Members of a provincial reconstruction team speak with Afghan children during a mission in Manawara District, Konar province, Afghanistan, Dec. 14.
Ed Tallyn (left), Jason Nemecek (center) and Bruce Dubee (right), U.S. Department of Agriculture and Konar Provincial Reconstruction Team members, gather soil for chemical and physical property tests.
The governor of Konar province, Sayed Wahidi, addresses the graduates "You are the new generation. You are the future of this country. You will build this country."
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Nick Eidemiller communicates by radio with the rest of his platoon while on a mission in Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 8. 1st Lt. Eidemiller is assigned to 1st Platoon, More
U.S. Army Soldiers travel back to Combat Outpost Jaghato after a mission they conducted in the village of Calenday, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 13. These soldiers are assigned to 1st Pl More
An Afghan National Army soldier looks at the camera while being photographed during a vehicle search training event being instructed by U.S. Army soldiers at Combat Outpost Jaghato, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 14.
A U.S. Army vehicle and an Afghan National Army vehicle are parked in tactical support of an operation being conducted nearby close to the village of Lagar Jay Kalha, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanis More
An Afghan man speaks with U.S. Army Soldiers while his children are distracted by other things in the background in the village of AkhtarKheyl, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 15. The U.S. More
U.S. Army Soldiers take part in the "One Shot One Kill" program at Forward Operating Base Shank, Logar province, Afghanistan, July 20. The program's aim is to train Soldiers on physical training techniques that More
An Afghan man rides his donkey while on his way into the village of Syahchob, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1.
An Afghan child shows that he is bashful in front of a camera in the village of HeydarKheyl, Sayed-Abad District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 7
A U.S. Army soldier assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team returns fire in order to allow other U.S. soldiers, Afghan National Army soldiers, and detainees to move to better cover during an engageme More
U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Freire, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera), Sgt. Russell Gilchrest, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera), Sgt. Sean Harp, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera), and Sgt. Trey Harvey, 55th S More
An Afghan village elder speaks with members of a coalition-led provincial reconstruction team in Manawara District, Konar province, Afghanistan, Dec. 14.
Ed Tallyn, U.S. Department of Agriculture soil analyst, takes photos of soil in Konar province, Afghanistan, to compare characteristics at different layers and document for future studies. USDA members gather s More
Many speakers were present. District Governor Pacha travelled over three hours to come give his speech and congratulations to the graduates.
An Afghan National Army platoon leader explains to a U.S. Army Platoon leader what the current situation is with his men during a combined action mission in Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July More
U.S. Army soldiers travel into the village of Calenday to speak with locals and check on the progress of the primary school while Combat Outpost Jaghato resides in the background in Jaghato District, Wardak pro More
A U.S. Army Soldier maneuvers onto some piled up logs in order to look for anything suspicious during a reconnaisance mission near the village of Lagar Jay Kalha, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, More
Afghan National Police officers stop for a drink of water while patrolling near the village of AkhtarKheyl, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 15. These members of the ANP are also accompanied More
A U.S. Army Soldier works to push a 25 pound weight over her head just before finishing an exhausting workout while taking part in the "One Shot One Kill" program at Forward Operating Base Shank, Logar Province More
A donkey helps Afghan children to carry a sack of hay up a hill in the village of Syahchob, Sayed-Abad District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1.
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jeff Hall shakes hands with a village elder in the village of HeydarKheyl, Sayed-Abad District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 7. Hall is assigned to 2nd Platoon, Attack Company, 1-503rd I More
U.S. Army soldiers travel in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in preparation to deboard at a designated site and conduct an operation in Shekhabad valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 9. These soldiers are assi More
An Afghan village elder leads members of a provincial reconstruction team to take a look at a water well in Manawara District, Konar province, Afghanistan, Dec. 14.
Graduates of the Konar Construction Center stand in a presenting line to greet Konar's governor and USAID officials.
The grave of an Afghan rests on the side of a hill while a platoon of U.S. Army Soldiers pass by while on patrol in Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 8. The Soldiers are assigned to 1st Plato More
The headmaster of the primary school in the village of Calenday takes part in a small meeting with members of the U.S. Army in Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 13. These soldiers are assigne More
U.S. Army Soldiers take a photo of some ammunition that they came across lying on the ground during a mission they are conducting near the village of Lagar Jay Kalha, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanis More
U.S. Army soldiers, Afghan National Police, and Afghan National Army Soldiers patrol through the deserts of Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan while on their way into the village of AkhtarKheyl, Jul More
U.S. Army Soldiers exert themselves while taking part in the "One Shot One Kill" program at Forward Operating Base Shank, Logar province, Afghanistan, July 20. The program's aim is to train Soldiers on physical More
U.S. Army Pfc. Garrett Lavalley provides security during a mission in the village of Syahchob, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1. Pfc. Lavalley is assigned to 4th Platoon, Dog Company, 1-503rd Infantry Batta More
A U.S. Army soldier helps to take a piece of needed gear out of another soldier's pack during a mission in Chak Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 3. These soldiers are assigned to 4th Platoon, Dog Comp More
An Afghan National Army soldier shakes hands with an Afghan boy during a mission in Shekhabad Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 9. The ANA are here to build relationships with the locals, and attempt t More
Two USAID officials, Jose Garzon (left) and Ted Whittenberger (right), pose in front of the Konar Construction Center honor graduates with Konar's Governor Wahidi (middle).
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Nick Eidemiller speaks to some Afghan contractors about the work he would like them to do with their tractor while on a mission in Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 8. 1st L More
A U.S. Army Soldier listens to orders from his platoon leader during a mission in the village of Calenday, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 13. These soldiers are assigned to 1st Platoon, Ab More
A U.S. Army Soldier communicates with his squad while remaining cautious during a mission near the village of Lagar Jay Kalha, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 14. The soldier is assigned to More
U.S. Army soldiers patrol through the deserts of Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan while on their way back from the village of AkhtarKheyl, July 15. These U.S. soldiers are assigned to 1st Platoon, More
U.S. Army Soldiers exert themselves just before finishing an exhausting workout while taking part in the "One Shot One Kill" program at Forward Operating Base Shank, Logar province, Afghanistan, July 20. The p More
Afghan National Army soldiers and U.S. Army Soldiers are on their way into the village of Syahchob, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1, to speak with and build relations with the locals. These U.S. Army soldi More
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Miguel Rodriguez observes some of the work that has been done on a new Afghan National Army post in Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 2. Rodriguez is assigned to 1-503rd Infantry Battalion, 1 More
U.S. Army soldiers reach the point they need to be at in order to be extracted from the area by aircraft at the conclusion of a mission in Shekhabad Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 9. These soldiers More
U.S. Army Sgt. Russell Gilchrest, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera), tighten a blank firing adapter to the muzzle of his his M4 rifle at Fort A.P. Hill, Aug. 9, 2011. Gilchrest prepares his weapons for blank More
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Price, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera), Sgt. Sean Harp, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera), Sgt. Russell Gilchrest, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera), Staff Sgt. Tyrone Clakely, 55th Si More
U.S. Army Spc. Michael Randazzio conducts a quick search of some gear that an Afghan is using a donkey to carry during a mission in Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 8. Randazzio is assigned More
U.S. Army Soldiers and an Afghan National Police officer travel back to Combat Outpost Jaghato after a mission they conducted in the village of Calenday, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 13. More
U.S. Army Soldiers prepare to move to their objective in the village of Lagar Jay Kalha, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 14. The soldiers are assigned to 3rd Platoon, Able Company, 1-503rd More
Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, and U.S. Army vehicles are positioned tactically on a hill in support of a dismounted patrol being conducted in the village of AkhtarKheyl, Jaghato District, Wardak More
A U.S. Army Soldier pushes a 25 pound weight over his head just before finishing an exhausting workout while taking part in the "One Shot One Kill" program at Forward Operating Base Shank, Logar province, Afgha More
U.S. Army soldiers and Afghan National Army soldiers walk with local Afghans into the village of Syahchob, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1. These U.S. Army soldiers are assigned to 4th Platoon, Dog Company More
An Afghan contractor points out to U.S. Army 1st Lt. Miguel Rodriguez some details of the work that has been done on an Afghan National Army Outpost in Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 2. Rodriguez is assigne More
Afghan National Army soldiers speak with a concerned Afghan woman during a mission that the ANA are conducting in partnership with U.S. Army soldiers in Shekhabad Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 9. T More
An Afghan speaks with a passing U.S. Army patrol in Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 8. The patrol is comprised of Soldiers from 1st platoon, Able Company, 1-503rd Infantry Battalion, 173rd More
A teacher at a primary school takes part in a meeting between school faculty and some U.S. military members who are assigned to the area in the village of Calenday, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanista More
A U.S. Army paratrooper communicates by radio with other elements of his platoon during a mission near the village of Lagar Jay Kahla, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 14. The soldier is ass More
A U.S. Army soldier takes a knee during a tactical pause in the patrol that he and his platoon are conducting in the village of AkhtarKheyl, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 15. This soldier More
A U.S. Army Soldier pushes up a 25 pound weight just before finishing an exhausting workout while taking part in the "One Shot One Kill" program at Forward Operating Base Shank, Logar province, Afghanistan, Ju More
U.S. Army Sgt. Gary Luna shows a group of young Afghans how to operate his camera during a mission in the village of Syahchob, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1. Luna is assigned to 4th Platoon, Dog Company, More
U.S. Army soldiers help an Afghan man to cover a pile of hay with a tarp before the rain starts coming down in the village of HeydarKheyl, Sayed-Abad District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 7. These soldie More
A U.S. Army soldier sets up a tactical satellite communication system while an Afghan National Army soldier returns fire to enemy fighters during a firefight in Shekhabad Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, A More
An Afghan National Police officer searches an Afghan man while the man's friends wait to be searched during a mission in Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 8. The ANP are conducting this missi More
U.S. Army Soldiers and members of the Afghan National Police confirm that everyone understands the plans for the next part of the operation they are conducting in the village of Lagar Jay Kalha, Jaghato Distric More
A U.S. Army Soldier pushes a 25 pound weight over his head while taking part in the "One Shot One Kill" program at Forward Operating Base Shank, Logar province, Afghanistan, July 20. The program's aim is to tra More
Afghan National Army Soldiers are accompanied by some young Afghans while walking into the village of Syahchob, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1. The purpose of this mission is to check on conditions in the More
An Afghan child gets behind his father's bicycle while being photographed in the village of HeydarKheyl, Sayed-Abad District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 7
U.S. Army soldiers guide a group of captured enemy fighters up a hill on their way to be picked up after conducting a mission in Shekhabad Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 9. These soldiers are assign More
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Nick Eidemiller communicates by radio with the rest of his platoon while his interpreter stands patiently next to him during a mission in Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 8 More
U.S. Army Spc. Benjamin Cardoza serves as an M2 .50 Caliber machine gun operator in the gun turret of a military vehicle while on a mission in Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 14. Cardoza is More
Afghan children stand next to eachother while their father is talking to U.S. Army soldiers in the village of AkhtarKheyl, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 15. The U.S. Army soldiers are as More
U.S. Army Soldiers run up and down a hill while taking part in the "One Shot One Kill" program at Forward Operating Base Shank, Logar province, Afghanistan, July 20. The program's aim is to train Soldiers on ph More
A U.S. Army Soldier shakes hands with an Afghan during a mission in Syahchob village, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1. This soldier is assigned to 4th Platoon, Dog Company, 1-503rd Infantry Battalion, 173r More
U.S. Army soldiers pull security before travelling into Chak Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 3, in order to conduct reconnaissance on the area. These soldiers are assigned to 4th Platoon, Dog Company More
A U.S. Army soldier strives to reach the top of a hill where his patrol will be extracted by aircraft during a mission in Shekhabad Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 9. This soldier is assigned to 2nd More
Afghan children walk their donkey down the road in Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 8.
U.S. Army soldiers provide overwatch security while other elements of their patrol attempt to find locals to talk to in a qalat building in the village of AkhtarKheyl, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghani More
Members of the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and the Czech army take part in the "One Shot One Kill" program at Forward Operating Base Shank, Logar province, Afghanistan, July 20. The program's aim is to train Sol More
An Afghan National Army Soldier hands a pen to an Afghan man during a mission in the village of Syahchob, Sayed-Abad District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1. This ANA soldier and his platoon travelled to More
U.S. Army soldiers pull security during a reconnaissance mission in Chak Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 3. These soldiers are assigned to 4th Platoon, Dog Company, 1-503rd Infantry Battalion, 173rd More
A U.S. Army soldier maneuvers up a hill while other elements of his patrol do the same behind him during a mission in Shekhabad Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 9. This soldier is assigned to 2nd Plat More
Afghan contractors use their tractor to clear new routes in an area where there is only one route that goes through and is commonly plagued by improvised explosive devices in Jaghato District, Wardak province, More
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Nick Eidemiller speaks with an Afghan man while an Afghan National Army soldier speaks with some of the man's relatives during a mission in the village of AkhtarKheyl, Jaghato District, Wardak More
A U.S. Army Soldier works to quickly disassemble and reassemble his weapon after commencing in intense physical activities while taking part in the "One Shot One Kill" program at Forward Operating Base Shank, L More
A group of Afghans socialize next to one of their motorcycles near the village of Syahchob, Sayed-Abad District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1.
U.S. Army Spc. Kevin Welsh provides security before boarding a CH-47 Chinook Rotary Wing Aircraft after a mission that he and his platoon conducted in Chak Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 3. Welsh is More
U.S. Army soldiers make their way up a hill as the rest of their patrol follows during a mission in Shekhabad Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 9. These soldiers are assigned to 2nd Platoon, Attack Com More
A memorial for two fallen Afghans stands in a qalat system in Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 8.
A U.S. Army Soldier completes her 20th repetition of pushing up a 25 pound weight just before finishing an exhausting workout while taking part in the "One Shot One Kill" program at Forward Operating Base Shank More
U.S. Army Spc. Olufemi Odueyungbo enjoys a cigarette prior to getting back in his vehicle after a mission he conducted in the village of Syahchob, Sayed-Abad District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1. Spc. More
U.S. Army soldiers move tactically down a hill into Chak Valley, Afghanistan in order to conduct reconnaissance of the area, Aug. 3. These soldiers are assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
An Afghan National Army soldier patrols up a dirt road while the rest of his patrol including U.S. Army soldiers follow in Shekhabad Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 9. The U.S. Army soldiers are assi More
Afghan children stand in the doorway of their home and watch as a platoon of U.S. Army paratroopers pass by in the village of Calenday, Jaghato District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, July 10. The U.S. Army is More
U.S. Army Soldiers give one last push of energy just before finishing an exhausting workout while taking part in the "One Shot One Kill" program at Forward Operating Base Shank, Logar province, Afghanistan, Ju More
An Afghan National Army soldier drinks water out of a pitcher during a mission in the village of Syahchob, Sayed-Abad District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 1. This ANA soldier and his platoon travelled i More
U.S. Army Spc. Kevin Welsh leads his team up a hill during an area reconnaissance mission while moving to the location where they will be picked up by aircraft in Chak Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. More
U.S. Army soldiers walk with a line of suspected enemy fighters that have been detained in Shekhabad Valley, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 9. These U.S. Army soldiers are assigned to 2nd Platoon, Attack Co More