NATO SOF personnel recognized by Polish president
President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, presented three members of the NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan with the Polish Afghanistan Star medal for service alongside Polish forces... More
A girl leads her younger sister to the next station
A girl leads her younger sister to the next station after receiving shoes and school supplies during a combined donation of more than one ton of toys, clothes and school supplies by the Army National Guard and ... More
Marines, sailors and soldiers with a Marine Special
Marines, sailors and soldiers with a Marine Special Operations Team discuss security procedures for a nights stay during a three day ground movement to Darrah-I-Bum, Badghis Provence, Afghanistan July 7. ANA so... More
Afghan, US Special Forces Destroy Insurgent Munitions
Soldiers from the U.S. Special Forces review map data while conducting an operation in Panjawi District, Kandahar province, July 10, 2010. During the joint operation between Afghan, U.S. and coalition forces, m... More
An Afghan villager from Maruf, Kandahar province,
An Afghan villager from Maruf, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, brings his baby to coalition forces for a medical screening Aug. 14 during a veterinarian and medical operations program at the Maruf District Cent... More
Marines assigned to Special Operations Task Force-West
Marines assigned to Special Operations Task Force-West in Herat province, Afghanistan, stop to investigate a possible threat Aug. 14 during a presence patrol in the village of Zanghlav, Injil District. The coal... More
Afghan Information Dissemination Operations students
Afghan Information Dissemination Operations students write down information gathered during their clinic practical exercise at a medical clinic in the vicinity of Kabul Aug. 15. The AIDO commandos spoke with cl... More
An Afghan boy and his mother wait to see a doctor Aug.
An Afghan boy and his mother wait to see a doctor Aug. 15 outside the RishKhoor Clinic in near Kabul Afghanistan. The medical staff at the clinic, with assistance from U.S. and Coalition forces, is able to keep... More
Children from the village of Rabat-I-Sapcha watch Marines
Children from the village of Rabat-I-Sapcha watch Marines as they provide security during a combined presence patrol and key leader engagement in the village, Guzarah district, Herat province, Afghanistan Aug. ... More
A policeman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Afghan National
A policeman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Afghan National Civil Order Police Brigade, searches a villager heading into a bazaar at a local village Aug. 26 in the Arghandab District, Kandahar, Afghanistan. A U.S. Spec... More
An Afghan national civil order police checkpoint commander
An Afghan national civil order police checkpoint commander from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Afghan National Civil Order Police Brigade, shares a laugh with a team of U.S. Special Forces soldiers with Special Operations ... More
An Afghan boy is comforted and cleaned while his mother
An Afghan boy is comforted and cleaned while his mother is seen at the Forward Operating Base Price clinic, Helmand province, Afghanistan. The Danish nurses comforted the boy at the clinic in a team effort by D... More
A company of Afghan National Army Commandos work with
A company of Afghan National Army Commandos work with a team Special Operation Task Force - South Soldiers to clear the town of Chalgor, Panjwa'i District, Kandahar province, Afghanistan of improvised explosive... More
Col. Ghulam Muhaidin, commander, 3rd Afghan National
Col. Ghulam Muhaidin, commander, 3rd Afghan National Civil Order Police Brigade, scans a formation of his brigade's 2nd Battalion during a training day led by members of Special Operations Task Force - South in... More
Sgt. 1st Class William Pegler, the battalion fuel handler
Sgt. 1st Class William Pegler, the battalion fuel handler for 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group at Camp Montrond, Afghanistan, still wears an Americal Division combat patch he earned while serving in the... More
An Afghan National Army Special Forces soldier looks
An Afghan National Army Special Forces soldier looks on as another soldier converses with Afghan civilians regarding Taliban presence in the area during a patrol, Sept. 24, 2010, in Khakrez District, Kandahar p... More
Afghan Special Forces and U.S. Special Forces, with
Afghan Special Forces and U.S. Special Forces, with Special Operations Task Force - South, conduct a joint patrol, Sept. 24, 2010, in Khakrez District, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Afghan and U.S. forces wor... More
A group of Afghan security force members watch as a
A group of Afghan security force members watch as a dump truck unloads one of what will be many loads of dirt on the new road that will link Moqur and Darrah-I-Bum, Sept. 30. Afghan officials cut a ribbon symbo... More
A member of the Afghan National Security Forces patrols
A member of the Afghan National Security Forces patrols the village of Talawka, Konduz province, Afghanistan, Oct. 5, 2010.
A group of Afghan women and children observe as a group
A group of Afghan women and children observe as a group of Afghan commandos, with 3rd Commando Kandak, advised by soldiers from Special Operations Task Force - South, perform a village search during an operatio... More
Dr. M. Haroon, with 3rd Commando Kandak based in Kandahar
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
Mir Abdel, a policeman with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Afghan
Mir Abdel, a policeman with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Afghan National Civil Order Police Brigade, conducts a morning security patrol with a flower attached to the end of his rifle Oct. 19, 2020, in Zhari District, Kan... More
An Afghan soldier with 3rd Commando Kandak, supported
An Afghan soldier with 3rd Commando Kandak, supported by soldiers with Special Operations Task Force - South, braces himself before he jumps across a ditch as he follows his fellow soldiers during an operation ... More
Policemen with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Afghan National Civil
Policemen with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Afghan National Civil Order Police Brigade, and a U.S. Special Forces team discovered an explosives cache including this chest, rigged to detonate, Oct. 26, 2010, in Zhari Dist... More
Policemen with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Afghan National Civil
Policemen with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Afghan National Civil Order Police Brigade, establish security in remote locales like this dusty intersection in Zhari District, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Oct. 27. The AN... More
A U.S. Special Forces officer and Col. John Mulholland,
A U.S. Special Forces officer and Col. John Mulholland, deputy commander of Regional Command - North, greets Gen. Abdul Rahimi, the police chief of Baghlan province, during a visit to Combat Outpost Shahabuddin... More
Local villagers practice putting tourniquets on each
Local villagers practice putting tourniquets on each other after U.S. Special Forces medics give villagers a basic medical survival class in Pol-e Khumri District, Baghlan province Oct. 28. The villagers only h... More
Policemen with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Afghan National Civil
Policemen with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Afghan National Civil Order Police Brigade, discuss regional security issues with Afghan villagers during an afternoon patrol Oct. 29, 2010, with U.S. Special Forces in Zhari D... More
An Afghan Commando from 4th Commando Kandak pulls security
An Afghan Commando from 4th Commando Kandak pulls security in Talukan Village, Oct. 30, during a clearing operation in the Panjwa’i District, Kandahar province, Afghanistan.
Afghan graduates of a First Responder course, facilitated
Afghan graduates of a First Responder course, facilitated by Special Operations Task Force - East, demonstrate their newly learned skills while assessing a mock victim in the village of Jan Qadam, Parwan provin... More
An Afghan security guard raises the gate to Bagram
An Afghan security guard raises the gate to Bagram Air Field as Special Operations Task Force - East soldiers leave the base to patrol a local village. ASG is a government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan su... More
Parwan First Responder Graduation, Operation Enduring Freedom
An Afghan boy puts up his fists in a playful manner as U.S. Army Soldiers, assigned to Special Operations Task Force - East, meet with village elders to discuss security and improvement in the village of Jan Qa... More
A class of Afghan students direct questions toward
A class of Afghan students direct questions toward Spc. David Havlicek, Special Operations Task Force-East medic, in preparation for a scenario-based demonstration of the skills and knowledge they learned from ... More
Afghan soldiers with 4th Commando Kandak practice
Afghan soldiers with 4th Commando Kandak practice minesweeping techniques using a metal detector and file formation at Camp Hero, Nov. 3, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Commandos, with service members from ... More
Afghanistan National Army Special Forces and United
Afghanistan National Army Special Forces and United States Special Forces soldiers scans the local desert for any persons of suspicion while conducting their Key Leader Engagement in Hyderbad, Helmand province,... More
A Commando with the 9th Commando Kandak explains the
A Commando with the 9th Commando Kandak explains the inner workings of the Beretta M9 during a pistol familiarization drill at a range near their compound in Herat, Afghanistan, Nov. 6. The commandos, having ju... More
Afghan commandos from 2nd Commando Kandak, assisted
Afghan commandos from 2nd Commando Kandak, assisted by U.S. Army Special Forces, from Special Operations Task Force - East, patrol the village of Barakat during a cordon and search operation in Ghazni province, Nov. 6.
Policemen with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Afghan National Civil
Policemen with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Afghan National Civil Order Police Brigade, speak with an Afghan boy during a late afternoon patrol Nov. 6, 2010, with U.S. Special Forces in Zhari District, Kandahar province,... More
Abdul Samat Durrani, the district governor of Maruf,
Abdul Samat Durrani, the district governor of Maruf, and Nader Khan, the Afghan National Police chief for Maruf District, and members of Special Operations Task Force - South headed up efforts to clean the baza... More
An Afghan soldier with 3rd Commando Kandak provides
An Afghan soldier with 3rd Commando Kandak provides overwatch security during an operation to rid insurgents from Arghistan District, Nov. 7, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. The Commandos are supported by so... More
An Afghan Commando, from 2nd Commando Kandak, displays
An Afghan Commando, from 2nd Commando Kandak, displays his national pride on his helmet while on patrol outside the village of Shey Habad during a cordon and search operation in Ghazni province, Nov. 7.
Afghan Commandos from 2nd Commando Kandak, advised
Afghan Commandos from 2nd Commando Kandak, advised by U.S. Army Special Forces, from Special Operations Task Force - East, patrol outside the village of Shey Habad, during a cordon and search operation in Ghazn... More
An Afghan Commando from 4th Commando Kandak prepares
An Afghan Commando from 4th Commando Kandak prepares to board an MH-47 Chinook helicopter enroute to the Arghistan District Nov. 7, on an operation to rid insurgents from the area and disrupt Taliban supply lin... More
Afghan Gen. Dadon Lawang, 1st Commando Brigade commander,
Afghan Gen. Dadon Lawang, 1st Commando Brigade commander, places an AIDO (Afghan Information Dissemination Operation) tab on one of the Commandos who graduated from the Basic AIDO Course at Camp Morehead, Afgha... More
An Afghan soldier with 3rd Commando Kandak makes adjustments
An Afghan soldier with 3rd Commando Kandak makes adjustments to his mounted night vision device while fellow Commandos and U.S. soldiers with Special Operations Task Force - South conduct final mission preparat... More
U.S. Army Special Forces from Special Operations Task
U.S. Army Special Forces from Special Operations Task Foce East and Afghan Commandos from 2nd Commando Kandak break ground for a new observation post on a mountain top in Gardez, Paktia province, Nov. 21, 2010.
Afghan National Army commandos, trained in Afghan
Afghan National Army commandos, trained in Afghan Information Dissemination Operations, speak to shopkeepers on behalf of “Radio Heela” (“hope” in Pashtu), a local Afghan-run radio station for regional music an... More
Members of the U.S. Special Forces talk with two men
Members of the U.S. Special Forces talk with two men before a security Shura in Gereshk, Gereshk District, Helmand province, Nov. 24. Members of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, alongside ... More
Convoy in Kandahar, Afghanistan
A U.S. Army Special Forces medical sergeant with Special Operations Task Force - South mans an M249 squad automatic weapon while pulling rear security during a convoy, Nov. 24, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.
An Afghan child enjoys an American peanut butter cup
An Afghan child enjoys an American peanut butter cup given to him by a U.S. Army soldier with Special Operations Task Force - South, Nov. 27, in Maiwand District, Kandahar province, Afghanistan.
An Afghan man displays toys given to him from Afghan
An Afghan man displays toys given to him from Afghan Commandos from 2nd Commando Kandak, and U.S. special operations forces from Special Operations Task Force - East, in the village of Mari Kheyl during Operati... More
Soldiers with 2nd Platoon, 814th Engineers, Multi-Role
Soldiers with 2nd Platoon, 814th Engineers, Multi-Role Bridge Company, position bridge decking so they may launch it over a canal during a Dry Support Bridge emplacement near the village of Hyderabad, Gereshk D... More
Afghan soldiers with 3rd Commando Kandak and U.S. soldiers
Afghan soldiers with 3rd Commando Kandak and U.S. soldiers with Special Operations Task Force - South meet outside The Sayeed Shied Bacha School before heading inside to distribute jackets, bookbags and other s... More
Commandos with the 3rd Afghan National Army Commando
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
Sgt. Diatullah, a 39-year-old native of Afghanistan's
Sgt. Diatullah, a 39-year-old native of Afghanistan's Parwan province and squad leader with the 3rd Afghan National Army Commando Kandak, directs his squad into security positions during a two-day clearing oper... More
Afghan National Police help transport an injured citizen
Afghan National Police help transport an injured citizen from eastern Kandahar province's Maruf District to a hospital in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, Jan. 3. The District Governor, Abdul Samat Durrani, provided... More
Afghan Special Forces candidates take an assessment
Afghan Special Forces candidates take an assessment exam at Camp Morehead, Afghanistan Jan. 3.
Soldiers and Marines walk through rotor wash from a
Soldiers and Marines walk through rotor wash from a UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter as they move toward a Coalition Base in the village of Darrah-I-Bum, Badghis province, Afghanistan Jan. 4. The cadre of personnel a... More
Afghan national policemen Rasul Jan (left) and Daru
Afghan national policemen Rasul Jan (left) and Daru Khan practice using a rocket-propelled grenade in Maruf District, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5. The ANP in Maruf District are advised by members of ... More
A C-17 Globemaster III aircraft drops supplies to members
A C-17 Globemaster III aircraft drops supplies to members of Special Operations Task Force – South working in eastern Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2011.
Soldiers and Marines walk through rotor wash from a
Soldiers and Marines walk through rotor wash from a UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter as they move toward a Forward Operating Base in the village of Darrah-I-Bum, Badghis province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5. The cadre of p... More
Man shot by insurgents medically evacuated in eastern Kandahar
Afghan National Police treated and helped medically evacuate an Afghan man shot by insurgents in eastern Kandahar province's Maruf District, Jan. 8. Prior to MEDEVAC, the injured man was given immediate care by... More
Ashraf, a 22-year-old Afghan National Policeman from
Ashraf, a 22-year-old Afghan National Policeman from Zabul province, helped locate 27 improvised explosive devices in Kandahar Province's Maruf District during a three-week period in autumn 2010. He is pictured... More
Soldiers from Special Operations Task Force-East distroy
Soldiers from Special Operations Task Force-East distroy a homemade explosives lab in Mohammad Ali, Paktika province Jan. 15.
The Baki Kheyl District sub-governor distributes
The Baki Kheyl District sub-governor distributes humanitarian aid to the villagers through the village elders in Baki Kheyl District, Paktika province Jan. 16.
A U.S. Army sergeant looks through a Long Range Thermal
A U.S. Army sergeant looks through a Long Range Thermal Viewer while training for an upcoming mission, Jan. 17, at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan. The conventional force infantry soldiers are assigned to Speci... More
Lt. Col. John Pelleriti, director of operations for
Lt. Col. John Pelleriti, director of operations for Special Operations Task Force - East, briefs Maj. Gen. Raymond Carpenter, director of the Army National Guard, on Camp Montrond, Bagram, Afghanistan Jan. 22. ... More
Sgt. Heather Blake, who serves as a medic with Combined
Sgt. Heather Blake, who serves as a medic with Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan, listens to the heartbeat of a small boy at the free clinic at Bagram Air Field's Korean Hospital Jan. 2... More
A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter with the 101st
A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) approaches a remote location in northern Khakrez District en route to dropping off mail and various other sundries to servicem... More
A member of the Afghan National Police provides overwatch
A member of the Afghan National Police provides overwatch security during a meeting between the Khakrez District Gov. Haji Qayum Kham and the District Chief of Police Mullah Gul, Feb. 1, 2011, in northern Kanda... More
A U.S. Special Forces soldier with Special Operations
A U.S. Special Forces soldier with Special Operations Task Force – South conducts a pre-operation brief Feb 8, 2011, with Afghan Commandos with 2nd Company, 3rd Commando Kandak, before embarking on a clearance ... More
Early Morning Patrol in Northern Kandahar
Soldiers with the Afghan National Army return from an early morning security patrol near the Khakrez District Center, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, in preparation for a visit by representatives from the Gover... More
Early Morning Patrol in Northern Kandahar
Soldiers with the Afghan National Army return from an early morning security patrol near the Khakrez District Center, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, in preparation for a visit by representatives from the Gover... More
Women in southern Afghanistan meet with Special Operations
Women in southern Afghanistan meet with Special Operations Task Force – South female Cultural Support Team servicemembers Feb. 17, in order to talk about medical needs and development projects for families in P... More
A U.S. special forces soldier assigned to Special Operations
A U.S. special forces soldier assigned to Special Operations Task Force – South moves down a pathway during a security patrol Feb. 17, 2011 in Panjwai District, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. The SOTF-South Sp... More
Command Sgt. Maj. Michelle Fournier, Afghan doctor
Command Sgt. Maj. Michelle Fournier, Afghan doctor Aisha Daley and 1st Lt. Jennifer Arnold introduce themselves to the midwives, nurses and doctors attending the first-ever regional medical seminar in Mazar-e S... More
A U.S. Special Forces communications sergeant assigned
A U.S. Special Forces communications sergeant assigned to Special Operations Task Force – South proceeds up a steep footpath during a security patrol Feb. 20, 2011 in Panjwai District, Kandahar province, Afghan... More
Staff Sgt. Kevin Dias, an intel analyst for Special
Staff Sgt. Kevin Dias, an intel analyst for Special Operations Task Force - East, checks biometrics on participants of the first-ever regional medical seminar in Mazar-e Sharif, Balkh province Feb. 20. The five... More
Maruf District Gov. Abdul Samat Durrani, center, attends
Maruf District Gov. Abdul Samat Durrani, center, attends the model farm demonstration outside the Maruf District Center, Afghanistan, Feb. 23 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Durrani was on hand as Maruf’s m... More
Friba Majeed, right, director of women's affairs in
Friba Majeed, right, director of women's affairs in Balkh province, speaks with a class of midwives about the future of Afghan women in medicine during the first-ever regional medical seminar in Mazar-e Sharif,... More
U.S. Navy Adm. Eric T. Olson, commander, U.S. Special
U.S. Navy Adm. Eric T. Olson, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, speaks with members of the all-female Cultural Support Team with Special Operations Task Force - South, during a Feb. 24 visit to Khakre... More
Sgt. Naseem, a 22-year-old native of northern Afghanistan's
Sgt. Naseem, a 22-year-old native of northern Afghanistan's Balkh province and member of 1st Battalion, 1st Afghan National Civil Order Police Brigade, helps direct security while on patrol with a U.S. Special ... More
A platoon leader from Task Force Iron Ranger stops
A platoon leader from Task Force Iron Ranger stops during a foot patrol to buy cookies from the Tanar village bakery in Khas Konar district, Konar province, Feb. 28.
A military information support operations team leader
A military information support operations team leader under Special Operations Task Force - East buys lunch, consisting of flat bread and crispy meat with corn and spices, from a merchant in the Tanar village b... More
Using words as a weapon
Ismail Khan started an English school in Jalalabad that teaches both boys and girls in the same class, and now works as an interpreter with U.S. Special Forces in Konar province, what he considers his duty to A... More
A squad leader from Task Force Iron Ranger fixes a
A squad leader from Task Force Iron Ranger fixes a ladder that cost seconds during a surprise battle drill on a firebase in Khas Konar District, Konar province March 1.
Afghan National Army Commandos from 3rd Commando Kandak
Afghan National Army Commandos from 3rd Commando Kandak listen to a pre-operation briefing from a U.S. Special Forces Soldier from Special Operations Task Force – South prior to operation execution, March 6, in... More
Afghan villagers draw boundaries of their farm lands
Afghan villagers draw boundaries of their farm lands in the rural farm region of Kandahar Province's Panjwai District, March 6, before a shura with District Governor Haji Faizluddin Agha.
A U.S. Special Forces intelligence sergeant provides
A U.S. Special Forces intelligence sergeant provides security overwatch as a Special Forces engineering sergeant, both assigned to Special Operations Task Force – South, climbs over an irrigation wall during a ... More
A U.S. Army Special Forces communications sergeant
A U.S. Army Special Forces communications sergeant adjusts a fellow Special Operations Task Force - South service member's equipment moments before beginning an operation to impede insurgent activity in norther... More
The Darvishan Boys’ School sits ready for students
The Darvishan Boys’ School sits ready for students March 16, 2011 in Khakrez District, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. District Gov. Hajji Abdul Qayum Khan, as well as service members from Special Operations Ta... More
Afghan citizens pass through the colors of the Afghan
Afghan citizens pass through the colors of the Afghan flag which marked the entrance to festivities celebrating the Persian New Year, known to Afghans as “Nowruz,” at the Shah Maqsud Shrine in Kandahar province... More
A U.S. service member with Special Operations Task
A U.S. service member with Special Operations Task Force - South interacts with an Afghan boy during a routine patrol, March 27, Maiwand District, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. The SOTF-South team in the ar... More
An Afghan farmer takes a break from working to speak
An Afghan farmer takes a break from working to speak with members of the Afghan National Army's Special Forces and Special Operations Task Force - South soldiers as they visit villagers in Kandahar province's M... More
A U.S. Special Forces Soldier pulls security for a
A U.S. Special Forces Soldier pulls security for a key leader engagement near village Forward Operating Base Todd, Bala Murghab District, Badghis province, Afghanistan, April 7.
Afghan children watch as service members with Special
Afghan children watch as service members with Special Operations Task Force – South walk by during a presence patrol in Maiwand District, Kandahar province, April 8. SOTF-South service members conduct these pat... More
Afghan National Army Sgt. Ehsanullah from Kunduz province
Afghan National Army Sgt. Ehsanullah from Kunduz province provides security overwatch at the perimeter of a district shura in a remote region of Kandahar province's Khakrez District, April 13, 2011. Ehsanullah ... More
Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Meffert of Combined Joint
Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Meffert of Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan catches his breath after completing the first-ever Boston Marathon satellite in Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Apr... More
Afghan Commandos from 2nd Commando Kandak, mentored
Afghan Commandos from 2nd Commando Kandak, mentored by U.S. Special Forces from Special Operations Task Force- East, conduct combat related medical training in preparation for future combat operations, Gardez d... More
Afghan commandos, with the Afghan National Army's 3rd
Afghan commandos, with the Afghan National Army's 3rd Commando Kandak, and U.S. Special Operations service-members, with Special Operations Task Force-South, board an MH-47 Chinook helicopter en route to a clea... More