2. U.S. Army Chaplain Capt. Carl Subler, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, delivers a Catholic mass to Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment awaiting transportation at the helicopter loading zone at Forward Operating Base Wolverine, Zabul Province, Afghanistan, December 12, (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christine Jones/Released)
( F-0212J-034)

3. Afghan National Army soldier removes the bolt carrier assembly of the M240B machine gun as part of NATO weapons training at Forward Operating Base Thunder, Paktya Province, Afghanistan on Dec. 12, The training is part of a three week combined action course covering NATO weapons, HMMWV drivers training and roll over drills. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Nicholas / Released) ( A-6385N-050)

4. Afghan national policemen pass out candy while standing on a M1128 Stryker Mobile Gun System to children at the Maiwand District in Hutal, Afghanistan, Dec. 12, (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dayton Mitchell/Released)
( F-0692M-032)

5. An Afghan Border Patrol soldier plays cricket after the ground breaking ceremony for the Ghulam Mohammad Sports Complex in the Sarkani District of Kunar Province, Afghanistan on Dec. 12, (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Teddy Wade/Released)
( A-6365W-193)

6. U.S. Airmen with the 823rd Red Horse Squadron's convoy logistics patrol team pray before conducting convoy operations at Forward Operating Base Frontenac, Afghanistan, Dec. 12, (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Francisco V. Govea II/Released)
( F-9891G-064)

7. U.S. Army Sgt. John Clayton with 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division makes his way through a river while on a joint patrol with Soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division in the Arghandab River Valley, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, Dec. 13, (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Juan Valdes/Released) ( F-2405V-141)

8. U.S. Army Spc. Cameron St. Onge with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment lends a helping hand to a fellow Charlie Company member, Pfc. Dustin Mesinhimer, while crossing a river during a joint patrol with Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division in the Arghandab River Valley, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, Dec. 13, (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Juan Valdes/Released) ( F-2405V-231)

9. U.S. Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment conduct a fire mission using a M mm howitzer at Forward Operating Base Ramrod, Dec. 15, (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dayton Mitchell/Released) ( F-0692M-124)

10. U.S. Army Sgt. Travis McDermitt, Alpha Company, 52nd Infantry Regiment, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, describes the capabilities of the different weapon systems used by the Strykers to the Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 16, (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christine Jones/Released) ( F-0212J-032)

11. An Afghan National Police trainee practices a take-down method on his partner during a self defense class exercise led by Czech Republic soldiers from the 42nd Mechanized Battalion Force Rapid Deployment Brigade (FRDB) as part of the focal district development program (FDDP) at the FOB Shank on December 16, (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher J. Rosario) ( R-A-013)

12. Czech Republic soldiers from the 42nd Mechanized Battalion Force Rapid Deployment Brigade (FRDB) teach the Afghan National Police how to execute bounding movements during the focal district development program (FDDP) at the Forward Operating Base Shank on December 17, (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher J. Rosario/Released) ( R-A-012)

13. U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Shell draws a mural to memorialize the fallen Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment at Forward Operating Base Frontenac, Afghanistan, Dec. 16, (U.S. Air Force by Tech. Sgt. Francisco V. Govea II/Released)
( F-9891G-004)

14. An Afghan National Police trainee aims at his target while performing a tactical exercise during the focal district development program (FDDP) led by Czech Republic soldiers from the 42nd Mechanized Battalion Force Rapid Deployment Brigade (FRDB) at the Forward Operating Base Shank on December 17, (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher J. Rosario/Released)
( R-A-015)

15. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan Neumann, Commander, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, greets U.S. Navy Adm. Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at Forward Operating Base Frontenac, Afghanistan, Dec. 17, (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Francisco V. Govea II/Released) ( F-9891G-068)

16. U.S. Navy Adm. Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talks to U.S. Army Sgt. Anthony Andrew Duenas Aguon from 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment during a reenlistment ceremony at Forward Operating Base Frontenac, Afghanistan, Dec. 17, (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Francisco V. Govea II/Released) ( F-9891G-236)

17. Pfc. Jesse Dispennette, a Soldier with Bravo Company, 82nd Division Special Troops Battalion waits on a CH-47 Chinook during an air assault mission, December 18, 2009 in Parwan, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Allison /Released) ( A-4902A-001)

18. An Afghan National Policeman hands out counter-IED flyers to local Afghans on December 18, 2009, Parwan, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Allison /Released) ( A-4902A-009)

19. A CH-47 Chinook crew chief pulls security from the ramp of the helicopter while flying over Paktika province, Afghanistan, Dec. 18, (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith/Released) ( A-3355S-018)

20. U.S. Army Soldiers establish a security perimeter after being inserted into a remote area to conduct combat operations in Paktika province, Afghanistan, Dec. 18, (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith/Released) ( A-3355S-026)

21. Sgt. Robert Donovan from the 118th MP Co
Sgt. Robert Donovan from the 118th MP Co. discusses a training schedule during a shura with local Afghan Nation Security Force commanders in Pul’e-Alam, Logar, Afghanistan on Dec. 19, (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Matthew Freire / Released)
( A-2946F-35)

22. CJTF-82 COMCAM Photo of the Week
Soldiers with Bravo Company, 82nd Division Special Troops Battalion provide security during an air assault mission on December 18, 2009, Parwan, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Allison /Released) ( A-4902A-007)

23. 5/2 SBCT COMCAM Photo of the Week
Country music singer Billy Ray Cyrus, center, concludes his USO performance at Kandahar Airfield with an acoustic rendition of, “Some Gave All,” Dec. 17, (U.S. Air Force photo by Efren Lopez/Released) ( F-9171L-113)