Fifty citizens of Afghanistan's Paktika province learn how to use tools and safety equipment issued to them at a labor workshop at Forward Operating Base Sharana. (Photo/1st Lt. Kenya Virginia Saenz)
Army Maj. Ell White, 1st Infantry Division, performs the dead-lift event at the first power-lifting competition at Forward Operating Base Sharana.
Army 1st Lt. Jeffrey Mullin, right, from 585th Engineer Company, part of Task Force Pacemaker of Fort Lewis, Wash., lends a hand to his platoon as they build B-huts, Jan. 8, as part of the Forward Operating Bas More
Pvt. Christopher Henderson, Task Force Pacemaker, deployed from Fort Lewis, Wash., prepares hot-wings lunch at the Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration dining facility at Forward Operating Base S More
Army Sgt 1st Class Daren Brekke, Task Force Pacemaker, is able to chat with his family in the convenience of his room because of the civilian Internet services at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan.
Army Spc. Jessica Krzmarzick, from "Out of Uniform", the Combined Joint Task Force - 101 rock band, sings for the Soldiers of Task Force Pacemaker at the "Spring Break 2008" festival at Forward Operating Base Sharana.
Soldiers of Bravo Company, 864th Engineer Battalion, drill into the rocky earth to place charges used for blasting away rock. The Soldiers set the conditions for a new combat outpost at Margah, in eastern Pakti More
Gen. Richard A. Cody, U.S. Army vice chief of staff, signs a reenlistment bonus check for Sgt. James W. Kehoe, Jr., at a ceremony on Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan, May 12. Kehoe reenlisted for fiv More
Scouts from 3rd Battalion, 187 Infantry, 101st Airborne Division from Ft. Campbell, Ky. patrol through the village of Sar Hawza, in route to Tomanay village, Aug. 27, West Paktika province, Afghanistan. This p More
U.S. Air Force Maj. Michele Holderness, from Alexandria, Va., an intensive care nurse with the 934th Forward Surgical Team, prepares to record a patient’s progress in the advanced trauma life support section of More
U.S. Army Spc. James Mann, a native of Waterloo, S.C., a gunner and driver for the security force element of the Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team at Forward Operating Base Sharana, holds fish and game mag More
U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Daniel Oswald, Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team administrative officer from San Diego, and U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Donald Liska, Paktika PRT administrative clerk an More
U.S. Army Col. Sean M. Jenkins, commander of Task Force Currahee, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, speaks to soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th BC More
Soldiers from Special Operations Task Force - East convoy through the mountains separating Paktia and Logar provinces Nov. 12. The convoy was returning from escorting a cellphone tower to Forward Operating Base Sharana.
Soldiers from Task Force Currahee pose for a photo with actor Robin Williams, country music singer Kix Brooks and country music songwriter Bob Dipierno at Forward Operating Base Sharana Dec. 15.
A soldier from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division kneels in an overwatch position on top of a qualot wall during Oper More
U.S. Army Chaplain (Maj.) Randal H. Robison of Grand Prairie, Texas, brigade chaplain for 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, lights the Advent candles during a Catholic Mass at the Frontline Chap More
Maj. Gen. Carpenter, Director (Acting), Army National Guard, National Guard Bureau (right) arrives at Forward Operating Base Sharana to visit National Guard soldiers from the 176th Engineer Brigade, also pictur More
Afghan National Army 1st Lt. Mohamad Raza, 2nd Lt. Shamsu Rahman, both forward observers with 2nd Kandak, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 203rd Corps, examine the landscape during a live-fire training event at Forward Op More
An Army soldier and Navy seabee cut the ribbon officially opening the Specialist Jordan Byrd Trauma Center located at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan.
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin L. Hill, International Security Assistance Forces command sergeant major and native of Memphis, Tenn., keeps the beat as the 101st Airborne Division Dixieland Band greets him More
Noor Muhammad, an Afghan National Army route clearance noncommissioned officer, shows the award he received from Company A, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Johnny Saldana, Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team squad leader, conducts a safety brief prior to leaving Forward Operation Base Sharana for a mission in Paktika province, April 4. The More
Afghan National Army soldiers verify their shots during weapons qualification as part of the ANA partnership between Coalation forces, held on Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan, April 16.
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael D. Barbero, director of the Joint IED Defeat Organization speaks with an explosive ordnance disposal platoon leader attached to Task Force Currahee about the Afghan National Army EOD More
CENTCOM Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Grippe (right) shakes hands with Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Milford (left) 176th Engineer Brigade CSM. Command Sgt. Maj. Grippe visited FOB Sharana, Afghanistan, and observed rout More
The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Task Force Currahee medics listen as Tim Webb, an instructor for Northern Cairn, goes over the day’s practical exercise on symptoms and how to treat them du More
Soldiers with Task Force Gambler, an aviation unit from 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, attached to TF Falcon, 10th CAB, 10th Mountain Division, pay their final respects on Forward Operating More
U.S. Army Col. Sean M. Jenkins, commander of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Task Force Currahee, presents U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates a plaque and a Currahee Banner during Secre More
U.S. Army Col. Sean M. Jenkins, commander of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Task Force Currahee, recites an excerpt from a speech June 6 that then U.S. Army Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower gave to More
Master Sgt. John Bogart, 577th Expeditionary Prime Beef Squadron engineering assistant, surges out in front of the pack in a 3.3 kilometer road march during the Task Force Hammer 3rd Quarter NCO Board competiti More
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Neng Yang, Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team engineering administrative technician from Sheboygan, Wis., secures the perimeter of Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanist More
From left, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brent Gruber, Spc. Dan Pfundtner, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Johnson and PV2 Michael Reynolds, the air crew and crew chiefs of AH-64D Apache 35394, which became the f More
(From left) U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Lester Simpson, commander of the 176th Engineer Brigade, Task Force Hammer, Texas Army National Guard from Rowlett, Texas, Lt. Gen. David M. Rodriguez, Commander, International More
U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of International Security Assistance Force and commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan talks with Task Force Currahee soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airbor More
Soldiers refuel a CH-47F from Task Force Attack, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, currently attached to 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division while waiting to pick up troopers they dropped off in eastern More
A CH-47F Chinook helicopter from Task Force Attack, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, attached to 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, begins to hover near a coalition convoy in southeastern Afghanistan More
Two UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters from Company B, Task Force Attack, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, attached to 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, “pop flares” while flying over Afghanistan to tran More
A truck dumps asphalt into a bitumen spreader as Afghan workers spread asphalt across a new road at Forward Operating Base Sharana, July 19. To help stimulate the economy and grow a skilled workforce in Afghani More
Pfc. Michael Reynolds, left, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., and a crew chief assigned to Night Fury, an AH-64D Apache helicopter, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Shaun Steines, right, a native of Alpha, Ill., and More
U.S. Army Spc. Tri Phu, a maintainer with the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota National Guard, and a native of Farmington, Minn., attaches a net designed to catch More
“Shadow,” an unmanned aerial system launches at Forward Operating Base Sharana Aug. 26, by Company B, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry DivisionTask Force Duke. The Shadow offers c More
Capt. Po Tsui of the 18th Engineer Brigade, Task Force Sword, runs to the finish line of a 7.11 mile leg on the second day of the Hood to Coast Satellite Run held on Forward Operating Base Sharana in Paktika pr More
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Elisabeth Dodge, an AH-64 Apache helicopter test maintenance pilot with Task Force Attack, checks the condition of the rear rotor blade of an Apache during a preflight inspecti More
U.S. Army Pfc. Hector Diaz, a Los Angeles native, and an AH-64 Apache helicopter mechanic with Task Force Attack, inspects the auxiliary power unit of an Apache during an inspection Aug. 30 at Forward Operating More
U.S. Army soldiers of Task Force Black Knight, A Company, 2-28, 3-66th Armor Regt., 172nd Inf. Bde., wait to be picked up by a CH-47 Chinook to support Operation Sword at Forward Operation Base Sharana, Paktika 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 1st Lt. Mark Passmore, from New York, of Task Force Falcon, Service Battery, 1-77th Field Artillery Battalion, 172nd Infantry Brigade, goes over the safety briefing before heading out on the patrol at More
U.S. Army Spc. Lon Parrish with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, helps a driver align his truck for inspection at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Aug. More
U.S. Army Spc. Lon Parrish with 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division helps a driver align his truck for inspection on Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Aug. 14, 2 More
Afghan National Army soldiers and U.S. soldiers with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division speak to villagers during Op More
U.S. soldiers with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, prepare to begin Operation Thunder Gulch outside of Forward O More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Trevino, left, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, pours water for a villager to en More
A U.S. soldier with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division inspects the terrain from the gunner's seat during Operation More
Spc. Nicholas Rucker, assigned to Company B, 701st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, plays the acoustic guitar and rocks the mic while singing “Iris,” by the Go More
U.S. soldiers with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment (1-4 Cavalry), 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division stand behind their newest leader, 1st Sgt. Anthony Ulmer at Forward Operating Base Sh More
U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Anthony Ulmer with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division inspects his soldiers before an award ceremony with the Chief of Staff of the Ar More
Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno talks to soldiers serving in Afghanistan with the 1st Infantry Division’s 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Sept. 19, 2012.
U.S. Army Sgt. John Cregg with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment (1-4 Cavalry), 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division is sworn in during his re-enlistment ceremony at Forward Operating Base S More
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Brett Talkington with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, speaks with U.S. Army 1st Lt. Daniel Moore with the 72nd Mobility Augmentatio More
U.S. Army Spc. Lon Parrish with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, carries sand bags at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika province, Afghanistan, O More
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Swearingen with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division inspects his soldiers' equipment at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Pakt More
U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Shantae Gordon with Delta Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division takes part in a change of responsibility ceremony at Forward Opera More
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Brett Talkington with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division speaks with Staff Sgt. Kevin Koch before an operations order brief at Forward More
Army 1st Lt. Travis Wright, the joint visitors bureau officer in charge and adjutant for the commanding officer, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantr More
The sun sets over Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Nov. 5, 2012. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Raymond Schaeffer / Released)
1st Lt. Liard Bryant, a native of Wichita, Kan., who serves as a liaison officer for the 701st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division in eastern Afghanistan, plays th More
U.S. Army soldiers with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, are promoted during a promotion ceremony at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika province, More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jerome Bingham, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, is presented his Sergeant Audie Murphy Club medallion by Command Sgt. Maj. More
U.S. Army soldiers with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, prepare to train Afghan National Army soldiers at Combat Outpost Ser Kay, Paktika province, A More
The “Nashville To You Tour” arrives via UH-60 Black Hawk on Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan, Nov. 14, 2012. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Nicolas Morales, Task Force 4-1 Public Affairs)
Music group Nashville To You performs for U.S. soldiers at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Nov. 14, 2012. Nashville To You was presented by Armed Forces Entertainment and will per More
U.S. Army soldier prepares for a satellite feed with the British Broadcasting Corporation at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Nov. 14, 2012. The soldiers assigned to 1st Infantry D More
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Brett Talkington with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division works in the office at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika province, Afgha More
U.S. Army Capt. Christopher Telley with Apache Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, promotes Spc. Andrew Christiansen to sergeant during a ceremony More
U.S. Army Capt. Joseph Knight with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment (1-4 Cav), 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, reads promotion orders during a pro More
U.S. Army soldiers with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division wait for a room inspection at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika province, Afghanistan, N More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Steven Wentzell, assigned to the 725th EOD at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan, gives an after action review of training with Afghan National Security Force soldiers conducting e More
A soldier attending a United Service Organization Christmas party and give—away at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan, runs towards the present table to pick one of many items available for their choos More
U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Bills from A Troop 1st Squadron 4th Cavalry Regiment prepares his soldiers for an award ceremony at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika province, Afghanistan Dec. 16, 2012. (U.S. Army ph More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Steven Wentzell, the partnership training non-commissioned officer in charge assigned to the 725th EOD, overlooks the investigation process during simulated improvised explosive device trai More
Staff Sgt. Andrew Quiroz, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, receives a personal phone call from Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta Dec. 24, 2012, Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika More
Lt. Col. Matthew Cody, commander 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division awards 1st Lt. Arthur Middlebrooks the Bronze Star Medal during an awards ceremony De More
Staff Sgt. Armando Valadez, Darkhorse Company, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, is promoted to Sgt. 1st Class by his wife Spc. Deppsey Valadez Jan. 4, 2013, on Forward Operating Base S More
Sgt. Robert Nelson Jr. assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division is awarded the Purple Heart by Lt. Col. Matthew Cody, commander 1st Squadron, 4t More
U.S. Army Spc. Kendanny Quiros, Darkhorse Company, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, repeats the re-enlistment oath from Capt. Justin Larson Jan. 6, 2013, Forward Operating Base Sharan More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Darnell Pitts, Darkhorse Company, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, pins Spc. Pamela Deleon to the rank of sergeant Jan. 6, 2013, Forward Operating Base Sharana, Pa More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Reyadh Alhachamy, a human intelligence collector assigned Company B, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, at Forward Operating Base More
U.S. Army Capt. Joseph Knight, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division reads the orders during an award ceremony on Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika pr More
A U.S. Army soldier prepares the American flag for the re-enlistment ceremony of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Alvin Bourque with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Divisi More
U.S. Army Sgt. David Rodriguez, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division receives the combat action badge during a ceremony on Forward Operating Base Sharana, More
,Col. Donovan Ollar (left) the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion commanding officer, overlooks as Maj. Gen. William Mayville, the Combined Joint Task Force-1 and 1st Infantry Division commander, attaches the More
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Wylie G. Hutchison, Brigade Sergeant Major, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division speaks before an Audie Murphy Award ceremony on Forward Operating Base Sharana, P More
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew A. McDowell, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division speaks before an Audie Murphy Award ceremony on Forward Operating Bas More
U.S. Army Spc. Thomas Ervin, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, is promoted to Sergeant during a ceremony on Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika pro More
U.S. Army soldiers with 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division, stand for a photo at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika province, Jan. 29, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. R More
Leftover snow melts on the grounds surrounding Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika province, Feb. 7, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Raymond Schaeffer / Released)
U.S. Army Pfc. Jacob Fontes assigned to Task Force “Golden Dragons,” Company E, 210 Brigade Support Battalion, 2/10 Security Forces Assistance Brigade, Forward Operating Base Orgun-E, Afghanistan, inventories h More
U.S. Army soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment pose for a picture with the leadership of a Jordanian Armed Forces company after a friendly game of soccer at Forward Operating Base Shar More