A U.S. soldier prepares for mission in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Jan. 2, 2013. The mission was to arrest a Taliban leader who was planning and executing small-arms fire and improvised explosive devises More
An U.S. soldier prepares for mission in the Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 3, 2013. The mission was to arrest a Taliban leader who was planning and executing small-arms fire and impr More
Afghan and coalition forces prepare to breach an Taliban leader's home in Now Zad district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2013. The detained Taliban leader orchestrated and distributed operational guid More
An Afghan and coalition security force prepare to arrest the number one Taliban leader in Nad 'Ali district during a security operation in Now Zad district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 6, 2013. The deta More
Afghan and Coalition Forces prepare to breach an Taliban leader's home in Now Zad district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2013. The detained Taliban leader orchestrated and distributed operational guid More
Afghan and Coalition Forces train on advanced first aid during a direct fire simulation at FOB Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 9, 2013. Joint services have been training even harder in preparation More
A coalition force member is in route to a mission that arrested a Taliban senior leader in Helmand province, Jan. 12, 2013. The detained leader directed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He was in ch More
Members of an afghan and coalition security force strap into the seats of a CH-47 Chinook prior to an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan.19, 2013. The operation led to the ar More
A member of an afghan and coalition security force team looks out the window of a CH-47 Chinook prior to an operation in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 27, 2013. The operation led to the More
A member of an afghan and coalition security force calls the manifest prior to an operation in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 3, 2013. The operation let to the arrest of a Taliban leader More
A member of an Afghan and coalition security force searches for weapons, drugs, and documents during an operation in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 6, 2013. The operation led to the arre More
A coalition security force member searches through a home during an operation in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Feb. 16. 2013. The Taliban leader commands a unit responsible for direct fire and improvised More
A member of an afghan and coalition security force prepares to depart to an operation in search of a Taliban leader in Marjeh district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 12, 2013. The Taliban leader holds se More
A member of an Afghan and coalition security force gathers prior to an operation in Nawah-ye Barakzai district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 20, 2013. The operation resulted in the arrest of a Taliban l More
A member of an Afghan and coalition security force provides security during an operation in search of a senior Taliban leader in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 28, 2013. The senior More
A member of an Afghan and coalition security force provides security outside an Afghan home during an operation in search of a senior Taliban leader in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 2, More
A member of Afghan and coalition security force prepares for an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 4, 2013. The operation led to the detainment of a Taliban leader and one More
Afghan and coalition security force members fire a flare before departing for an operation in Nahr-e Saraj District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 18, 2013. The operation led to the detention of a senior More
An Afghan and coalition security force wait prior to a night operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 27, 2013. The operation resulted in the detention of a Taliban leader and tw More
A member of an Afghan and coalition security force prepares to depart for a night operation in Marjeh district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 3, 2013. The operation resulted in the arrest of a Taliban lead More
A member of an Afghan and coalition security force searches a Taliban facilitator's residence for improvised explosive devices and weapons in Nawah-ye-Barakzai district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 5, 20 More
A member of an Afghan and coalition security force conducts preliminary checks during a night operation in Marjeh district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 7, 2013. The operation resulted in the arrest of a More
A coalition security force member prepares to board a CH-47 Chinook on Forward Operating Base Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 11, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Richard W. Jones Jr.)
An Afghan and coalition security force secure a Taliban leader's home during an night operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 22, 2013. The leader is responsible for directing and More
A U.S. soldier prepares for mission in the Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Jan. 3, 2013. The mission was to arrest a Taliban leader who was planning and executing small-arms fire and im More
Afghan and coalition forces test homemade ingredients at a Taliban leader's home in Now Zad district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2013. The detained Taliban leader orchestrated and distributed operat More
Afghan and coalition force members conduct a mission that arrested a Taliban senior leader in Helmand province, Jan. 12, 2013. The detained leader directed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He was in More
A member of an afghan and coalition security force sits on the floor of a CH-47 Chinook prior to an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan.19, 2013. The operation led to the arre More
A member of an afghan and coalition security force provides security during an operation in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 3, 2013. The operation led to the arrest of a Taliban leader wh More
Members of an Afghan and coalition security force search for weapons, drugs, and documents during an operation in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 6, 2013. The operation led to the arrest More
A member of an Afghan and coalition security force provides security prior to entering the house of a Taliban leader in Nawah-ye Barakzai district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 20, 2013. The operation r More
An Afghan and coalition security force stand outside an Afghan home during an operation in search of a senior Taliban leader in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 2, 2013. The senior leade More
Members of Afghan and coalition security force are in route to detain a Taliban leader and one other insurgent during an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 4, 2013. The ins More
An Afghan and coalition force provides security outside the home of a senior Taliban leader in Nahr-e Saraj District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 18, 2013. The leader was detained and charged with a wi More
A member of an afghan and coalition security force waits prior to a night operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 27, 2013. The operation resulted in the detention of a Taliban More
Members of an Afghan and coalition security force search for an enemy in a tree during a night operation in Nawah-ye-Barakzai district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 5, 2013. The enemy ran from a Taliban f More
A member of an Afghan and coalition security force provides security outside a Taliban leader's home during a night operation in Marjeh district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 7, 2013. The operation result More
Coalition security force members prepare to board a CH-47 Chinook on Forward Operating Base Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 11, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Richard W. Jones Jr.)
Afghan and coalition forces secure explosive devices and weapons from a Taliban leader's home in Now Zad district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2013. The detained Taliban leader orchestrated and distr More
Coalition forces transmit information to higher command after arresting the number on Taliban leader in Nad 'Ali district during a security operation in Now Zad district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 6, More
Afghan and coalition force members pause during a mission that arrested a Taliban senior leader in Helmand province, Jan. 12, 2013. The detained leader directed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, he w More
Members of an afghan and coalition security force strap into the seats of a CH-47 Chinook prior to an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 19, 2013. The operation led to the a More
Members of an afghan and coalition security force team sit tightly on a CH-47 Chinook prior to an operation in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 27, 2013. The operation led to the arrest of More
A member of an afghan and coalition security force searches a car during an operation in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 3, 2013. The operation led to the arrest of a Taliban leader who w More
Members of an afghan and coalition security force line up prior to an operation in search of a Taliban leader in Marjeh district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 12, 2013. The Taliban leader holds senior a More
Members of an Afghan and coalition security force provide security prior to entering the house of a Taliban leader in Nawah-ye Barakzai district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 20, 2013. The operation res More
A member of an Afghan and coalition security force receives instructions during an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 28, 2013. The senior leader exercised operational cont More
A member of Afghan and coalition security force prepares for an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 4, 2013. The operation resulted in the detaining of a Taliban leader and More
An Afghan and coalition force provides security outside the home of a senior Taliban leader in Nahr-e Saraj District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 18, 2013. The senior leader and four other insurgents w More
A member of an Afghan and coalition security force prepares to depart for a night operation in Marjeh district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 3, 2013. The operation resulted in the arrest of a Taliban lea More
Afghan and coalition forces prepare for mission in the Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 3, 2013. The mission was to arrest a Taliban leader who was planning and executing small-arms fi More
Afghan and Coalition Forces prepare for mission in the Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Jan. 3, 2013. The mission was to arrest a Taliban leader who was planning and executing small-arms More
A coalition force member searches a home after the arrested of a Taliban senior leader in Helmand province, Jan. 12, 2013. The detained leader directed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He was in cha More
Members of an afghan and coalition security force depart an Afghanistan National Army's checkpoint en route to an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 19, 2013. The operation More
Members of an afghan and coalition security force team sit closely on a CH-47 Chinook prior to an operation in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 27, 2013. The operation led to the arrest of More
A member of an afghan and coalition security force locks and loads his weapon prior to an operation in search of a Taliban leader in Marjeh district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 12, 2013. The Taliban l More
Members of an Afghan and coalition security force search a Taliban leader's home during an operation in Nawah-ye Barakzai district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 20, 2013. The Taliban leader was in charg More
Members of an Afghan and coalition security force stack-up outside a senior Taliban leader's home during an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 28, 2013. The senior leader e More
An Afghan and coalition security force stack-up outside an Afghan home during an operation in search of a senior Taliban leader in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 2, 2013. The senior le More
A member of a Afghan and coalition security force searches a bag for possible contraband during an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 4, 2013. The operation resulted in the More
Members of an Afghan and coalition security force secure a courtyard at a Taliban leader's home in Marjeh district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 3, 2013. The operation resulted in the arrest of a Taliban More
A member of an Afghan and coalition security force illuminates the ground for his teammates during a night operation in search of a Taliban facilitator in Nawah-ye-Barakzai district, Helmand province, Afghanist More
A coalition security force member prepares to board a CH-47 Chinook on Forward Operating Base Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 11, 2013. (U.S. Army illustration by Sgt. Richard W. Jones Jr.)
Members of an Afghan and coalition security force search the exterior of a Taliban leader's home during an night operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 22, 2013. The leader is re More
A soldier waits for aircraft prior to mission in the Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Jan. 2, 2013. The mission was to arrest a Taliban leader who was planning and executing small-arms More
Afghan and coalition force members provide security during a mission that arrested a Taliban senior leader in Helmand province, Jan. 12, 2013. The detained leader directed attacks against Afghan and coalition f More
A member of an afghan and coalition security force provides security during an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 19, 2013. The operation led to the arrest of a Taliban lead More
Members of an afghan and coalition security force provide security during an operation in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 27, 2013. The operation led to the arrest of a Taliban leader who More
A member of an afghan and coalition security force searches for weapons, drugs, and documents during an operation in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 3, 2013. The operation led to the arre More
Members of an afghan and coalition force provide security during an operation in search of a Taliban leader in Marjeh district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 12, 2013. The Taliban leader holds senior adm More