U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Martin Ratkowski, Combined Team Zabul K-9 handler, and his K-9, Tosca, secure an area during a patrol to a local village in the district of Mizan, Afghanistan, Oct. 20, 2011. Ratkowski attached to Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul to provide a home-made explosives search with his K-9. PRT Zabul’s mission is to conduct civil-military operations in Zabul province to extend the reach and legitimacy of the Government of Afghanistan.

Soldiers of Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul and 489th Civil Affairs Battalion wait for Afghan National Police members at the district center in Mizan, Afghanistan, Oct. 20, 2011. PRT Zabul’s mission is to conduct civil-military operations in Zabul Province to extend the reach and legitimacy of the Government of Afghanistan.

A Marine with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, patrols down a street in Khalaj village, Helmand province. The Marines and Afghan Uniformed Police conduct regular partnered patrols in the area to maintain a security presence.

Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, patrol next to a cornfield in Nawa district, Helmand province. The Marines were en route to the banks of the nearby Helmand River.

Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, reunite with the rest of their squad during a patrol stop in Nawa district, Helmand province. These Marines returned to the rest of their squad after pushing further down the banks of the adjacent Helmand River.

Lance Cpl. Daniel Wilson, a fireteam leader with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, patrols down a path in Nawa district, Helmand province. The Marines and Afghan Uniformed Police conduct regular partnered patrols in the area to maintain a security presence.

Nevada native Lance Cpl. Daniel Wilson, a fireteam leader with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, patrols through a cornfield in Nawa district, Helmand province. Some of the Marines from Charlie Company were surprised with the vast amount of vegetation when they arrived to the area in June, expecting instead to be operating in barren terrain like other areas of Helmand province.

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Capt. Scott Hall, a native of Fla., and personal assistant to Brig. Gen. Gary Volesky, 1st Cavalry Division Deputy Commanding General, watches out the bay door of a UH-60 Black Hawk while en route during a battlefield circulation Oct. 19. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ken Scar, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Brig. Gen. Gary Volesky, 1st Cavalry Division Deputy Commanding General (second from right) and members of his personal security detail run to their UH-60 Black Hawk in the Deh Yak district Oct. 19. Volesky and his team were conducting a battlefield circulation to several ISAF positions south of Kabul in the Deh Yak and Mata Khan districts. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ken Scar, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

GHAZNI PROVINCE — U.S. Army Capt. Scott Hall, from Bradenton, Fla., launches himself off of a UH-60 Black Hawk onto the valley floor of the Deh Yak District Oct. 19. Hall is the personal assistant to the 1st Cavalry Divison Deputy Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Gary Volesky. Hall and his team were conducting a battlefield circulation with Volesky to several ISAF positions south of Kabul. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ken Scar, 7th MPAD)

First Cavalry Division Deputy Commanding General â Maneuver, Brig. Gen. Gary Volesky and members of his personal security detail run to their UH-60 Black Hawk Oct. 19. Volesky and his team were conducting a battlefield circulation to several ISAF positions south of Kabul in the Deh Yak and Mata Khan districts to see how Operation Shamshir was progressing.