U.S. Marine Corps Col. Roger Turner, Regimental Combat Team 5 commanding officer, and Sgt. Maj. Ernest Hoopii, RCT-5 sergeant major, during the transfer of authority ceremony here Aug. 28. Since transitioning w More
U.S. Army Spc. Harrison Peck, Delta Company, 489th Cavalry, prepares bags of food during Operation Viper Slam on Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, Aug. 29, 2011. The soldiers of the 489th are pre More
Afghan Local Policemen monitor suspicious activity in a valley from an observation post at Paktika province, Afghanistan, Aug. 31.
Spc. 4th Class Blake Moran, Sgt. Edward Hurd and Spc. 4th Class Anthony Bozarth, Arkansas Agribusiness Development Team 2, enjoy some down time while on a site visit to Mizan District, Zabul province, Afghanist More
A mine resistant all terrain vehicle drives to the far end of the off-base firing range near forward operating base Mehtar Lam to ensure it is safe to practice firing their weapons Sept. 3. Members from the PRT More
U.S. Army soldier from Charlie Troop, 2nd Squadron, 38th Cavalry, stands guard during Operation Viper Slam, Wanake Valley, Afghanistan, Sept. 3, 2011. U.S. Army troops are in the Wanake Valley to search for Tal More
Afghan Local Policemen monitor a valley from an observation post at Paktika province, Afghanistan, Sept. 4, 2011.
Spc. 4th Class Anthony Bozarth, Arkansas Agribusiness Development Team 2, provides inner cordon security during an agriculture seminar in Mizan District, Zabul province, Afghanistan. Bozarth is currently deploy More
Afghan National Police and coalition forces tour a local school with the faculty during a mentoring neighborhood patrol, Sept. 5 in Mehtar Lam, Laghman province. Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team members j More
Commandos await take off aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, Sept. 6. The commandos conducted a clearing operation in Baghlan E Jahid district, resulting in the detention of three suspected insurgents.
Commandos from 1st Company, 5th Kandak, secure the rooftop of a building while performing security operations, Sept. 6. The commandos conducted a clearing operation in Zaker Khel village, Baglan-e Jadid distric More
Comedian Andy Hendrickson visits and entertains the soldiers and civilians of Foward Operating Base Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, Sept. 7. This is a part of Operation Feeding Freedom in conjunction with Armed Force More
Afghan Local Police Cmdr. Aziz discusses plans to build a checkpoint station in the village of Orgun, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2011.
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Angela Pollard (left), medic attached to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, and Air Force 1st Lt. Scott Adamson, engineer, secure a bridge in Mehtar Lam, Laghman province, Sept. 7. A c More
Members of the band Goldy Locks visit and entertain the soldiers and civilians of Foward Operating Base Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, Sept. 7. Goldy Locks is a part of Operation Feeding Freedom in conjunction with More
Rhode Island Army National Guardsmen assigned to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team secure an objective prior to meeting with a doctor about building a road to his technical school in Qarghah'i district, La More
Lexington, Ky., native Cpl. Levi Carroll (left), a company clerk, and Ewing, N.J., native Cpl. Abdelbasset Jibbou, an administration clerk, both with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward) More
Gallatin, Tenn., native Maj. Corey Collier is responsible for monitoring the operations of all service members within the division’s 25,000 square mile area of operations. Collier is the current operations offi More
Tech. Sgt. Sam Pastor, vehicle maintainer attached to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, fires the Mk48 "super SAW" machine gun at the off-base firing range near forward operating base Mehtar Lam, Afgh More
U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Daniel Schmitt, the battalion commander of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, watches as Gen. James Amos, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, leaves Camp Ha More
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sam Pastor, vehicle maintainer attached to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, fires the MK48 "super SAW" machine gun at the off-base firing range near Forward Operating Base M More
The national and state colors lead unit guidons fluttering in the wind as Guardsmen finish up the memorial hike here, at Piestewa Peak Sept. 11, 2011. This event was held to remember Americans who lost their li More
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Vaughn (top), of Bakersfield, Calif., and U.S. Army Capt. Jonathan Freeman, a native of Fairfield, Iowa, salute as U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Brian Caponi, from Fairhope, Ala., More
Firefighter Aaron Vallejo speaks into a microphone on Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 11, 2011. The memorial marks the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. ( More
Rhode Island Army National Guardsme,n assigned to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, post security outside of a clinic in Alisheng district, Laghman province, Sept. 12. The PRT, partnered with the security More
Seaman Henry Cates, assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, checks an Afghan man's pupils in Pahm Chareh Bazaar. Afghanistan National Army soldiers and U.S. Marines from 3rd Ba More
A hospital corpsman assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 8, provides security in Shir Ghazay, Afghanistan. The Marines patrolled the bazaar to meet Afghans in the area. ( More
Petty Officer 1st Class Gregory A. Bergren, aviation structural mechanic, seals a panel of an E-2C Hawkeye assigned to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 124 in the hangar bay aboard the aircraft car More
U.S. Air Force Capt. Brian Murray, intel officer attached to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, makes his way to a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter on his way to a shura Sept. 15. The PRT escorted Governor Moham More
U.S. Army Soldiers from 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and an interpreter sit with locals in Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 15, 2011. The solders are in Spin Boldak to help increase More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Rick Cavazos and U.S. Army Spc. Dean Valbuena, 509th Forward Support Company 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, direct a crane in moving Jersey barriers Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, More
Local townspeople work in a mechanics yard in Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 15, 2011. (Photo by: Spc. Phil Kernisan)
Gov. Mohammad Iqbal Azizi, Laghman provincial governor, listens to village elders of Bad Pakh during a shura Sept. 15. Azizi led the meeting to discuss security and development with the district elders. (Photo More
A linguist with the Female Engagement Team, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, interacts with Afghan children during a school opening ceremony in Marjah, Afghanistan, S More
Afghan Local Police recruits practice basic the technique of entering a building at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Nawa district, Afghanistan, on Sept. 16, 2011. The training will enable the ALP recruits to l More
Members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team escort a fallen soldier from the 45th IBCT.
An Afghan Local Police (ALP) recruit practices patrolling tactics at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Nawa district, Afghanistan, Sept. 17, 2011. The training will enable the ALP recruits to learn the basics of More
U.S. Army Pfc. Michael Turney of B Company, Task Force 1-71, 172nd Infantry Brigade scans the fingerprints of an Afghan local citizen during a dismounted patrol outside of Forward Operating Base Curry, Paktika More
An Afghan Uniformed Policeman (AUP) pumps water from a well at AUP precinct Loy-Kulay, Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 19, 2011. The AUP have taken a lead role in providing security for the More
Nawa district governor Abdul Manaf speaks to school teachers in Nawa district, Afghanistan, on Sept. 20, 2011. The district governor of Nawa and U.S Marines with 1st Battalion, 9th Marines Regiment walked throu More
U.S. Army soldiers of B Company, Task Force 1-71, 172nd Infantry Brigade provide security during a dismounted patrol outside of Forward Operating Base Curry, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Sept. 20.
Village elders meet with a detainee before a shura in Musa Qala, Afghanistan, Sept. 20, 2011. Marines met with local elders to turn over responsibilty for a detainee that was cleared of charges. (Photo by Cpl. More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joel McCullough of B Company, 1-77, Task Force 2-28, 172nd Infantry Brigade provides security during a dismounted patrol outside of Forward Operating Base Boris, Paktika province, Afghanist More
Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos (left) walks with Lt. Col. Tyler Zagurski (right), commanding officer, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines at Forward Operating Base Geronimo in Nawa district, Helmand p More
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Scott Murphy of B Company, 1-77, Task Force 2-28, 172nd Infantry Brigade talks to an Afghan Border Patrol officer during a dismounted patrol outside of Forward Operating Base Boris, Paktika pr More
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Robert Laulualo with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 8, receives ammo for the battle sight zero range aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghani More
Afghan Uniformed Police lead the way on a joint patrol with the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team in Mehtar Lam district, Laghman province, Sept. 26. The Police Transition Assistance Team attached to the P More
Nawa district governor Abdul Manaf speaks to Afghan Local Police (ALP) graduates during their graduating ceremony at Forward Operating Base Geronimo in Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Sept. 27, More
Staff Sgt. Felicia Welch trains Afghanistan National Police officer Nazir Ahmed how to shoot close-ups during a class Sept. 28, 2011 at the 606th Police Headquarters, Herat, Afghanistan. The goal of the MPAATs More
U.S. Army Capt. Benjamin, right, listens as an Afghan government official speaks during a meeting at the official opening ceremony of Route Chicken near Forward Operating Base Mizan, Afghanistan, Sept. 29, 2011 More
An Afghan boy drinks out of the new well for the first time in Sangin, Afghanistan, Sept. 29, 2011. The well is opened to provide a new water source for the people of Sangin. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Armando Mendoza)
A cook for the Afghanistan National Police sits in his kitchen at the station in Mizan, Afghanistan, Sept. 29, 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class James C. Fidel/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airmen from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, perform maintenance on F-15E Strike Eagles, Sept. 30, 2011. Strike Eagles are all-weather multi-role fighters that provide close air support for coaliti More
Neil Altomare scans the countryside of Sangin Valley in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, looking for a safe route back to his patrol base during his 2011 deployment. Altomare now works as a technologist at Sandia More
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle takes off from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, on Oct. 10, 2011. Strike Eagles are all-weather multirole fighters that provide close air support for coalition troops. (U.S. More
Former U.S. Army Ranger and country musician Keni Thomas plays a song for the soldiers at a dining facility here Oct. 2, 2011. Thomas visited the camp to talk with and show their support for the soldiers as par More
The timer for the U.S. Army Ten-Miler Shadow Run sits under a floodlight for the start of the race on Forward Operating Base Pasab, Afghanistan, Oct. 2, 2011. The run serves as both a morale-boosting and physic More
A man opens the back of his truck during a security check at the Shir Khan border crossing point Oct. 3, 2011. A platoon of U.S. Army soldiers with 40th Engineer Battalion, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team co More
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Matthew Eichburg, the 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment commander with 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, speaks about the outgoing company commander during a change of command ceremony More
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle is illuminated by a lightning storm near Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 6, 2011.
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle is illuminated by a lightning storm near Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 6, 2011. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht/Released)
U.S. Air Force Staff Master Sgt. David Vinatieri, civil engineer deployed out of F.E. Warren, Air Force Base, Wyo., and attached to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, inspects a school from a UH-60 Bla More
U.S. Air Force Staff 1st Lt. Scott Adamson, a civil engineer deployed from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, attached to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, inspects a road from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicop More
U.S. Army Staff Sgts. Jason Roberts and Michael Potter, squad leaders attached to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, talk to a group of locals while on a patrol in Mehtar Lam district, Laghman province More
U.S. Air Force maintenance Airmen arm F-15E Strike Eagles in between close air support (CAS) missions at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 10, 2011. Strike Eagles are all-weather multirole fighters that prov More
International Security Assistance Force members and local Afghans participate in a celebration on Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Oct. 8, 2011. The celebration was for the el More
U.S. Army Sgt. Jon Reiff, team leader attached to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, attempts to read a word an Afghan child has written on his hand while on a patrol in Mehtar Lam district, Laghman pr More
Spc. Michael McNeill, of Murphysboro, Ill., a food operations specialist for Task Force Spearhead, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, cleans out a newly acquired refrigerated container Oct. 9. The c More
Sgt. Lonnie Norris (left), a native of Corinth, Miss., a maintenance supervisor, and Pfc. Kris Lawhead, a native of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, a UH-60 Black Hawk maintainer, both from Company D, Task Force Spearhead More
Marine Corps Maj. William Herron, communications officer at MCSCG , leads Gunnery Sgt. Dawn Edwards through the “Oath of Enlistment” during a re-enlistment ceremony, Oct. 11. Edwards is a native of Lansdale, Pa More
Area off Highway 4, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Oct. 12, 2011. A new road and checkpoint have are under review to be placed in the area. (Photo by: Spc. Phil Kernisan)
Sout Central Los Angeles native, Staff Sgt. Tomas was pinned on to the his current rank by Capt. Scott Benninghoff, logistics officer, and Master Sgt. Michael Parker, logistics chief at Marine Corps Security Co More
A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, "Triple Nickle," deployed from Aviano Air Base, Italy, touches down at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan on Oct. 13.
A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron takes off from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 13, 2011. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht/Released)
U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Roderick Hodo, Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team sergeant major of the, plays a game of cricket with some Afghan boys while on a patrol in Mehtar Lam district, Laghman province, Oct. 14 More
Children wait to receive supplies at a school for boys Oct. 18, 2011. U.S. Army soldiers with C Company, 40th Engineer Battalion, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, delivered roughly 100 pounds of school suppl More
From left to right, a translator; President Christian Wulff of Germany; Lt. Col. Michael Burns, a native of New Brockton, Ala. and deputy commanding officer of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division; More
A billboard off Highway 4 near Ulagay, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Oct. 19, 2011. (Photo by Spc. Phil Kernisan)
U.S. soldiers with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment depart Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mizan, Zabul province, Afghanistan, Oct. 19, 2011, en route to FOB Apache in Zabul province. (U.S. A More
A U.S. Army soldier with C Company, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, scans his sector Oct. 20, 2011. Soldiers visited a Afghan National Police station to conduct joint More
A small boy says hello as Staff Sgt. Joe Tate, of Anchorage, Alaska, stands security guard at an Operation Outreach visit to a refugee camp in Kabul, Afghanistan, Oct. 20, 2011. Operation Outreach is a voluntee More
Capt. Gregory Estevez, a Pelham, N.H., native, now an intelligence adviser with District Advisory Team Qeysar, 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, scans the area on More
Soldiers from the 156th Military Police Detachment, attached to the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, exit their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected all-terrain vehicle outside the Balkh provincial pri More
Col. Lawrence Kominiak, right, the Task Force Resolute commander, shakes hands with Spc. Victor Sowards, left, a 594th Transportation Company, 375th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, TF-Resolute transportat More
Brett Favre stands with soldiers of Delta Company, 1-148, Task Force Roc, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Ohio Army National Guard after giving a motivational talk to them at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Trainin More
U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles from the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron prep for close air support (CAS) missions at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 27, 2011. Strike Eagles are all-weather multi-ro More
Engineers from the 577th Expeditionary Prime BEEF (Base Emergency Engineer Force) Squadron, Detachment North pour a concrete pad in Camp Marmal, Oct. 27, 2011. The 577th EPBS serves the role of civil engineerin More
U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Terry L. McElwain with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8 carries cans of ammunition to the firing line at a training range in Musa Qala, Afghanistan Oct, 27 2 More
U.S. Army Sgt. Chris Thompson, 319th Psychological Operations Company, 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, stands next to his Military All-terrane Vehicle, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Oct. 28. The membe More
Highway 4 at night in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Nov. 2, 2011. The members of 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade are in the area to meet with local leaders.
An F-15E Strike Eagle of the 335th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., takes off from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Nov. 2.
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Sarah Casper, Afghan security adviser, 2nd Squadron, 38th Cavalry, hands out stickers at Checkpoint 64 near Loy Karez, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Nov. 2, 2011. The members of 2-38th are i More
An Afghan National Army soldier provides security near a village in Alingar district, Nov. 3. The soldier surveys the landscape as his platoon leader briefed villagers about an operation that led to the capture More
U.S. Army Capt. James Nelson, 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, meets village elders near Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Nov. 4, 2011. The members of 504th BfSB are in More
Col. James Perry, brigade commander for the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, observes Sgt. Sean Clark, unmanned aerial vehicle maintainer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 37th IBCT, as Chief More
A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook lifts off from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Nov 5, 2011.
Staff Sgt. Michael Rosier, unmanned aerial vehicle maintainer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, gives instruction to Spc. Jeffrey Smith, UAV maintainer also a More
Marines and sailors with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, sit aboard an Air Force C-17 transport aircraft on the flight line here, before departing for Camp Dwyer, Afghanist More
Hammond, Ind., native, Maj. Scott M. C. Benninghoff was pinned on to his present rank by Master Sgt. Michael S. Parker, logistics chief at MCSCG and his spouse Rebekah Benninghoff who is originally from Appleto More
U.S. Army Capt. DeShane Greaser, from Rosebury, Ore., commander of C Company, 2-28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Task Force Black Hawk, stands in a crater caused by a bomb dropped during an air s More