A grater from the 980th Engineering Battalion dumps carves out a new road through acres of grape orchards near Kandahar Airfield while local land owners look on and wait to assist with shovels. The road will serve a dual purpose, it will serve an access road for locals to the acres of orchards in the area and it also will allow the coalition forces easier access to insurgent activity which is prevalent in the area. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Jason Carter.
ARABIAN GULF (March 14, 2012) Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) observe a riverine patrol craft from Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 2 and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Adak (WPB 1333) conduct a maritime infrastructure protection exercise. Milius is on a routine deployment supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Quartermaster 2nd Class Kendall Mabon.
SASEBO, Japan (March 19, 2012) The Virginia-class attack submarine USS North Carolina (SSN 777) arrives at Fleet Activities Sasebo for a brief port visit to accommodate crew rest and replenishment. North Carolina is the first Virginia-class submarine to visit Sasebo. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dustin Kelling.
Ships with the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG) maneuver into formation while transiting the Atlantic Ocean. The strike group is deployed to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman.
A group of crew chiefs from the 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron confer during pre-flight preparations for several A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., March 21, 2012. The aircraft are flown by the pilots of the 107th Fighter Squadron. One of the oldest flying units in the military, the 107th FS will turn 95 years old this summer. Photo by Master Sgt. Terry Atwell.
An Afghan soldier searches a stopped vehicle during during Operation Pranoo Verbena in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 16, 2012. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Schroeder.
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Joseph Holloway provides security during a mission to a local agricultural processing plant in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, March 17, 2012. Holloway is assigned to the Nangarhar Agribusiness Development Team. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg Biondo.
U.S. Army Pfc. Samuel Corsolini uses his weapon's scope to provide security as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter takes off after unloading U.S. and Afghan troops during a vehicle interdiction to disrupt Taliban activities as part of Operation Pranoo Verbena in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 16, 2012. Corsolini is a gunner assigned to the Company F, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade. The Afghan troops are assigned to a civil order patrol special weapons and tactics team. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Schroeder.
SILVERDALE, Wash. (March 20, 2012) A member of the Navy Region Northwest Fire and Emergency Services Decontamination Team is washed down in a decontamination tent as a part of a hazardous material training scenario at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor during Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2012. The weeklong series of anti-terrorism and force protection exercises involves Navy installations and activities. U.S. Navy photo by Sonar Technician (Submarines) 3rd Class Kenan O'Connor.
Senior Airman Tara Langella sights a .50 caliber sniper rifle at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton, N.Y., March 14, 2012. U.S. Air Force photo.
PACIFIC OCEAN (March 21, 2012) Sailors prepare the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme RIchard (LHD 6) to receive visitors via the stern gate. The ship is engaged in operations in preparation to relieve USS Essex (LHD 2) in Sasebo, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Joe Kane.
Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 execute a reconnaissance patrol during a field training exercise, March 20, at Camp Shelby, Miss. The exercise provides a robust training environment where Seabee forces plan and execute multiple mission essential tasks prior to deployment. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ernesto Hernandez Fonte.
GULF OF ADEN (March 13, 2012) Boatswain's Mate Seaman Brian Kopp removes the chocks and chains from an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Saberhawks of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77 on the flight deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92). Momsen is deployed as part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Carlos M. Vazquez II.
ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 19, 2012) Sailors participate in a 9mm pistol live-fire exercise aboard the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94). Nitze is deployed as part of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Atherton.
