God bless them. Note: All pictures taken last Friday.

U.S. Army Spc. Clark Choate, from Mo., assigned to 3rd Platoon Apache Company, conducts a security patrol outside the village of Gorchek during Operation Naruz (New Year), March 30. Apache Company is part of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, Task Force Blue Geronimo.

U.S. Army Pfc. Nathan Jackson, an RTO from Neb., assigned to 3rd Platoon Apache Company, conducts security patrols outside the village of Gorchek during Operation Naruz (New Year), March 30. Apache Company is part of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, Task Force Blue Geronimo.

U.S. Army Spc. Devon Jackson, a native of Detroit and medic assigned to 3rd Platoon Apache Company interacts with local Afghan children in the village of Gorchek during Operation Naruz (New Year), March 30. Apache Company is part of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, Task Force Blue Geronimo.

U.S. Army Pfc. Nathan Jackson (right), an RTO from Neb., and U.S. Army Pfc. Shelby Beckworth, a native of Texas assigned as a forward observer to 3rd Platoon, Apache Company, climb down a small cliff near the village of Gorchek during Operation Naruz (New Year), March 30. Apache Company is part of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, Task Force Blue Geronimo.

U.S. Army Spc. Devon Jackson (left), a native of Detroit and medic assigned to 3rd Platoon Apache Company conducts a security patrol outside the village of Gorchek during Operation Naruz (New Year), March 30. Apache Company is part of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, Task Force Blue Geronimo.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Tyler Rux (right), a native of Wash., and a squad leader, U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Addington, a team leader who hails from N.C., and U.S. Army Spc. Clark Choate, from Mo., all assigned to 3rd Platoon, Apache Company, patrol through a field near the village of Gorchek during Operation Naruz (New Year), March 30. Apache Company is part of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, Task Force Blue Geronimo.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Andy Short, a native of Texas and squad leader assigned to 3rd Platoon, Apache Company leaps over an irrigation canal as U.S. Army Sgt. Donald Becker, a team leader from Fla., gives a hand near the village of Gorchek during Operation Naruz (New Year), March 30. Apache Company is part of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, Task Force Blue Geronimo.

U.S. Army Spc. Devon Jackson (left), a native of Detroit and medic assigned to 3rd Platoon, Apache Company, and U.S. Army Spc. Clark Coates, a team leader who hails from Mo., patrol on the outside of a qalat in the village of Gorchek during Operation Naruz (New Year), March 30. Apache Company is part of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, Task Force Blue Geronimo.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Andy Short, a native of Texas and squad leader assigned to 3rd Platoon, Apache Company leaps over a pola near the village of Gorchek during Operation Naruz (New Year), March 30. Apache Company is part of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, Task Force Blue Geronimo.