Master Sgt. Duane Perez, center, first sergeant, Echo

Master Sgt. Duane Perez, center, first sergeant, Echo Company, 1-294th Infantry Regiment, Guam Army National Guard, greets Sgt. Zahidllah Sargan of the Afghan National Army July 9 at Forward Operating Base Lightning, Paktya Province, Afghanistan. Perez visited a squad of his troops stationed at this isolated base in the vicinity of the Pakistan border. Sargan is a mechanic who leads a group of ANA Soldiers with hands-on training on vehicles. Standing next to Perez is staff Sgt. Phillip Cabedo, noncommissioned officer in charge of the group. The Guam Guardsmen serve as guardian angels for civilian and military instructors. (Army National Guard photo/Sgt. Eddie Siguenza)