Forward Operating Base Salerno

U.S. Army Cpl. Brian Lewis with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, clears an M240B squad automatic weapon during an Expert Infantry More

Lt. Col. Donald Y. Kwan and Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick Powers case the colors Jan. 21, at a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathan W. Hutchi More

The Army chief of information Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sorenson talks to a Soldier from Company C, 508th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, about satellite communications duri More

Lt. Col. Donald Y. Kwan and Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick Powers case the colors, Jan. 21, at a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo/Spc. Nathan W. Hutchison)

Airborne artillery men from Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, hold their ears while firing a 105 millimeter howitzer at Firebase Wilderness in Paktya Pro More

Army Gen. Richard Cody, Army Vice Chief of Staff, re-enlists Soldiers from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade Feb. 10 at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan.

Afghanistan National Army Commandos fire at a small arms range during the second to last exercise in a soldiering competition in Forward Operating Base Salerno, Khost Province, Afghanistan on February 27, 2008. More

An M777 howitzer fires off rounds during a training exercise on Forward Operating Base Salerno, Feb. 28. The howitzer is manned by artillermen from the 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment, 18th Fires Brigade.

Soldiers of 321st Field Artillery, 4th Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division test fire the Excaliber artillery round on Forward Operating Base Salerno on February 28, 2008. The Excaliber round is a precision guided More

In the new construction of a "refugee city" in Ghazni province, Pfc. Tom Strackbein, a native of Moscow, Pa., tosses treats from the turret of his humvee.(U.S. Army photo/Spc. Paul David Ondik)

The Soldiers Medal, an award presented to military serivice members for heroism and saving the life of another, was presented to Spc. Steve Egovail, an infantryman with the pathfinder company with Task Force No More

A group of local Afghan citizens perform a traditional dance, called attan, at the New Year's Eve Talent Show held at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Khowst province, Dec. 31, 2008.

Disc jockeys from Paktika province gather at Forward Operating Base Sharana July 12 and 13 to discuss broadcast reporting techniques during a two-day journalism workshop hosted by the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infan More

U.S. Army Sgt. Evelia Rodriguez, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Task Force Viper, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, TF Falcon, from Bakersfield, Calif., starts an IV on a patient in the TF Viper aid sta More

A soldier from Task Force Rakkasan cuts the cake at the “10-10-10” re-enlistment ceremony at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Khowst province, Afghanistan Oct.10. The Rakkasans reenlisted 236 soldiers, one to ma More

A U.S. Army soldier stands next to a UH-60 Black Hawk medical helicopter during the pre-flight preparations on Forward Operating Base Salerno, Khowst province, Afghanistan, Dec. 17, 2010. (Photo by: Cpl. Patri More

A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter sits and waits while its cargo is loaded at Combat Outpost Spera in Khost province, Afghanistan on Dec. 18, 2010. (Photo by: Cpl. Patrick Gleason)

U.S. Army Cpl. John Parks looks through the scope of his weapon while standing guard outside of the Customs House in Mashi Klay, Khowst province, Afghanistan on Dec. 20, 2010. (Photo by: Cpl. Patrick Gleason)

U.S. Army Spc. Nicholas Robinson of Tacoma, Wash., Company D, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, poses for a photo after receiving the Silver Star Medal du More

Col. Viet Luong and Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Patton salute the World Trade Center flag, which is carried by the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, Airborne to different forward operating bases in Regional Command More

Pilots from Alpha Troop, Task Force Shooter don their Stetsons before pre-flight to remember the pilots of Adversary 11 and Adversary 22 who died Jan. 25 2009, in Kirkuk province, Iraq. From left, U.S. Army Cap More

U.S. Army Col. Viet Luong, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division and a resident of Fort Campbell, Ky., and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Patton, a resident of Fort Campbell, Ky More

Soldiers of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based out of Fort Knox, Ky., are led in the singing of the division song by 1st Sgt. Kerry Crudup, a reside More

Food service employees and soldiers follow the action from a Super Bowl XLV broadcast at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Khowst province, Feb. 7. Soldiers from the Fort Knox, Ky.,-based 3rd Infantry Brigade Com More

U.S. Army Maj. Gens. John F. Campbell 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and Daniel B. Allyn 1st Cavalry Division speak before a meeting at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Khost province, Afghanistan. Gen. More

Cpl. Spencer Emch, drummer for the 101st Airborne Division rock band and native of Essex, Conn., plays during the band's performance at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, Feb. 20. The four-piece band More

U.S. Army 1st Sgt. David McCurry of Heppner, Ore., Company B, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, a National Guard unit from Oregon attached to Task Force Tigershark, receives the Purple Heart medal from Ma More

U.S. Army Spc. Michael Payne, an assistant gunner with Company A, 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment, 18th Fires Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division and native of Herndon, Va., fires the XM982 ‘Excalibur More

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Tory R. Myers (left), an AH-64D Apache helicopter pilot serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, Task Force Viper, receives the More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brian C. Reddington, an air traffic controller with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, and native of San Antonio, stands More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Bobbi Augustyn, (second from right) a career counselor for 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, originally from Sargent, Neb., re-enlists at Forward Operating Ba More

U.S. Army Spc. Daniel “Clinger” Vigil of Monticello, Utah, a combat engineer with 1st Platoon, 118th Sapper Company, uses a shovel to help patch a road damaged by improvised explosive device explosions outside More

U.S. Army Spc. Morgan Graham, a flight medic with Company C, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, Task Force Tigershark, a Wyoming National Guard unit, puts on her flight gear as she responds to a MEDEVAC ca More

U.S. Army Spc. Morgan Graham, a flight medic with Company C, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, Task Force Tigershark, a Wyoming Army National Guard unit, puts on her flight gear as she responds to a medev More

U.S. Army soldiers with 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Focused Targeting Force, load a CH-47 Chinook on Forward Operating Base Salerno, Khowst province, Afghani More

U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher Cates, a welder in Company G, 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, from Friendswood, Texas, builds workout equipment on F More

U.S. Army Spc. Marc Whittaker, with the 529th Military Police Company attached and a native of Livingston, Texas, holds back his military working dog Anax while U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Erin Simes, a canine More

U.S. Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, looks on as U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Bart Lomont, the marketing officer for the 3-19th Agribusiness Development Team from New Haven, Ind., and More

U.S. Army soldiers with 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, Focused Targeting Force, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, prepare to board a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, in the city of Gardez, Paktiya prov More

Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, based out of Fort Knox, Ky., cheered during the Kentucky Derby on Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, May 8. Soldiers More

An Afghan national security force commander inspects the oil level on a vehicle at the Spera District Center, Khowst province, Afghanistan, May 17, 2011.

U.S. Army Spc. Jose Alonso Rojas, a truck driver with Company B, 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, speaks to his wife, Maribel, and stepdaughter, More

U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, commander of International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, awards the Purple Heart to U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Michael Roszko, platoon sergeant for 2nd More

U.S. Army infantrymen from Company B, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, make their way through wheat fields on their way to Operation Nike o More

Close friends of U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bradley Gaudet and U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kenneth White bow their heads in prayer during a memorial ceremony Forward Operating Base Salerno June 11. More

U.S. Army Spc. Robert McCubbins welds a gate under construction at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, June 11. McCubbins, a mechanic from Dallas, assigned to Company B, 201st BSB, 3rd BCT, 1st Infantr More

Airmen deployed at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, enjoyed a question and answer session with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy during his visit June 14. Roy spoke during his visit ab More

U.S. Army field artillerymen from Battery B, 1st Battalion, 6th Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, enter a shop to talk with the shop owner about finding terror suspects in Katalai v More

U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher Weber, a health care specialist with the medical platoon, headquarters and headquarters battery, 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Div More

U.S Army Capt. Jim Humphrey, a nurse with the 352nd Combat Support Hospital, 807th Medical Command, and a native of Landstuhl, Germany, checks the chart of a local national being treated at Forward Operating Ba More

U.S. Army Spc. Guenter Nyanankpe, a mechanic from Columbia, S.C. attached to 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Task Force Tigershark, sings along during a Sunday service on Forward Operating More

U.S. Army Sgt. Elizabeth Fortkamp, a senior medic with the Fort Knox, Ky.-based Company C, 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, and a native of Coldw More

Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," makes a brief statement to troops at the Forward Operating Base Salerno dining facility July 31. Stewart was visiting the troops as part of a USO tour, al More

U.S. Army Warrant Officers Norman Rosentreter, James Ross, and Chris Sherrett, intelligence technicians with the Fort Knox, Ky.-based 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke are pictured More

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond Chandler III listens to a question posed by a soldier assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, at Forward Operating Base Salerno Oct. 18. Ch More

Government and military officials from Paktya and Khowst provinces, along with leaders from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, discuss issues during a shura held on Forward Operati More

Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, Skype with world-champion boxer Manny Pacquiao and his trainer, Freddie Roach, Oct. 29, at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghan More

U.S. Army Maj. Michael Spikes (left), a chaplain with the 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, and a native of Spring, Texas, stands next to U.S. Arm More

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Daniel Allyn, commanding general of Regional Command - East and 1st Cavalry Division, speaks to soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 6th Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry D More

Maj. George Smolinski, a physician out of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and an individual augmentee to 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke More

U.S. Army Sgt. Ryan Stahl, from Radcliff, Ky., serving with C Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, uses the HIIDE system on a local Afghan, More

U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hewitt, from Burnsville, Ind., of C Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, demonstrates how to load an M240B machine gu More

U.S. Army Capt. Mark Snowbarger, left, from Mogadore, Ohio, of C Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, prepares to conduct a patrol with cou More

An Afghan Uniformed Police officer watches as U.S. soldiers serving with C Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, talk with local Afghans whi More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Thompson, a section chief from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, and More

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Thompson, a section chief from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, and More

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Christopher J. Cassibry (left), a native of Gulf Shores, Ala., and commander of the 1st Squadron (Airborne), 40th Cavalry, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division speaks du More

Task Force Poseidon Petroleum supply specialists refuel a OH-58 Kiowa Warrior at Forward Operating Base Salerno.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Pat Elllis (right), Commander of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, speaks with British Maj. Rob Hollinrake, HQ ISAF Joint More

Afghan National Army soldiers stand guard at a memorial site on Camp Parsa, Dec. 21, 2011, Khowst province, Afghanistan. Coming together, Afghan national forces pay tribute to their fallen comrades by erecting More

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Frank Stanco, commander of 2nd-377th PFAR, from York, Pa. and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Cedric Moore, command sergeant major of the 2nd-377th PFAR, Huntsville, Ala. uncase their colors as t More

U.S. Army Chaplain (Capt.) Bernadino Yebra, a reservist Catholic Chaplain based at Forward Operating Base Salerno, blesses his congregation at the FOB Salerno chapel on during a Christmas Eve Advent service Yeb More

Sisters Tess (left) and Tobey White, from Columbus, Ohio, unwrap presents on Christmas Day. Tess is a second lieutenant and Headquarters, Headquarters Company 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Ta More

Paratroopers of the 4th BCT (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan, celebrate Christmas at Forward Operation Base Salerno. The brigade prepares to assume responsibility as part of Regional Command-East.

Lt. Col. Shawn Daniel, Battalion Commander, 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry, 4th BCT (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan participates in the Christmas holiday.

U.S. Staff Sgt. Rafael Noble from San Juan, a human resource specialist and native of Puerto Rico, assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (Airborne), 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Inf More

U.S. Army Lt. Col Patrick J. Ellis (right), commander of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Blue Geronimo and U.S. Army More

U.S. Army Lt. Col Patrick J. Ellis (right), commander of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Blue Geronimo, and U.S. Arm More

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Frank Smith, 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (Airborne), 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan receives a welcomed embrace from Brig. Gen. Abdu More

U.S. Army Col. Morris Goins, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan, congratulates U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dave Hinson, 725th Brigade Support Battalion Task Force Centurion, 4 More

An Afghan National Army soldier operates a radio while on patrol in Khowst province, outside of Combat Outpost Sabari, Afghanistan, Dec. 31, 2011. Ensuring a safer Afghanistan, Afghan National Security Forces, More

U.S. Army Col. Morris Goins, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan commander and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Terry Gardner, command sergeant major of the 4th Brigade Com More

Col. Chris Toner and Command Sgt. Maj. Drew Pumarejo, of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, case their colors at a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Sale More

Afghan National Army soldiers march on patrol from Combat Outpost Bak, Jan. 1, 2012, Khowst province, Afghanistan. Leading the way, Afghan national forces lead U.S. forces on operations and patrols for regional safety.

U.S. Army soldiers of the 3rd Platoon Comanche Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan, talk with locals outside Combat Outp More

U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Stevens, a parachute rigger with Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 725th Brigade Support Battalion (Airborne), 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division (Airborne), Task Force Spar More

U.S. Army Col. Morris Goins (left), 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan commander, speaks with reporters from Anchorage, Alaska via a teleconference during a press con More

U.S. Sgt. Joshua Stevens, a parachute rigger with Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 725th Brigade Support Battalion (Airborne), Task Force Centurion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division (Airborne) More

U.S. soldiers serving with 3rd Platoon, Comanche Company, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan, alongside Afghan Uniformed Police officers, march More

U.S. Army Sgt. Nicholaus A. Hale (left), a squad leader with C Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Sgt. Adam M. Hale, an infantryma More

Farook, an Afghan child, pictured here with his uncle, Shah Saied, receives medical care after suffering an asthma attack. He was medically evacuated to the Forward Operating Base Salerno hospital for further t More

U.S. Army Capt. Derek M. Reeves, commander of Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan, presents Staff Sgt. Jason McDermitt the unit’s shoulder sleev More

U.S. Army Col. Morris Goins, commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan, welcomes Ivo Daalder, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, to Forward Operating Base Salerno.

U.S. Army Spc. Mechellela A. Guest (left), a native of Benton Harbor, Mich., and an automations specialist with 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery and Sgt. 1st Class Diggs, the S-4 non-commissioned officer in More

U.S. Army Pfc. Eric Guzman from Fresno, Calif., of Comanche Company, Team Hatchet, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan More

A paratrooper from 1st Platoon, Comanche Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, Task Force Spartan, walks down a flight of stairs after clearing a rooftop in Pirono Kalay, Khowst province, More

Afghan Boarder Police conduct a patrol in a village in Khowst province, Afghanistan, Jan. 18, 2012. U.S. and Afghan National Security Forces worked together to surprise and corner insurgents with air assault mi More

International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Command Sgt. Maj. John Troxell meets with U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Terry Gardner, Command Sgt. Maj. of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infan More

U.S. Army Sgt. Andrew Bayro, the Class II Yard non-commissioned officer in charge with Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan and Aria Khan, the pro More

U.S. Army Pfc. Tyler Jennings, a cannon crewmember assigned to A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Spartan Steel conducts security combat patrols in Khowst province, J More