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In October 2001 Allied forces started a war on the taliban in Afghanistan. Almost 10 years later those allied forces are still there. Trying to rebuild a country, mould it into a democracy, keep the Taliban at bay and help future generations have a better life. Fighting still goes on and IEDs are a daily occurence. In short; Whatever you may think of the war, a soldier’s life in Afghanistan is not an easy one.
1U.S. Army First Lieutenant Jonathan Austin from Charlie Company 4th Platoon, 1st Brigade 3-21 Infantry checks inside a barn during a patrol in the village of Sarah, in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan June 10, 2011. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
2A .50 caliber machine gun is manned at the rear of an Osprey aircraft as it flies over southeastern Afghanistan from FOB Walton to FOB Dwyer, June 5, 2011. The gradual withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Afghanistan set to begin next month will be done responsibly and will not expose other coalition and Afghan forces to undue risks, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday. REUTERS/Jason Reed
3U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates meets with troops at Combat Outpost Andar in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, June 6, 2011. Gates is visiting troops on the ground in the South and East of the country for the final time as Secretary of Defense before his retirement later this month. REUTERS/Jason Reed
4U.S. soldiers listen to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at he meets with them at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank in Logar Province, Afghanistan, June 6, 2011. Gates is visiting troops on the ground in the South and East of the country for the final time as Secretary of Defense before his retirement later this month. REUTERS/Jason Reed
5A picture made available June 8, 2011, shows German Bundeswehr armed forces armoured howitzer Panzerhaubitze 2000 as it is loaded into a Russian Antonov AH-124-100 cargo plane in Mazar-e-Sharif, north of Kabul, May 28, 2011. REUTERS/Bundeswehr/Ingo Schmidt/Handout
6Canadian soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 22nd Royal Regiment observe a moment of silence during a ceremony for fallen comrades in FOB Masum Ghar, Panjwai district in Kandahar province southern Afghanistan, June 8, 2011. Canada will bring home the last of its combat troops by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting in Afghanistan. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
7Canadian soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 22nd Royal Regiment stand before a ceremony for fallen comrades in FOB Masum Ghar, Panjwai district in Kandahar province southern Afghanistan, June 8, 2011. Canada will bring home the last of its combat troops by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting in Afghanistan. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
8A Canadian Army crewman sits in the rear of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter over Panjwai district in Kandahar province southern Afghanistan, June 8, 2011. Canada will bring home the last of its combat troops by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting in Afghanistan. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
9U.S. Army soldiers from Charlie company 4th Platoon, 1st Brigade 3-21 Infantry walk past an Afghan boy during a patrol in the village of Sarah, in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan June 10, 2011. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
10U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Calvin Stammer from Charlie Company 4th Platoon, 1st Brigade 3-21 Infantry takes aim with his weapon during a patrol in the village of Sarah, in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan June 10, 2011. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
11U.S. Army First Lieutenant Jonathan Austin from Charlie Company 4th Platoon ,1st Brigade 3-21 Infantry checks inside a barn during a patrol in the village of Sarah, in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan June 10, 2011. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
12A pistol is seen holstered as a U.S. Army soldier from Charlie Company 4th Platoon, 1st Brigade 3-21 Infantry prepares to go on patrol in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan June 10, 2011. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
13Members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul transport an injured patient to a waiting UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Forward Operating Base Smart in Qalat, in this June 9, 2011 handout photo provided by ISAF Regional Command (South). The patient was transported to FOB Smart from Zabul Provincial Hospital after an improvised explosive device detonated injuring two civilian children. Both children were medically evacuated by helicopter for further medical care. REUTERS/U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson/Handout
14Security personnel from Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul depart for the Zabul Provincial Hospital after an improvised explosive device detonated injuring two civilian children in Qalat in this June 9, 2011 handout photo provided by ISAF Regional Command (South). Both children were medically evacuated by helicopter for further medical care. REUTERS/U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson/Handout
15Captain Dawn Russell, a physician assistant assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul, treats an injured Afghan boy while PRT personnel hold flashlights, at Forward Operating Base Smart in Qalat in this June 9, 2011 handout photo provided by ISAF Regional Command (south). The patient was transported to FOB Smart from Zabul Provincial Hospital after an improvised explosive device detonated, injuring two civilian children. Both children were medically evacuated by helicopter for further medical care. REUTERS/U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson/Handout
16Canadian soldiers from 4th platoon, bulldog company 1st Battalion, 22nd royal regiment walkduring a patrol in the village of Sarah in Panjwai district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan, June 11, 2011. Canada will end its combat role in Afghanistan by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting in Afghanistan. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
17Afghan girls watch a Canadian soldier from 4th platoon, bulldog company 1st Battalion, 22nd royal take up position during a patrol in the village of Sarah in Panjwai district of Kandahar province of southern Afghanistan , June 11, 2011. Canada will end its combat role in Afghanistan by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting in Afghanistan. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
18Canadian soldiers from 4th platoon, bulldog company 1st Battalion, 22nd royal regiment walk during a patrol in the village of Sarah in Panjwai district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan, June 11, 2011. Canada will end its combat role in Afghanistan by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting in Afghanistan. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
19A Canadian soldier from 4th platoon, bulldog company 1st Battalion, 22nd royal regiment climbs a wall with an AK-47 found during a patrol in the village of Sarah in Panjwai district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan, June 11, 2011. Canada will end its combat role in Afghanistan by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting in Afghanistan. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
20A Canadian soldiers from 4th platoon, bulldog company 1st Battalion, 22nd royal regiment enters a house during a patrol in the village of Sarah in Panjwai district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan, June 11, 2011. Canada will end its combat role in Afghanistan by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting in Afghanistan. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
21U.S. Army soldiers from the 2nd Platoon, B battery 2-8 field artillery, fire a howitzer artillery piece at Seprwan Ghar forward fire base in Panjwai district, Kandahar province southern Afghanistan, June 12, 2011. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
22U.S. Army soldiers from the 2nd Platoon, B battery 2-8 field artillery, fire a howitzer artillery piece at Seprwan Ghar Forward fire base in Panjwai district, Kandahar province southern Afghanistan, June 12, 2011. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
23U.S. Army soldiers from the 2nd Platoon, B battery 2-8 field artillery, fire a howitzer artillery piece at Seprwan Ghar Forward fire base in Panjwai district, Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan, June 12, 2011. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
24A U.S. Army soldier from the 2nd Platoon, B battery 2-8 field artillery, takes a picture of a howitzer artillery piece being fired at Seprwan Ghar Forward fire base in Panjwai district, Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan, June 12, 2011. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
25A Canadian soldier from the 6th Platoon, Bulldog Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Royal Regiment, walks through a field of Marijuana plants during a patrol in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan June 13, 2011. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
26Afghan girls walk past a female Canadian soldier from 6th Platoon, Bulldog Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Royal Regiment as she restsduring a patrol in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan , June 13, 2011. Canada will end its combat role in Afghanistan by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting in Afghanistan. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
27A Canadian soldier from the 6th Platoon, Bulldog Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Royal Regiment walks through a poppy field during a patrol in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan June 13, 2011.Canada will end its combat role in Afghanistan by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting in Afghanistan. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
28A Canadian soldier from the 6th Platoon, Bulldog Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Royal Regiment uses his night vision goggles during a patrol in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan June 13, 2011. Canada will end its combat role in Afghanistan by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting in Afghanistan. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
29Canadian soldiers from the 6th Platoon, Bulldog Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Royal Regiment search inside a barnduring a patrol in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan June 13, 2011. Canada will end its combat role in Afghanistan by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
30Canadian medics from the 5th Field Ambulance attached to the 22nd Royal Regiment carry a wounded Afghan policeman who had been shot by Taliban fighters to a helicopter in Seprwan Ghar forward fire base in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan June 13, 2011. Canada will end its combat role in Afghanistan by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
31Canadian army medics from the 5th Field Ambulance attached to 22nd Royal Regiment carry a wounded Afghan policeman, who had been shot by Taliban fighters, to a helicopter in Seprwan Ghar forward fire base the Panjwai district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan June 13, 2011.Canada will end its combat role in Afghanistan by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
32Canadian soldiers from the 6th Platoon, Bulldog Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Royal Regiment patrol in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan June 13, 2011. Canada will end its combat role in Afghanistan by the end of July, after nearly ten years fighting. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
33A special forces bearer party walks alongside Sergeant Brett Wood’s casket as he is driven to the awaiting C-130 aircraft at Tarin Kot Airfield in Uruzgan, Afghanistan May 28, 2011, in this photo provided by International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Regional Command (South). The commando was killed in action on Monday during a partnered Special Operations Task Group and Afghan National Police mission. REUTERS/Australian Navy Able Seaman Jo Dilorenzo
34Special forces soldiers embrace as the C-130 carrying Sergeant Brett Wood departs Tarin Kot Airfield in Uruzgan, Afghanistan May 28, 2011, in this photo provided by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Regional Command (South). The commando was killed in action on Monday during a partnered Special Operations Task Group and Afghan National Police mission. REUTERS/Australian Navy Able Seaman Jo Dilorenzo
35LCPL. James Edward Orr, 20, from the First Battalion Eighth Marines Alpha Company lifts weights made from barbed wire at a makeshift gym at an outpost in Kunjak in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province, February 17, 2011. REUTERS/Finbarr O’Reilly
36U.S. Marines from the First Batallion Eigth Marines Alpha Company wrestle at their outpost at Kunjak in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province, February 19, 2011. REUTERS/Finbarr O’Reilly
37U.S. Marines from the First Battalion Eighth Marines Alpha Company patrol through the town of Kunjak in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province, February 21, 2011. REUTERS/Finbarr O’Reilly
38A Chinook helicopter lands to pick up U.S. soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division following a night raid in Yahya Khel, Paktika province February 21, 2011. The night raid is a controversial tactic that has been stepped up dramatically since General David Petraeus took over running the Afghan war last year, despite strong opposition led by President Hamid Karzai. Petraeus says the pressure on suspected insurgents and their networks has brought a new dynamic to a near-decade-old war. Critics argue it is fuelling violence because poor intelligence means dozens of innocent people are killed or detained. Although more than 80 percent of recent raids ended without a shot being fired, violence escalates fast when it does break out, with 600 people killed on operations in the three-month period. REUTERS/Matt Robinson
39U.S. medic Corporal Breh Schlieve from the Arctic Dustoff team, Company C, 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment asks an Afghan boy to squeeze a finger as he checks his condition as another boy, his brother, looks at them aboard a medevac helicopter outside Kandahar, southern Afghanistan April 3, 2011. Both of the brothers are wounded with gunshots in the legs due to a manifestation taken place in Kandahar city. REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov
