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U.S. Army Sgt. Jose Gonzalez gives snacks to Afghan children during a patrol in Dagyan village in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 21, 2010. Gonzalez is assigned to Company C, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christine Jones.

U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers conduct a patrol near Marja, Afghanistan, Feb. 21, 2010. The Marines are assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Albert F. Hunt.

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U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporals Daniel Garner, kneeling, and Chris Ducharme investigate a possible improvised explosive device while on a patrol in Marjah in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 22, 2010. Garner and Ducharme are assigned to India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Crops photo by Lance Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde.

A U.S. Marine fires a Javelin anti-armor missile at a Taliban position on the outskirts of Marja, Afghanistan, Feb. 10, 2010. The Marines, assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, are supporting Operation Moshtarak to clear Taliban fighters from the city. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andres Escatel.

U.S. Army Spc. Jamie Groce, a medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, shows Afghan National Army soldiers how to splint a leg during a combat life saver course at Coalition Outpost Sabari, Afghanistan, on Jan. 16, 2010. DoD photo by Sgt. Jeffrey Alexander, U.S. Army. (Released)

U.S. Army Cpl. Robert S. Garapola, with 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, greets Afghan villagers in Kashk-E Nokhowd, Hutal, Afghanistan, on Jan. 9, 2010. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Dayton Mitchell, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

U.S. Army soldiers, from Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, watch the surrounding hills for insurgents while fellow U.S. soldiers, of Charlie Company, race to their positions dodging heavy sniper fire during a three-hour gun battle with insurgent forces at Waterpur Valley, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, on Nov. 3, 2009. DoD photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, U.S. Army. (Released)

Members of Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni and Afghan national police walk up a snowy hill after their vehicles became stuck in the mud in the Nawur district, Ghazni province, Afghanistan, Nov. 8, 2009. The team's members visited the district to perform quality assurance control on a collapsed karza and two comprehenisve health clinics. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Rebecca F. Corey.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Jason Swofford conducts a security patrol through the Nawa district in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 20, 2009. Swofford is assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Artur Shvartsberg.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Piet provides security as a herd of goats pass through the Nawa District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 19, 2009. Piet is assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Freddy G. Cantu.

U.S Army soldiers cross the Arghandad River to assist Afghanistan police on a humanitarian mission in Kashani village in Zabul province, Afghanistan, Oct. 9, 2009. The soldiers are assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tia P. Sokimson.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Joe Helmick runs for cover during an attack on Patrol Base Bracha in the Garmsir district in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 9, 2009. Helmick, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, is deployed with Regimental Combat Team 3. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Brian Kightlinger crosses a bridge during a security patrol in Helmand province's Nawa district, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2009. Kightlinger is assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and deployed with Regimental Combat Team 3, which conducts security patrols to decrease insurgent activity and gain the trust of the Afghan people. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Artur Shvartsberg.

U.S. Army Sgt. Nathan Schrock tries to keep warm after waking up on a cold morning in the mountains near Sar Howza in Paktika province, Afghanistan, Sept. 4, 2009. Schrock is assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith.

U.S. Army Spc. Henry Rosenquist locates enemy forces during a patrol near Combat Outpost Honaker Miracle in Konar province, Afghanistan, July 29, 2009. Rosenquist is assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Mountain Warrior. U.S. and Afghan forces were patrolling the area on the way to a meeting with village elders. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Evan D. Marcy.

A U.S. Army soldier watches as U.S. Air Force F-15 Fighter Jets destroy insurgent positions with a bomb after a 20-minute gun battle in Korengal Valley in Kunar province, Afghanistan, Aug. 13, 2009. The soldiers are assigned to the 4th Infantry Division's Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian Sandau treats an Afghan girl for burns on her leg during a civil affairs patrol with Marines in the Nawa district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 17, 2009. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. William Greeson.

U.S. Army Spc. Jonathan Araiza uses a mine detector during a mission with Afghan police officers to search for enemy weapons caches near Shah Wali Zarat in Khost province, Afghanistan, July 24, 2009. Araiza is deployed with the 25th Infantry Division's Company A, 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith.

A U.S. Marine helps his budy up as they prepare along with about 650 Afghan soldiers and national police officers prepare to board CH-53D Sea Stallion and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters on Forward Operating Base Dwyer, Afghanistan, July 2, 2009. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Philippe E. Chasse.

U.S. Marines and about 650 Afghan soldiers and national police officers prepare to board CH-53D Sea Stallion and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters on Forward Operating Base Dwyer, Afghanistan, July 2, 2009.U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Philippe E. Chasse.

Paktia provincial Deputy Governor Abdal Rahma Mangal, left, talks with tribal leaders in the Jani Khel district during a visit to a remote village Feb. 15, 2009. The visit is part of the provincial reconstruction team’s efforts to connect the locals with the provincial leadership. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III.

Semi-trucks haul goods to eastern Afghanistan along the narrow and dangerous “K-G Pass” that works its way through steep mountains and connects the Khowst and Paktia provinces, Feb. 25, 2009. A $100 million, 100-kilometer improved road, funded by the U.S. Agengy for International Development, is slated to start construction through the pass this summer. Coalition forces will build and improve numerous other roads in Afghanistan in the next few years. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Wire stands atop Ghar Mountain at Kabul Military Training Center in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 6, 2009. Wire, assigned to Delta Security Force on Camp Phoenix in Kabul, made the early morning climb for a re-enlistment of four fellow soldiers.   U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James D. Sims.

Villagers line a new road waiting for the local governor to arrive to officially open a paved road in the Deywagal Valley of Afghanistan’s Konar province, Feb. 6, 2009. The Konar Provincial Reconstruction Team and the 1st Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team spent two years building the seven-mile road, offering Afghans better access to hospitals, schools and markets. U.S Army photo by Staff Sgt. David Hopkins.

U.S. Marines attached to Foxtrot Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment fire mortars at enemy targets from Forward Operating Base Now Zad in the Helmand province of Afghanistan on Oct. 26, 2008. The Marines are assigned to a reinforced light infantry battalion.   DoD photo by Lance Cpl. Chad J. Pulliam, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kyle Page (right), a team leader with 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, attached to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and an Estonian Defense Forces service member make their way over rubble in Northern Now Zad, Afghanistan, as a controlled detonation explodes behind them on Oct. 26, 2008. Marines are conducting a clearing operation of a known enemy stronghold in support of an Estonian Defense Force vehicle checkpoint. DoD photo by Sgt. Freddy G. Cantu, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

An F-15E Strike Eagle, from the 492th Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, pops flairs during a combat sortie in Southwest Asia. The F-15E's primary role in Afghanistan is providing close-air support for ground troops. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon) 

An A-10 Thunderbolt II flies a combat mission over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A-10s provides close-air support and can employ a wide variety of conventional munitions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Robert Wieland)

Airmen enter an Afghan village Sept. 16. The Airmen wanted to learn more about the village and offer help to ensure the village's security. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

An Afghan girl covers her face from the dusty wind Sept. 16 in a village in Afghanistan. Curiosity drew the child out, but she remained shy of the foreigners who entered her village. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

Capt. Timothy Harrelson (center) and Army Maj. Trevor Nehls discuss care for a young Afghan boy who has a broken leg in Qalat, Afghanistan. Captain Harrelson and Major Nehls are members of the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Master Sgt. Keith Brown) 

Staff Sgt. Gerald Messier checks out the 50-caliber machinegun on an HH-60G Pave Hawk Aug. 2 at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, during a training flight. Sergeant Messier is a 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron flight engineer at Bagram, and is deployed from the 33rd Rescue Squadron at Kadena AB, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse) 

AFGHANISTAN (Aug. 15, 2008) Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead and other military members depart a school house construction site during a visit to Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Ghazni. Roughead, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Joe R. Campa Jr. traveled throughout the Central Command Area of Operation to visit Sailors, thank them for their contributions and hear their thoughts firsthand. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tiffini M. Jones/Released)

AFGHANISTAN (Aug. 15, 2008) Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead speaks with Sailors while visiting Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Ghazni. Roughead, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Joe R. Campa Jr. traveled throughout the Central Command Area of Operation to visit Sailors, thank them for their contributions and hear their thoughts firsthand. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tiffini M. Jones/Released)

ZIROK RANGE - A U.S Army soldier pulls guard while on patrol in the village of Zirok, Afghanistan, July 31, 2008. The soldier is assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment. U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Casey Ware.

FARAH FORMS - U.S. Navy sailor Benjamin Thiel, left, a hospital corpsman, provides security while patrolling through a village in Farah province in Afghanistan, July 31, 2008. Thiel is assigned to Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jason T. Guiliano.

FARAH FIRE  - U.S. Marines return fire after being fired upon by members of the Taliban during a mounted patrol outside a forward operating base in the Farah province of Afghanistan, Aug. 2, 2008. The Marines are assigned to Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jason T. Guiliano

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Aug. 2, 2008) U.S. Navy Hospitalman Apprentice Brian Rumbles, assigned to Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, fires on two Taliban fighters fleeing up the side of a mountain while on a mounted patrol outside of Bala Baluk's forward operating base in the Farah Province. Based out of Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., 2nd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment is a reinforced light infantry unit deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jason T. Guiliano/Released)

National Guard, British Soldiers Aid Afghans. August 13, 2008 - Capt. Joseph Merrill works with a translator to direct a father seeking medical attention for his son. Merrill, a native of Binghamton, N.Y., is a member of the New York National Guard. Photo by Lt. Col. Paul Fanning. Story

TALIBAN RAID - U.S. Marines communicate with their command operation center during a raid on a Taliban headquarters in Afghanistan, Aug. 1, 2008. The Marines are assigned to Foxtrot Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Freddy G. Cantu.

The heat from the twin afterburners of an F-15E Strike Eagle create a shimmering effect in the air behind it during takeoff July 26 from Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. The combined thrust of 50,000 lbs tears through the sky with a roar that can be heard for miles. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

Army Brig. Gen. Raymond Palumbo, Task Force 373 commander, walks with Maj. Nathan Meade and Capt. William Roedl, 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, out to an F-15E Strike Eagle July 26 at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Major Meade gave General Palumbo an orientation flight later that day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse) 

ENGLAND IN AFGHANISTAN - U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon R. England, center right, and Sayeed Wahid, center left, governor of Afghanistan's Konar province, discuss how a strong coalition partnership with the provincial government is key to ending the counterinsurgency, Konar province, Afghanistan, Aug. 7, 2008. England visited with servicemembers on Camp Wright during his Afghanistan trip. U.S. Army photo.

A U.S. Marine serving with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, NATO, International Security Assistance Force takes a rest with his military working dog following a foot patrol and search operation near Garmsir in the Helmand province of Afghanistan on June 27, 2008. DoD photo by Cpl. Andrew J. Carlson, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

NOW ZAD PRACTICE - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. James S. Sproule, left, and Pfc. Sean M. Pettit, right, rehearse fire drills with a practice shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon in Now Zad, Afghanistan, July 30, 2008. The Marines are assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment from Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. U.S Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Freddy G. Cantu.

A Navy F/A-18 Hornet fighter receives fuel from a KC-10 Extender over Afghanistan. On July 30, coalition tankers flew 63 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.1 million pounds of fuel to 276 receiving aircraft. (DOD photo/Navy Lt. Peter Scheu) 

BAGRAM THUNDERBOLT - U.S Air Force Capt. Jason Pruitt taxis his A-10 Thunderbolt after a mission on Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, July 30, 2008. Pruitt is deployed from the 81st Fighter Squadron. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester.

HELMAND WATCH - A U.S. Marine stands watch at a check point in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 21, 2008. Marines assigned to the 24th Expeditionary Unit's 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment have conducted full-spectrum operations in the Garmsir city district since April and have begun transferring control of the region to coalition and Afghan forces. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alex C. Guerra.

GREETING A COMRADE - U.S. Army Spc. Jesse A. Murphree, left, greets his 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team comrades returning from deployment in Afghanistan, on the flight line at Aviano Air Base, Italy, July 22, 2008. Murphree lost his legs in a roadside bomb attack in the Korengal Valley, near Ali Abad, Afghanistan, Dec. 27, 2007. He has been undergoing treatment at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. U.S. Army photo by Dave Melancon.

U.S. MARINES CROSS AN EXPANSION BRIDGE WHILE ON PATROL. -  U.S. Marines serving with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, NATO, International Security Assistance Force cross an expansion bridge while on patrol in the Helmand province of Afghanistan on July 1, 2008. DoD photo by Cpl. Randall A. Clinton, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)  

SGT. JUSTIN GOEDEN SITS IN THE OPEN WINDOW OF A BUILDING. -  U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Justin Goeden, a squad leader assigned to 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, NATO, International Security Assistance Force sits in the open window of a building during a patrol in the Helmand province of Afghanistan on July 1, 2008. DoD photo by Cpl. Randall A. Clinton, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

WELL DONE! - A U. S. Marine congratulates a member of the Afghan National Police after a successful joint patrol in Garmsir, Afghanistan, July 11, 2008. The Marine is assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew J. Carlson.

An F-15E Strike Eagle takes off from Bagram Air Base supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The F-15E is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. An array of avionics and electronics systems gives the F-15E the capability to fight at low altitude, day or night, and in all weather. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

OUTPOST ZEROK - U.S Army soldiers survey a proposed site for a new observation post, Combat Outpost Zerok, in Afghanistan, July 11, 2008. The soldiers are assigned to Task Force Castle’s 420th Engineer Brigade.  U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Tomas Rofkahr.

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft moves into position to refuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft while on a mission over Afghanistan on May 29, 2008. The Stratotanker is assigned to the Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing.   DoD photo by Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

U.S. Army Capt. Dan Kearny briefs U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the situation at Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, July 11, 2008. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley.

U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, poses for a group photo with award recipients from the 503rd Infantry Regiment, Korengal Outpost, Afghanistan, July 11, 2008. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley...

An F-16 Fighting Falcon flies beside a KC-135 Stratotanker after receiving fuel. Coalition tankers offloaded 3.2 million pounds of fuel to 240 coalition aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo)

SILVER STAR FOR VALOR - U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff awards the Silver Star to U.S. Army Capt. Gregory Ambrosia, Korengal Outpost, Afghanistan, July 11, 2008. Ambrosia was recognized for valor under fire after running into a hail of enemy gunfire to help save fallen comrades in Sept. 2007. Mullen is on a six-day tour of the region to visit troops and hostng a USO contingent including NFL All-Pros Drew Brees, quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, and Osi Umenyiora, defensive end. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Offier 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley...

Army Sgt. Robert Wilson, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, fills a plate with barbecue at Camp Eggers' Independence Day celebration in Kabul, Afghanistan. Servicemembers participated in a myriad of traditional Fourth of July events including a basketball tournament, horse shoes and a pie-eating contest. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Beth Del Vecchio) 

AFGHANISTAN (July 4, 2008) Sailors from Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan hold a vintage American flag with 48 stars, which was flown over Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan, to commemorate "Fourth of July" celebrations at the camp. The 48 star flag was flown in the United States from July 4, 1912 through July 3, 1959. Retired Navy Cmdr. Joseph Agra III acquired the flag in 2000 after a fisherman retrieved it from the water off the coast of the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. Agra has carried the flag to several locations and has flown it over camps in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Beth Del Vecchiov (Released)

A Combined Joint Task Force 101 soldier gives a goat a dose of de-wormer as part of a medical outreach in the Nilay village in the Kohe Sofe district of Afghanistan’s Parwan province, June 26, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Tamara Gabbard, 382nd Public Affairs Detachment.

Navy Cmdr. Beth Myhre, officer in charge of the cooperative medical assistance team, checks an Afghan child’s burn scars as part of a medical outreach event in Nilay village in the Kohe Sofe district of Afghanistan’s Parwan province, June 26, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Tamara Gabbard, 382nd Public Affairs Detachment.

ATTACK PREPARATIONS - U.S. Marines position themselves before attacking a Taliban stronghold in Now Zad, Afghanistan, June 15, 2008. The Marine are assigned to Foxtrot Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Freddy G. Cantu.

A U.S. MARINE LOOKS THROUGH THE SCOPE OF HIS 5.56 MM M-4 CARBINE RIFLE. -  A U.S. Marine from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, International Security Assistance Force looks through the scope of his 5.56 mm M-4 carbine rifle during operations in Garmsir, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on April 29, 2008. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Piper, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

A U.S. MARINE PROVIDES SECURITY. -  A U.S. Marine from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, International Security Assistance Force provides security during operations in Garmsir, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on April 29, 2008. DoD photo by Cpl. Alex C. Guerra, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

U.S. Marines patrol an area of Garmsir in the Helmand province in Afghanistan on May 4, 2008. The Marines are assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, International Security Assistance Force. DoD photo by Cpl. Alex C. Guerra, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft moves into position to receive fuel May 29 from a KC-135 Stratotanker during a mission over Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway)

Byline: Cpl. Randall A. Clinton - Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, convoys through the Afghanistan desert after completing check point operations near Garmsir. The 24th MEU began operations in Garmsir on April 28th and continues to make significant gains in the region. Date: 2008-05-22T22:44:00Z...

NARANG CACHE SEARCH - U.S. soldiers move out to assist Afghanistan National Army soldiers in searching several suspicious structures for weapons caches in the Narang Valley, Kunar province, Afghanistan, May 18, 2008. The soldiers are assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment. U.S. Army photo Spc. Gregory Argentieri...

PREFLIGHT INSPECTION - U.S. Air Force Capt. Loftin Graham inspects a KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft on Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, May 28, 2008, prior to another refueling mission over Afghanistan. Graham is assigned to the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing deployed from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway.

U.S. Marines provide security near a road in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on May 15, 2008. The Marines are assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, International Security Assistance Force.   DoD photo by Cpl. Andrew J. Carlson, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

U.S. MARINES CONDUCT OPERATIONS IN GARMSIR, AFGHANISTAN. -  U.S. Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, International Security Assistance Force conduct operations in Garmsir, Afghanistan, on May 15, 2008. DoD photo by Cpl. Andrew Carlson, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

An F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft moves into position for fuel from a KC-135R Stratotanker during a mission over Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway)

Byline: Cpl. Randall A. Clinton - Marines with 1st section, 2nd Combined Arms Platoon, Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, NATO International Security Assistance Force, take a moment to relax and enjoy a sunset before continuing on a convoy. Date: 2008-05-20T23:05:00Z...

Byline: Cpl. Randall A. Clinton - 1st section, 2nd Combined Arms Platoon, Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, NATO International Security Assistance Force. Date: 2008-05-20T21:22:00Z...

Byline: Cpl. Randall A. Clinton. Marines of Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, search travelers outside Garmsir, Afghanistan. They set up a vehicle control point to deny Taliban fighters a key supply route. Date: 2008-05-08T11:35:51Z...

Byline: Cpl. Randall A. Clinton. Travelers walk a camel past one of the Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle's (HMMWV) at a vehicle control point in the Garmsir district. They set up a vehicle control point to deny Taliban fighters a key supply route. Date: 2008-05-08T13:36:43Z...

Byline: Cpl. Randall A. Clinton. Cpl. Mathew Hutson, vehicle commander, 1st Combined Arms Platoon, Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, signals for a vehicle to stop at a checkpoint in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The Marines of Weapons Company set up a vehicle control point to deny Taliban fighters a key supply route. Date: 2008-05-08T11:25:03Z...

POPS FOR TOTS - U.S. Army Sgt. Al Walkowiak smiles as he hands out Tootsie Roll Pops to children in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, April 28, 2008. Walkowiak is a Pennsylvania National Guardsman assigned to the Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Paul David Ondik...

207th Afghan National Army (207th ANA) Corps Combat Support Battalion soldiers conduct their first artillery live-fire exercise backed by ISAF mentors of the Italian-led Operational Mentoring Liaison Team (OMLT) recently....

Byline: Staff Sgt. Robert Piper - After a few days of intense fighting, Marines with C Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, were able to visit a local village and interact with Afghan farmers. During these conversations village elders suggested that the Marines and villagers could work together to get rid of the Taliban. Date: 2008-05-01T19:35:00Z...

Byline: Cpl. Andrew Carlson - A Marine rest his legs while playing with Afghan children in a village in his compaony's area of operations. His Company, B Company, 1st BAttalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th MEU, helped a child receive medical attention for 2nd degree burns this day. Date: 2008-05-03T17:48:00Z...

Byline: Staff Sgt. Robert Piper - Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, take cover from rocket-propelled grenandes and machine gun fire while trying to clear a route in Garmsir. Despite facing stouter-than-expected resistance from insurgents, Marines have made enormous gains in the district area. Date: 2008-04-29T16:56:00Z...

Byline: Cpl. Alex C. Guerra - Infantrymen with A Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, watch as an AH-1W Cobra attacks an enemy position with hellfire missles. The 24th MEU moved into the Garmsir Distric of Helmand on April 28th to disrupt insurgent activities in soutnern Afghanistan. Date: 2008-05-04T11:22:00Z...

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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - Capt. Jason Pruitt, 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, taxis on the runway after a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Capt. Pruitt is deployed from the 81st Fighter Squadron Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester) 

May 13, 2008 - Afghan National Army Soldiers and paratroopers from Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry, walk across the Gowerdesh Bridge during Operation Mountain Highway II in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan April 27. The ANA, Afghan Border Patrol, and U.S. Army and Marine forces worked together during the operation to rebuild an ABP checkpoint at the bridge that was partially destroyed by insurgents last summer. Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Aird...

AFGHAN PRACTICE - U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Eric Marshall briefs Afghan National Air Corps airmen prior to a practice shoot with a PKM general-purpose machine gun in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 11, 2008. Marshall is assigned to the Combined Air Power Transition Force and is deployed from the 18th Air Maintenance Squadron, Kadena Air Force Base, Japan. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway..

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter lands in a landing zone during a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The UH-60 is the primary aircraft used for troop transport on air assault missions during rapid insertion and needs less of a footprint than the Chinook. (U. S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester) 

Going To Meet Afghans - 5 May 2008 - Beyond The Language Barrier 13 May 2008 ISAF Photos

U.S. MARINES LAUGH DURING A LULL IN TAKING FIRE FROM INSURGENTS. - U.S. Marines laugh during a lull in taking fire from insurgents during a battle in Madrassa, Afghanistan, on April 30, 2008. The Marines are with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit assigned to International Security Assistance Force. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Piper, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

STAFF SGT. MARC GARNSEY DIRECTS A CARGO LADEN FORKLIFT. -  U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Marc Garnsey directs a cargo laden forklift towards a C-130J Hercules aircraft before a mission at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, on April 29, 2008. Garnsey is a load master assigned to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and deployed from the 115th Airlift Squadron, Channel Island Air National Guard Station, California Air National Guard, Port Hueneme, Calif. DoD photo by Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway, U.S. Air Force. (Released)  

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Senior Airman Mark Ostrander shakes hands with a young boy during a foot patrol here April 22. Airman Ostrander, Police Technical Advisory Team member, Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team, is deployed from the 55th Security Forces Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway)

PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Brig. Gen. Mike Holmes, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, talks with local nationals during a recent visit here April 26. General Holmes also visited with Airmen from the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester) 

STAFF SGT. MICHAEL LYNN STANDS BY FOR THE ENGINE START-UP. -  Staff Sgt. Michael Lynn, U.S. Air Force, stands by for the engine start-up of a C-130 Hercules aircraft prior to a cargo mission from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, on April 23, 2008. Lynn is a loadmaster assigned to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and deployed from the 105th Airlift Squadron, Tennessee Air National Guard, Nashville, Tenn. DoD photo by Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Kinner scans for surface to air weapons from a C-130 Hercules aircraft during a cargo mission from Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, on April 16, 2008. Kinner is a loadmaster assigned to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and deployed from the 105th Airlift Squadron, Tennessee Air National Guard, Nashville, Tenn.   DoD photo by Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

CHARIKAR PATROL - U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mark Ostrander monitors a crowd of locals during a foot patrol in Charikar, Afghanistan, April 22, 2008. Ostrander is assigned to the police advisory team of the Charikar Provincial Reconstruction Team and is deployed from the 55th Security Forces Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway...

AFGHAN PANORAMA - U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jessica Newcomb does some final touch ups on a mural she and 38 other artists painted in the hospital conference room on Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, April 29, 2008. The mural features local culture and a panoramic view of the mountains near Bagram Air Force Base. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester...

AIRMAN 1ST CLASS KELLIEA GUTHRIE AND SENIOR AIRMAN GREG ELLIS PROVIDE SECURITY. -  U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Kelliea Guthrie (left) and Senior Airman Greg Ellis provide security for a C-130 Hercules aircraft during a cargo mission at Feyzabab Airfield in Afghanistan on April 23, 2008. Guthrie is deployed from the 9th Security Forces Squadron, Beale Air Force Base, Calif., and Ellis is deployed from the 355th Security Forces Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Both airmen are part of the Fly Away Security Forces Team assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces. DoD photo by Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

April 25, 2008 - The Shadow is Watching. Staff Sgt. Alton Jefferson, from Company B, 173rd Special Troops Battalion, prepares a Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle for a reconnaissance flight over Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Photo by Staff Sgt. Tyffani L. Davis...

U.S. Army Spcs. Nathan Waddell and Kristopher Hammond use a jackhammer and hand tools as they work on anchoring a stairwell leading to an outpost on a mountain in Afghanistan on Jan. 15, 2008. Waddell and Hammond are attached to Bravo Company, 864th Engineer Battalion, out of Fort Lewis, Wash.   DoD photo by Capt. Nicholas Melin, U.S. Army. (Released)

U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Espejo stands a security watch at Torkham Gate on the Pakistani border of Afghanistan on Aug 24, 2007. Espejo and his fellow soldiers from the 66th Military Police Company, stationed out of Fort Lewis, Wash., accepted an invitation from the Afghan Border Police to take part in the Afghan Independence Day festivities at the Gate.   DoD photo by Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel, U.S. Army. (Released)  

ARCHIVED PHOTO COLLECTION

EDITOR'S NOTE: The images on this page have been released to the public and are published on military websites. Such sites include all the military branches, DoD, Pentagon, Joint Commands, and individual bases and installations. All possible credits and sources are shown with each image.

Pfc. Brandon Baldrick helps secure the perimeter near Shuranam, Afghanistan, during a mission to gather information on enemy sightings or weapons caches. Baldrick is assigned to the 10th Mountain Division's Company B, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Hugo A. Baray-Vasquez.

Soldiers board an awaiting CH-47 Chinook helicopter at Shkin Firebase in Afghanistan. The Soldiers, assigned to the 10th Mountain Division, search for Taliban fighters and weapons caches. The helicopter and its crew are part of the 104th Aviation Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Spc. C. Elijah Spencer.

Army News Service -- Soldiers conduct a patrol in Daychopan Province, Afghanistan, as part of Operation Mountain Viper. The Soldiers are assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. They are searching the area for Taliban fighters and illegal weapons caches. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kyle Davis.

Soldiers conduct a mounted presence patrol around Orgun-E, Afghanistan, to reduce the likelihood of Taliban establishing an area of operation in this vicinity. The Soldiers are assigned to the 10th Mountain Division's 10th Military Police Company. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kyle Davis.

Soldiers quickly march to the ramp of the CH-47 Chinook helicopter that will return them to Kandahar Army Air Field. The Soldiers were searching in Daychopan Province, Afghanistan for Taliban fighters and illegal weapons caches. The Soldiers are assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kyle Davis.

A soldier of the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry, 10th Mountain Division, mans a tower at the Gardez compound of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Gardez, Afghanistan. Joint Chiefs chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers visited the facility July 30. Photo by Jim Garamone.

A CH-47 helicopter lands on a road located near the village of Gardez, Afghanistan, June 22, 2003. The soldiers have been deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kelly Burkhart)..........

Soldiers of the Afghan National Army along with U.S. soldiers conduct a patrol in the village of Gardez, Afghanistan, June 22, 2003. The soldiers have been deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kelly Burkhart)

Soldiers make their first security stop during a convoy headed to Kakaran, Afghanistan, where they will provide Afghan people with medical assistance, tools and school supplies. The Soldiers are assigned to Task Force Devil, 82nd Airborne Division. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Leopold Medina Jr.

An American Flag flies high above the air control tower after a storm at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, on May 26. The tower is located inside Air Force Village, which is home to airmen from the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group. Pilots in the group fly A-10 Thunderbolt IIs supporting the war on terrorism. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Eric M. Grill)

COALITION CONVOY — Members of the Coalition Joint Task Force conducted a convoy May 14 from Kandahar Air Field to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan to gather information to help with a road-rebuilding project. The military convoy is shown alongside the road as they wait for engineers to survey a bridge. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Vernell Hall.....

Soldiers of the 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion deliver humanitarian rations to Afghani refugees. The refugees are being temporarily housed at a camp near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. While defeating terrorists and destroying weapons in Afghanistan, the U.S. Army also helps improve life for the Afghani people. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jerry Combes.....

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN) -- Tech. Sgt. John Foster (left) pours concrete on the active runway at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, as part of a $2.3 million airfield repair project. Tech. Sgt. James Holman spreads concrete in a hole. Foster is the runway repair project manager with the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group civil engineer element. He is deployed from the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Holman is from the 48th Civil Engineer Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Adam Johnston)

Paratroopers conduct searches for terrorists and weapon caches the Spin Buldak Region of Afghanistan. The soldiers are assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Preston Cheeks.

The Pacific Ocean (Apr. 9, 2003) -- An E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the "Golden Hawks" of Airborne Early Warning Squadron One Twelve (VAW-112) launches from one of four steam-powered catapults aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) are on deployment in the western Pacific Ocean, conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Dustin Howell. (RELEASED) 

OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN) -- Capt. Kristen McCabe holds a soldier's hand and talks to him during his flight to Germany. The special forces soldier was seriously injured in an ambush in southern Afghanistan recently. McCabe is a Critical Care Aeromedical Transport Team nurse with the 438th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Keith Kluwe) | High-res version of this photo

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, April 7, 2003 — Two service members were killed and one seriously wounded in an ambush March 29 in southern Afghanistan. Along with the Army Special Forces soldier and the Air Force tactical air controller killed, a Special Forces soldier named Tom was critically wounded.

Tom was used to working with a small team. When he was hurt, several small teams rallied to help him. While Tom’s job was to work on healing, the medical teams worked on treating him. They also dealt with the emotional involvement caused by caring for one of their own. Story

PHOTO CREDIT: Members of the 438th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, carry Tom, a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier wounded in Afghanistan Mar. 29, past the caskets of two of his team mates in the cargo bay of a C-17 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Keith A. Kluwe.....Re-published from DefendAmerica Web Site -- DoD

A SOMBER MOMENT

03/25/03 - OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM -- Army Chaplain (Col.) Richard Rogers leads a prayer March 25 for six airmen killed when their HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crashed near Ghazni, Afghanistan, on March 23. The helicopter crew was on its way to pick up two Afghan children for treatment in U.S. medical facilities at Bagram Air Base. The remains were being flown to Dover Air Force Base, Del. (U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Terri Rorke)

Watching the "six" is Lance Cpl. Evan K. Stewart, armorer for Task Force Kabul and machine-gunner for convoys. The Hindu-Kush mountains tower over the road and the humvee. The Marines of TF Kabul serve at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, and provide security at the embassy. Photo by: Cpl. Douglass P. Gilhooly.

U.S. Army Spc. Emmanuel Parial, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, looks through the scope of his weapon while keeping an eye on the surrounding area. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Bhatti

At sea aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt, Dec. 10, 2001 An Aviation Boatswain's Mate directs a MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter as it leaves Roosevelt's 4½-acre flight deck. The Sea Dragon, used primarily for Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM), with a secondary mission of shipboard delivery, can carry up to 55 troops or a 16-ton payload 50 nautical miles or a 10-ton payload 500 nautical miles. The MH-53E is capable of towing a variety of mine-sweeping countermeasures systems, including the Mk 105 minesweeping sled, the ASQ-14 side-scan sonar, and the Mk 103 mechanical minesweeping system. Roosevelt and her embarked air wing are part of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Travis Ross.

Deployed from USS Bataan (LHD 5) and arriving at an undisclosed location with a very heavy backpack, a U.S. Marine gets the backpack on by laying his back on it, roll over to one side then raise up from all fours on Dec. 14, 2001. The Marine is with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) bound for Afghanistan. The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group is operating in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera) (Released)

At sea aboard USS Carl Vinson, Nov. 13, 2001 — Electronic Warfare Technicians keep a sharp watch at their anti-ship missile defense positions aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Vinson and her battle group are supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Martin S. Fuentes.

A photo montage depicting the C-17's role in Operation Enduring Freedom's humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. C-17 cargo aircraft are staging from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The image is a poster size (20"x30") . (U.S. Air Force Artwork)

At sea aboard USS John C. Stennis, Dec. 22, 2001 — As the sun sets, the guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73) pulls away from the combat stores ship USNS Concord (T-AFS 5) (center of photo). Combat stores ships provide underway replenishment of all types of supplies to U.S. Navy ships at sea, ranging from repair parts to fresh food, clothing and mail. John C. Stennis and its carrier battle group are supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. U S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class James A. Farrally II.

At sea aboard USS John C. Stennis, Dec. 25, 2001 — As Christmas night approaches aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), an F-14 Tomcat from the "Checkmates" of Fighter Squadron Two One One (VF-211) ignites its afterburners as it is about to launch. Simultaneously, an F/A-18 Hornet is being launched from a waist catapult. Stennis and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) are operating in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Troy M. Latham.

An Anti-Taliban Forces (ATF) fighter wraps a bandolier of ammunition around his body as ATF personnel help secure a compound that U.S. Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), Batallion Landing Team 3/6 just conducted a Cordon and Search Raid on a suspected al Quaeda hideout in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan, Jan. 1, 2002. U.S. Marines are in Afghanistan operating in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera) (RELEASED).

ARABIAN SEA -- A Landing Craft, Air Cushioned flies out of the well deck of the USS Peleliu Dec. 30. The LCAC is going to retrieve more of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's vehicles from Pasni, Pakistan. The 15th MEU, from Camp Pendleton, Calif., is being relieved by the 26th MEU, from Camp Lejeune, N.C. The USS Peleliu is the flagship of an Amphibious Ready Group operating in the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class (AW/SW) Greg Messier)

At sea aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Dec. 24, 2001-- A row of F-14 “Tomcats” assigned to the "Diamondbacks" of Fighter Squadron One Zero Two (VF 102) await their next mission. Theodore Roosevelt and her embarked Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) are conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Carly Joy Cranston (Released)

Operations: Northern & Southern Watch

An Air Force F-16 approaches the refueling boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 336th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron during a mission enforcing the no-fly zone in northern Iraq. Personnel and aircraft from the 336th ARS, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.; and the 18th ARS, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., are deployed at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, as the 336th EARS, providing aerial refueling support for Operation Northern Watch. (Photo by Senior Airman Gary Guese)

The Arabian Gulf, July 25, 2000 — An SH-60 Seahawk of the "Red Lions" — Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron One Five (HS-15) — creates a rainbow by its rotor wash as it conducts anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training in the Arabian Gulf. The squadron is part of the USS George Washington (CVN 73) air wing. George Washington is operating in the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Lisa Marcus. [000725-N-3962M-004] July 25, 2000.