An Afghan man puts a piece of bread into the oven June 25, 2012, at a district center in Khas Kunar as he helps prepare lunch for Afghan National Policemen and U.S. soldiers from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th More
The sun eclipses the moon over Disney Drive at Bagram Air Field Dec. 10.
Soldiers assigned to Fox Company F, 2nd Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain division, Task Force Knighthawk guide a plane to land at Forward Operating Base Shank, April 26. Fox Company’s air 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
Maj. Gen. Dan Allyn, commander of Combined Joint Task Force-1/Regional Command-East, gives a speech, May 19, as the incoming commander at a transfer of authority ceremony between CJTF-101 (101st Airborne Divisi More
Douglas, Wyo., native, Sgt. Maj. Eric Fowler, with CJTF-1, RC-East, puts to good use a heavy bag his parents, Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Bob and Judy Bushong, also of Douglas, Wyo., donated to the Joint Operation More
Johnathan Richerson, a guitar player and back-up vocals for the band Mysterious Ways of Austin, Texas, played songs from the band U-2 for servicemembers, as a part of Operation HOT (Honoring Our Troops) a progr More
Spcs. Ian Feilen from San Antonio, William Dubbs from Bodcaw, Ark., Christopher Gosa from Boaz, Ala., and Stephen Dooley of Stafford, Conn. relax by playing video games on a laptop they set up outside their B-h More
Members of 3rd Platoon, Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade - "The Dirty Third" - work at dislodging their M-777 155 mm howitzer from the three-foot hole it dug i More
Maj. Gen. Daniel Allyn, commanding general for Regional Command-East, and Paul Folmsbee (right), the senior civilian representative for RC-East, greets provincial leaders at an Eid ul-Fitr dinner celebration Sept. 6.
U.S. Army sniper Spc. James Wanser of Los Angeles and other members of Company C, Task Force 2-28, 172nd Infantry Brigade, and the Afghan National Army ruck march toward Observation Post #4 near Forward Operati More
U.S. Army Pfc. Najier Williams of Company C, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, Task Force 2-28, 172nd Infantry Brigade, keeps watch in the early morning hours of Sept. 8 while his battle buddy catches a few p More
Members of C Company, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, Task Force 2-28, 172nd Infantry Brigade, catch a few precious minutes of sleep in the early morning hours of Sept. 8. The unit was in the middle of a jo More
Sgt. Jeremy Truelove of Quapaw, Okla., shop foreman at Forward Operating Base Tillman, talks through engine maintenance with a group of Afghan National Army soldiers Sept. 10.
Lt. Col. Travis Rogers passes the 10-mile mark on his way to the finish line of the 12-mile road march. The road march was the first task the candidates had to complete, in order to earn their spurs.
First Sgt. John Orbe of Brooklyn, N.Y., Company C, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade reflects after a combat patch ceremony for 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Company C, at Observation Post 1 More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Gregorio Florez of Abilene, Texas, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade greets some of the local children who frequent the Afghan Border Police traffic chec More
Members of Task Force 2-28, 172nd Infantry Brigade prepare their vehicles for a convoy from Forward Operating Base Orgun-E to Combat Outpost Zerok Sept. 16. The convoy took seven hours to make the 20-mile driv More
Pfc. Jonathan Martinez, of Brooklyn, N.Y., Company B, Task Force 2-28, 172nd Infantry Brigade, rests his squad automatic weapon on the ground as he searches for mail addressed to him, Sept. 17. It was the first More
The key leaders from 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division along with interpreters met with the Sarkani district governor (top right) Sept. 18 near Forward Operating Base Joyce. The meet More
Members of 2nd Platoon, Company B, Task Force 2-28, 172nd Infantry Brigade, play football between the Hescos on Combat Outpost Zerok Sept. 18, during a barbecue commemorating the U.S. Air Force's birthday.
Members of the Afghan Uniformed Police, including Armanshah, chief of police for the Naka district (far left) listen to Capt. Craig Halstead, commander of Company B, Task Force 2-28 during a rock drill before a More
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Gary Volesky, 1st Cavalry Division Deputy commanding general, walks with Armanshah, chief of police, Naka District, Afghan Uniformed Police, through the small village of Derka near Combat O More
Spc. Todd Ingraham of Tampa, Fl., Company B, Task Force 2-28, 172nd Infantry Brigade, pulls guard while Sgt. Larry Procick collects biometric information from a local man in the small village of Derka, near Com More
Sgt. 1st Class Nathaniel Bryant, a native of Columbus, Ga., and platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Task Forc More
A member of Company B, Task Force 2-28, 172nd Infantry Brigade and Shahi Den, local businessman and elder in the small mountain village of Derka, near Combat Outpost Zerok, size each other up before hiking back More
Brig. Gen. Gary Volesky, Combined Joint Task Force-1 and Regional Command-East Deputy Commanding General – Maneuver, talks to a soldier from Task Force Bronco, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, near Wanat Vi More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Shannon Politte, a native of New Orleans and material management supervisor for Company A, 172nd Support Battalion, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Task Force Blackhawk, takes a moment to check pap More
U.S. Army Sgt. Aracelly Castillo, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and assigned to Company A, 172nd Support Battalion, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Task Force Blackhawk, carefully stretches the cargo straps up to the out More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Shannon Politte, a native of New Orleans and material management supervisor for Company A, 172nd Support Battalion, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Task Force Blackhawk, checks e-mail during a mome More
U.S. Army Sgt. Nathanael Bordash, a native of Flint, Mich., assigned to Company A, 172nd Support Battalion, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Task Force Blackhawk, fine tunes the placement of a new fuel pump Oct. 5 at Fo More
U.S. Army Sgt. Nathanael Bordash, a native of Flint, Mich., assigned to Company A, 172nd Support Battalion, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Task Force Blackhawk, fine tunes the placement of a new fuel pump Oct. 5, at F More
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class James Nichols (left), a native of St. Louis, Spc. Christopher Isaac (center), a native of Staten Island, N.Y., both assigned to Battery C, 1st Battalion, Task Force Blackhawk, and Pfc. More
Staff Sgt. Rosalyn Anderson, a native of Gulfport, Miss., and assigned as an S1 non-commissioned officer to the 172nd Support Battalion, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Task Force Blackhawk, waits as a shipping contain More
A watershed in Sra Kala village was selected to undergo rehabilitation this winter. Due to deforestation, overgrazing and other factors, 98 percent of the trees in Afghanistan have disappeared in the last 30 ye More
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Stuart Wylie of South Weber, Utah, who is with an explosive ordnance disposal unit attached to Task Force Maverick, 1st Cavalry Division, awakens after a cold, rainy night sleeping ne More
Spc. Brett Waller of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Cavalry Division, Task Force Maverick, from Ponca City, Okla., waits for word if the latest mission is a go from Combat Outpost Red Hill Oct. 13.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Gary Volesky, Combined Joint Task Force-1 and Regional Command-East deputy commanding general – Maneuver, talks with Afghan National Security Forces after a conference attended by Pakistan, More
From left, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brad Eungard and Maj. Rodney Smith, of the 172nd Support Battalion, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Task Force Blackhawk with Afghan Command Sgt. Maj. Shah Wali of the 5th Combat Service S More
Command Sgt. Maj. of the Army National Guard Richard J. Burch shares a laugh with Pfc. Nicholas Degiglio of the 131st Transportation Company after presenting him with a coin Oct. 18. Burch was on a tour of Regi More
First Cavalry Division Deputy Commanding General – Maneuver, Brig. Gen. Gary Volesky and members of his personal security detail run to their UH-60 Black Hawk Oct. 19. Volesky and his team were conducting a ba More
U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Benjamin Vonderheide, a battle captain, HHC, 172nd Support Battalion, and U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Asunta Vonderheide, executive officer for A Company, 172nd Support Battalion try on their Angry Bird More
Afghan National Army Sgt. Zahir Atifi, 52nd Medical Company, teaches his soldiers how to stop the bleeding of a casualty Oct. 25.
U.S. Army Spc. Mike Roberson, Company A, 172nd Support Battalion, sits in his vehicle early Oct. 26, readying himself to convoy to Forward Operating Base Orgun-E.
Aberdeen, Wash., native U.S. Army Spc. Nicole Derk, crew chief with the 3rd Forward Support Medevac Team, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, tightens the screws on a UH-60M Black Hawk helic More
A robot's-eye view of other robots waiting to be checked out by technicians in the Joint Robotics Repair Detachment's shop Oct. 27.
U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Ryser, Sgt. 1st Class Amy Plimpton, and Marine Sgt. Jonathan Dukette, all robotic technicians with the Joint Robotics Repair Detachment, observe a Talon robot they repaired perform maneuve More
Afghan National Army and U.S. soldiers pose for a quick photo after participating in a combined ANA and U.S. Army Soldier of the Month and promotion board Oct. 29.
(Left to right) U.S. Army Lt. Col. Leslie Darling, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jack Ursey, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shannon Tyus, all from the 1st Cavalry Division and Combined Joint Task Force-1, complete their 100- More
Afghan National Army Pvt. Gul Nabi, medic with the 5th Kandak, checks another student’s blood pressure during a medical training class Nov. 1 on FOB Shank. During the class, ANA soldiers practiced basic patient More
British Army Lt. Gen. James Bucknall, the International Security Assistance Force deputy commander, visited Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Nov. 2. The 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team welcomed Bucknall to the More
Afghan Lt. Col Faiz Moh Salaugi (left), and U.S. Army Maj. Ebony Lambert, executive officer, 172nd Support Battalion, discuss future joint training events Nov. 3.
Authors visit soldiers at Forward Operating Base Gamberi during USO Tour, November 2011.
Two UH-60 Black Hawks escorting Brig. Gen. Gary Volesky, 1st Cavalry Division deputy commanding general, fly over Nangarhar province near the Pakistan border, Nov. 5.
U.S. Army Capt. Tim Beecher, of St. Louis, Mo., 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, mans the machine gun on the door of a UH-60 Black Hawk as it and another Black Hawk fly over the Tora Bora area near the Pakistan bo More
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Charles Gaouette (left), U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and Fifth Fleet deputy commander, presents a coin to U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Luis Sanchez, Nov. 7.
U.S. Army Spc. David Lamson, a native of Athens, Ga. and National Flag Bearer for the 1st Cavalry Division Honor Guard exits a Veterans Day ceremony at the Joint Operations Center, Nov. 11.
A young boy hangs on to his older sister’s bag of school supplies, Nov. 14, at the Korean Hospital on Bagram Air Field as part of Operation School Supplies. Operation School Supplies is an education initiative More
U.S. Army Spc. Ikram Omonov (left), a medic and radio operator, and U.S. Army Capt. Scott Hall, brace themselves on a ridgeline above the Dawlat Shah District Center after dimounting a UH 60 Black Hawk Nov. 15.
A pile of packing material is set ablaze Nov. 23 at the drop zone near FOB Curry. The material helped encase a 4k forklift that was air dropped near the FOB and ensured its safe landing. It was the first forkli More
U.S. Army Sgt. Aaron Villareal, a Houston, Texas, native, wrestles Sgt. Michael Rodrigues of San Antonio, Texas, to the mat while fellow soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Briga More
Afghan National Police 2nd Lt. Niaztany studies a plate of fingerprints with one of the microscopes at the new Afghan Criminal Techniques Academy and Laboratory on Bagram Air Field Nov. 29. The ACTA will train More
Army Staff Sgt. Enrique Angelo, of Miami, Fla., a communications Non-commissioned officer in-charge from Taskforce Mustang, checks the blue force tracker before leaving on a supply convoy mission on Dec. 2. As More
A U.S. Army M4 carbine rifle rests in the illumination of a flashlight in "red light" mode in one of the fortified fighting positions of Combat Outpost Herrera late the night of Dec. 2. COP Herrera sits at 8,70 More
U.S. and Afghan soldiers set up security during an inspection of the greenhouse and farming facilities that the USDA set up with the help of the Kansas Agriculture Development Team near Gerdy Katz, Dec. 3.
Members of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the USDA inspect a greenhouse that the USDA and the Kansas Agriculture Development Team built to train Afghan farmers near Gerdy Katz, Dec. 3.
Chief Warrant Officer David Pollard of Naples. Fla., and allied trades technician with B Company, 125th Brigade Support Battalion, helps 1st Lt. Zuri Hildreth of Copperas Cove, Texas, a brigade medical supply o More
Students in the 2011 graduating class at the Korean Vocational Training Center wait in a hallway before the ceremony Dec. 5. The KVTC trains young Afghans in several different practical skill areas such as comp More
Army Spc. Anthony Villa, of San Antonio, a health care specialist and licensed practical nurse for the 681st Forward Surgical Team, takes a boxing stance during a training session on Dec. 9. Villa was trained b More
A medical evacuation helicopter lands at Forward Operating Base Shank Dec. 9 to pick up and transport a casualty to Bagram Air Field to receive medical care.
A medical evacuation helicopter lands at Forward Operating Base Shank on Dec. 9, to pick up and transport a casualty to Bagram Air Field to receive medical care.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Donald Paquin, of 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment, dismounts from an UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Combat Outpost Chak DC, Dec. 16.
Dr. (Maj.) Zaki Mokhtar (right), public health physician and head of Medical Teams for the Malaysian Contingent 3 International Security Assistance Force, gives a tour of MALCON 3’s medical storeroom to Dr. Bur More
U.S. Army Spc. Devon Boxa from San Angelo, Texas, a member of Company B, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, admires the Afghan landscape out the back door of a CH-47D Chinook helicopter as another Chinook More
Elders who are members of provincial peace councils are greeted by members of the provincial High Peace Council and Gul Agha Sherzai (far right), governor of Nangarhar province, at the governor's palace in Jala More
U.S. Army Col. Bill Williams, Georgia Agribusiness Development Team commander, talks with a Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan official, Dec. 19, about future watershed projects in Logar and Wardak provinces.
Soldiers of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Laghman Province, Afghanistan.
Sisters from the village of Aq Robat, more than 20 miles northwest of Bamyan, head home with a bundle of winter clothes, Dec. 24. Operation Care: Afghanistan, a nonprofit, private charitable organization based More
French Army Cpl. Ghurzoule pulls guard at the landing zone on Forward Operating Base Tagab-Kutschbach, Dec. 24.
"Santa," aka U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Lausier, from Swampscott, Mass., listens with a group of fellow soldiers attached to Provincial Reconstruction Team- Kapisa, Task Force Lafayette, as Brig. Gen. More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Luis Badillo at the Bamyan Training Center, Bamyan province, Afghanistan in December. (U.S. Army photo by Petty Officer 1st Class William Steele)
Birds fly over a cement blast barrier into Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Dec. 27, 2011. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ken Scar)
Members of Task Force Thunderbird and the Governor of Panjshir province, Karim, held a ceremony to transition Forward Operating Base Lion to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on Dec. 28.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Daniel Gajewski, native of Chicago and provincial development support team commander, and U.S. Army Master Sgt. Valerie Lofton, native of Bucyrus, Ohio, and forward operating base mayor, both More
Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma along with representatives from Texas paid a visit to members of Task Force Thunderbird at Forward Operating Base Gamberi to ring in the new year, Dec. 31.
Najibullah, 10, pauses at the exit the Craig Joint-Theater Hospital Jan. 9. He was severely injured in the stomach July 20, in Ghazni province and had been under the hospital’s care ever since.
Task Force Thunderbird Commander, Col. Joel Ward, personally awards soldiers at Forward Operating Base Gamberi.
A U.S. Army mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle makes its way down Disney Drive, past the crosswalk to the Khole dining facility, during a snowstorm the night of Jan. 22.
Task Force Thunderbird commander, Col. Joel Ward, awards soldiers at FOB Gamberi.
Task Force Thunderbird commander, Col. Joel Ward, awards soldiers at Forward Operating Base Gamberi.
Task Force Thunderbird Commander, Col. Joel Ward, personally awards Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Gamberi.
U.S. Army Master Sgt. George Parks, a Chattanooga, Tenn., native and Combined Joint Task Force-1 Equal Opportunity adviser, talks to his students during a unit victim advocacy certification course. Parks won th More