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A Soldier from the 183rd Regiment, 1st Battalion, Virginia National Guard instructs Tajik service members about self-aid buddy care procedures during a field training exercise part of multinational exercise Regional Cooperation 2017, July 17, 2017, in Fakhrabad, Tajikistan. Hosted by Tajikistan's Ministry of Defense, RC 17 affords participants the opportunity to exercise a United Nations directive to focus counterterrorism, border security and peacekeeping operations. During RC 17, service members from U.S. Central Command will train alongside the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mongolia and observers from Kazakhstan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Battles)

July 21, 2017

U.S., Tajik military conduct joint field training

FAKHRABAD, Tajikistan — In conjunction with U.S. Central Command’s Regional Cooperation 2017’s command-post exercise held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Soldiers from the Virginia Army National Guard and Tajikistan military conducted a field training exercise, July 17-21, 2017, in Fakhrabad air base, Tajikistan.

An Afghan MI-17 helicopter lands at Camp Shorserack, Afghanistan to deliver supplies to Afghan National Army soldiers with 215th Corps during Operation Maiwand Four July 15, 2017. U.S. Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest assisted their 215th Corps and 505th Zone National Police counterparts throughout the operation, in which elements of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces successfully cleared the Nawa district center of enemy presence. The Task Force will continue to provide advisory assets to ANDSF as they improve the security posture and establish governance in Nawa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Lucas Hopkins)

July 20, 2017

ANDSF raise flag, rename traffic circle in Nawa district center

NAWA, AFGHANISTAN — The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, provincial governor and citizens of Nawa ceremoniously raised the Afghan national flag over the newly recaptured district center in the Nawa district of Helmand Province July 19, 2017.

Exercise participants collaborate on a mission plan during multinational exercise Regional Cooperation 2017, July 14, 2017, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Regional Cooperation has been conducted annually since 2001; the last exercise was held Sept. 16-28, 2016, in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Battles)

July 17, 2017

U.S., five nations kick off Regional Cooperation 2017

DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN — More than 200 participants from five nations are participating in a multinational annual command-post exercise Regional Cooperation 2017 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, July 12-21, 2017.

Lt. Col. Ben Rudolphi, 407th Expeditionary Operation Support Squadron commander, conducts a preflight check on an A-10 Thunderbolt II July 11, 2017, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Rudolphi has provided a dual role in Operation INHERENT RESOLVE as the commander of the 407th EOSS in Southwest Asia and being directly in the fight against ISIS conducting A-10 flying missions with the 447th Air Expeditionary Group.The A-10 supports ground forces with rapid employment close air and contact support. It utilizes a variety of bomb, missiles and a 30mm GAU-8 seven-barrel Gatling gun. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ramon A. Adelan)

July 17, 2017

Cleared Hot: Red Tails A-10 pilot spits fire in the fight against ISIS

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey - The darkness of a desert night surrounds his aircraft. The wind rushes past his cockpit. As the target approaches, nervousness builds deep within the core and the heart races at extraordinary speeds.Locking in on the tasks at hand, the pilot’s eyes glow as he focuses through night vision goggles to locate targets below.

Senior Airman Justin Steward is a defender with the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. To counter the challenges that unmanned aircraft systems pose on the battlefield, the team is training to pilot and use the drones, so enemy tactics can be replicated and used to train coalition forces on how to react to them. Steward is deployed out of Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and is a native of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier)

July 14, 2017

Researcher, Defenders bring new counter-UAS program to BAF

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN — As the use of unmanned aircraft systems rises across the world, researchers from around the Department of Defense are testing new ways to counter the new threats they could present.

An Iraqi soldier rushes to regroup with his team as they return fire during a basic infantry class at Camp Al Asad, Iraq, July 4, 2017. The training is critical to enabling Iraqi forces to liberate their nation from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Army photo by Spc. Cole Erickson

July 13, 2017

ISIS Dealt Significant Blow After Iraq Retakes Mosul, Official Says

WASHINGTON — The retaking of Mosul by Iraqi forces delivered a significant blow to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Army Col. Ryan Dillon, the spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, told Pentagon reporters.

Afghan National Army soldiers with 215th Corps check for notional improvised explosive devices around a Humvee at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, July 13, 2017. Several U.S. Marine counter IED advisors recently began a route clearance course with approximately 70 Afghan soldiers, which is designed to enhance the maneuverability of 215th Corps units, supplies and civilians throughout Helmand Province. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Lucas Hopkins)

July 13, 2017

215th Corps engineer soldiers begin route clearance course

CAMP SHORABAK, Afghanistan — The importance of the ability to travel from one area to another in combat cannot be overlooked. Strategy, supplies and well-trained warfighters are priorities, but without designated paths to get to the front lines, these assets prove ineffective. Approximately 70 soldiers with various units from 215th Corps began a route clearance course at Camp

Personnel from the Train, Advise, Assist, Command – Air (TAAC-Air) and the Afghan Air Force conducted a bilateral casualty evacuation mission and an aerial re-supply training exercise July 9-10.

July 12, 2017

Afghan Air Force conducts bilateral missions with coalition forces

Resolute Support Headquarters — Personnel from the Train, Advise, Assist, Command – Air (TAAC-Air) and the Afghan Air Force conducted a bilateral casualty evacuation mission and an aerial re-supply training exercise July 9-10.

A U.S. Navy Sailor with Task Force Southwest gets a tour from his counterpart of the medical facility at the Helmand Provincial Police Headquarters in Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan, July 9, 2017. This mission provided an opportunity for advisors to meet with their counterparts, review the security posture at the PHQ and ensure that Afghan National Defense and Security Forces have an effective defense of Lashkar Gah. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Justin T. Updegraff)

July 12, 2017

Fly-to-Advise: Marines with Task Force Southwest visit the Provincial Headquarters

LASHKAR GAH, AFGHANISTAN — U.S. Marine advisors with Task Force Southwest conducted a train, advise and assist mission at the Helmand Provincial Police Headquarters in Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan, July 9, 2017.

Airman 1st Class Anthony Butler, 10th Air Support Operations Squadron joint terminal attack controller, speaks to aircrew during training, June 22, 2017, at Barry M. Goldwater Range, Ariz. Communication between pilots and JTACs is verified between both parties, ensuring the correct target is identified and struck. (U.S. Air force photo/Staff Sgt. Trevor Rhynes)

July 12, 2017

Airmen support ‘Big Red One’ during deployment, training

     Perhaps the most telling comment about the impor­tance of the 10th Air Support Operations Squadron’s mission came from Air Force Staff Sgt. James Terhardt, noncommis­sioned officer in charge of the 10th ASOS Commander’s Sup­port Staff. There’s a lot of things going on during combat opera­tions, he said.      “There are civilians out there,”