executed to search the village for insurgent fighter More

U.S. Army Reserve Capt. Pamela L. Flynn, Joint Sustainment Command - Afghanistan environmental science officer, gets promoted to the rank of captain during the 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command mobilization More

Soldiers with B Company, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team take cover as a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter lands after an early Memorial Day celebration at Combat O More

Sgt. Victoria A. Romero with a female engagement team, 40th Engineer Battalion, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, talks with children during a mission to deliver medical supplies to a clinic in Deh Dadi, Afgh More

(Right) U.S. Army Sgt. John M. Critz, of Hattiesburg, is promoted to the rank of staff sergeant by Brig. Gen. Philip R. Fisher, commander of Joint Sustainment Command –Afghanistan. Critz is a native of Philadel More

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Mica Snell (right), Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, Task Force 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team and his brother U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jus More

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Philip Fisher, (right), Joint Sustainment Command – Afghanistan commander, promotes Sgt. Michael Thomas to the rank of staff sergeant, June 11, at the Kandahar Airfield Humanitarian Assista More

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Lance Cpl. Andrew Fuller of Germantown, Md., and Cpl. Samuel Penaloza of Centerville, Va., work on a broken down generator. T More

Romanian Col. Veronel-Cristian Vavura, (left), accepts the Mississippi Magnolia Medal from U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Philip Fisher, Joint Sustainment Command – Afghanistan commander, at JSC-A headquarters on Kandaha More

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Philip Fisher (left), commander of Joint Sustainment Command – Afghanistan, and Sgt. James Hutcherson stand at attention as Hutcherson’s promotion order is announced before the 184th Expedi More

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan -- The head of Afghanistan's National Department of Security, Mir Hamsar, speaks to local citizens about the voting process, June 17, at the Hazar Joft District C More

Maj. Charles Denike, the Task Force Resolute engineer and certified diver, explains what it means to be an Army diver to soldiers attending the TF-Resolute career day at the Fest Tent on Kandahar Airfield, June 17.

An Afghan National Army special forces soldier waits for his turn to navigate the driver's course June 18. Members of the ANASF participated in a driver's certification training at Camp Morehead, Afghanistan. T More

U.S. Army Pfc. Douglas Oxley of Letha, Idaho, with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division provides security along an observation post at Paktika prov More

(Left) U.S. Army Col. Craig Weaver, Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan support operations officer, prepares Staff Sgt. Timothy Moore for promotion to the rank of sergeant first class June 22 at JSC-A SPO hea More

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Christopher Berry stands at attention during a state awards ceremony at Joint Sustainment Command – Afghanistan headquarters on Kandahar Airfield, June 23. Berry was awarded the Mississipp More

U.S. Army Col. Craig Weaver (left), Joint Sustainment Command – Afghanistan support operations officer, Sgt. Lamarcus Anderson (center) and Lt. Col. Cheryl Anderson stand at attention during a state awards cere More

U.S. Army Lt. Col. William Causey explains the unique contributions that C Company, 422nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion, a Nevada Army National Guard unit headquartered in Las Vegas, has brought to the battlef More

(From left) U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Philip Fisher, commander of Joint Sustainment Command – Afghanistan, Spc. Joshua Wells, and Capt. Tawaski Carter, 184th Expeditionary Sustainment Command company commander, stan More

(Left) U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Philip Fisher, commander Joint Sustainment Command – Afghanistan, discusses current sustainment issues with Maj. Gen. Perry Smith, Alabama National Guard Adjutant General, at JSC-A h More

PATROL BASE MEHRAJ, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Marines with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, patrol toward Observation Post Padlek. The Marines built the post with their combat shovels an More

Willimasport, Ind., native Sgt. Thomas Marshall is a light armored vehicle mechanic with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward). He followed in his parents’ footsteps to becom More

Forward Operating Base Edinburgh, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Cpl. Nicholas Lavery (left) of Akron, Ohio, refuels dozens of fuel cans during a convoy mission. He and the two other fuel drivers with the logi More

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Les J. Carroll, 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command commanding general, leads the soldiers of the 4th ESC as they arrive at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, July 7. The 4th Expeditionary S More

In this image released by the Texas Military Forces, soldiers of the 176th Engineer Brigade step off the aircraft that brought them home from a year-long deployment to Afghanistan. The brigade's mission include More

U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas Becker of the 307th Military Information Support Operations Company, 10th MISO Battalion, Missouri Reserve Unit, provides security in the village of Orgun in Paktika province, Afghanistan, More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Isherwood, 240B gunner, attached to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, scans his sector of fire while on a mounted combat patrol in Alingar district July 13. Laghman PRT's miss More

Afghan National Army Commandos of the 3rd Company, 2nd Commando Kandak fly in a MH-47 Chinook helicopter to perform a clearing operation in Chamkani District, Patika province, Afghanistan, July 13.

At the start of day four of the week-long 2011 Army Materiel Command Best Warrior competition, July 14, 2011, at Rock island Arsenal, Ill., Sgt. Douglas McBroom (left) prepares for the day land navigation cours More

PATROL BASE MEIS, Helmand province, Afghanistan -- Endicott, N.Y., native Lance Cpl. Zachary Reardon, a rifleman with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, poses for a photo and jokes with the Marines More

U.S. Army Spc. Drew Shindler and Spc. Dustin Cole with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division fire a mortar out of Combat Outpost Zerok, Paktika prov More

A pair of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters arrive at forward operating base Mehtar Lam carrying International Security Assistance Force officials July 19. The officials flew to Mehtar Lam to attend a transition com More

U.S. Army 1st Lt. James Hyman with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, prepares for a night mission in Paktika province, Afghanistan, July 23, 2011.

Army Sgt. Jonathan Reiff, Warwick, R.I., team leader attached to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, lifts his 80-pound ruck sack as he prepares to leave for a multiple day mission July 23. A squad size ele More

U.S. Army Spc. Eddie Branum with 190th Engineer Company, Task Force Roughneck, TF Sword, 1st Cavalry Division, a combat engineer from Manorville, Tenn., measures the length of a bridge using a range finder as U More

SANGIN, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Honolulu native Petty Officer 1st Class Flo Baltazar (center), a civil engineer corps chief, walks through the construction site of Sangin High School during a recent vis More

El Dorado boys and girls varsity swimming coach trades speedos and geometry textbook for M16 rifle to serve in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom for U.S. Army Reserve 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Comm More

U.S. Army Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Fintan Kilmurray provides the invocation during the Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan transfer of authority ceremony, July 25, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The 4th Expedi More

Afghan National Police stand guard on a joint patrol with coalition forces in the Alingar District Center, Laghman province, July 25. Afghan and coalition forces traveled to Alingar to speak to the chief of pol More

Maj. Gen. Timothy P. McHale, United States Forces–Afghanistan deputy commander–support, welcomes 1st Sgt. Samuel O. Ogungbemi, 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command first sergeant, to the Joint Sustainment Comm More

Horizontal construction engineers with Detachment 1, 623rd Engineer Company, Task Force Roughneck, TF Sword, dig a pit for a waste tank, which will be connected to a new kitchen at Combat Outpost Shir Khan. Eng More

Spc. Adam Supino looks for an open teammate during a pick-up game of basketball at Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam July 28. Members of Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team get their physical training in by More

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Dave Pereda of the 2-113th Infantry Battalion, New Jersey National Guard patrols a road outside the village of Orgun, Paktika province, Afghanistan, July 28. The purpose of the mission More

A bomb explodes on an insurgent location near Jani Kheyl, July 30. Commandos from 3rd Company, 2nd Kandak requested air support after they were attacked while conducting an assessment of the district center and More

Commandos from 3rd Company, 2nd Kandak, board a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to leave Jani Kheyl, July 31. The Commandos conducted an assessment of the district center and the overall security of the area.

Service members from different militaries wait to hear their completion times at the finish line of a Croatian ruck-race at Camp Spann, Afghanistan, Aug. 1.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Lee Elam, vehicle operator attached to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, gears up before a quality assurance and inspection mission Aug. 1 in the Qharghyee District. Laghman PRT's eng More

COMBAT OUTPOST SHUKVANI, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Brewster, N.Y., native Pfc. Lance Longchamps sifts through his toolbox before working on a vehicle. Longchamps is one of eight mechanics responsible for More

U.S. Air Force Capt. Deana Porter, physicians assistant attached to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, is escorted by the security element to a meeting with local agriculture and public health officials, A More

U.S. Army Spc. Mark Ledford, 190th Engineer Company, Task Force Roughneck, TF Sword, combat engineer from Jonesborough, Tenn., keeps a look out for threats in front of his route clearance patrol. U.S. Army and More

Staff Sgt. Isabel Martell-Dozier, assigned to Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command's communications directorate, inputs into an electronic spreadsheet data for communications equipment permanent More

Simon Gass, NATO senior civilian representative, speaks with a representative from the Laghman Empowerment Agricultural Facility in Mehtar Lam during a visit Aug. 4. Gass and William Patey, British Ambassador More

SHUKVANI, Helmand province, Afghanistan - An explosion rocks the ground in the Ladar Bazaar after a line charge is detonated. Second Combat Engineer Battalion leveled the marketplace to clear it of Improvised E More

COMBAT OUTPOST SHIR GHAZAY, Helmand province, Afghanistan -- Marines with Alpha Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), work on a tank part which allows the main gun to fully traverse. The More

Army Staff Sgt. Wendell Gee, Security Forces Assistance team, navigates his all-terrain vehicle through a ravine during a combat patrol to the off-base firing range near Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam Aug. 6 More

Spc. Michael Sanders, 240B gunner attached to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, attaches a marking panel to his vehicle prior to rolling out on a combat patrol to sweep for roadside bomb triggermen in Ali More

Spc. 4 David Harris, Arkansas Business Development Team 2, gives a thumbs up from the gunners hatch of a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle. Harris is a member of the security force platoon currently servi More

U.S. Army Col. Paul M. Paolozzi, commander of Task Force Sword, from Utica, N.Y., places an 18th Engineer Brigade combat patch on Spc. Jeron Anderson, a combat engineer specialist of TF Roughneck, TF Sword, fro More

Spc. Brice Bergen, a Friendly, Nev., native, now a human intelligence collector with 502nd Military Intelligence Company, 40th Engineer Battalion, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, talks with local citizens i More

A U.S. Air Force C-130J Hercules from the 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., lands at a remote airfield in Qalat, Afghanistan. The crew of the C-130 is delivering cargo and troops in support o More

COMBAT OUTPOST SHIR GHAZAY, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Cpl. Larry Williams, a tank gunner with Alpha Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), cracks a smile while resting in his tent. Th More

Army Staff Sgt. Wendell Gee, Security Forces Assistance Team member, discusses security issues with Tech. Sgt. Billy Mehringer, Aug. 13, at the Mehtar Lam police headquarters in Laghman province. The PRT and Se More

An Afghan Uniformed Police member demonstrates to Senior Airman Lauren Everett, medical technician attached to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, that he can see out of his injured eye Aug. 13 at the Mehta More

An Afghan National Army soldier provides security for a mounted patrol in Paktika province, Afghanistan, Aug. 14, 2011. The purpose of the patrol was to provide security for the Paktika Provincial Reconstructio More

A U.S. Air Force C-27J Spartan assigned to the 702nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, approaches the runway at a remote airfield in Qalat, Afghanistan. The C-27J, operated by a joint Army and Air National Guard More

A U.S. Air Force C-27J Spartan, assigned to the 702nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, approaches the runway at a remote airfield in Qalat, Afghanistan, Aug. 15, 2011. The C-27J, operated by a joint Army and Air More

Pfc. Timothy D. Johnson, a San Antonio native, now a rifleman with 1st Platoon, C Company, 40th Engineer Battalion, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, role-plays as an enemy combatant during a class training A More

Afghan National Army and National Directorate of Security commanders meet with the members of the Security Forces Assistance Team and the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team at the Mehtar Lam security stagin More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt.Trident Villanueva of the 2-113th Infantry Battalion, New Jersey National Guard scans along a road in the village of Balay Kalay, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Aug. 18. The purpose of the m More

Staff Sgt. Israel Garcia, a squad leader with 3rd Platoon, C Company, 40th Engineer Battalion, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, breaks down an M4 carbine piece by piece during a weapons familiarization class More

CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Afghanistan - U.S. Marine Cpl. Lincoln Barnes, Regimental Combat Team 5, takes part in a counter Improvised Explosive Device training here, Aug. 18. RCT-5 is preparing to take over More

Spc. Dan White, team leader, attached to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, watches as other soldiers apply camo face paint, prior to a multi-day operation Aug. 20 in Alingar District, Laghman province. Th More

Afghan uniform police patrolmen apply a tourniquet while training with combat advisers from Stability Transition Team White Horse, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at the Afghan National Police 303rd Corps He More

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Boom and Pfc. Yaroslav Sobal of the 172nd Separate Infantry Brigade, Task Force Blackhawk chat during a visit to Combat Outpost Yousef Kehl, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Aug. 20.

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. John Troxell, the top enlisted advisor for ISAF Joint Command, Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Boom, senior enlisted advisor for the 172nd Infantry Brigade, Task Force Black Hawk, and 1st More

Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Ronald D. Sampson Jr. is joined by Lt. Col. Christopher Brown, operations officer, after the “Oath of Enlistment” during his re-enlistment ceremony at Joint Expeditionary Base Little C More

Cincinnati native Cpl. Clint Sahadi, a team leader with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, observes Afghan National Army soldiers as they patrol through Eastern Marjah. Only two Marines, acting More

Medical technicians attached to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team enter the emergency care building at the Mehtar Lam hospital Aug. 24. The PRT visited the hospital for the first time since arriving in Jul More

An Afghan National Policeman provides security for a mounted patrol in the village of Tatiwan, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Aug. 26. The purpose of the patrol was to provide security for the Paktika Human Ter More