9 November 2009

Asia Security Group personnel training on the M249, squad automatic weapon (SAW). They are stationed at Forward Operating Base Boris, Paktika Province, Afghanistan, 2 May 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Derec Pierson/Released)(100502-A-4544P-024)

U.S. Army soldier pulls security in the village of Margah during a presence patrol. He is a member of 4th Platoon, ABU Company, 1-187th Infantry (Air Assault), Combat Outpost Margah, Paktika Province, Afghanistan, 6 May 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Derec Pierson/Released)(100506-A-4544P-022)

U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Mark Bartosch and Sgt. Nicolas Starr looks out at the village of Guyan, thinking of what they can do to help the villagers. Sgt. Maj. is the Operations Sgt. Maj. for 1-187th Infantry (Air Assault) out of Orgun-E and Sgt. Starr is a member of 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1-187th Infantry (Air Assault) located at Combat Outpost Munoz, Paktika Province, Afghanistan, 13 May 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Derec Pierson/Released)(100513-A-4544P-039)

U.S. Army Pvt. Casey Cruse looks through his binoculars to see if there is any enemy in the hills while pulling security at the village bazaar of Guyan. He is a member of 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1-187th Infantry (Air Assault) located at Combat Outpost Munoz, Paktika Province, Afghanistan, 13 May 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Derec Pierson/Released)(100513-A-4544P-042)

U.S. Army Spc. Walter Orso and Pvt. Casey Cruse pulls security with an Afghan National Army Soldier during a presence patrol to the village of Guyan. They are members of 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1-187th Infantry (Air Assault) located at Combat Outpost Munoz, Paktika Province, Afghanistan, 13 May 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Derec Pierson/Released)(100513-A-4544P-050)

The Afghan local school headmaster receives school supplies from the Guyan District Center. The District Center is located by the Combat Outpost Munoz, Paktika Province, Afghanistan, 15 May 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Derec Pierson/Released)(100515-A-4544P-014)

U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Morris shoots a mortar round from a 120 mm mortar tube during a training and certification test at the combat outpost. He is member of the mortar section for Delta Company located at Combat Outpost Zerok, Paktika Province, Afghanistan, 18 May 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Derec Pierson/Released)(100518-A-4544P-108)

Lance. Cpl. Jason Rivera a U.S. Marine from Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2, scans his sector from his camp out onto the open field, two days after insurgents attacked Bagram, Airfield, Afghanistan, 21 May, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Horace Murray/ Released)(100521-A-3996M-015)

1st Lt Dennis Porter from 3rd Platoon, Legion Company, 1-503rd Infantry Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, and an Afghan National Army soldier speak with some teachers to check on conditions in the grade school in the village of Kane-Ezzat, Nerkh District, Wardak Province, Afghanistan, 22 May 2010. Providing a presence in villages proves useful in maintaining good security in the area. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Russell Gilchrest\Released)(100522-A-6225G-066)

Private First Class Daniel Walker leads a patrol of U.S. Army paratroopers from 3rd Platoon, Legion Company, 1-503rd Infantry Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team and Afghan National Army soldiers travel down a dirt road while on their way into the village of Kane-Ezzat, Nerkh District, Wardak Province, Afghanistan, 22 May, 2010. Providing a presence in villages proves useful in maintaining good security in the area. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Russell Gilchrest\Released)(100522-A-6225G-131)

U.S. Army Capt. Michael Swartz ,Chaplain for the 1-503rd Infantry Battalion 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team makes sure that the pen he is handing out gets to the intended recipient in the village of Kane-Ezzat, Nerkh District, Wardak Province, Afghanistan, 22 May, 2010. The purpose of this mission is to maintain good relationships with the locals and help keep good security in the area. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Russell Gilchrest\Released)(100522-A-6225G-135)

A platoon of Afghan National Army soldiers pay attention to their platoon leader who is giving them a briefing prior to firing their weapons at a small arms firing range at Combat Outpost Blackhawk, Nerkh District, Wardak Province, Afghanistan, 23 May, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt Russell Gilchrest\Released)(100523-A-6225G-047)

An Afghan National Army soldier fires his weapon at a small arms firing range just outside of Combat Outpost Blackhawk, Nerkh District, Wardak Province, Afghanistan, 23 May, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt Russell Gilchrest\Released)(100523-A-6225G-120)

U.S. Army Capt. Stephen Iaquinto from Berlin, N.J. and a member of the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team shows Afghan children a picture from his camera that he took of them. Members from Task Force Wolverine conducted a dismounted patrol through the Bagram Bazaar to find out information from the recent attack on Bargam Airfield, Parwan Province, Afghanistan, 24 May, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Horace Murray/ Released)(100524-A-3996M-025)

An Afghan boy is seen in the mirror of a motorcycle as he makes repairs to the motorcycle as Coalition force members talk to local shop owners. Members from Task Force Wolverine conducted a dismounted patrol through the Bagram Bazaar to find out information from the recent attack on Bargam Airfield, Parwan Province, Afghanistan, 24 May, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Horace Murray/ Released)(100524-A-3996M-057)

Afghan boys gather around a U.S. Army soldier for a picture while talks with village elders are taking place. Members from Task Force Wolverine conducted a dismounted patrol through the Bagram Bazaar to find out information from the recent attack on Bargam Airfield, Parwan Province, Afghanistan, 24 May, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Horace Murray/Released)(100524-A-3996M-170)

Gary Soiseth a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advisor to Afghanistan teaches a group of local farmers different techniques that they can use to fight off harmful moths, fungus and other threats to their crops at the Nerkh District Center, Wardak Province, Afghanistan, 24 May, 2010. The USDA holds meetings to help the local farmers maintain healthy crops. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Russell Gilchrest\Released)(100524-A-6225G-038)

Two Afghan Beekeepers enjoy some down time while their bees are busy making honey in Nerkh District, Wardak Province, Afghanistan, 26 May, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt Russell Gilchrest\Released)(100527-A-6225G-132)

Afghan National Army soldiers patrol through the fields of Nerkh Valley while on their way into the village of IbrahimKhel, Nerkh District, Wardak Province, Afghanistan, 27 May, 2010. ANA soldiers are working with U.S. Army soldiers in order to find out who put a recent improvised explosive device by a nearby road. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Russell Gilchrest\Released)(100527-A-6225G-023)

A lizard most commonly known as the alligator lizard crawls through the grass in Nerkh Valley, Wardak Province, Afghanistan, 27 May, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Russell Gilchrest\Released)(100527-A-6225G-067)

French/ Courtesy of TF Lafayete

French/ Courtesy of TF Lafayete