Rusty wire flowers, on the guardrail at TV Hill. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/about/
Yours truly. Photo by Maj Don Mercer, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/about/
Darulaman Palace. Ruined as rival Mujahideen factions fought for control of Kabul during the early 1990s. Photo by ET1 Peterson, USN
An Afghan entrepreneur in front of Darulaman Palace, near Kabul. Photo by Shah Marai, AFP/Getty Images
An Afghan National Army recruit studies literacy course materials during Regional Basic Warrior Training at the Regional Military Training Center in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. USAF photo by TSgt Adrienne Brammer.
Afghan National Army soldiers line up with their literacy instruction materials in hand Aug. 7, 2010, at the Capital Division Headquarters, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Approximately 14 percent of new Afghan recruits are able to read and write at a third-grade level. NTM-A photo by SSgt Rachel Martinez, USAF.
Cherry blossoms in Kabul, with prayer rugs. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at https://cperce.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/cherry-blossom-festival-in-afghanistan/
More flower viewing in Kabul. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at https://cperce.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/cherry-blossom-festival-in-afghanistan/
The view from TV Hill, with zoom. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/baburs-garden/
The Gardens of Babur. Once, this was paradise. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/baburs-garden/
Afghans, shopping in Kabul. Photo by ET1 Peterson, USN, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/afghan-or-afghani/
Newly minted Afghanis. Photo by Syed Jan Sabawoon, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/afghan-or-afghani/
Children waiting for an NTM-A Volunteer Community Relations mission. Photo by unknown volunteer, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/10/18/the-very-best-afghan-charities/
Past Present Future, an original Skateistan photograph by Uggi Kaldan, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/10/18/the-very-best-afghan-charities/
Band-e-Amir National Park, in central Afghanistan, "has been a destination for Afghan tourists since at least the early 1950s" though tourism has "significantly declined" in the last few decades. Photo by Paula Bronstein, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/top-10-afghan-tourism-slogans/
Giant flesh-eating wasps. Really. Photo by Stephon Sterns, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/top-10-afghan-tourism-slogans/
Afghan women line up to vote under Afghan National Police protection. Photo by Tyler Hicks, of the New York Times, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/09/17/afghan-elections-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
Workers take ballot boxes to a remote polling station in Panjshir Province. Photo by Shah Marai, of Agence France-Presse - Getty Images, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/09/17/afghan-elections-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
A luncheon at the Communication Support Unit. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/09/12/ramadan-in-afghanistan/
SSgt Abraham Jara, USAF, eats lunch with Afghan security guards in Panjshir Province. Photo by SGT Teddy Wade, US Army, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/09/12/ramadan-in-afghanistan/
Kids near Kabul Area International Airport...my final view of Kabul. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/08/31/leaving-afghanistan/
Sunset from Kabul Area International Airport...my last evening in Afghanistan. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/08/31/leaving-afghanistan/
A child from Angla Kala village gives a high five to Spc Jesus Fernandez, US Army. Photo by SSG Gary A. Witte, US Army, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/03/26/10-more-dari-phrases-nice-to-know/
Soap bubbles, during a Volunteer Community Relations mission. Photo by Stephon M. Sterns, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/03/26/10-more-dari-phrases-nice-to-know/
Courtyard at HQ ISAF. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/your-experience-may-vary-poster/
Marines in Helmand. Photo by David Guttenfelder, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/your-experience-may-vary-poster/
IT2 Javier Gonzalez, preparing to depart on a support mission. Photo by LCDR Tony Saxon, USN, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/more-kudos-from-afghanistan/
IT1 Beiser and Afghan children during a Volunteer Community Relations mission. Photo by Lt Col Fred Kelsey, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/more-kudos-from-afghanistan/
Afghan policemen at a police station in Naray, in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province. Photo by Liu Jin, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/the-contest-for-respect-and-trust/
ANA commandos listen to LTG William Caldwell, US Army, COM NTM-A/CG CSTC-A and GEN Bismillah Mohammadi, ANA Chief of Staff, at an ANA commando camp in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Photo by SSgt Larry E. Reid Jr., USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/the-contest-for-respect-and-trust/
Polish Army Sgt. Mariusz Pryzgon and Warrant Officer Rafal Marciniak raise the NATO flag for the first time at Camp Eggers, 21 Nov 2009. The soldiers are taking part in a change of command ceremony and the official activation of NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan. Photo by MCC F. Julian Carroll, USN, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/100-days-of-ntm-a-comms/
LTG William B. Caldwell IV, left, receives the command guidon from GEN Stanley McChrystal. Photo by SSgt Larry E. Reid Jr., USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/100-days-of-ntm-a-comms/
Mourning and night. Memorial Day 2009, Camp Eggers. Photo by Stephon M. Sterns, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/memorial-day-at-camp-eggers/
Jewish chaplain at Memorial Day ceremony. CSTC-A photo, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/28/memorial-day-at-camp-eggers/
A training exercise at the ANP Academy. The female cadet was REALLY into taking notes, which was cool. Taking it seriously AND literate? I'm thinking she'll go far. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/27/our-middle-names/
Newly graduated ANA soldiers await their duty assignments during the graduation ceremony at the Kabul Military Training Center. Photo by SSgt Larry E. Reid Jr., USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/27/our-middle-names/
US Marines and Afghan National Army soldiers conduct a security patrol through the Nawa district, Helmand province. Photo by Cpl Artur Shvartsberg, USMC, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/the-10-dari-phrases-you-need-to-know/
Cpl Christopher Mullins, USMC, patrols with an Afghan boy in Nawa, Helmand. Photo by LCpl Jeremy Harris, USMC, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/the-10-dari-phrases-you-need-to-know/
What happens when you try to run an ANP checkpoint: LOTS of bullet holes. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/first-line-of-defense/
Mirror and flashlight, for inspecting underneath cars for explosives. Photo by Pietro Calogero, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/first-line-of-defense/
Back at Camp Eggers, proudly wearing the ANA Commando patch! Photo by ET1 David Peterson, US Navy, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/kudos-from-afghanistan/
One of LCDR Stewart's radio towers, supporting an ANP District Headquarters in Wardak Province. Photo by ITC Greg Laskowski, USN, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/kudos-from-afghanistan/
The MoD Print Plant, built in the late 1930s. Now free of Soviet-era mines. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/afghan-hands/
Print Plant workers. Photo by LtCol Dean Vrable, USMC, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/afghan-hands/
Members of coalition forces from NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan commemorate service members - past and present - at Camp Eggers, 11 Nov 2009. Photo by SSgt Larry E. Reid, Jr., USAF at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/veterans-day-at-camp-eggers/
A moment of silence at Camp Eggers, 11 Nov 2009. Photo by SSgt Larry E. Reid, Jr., USAF at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/veterans-day-at-camp-eggers/
Kabul 2002. Photo by Ismail Eren, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/gaining-momentum/
A day in the life of Kabul. In the back, old and new Deh Afghanan district. In the foreground, note the amputee and the man on a cell phone. Photo by Pietro Calogero, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/gaining-momentum/
Dr Abdullah and Ahmad Wali Massoud, talking about Afghanistan's security challenges. Photo by ITC Greg Laskowski, USN, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/lunch-with-the-candidate/
Election poster remains. Kind of symbolic of the whole election mess, I'm afraid. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/lunch-with-the-candidate/
ANA soldiers and coalition forces wait to board an ANA Air Corps helicopter at a commando camp in Kandahar. Afghan and coalition forces met with GEN Bismillah Mohammadi Khan, the ANA Chief of Staff, and US Army LTG William B. Caldwell IV, commander of NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, during a visit to the camp. Photo by SSgt Larry E. Reid, Jr., USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/airpower-in-afghanistan/
A USAF C-17 Globemaster III aircraft assigned to 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron drops pallets of cargo over a forward operating base in Afghanistan. Photo by SSgt Michael B. Keller, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/airpower-in-afghanistan/
Members of the ANA Communications Support Unit set up a satellite antenna... Photo by ET1 Peterson, USN, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/amazingly-capable/
... in direct support of Commando operations. Photo by ET1 Peterson, USN, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/amazingly-capable/
USAF pararescuemen from the 66th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron deployed to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, provide medical attention to an Afghan who has suffered gunshot injuries. The pararescuemen will administer medical care while in transit to a medical facility. Photo by SSgt Angelita Lawrence, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/with-perseverance/
SSgt Abraham Jara, USAF, hands out first aid kits to Afghan locals during a first aid class at a school in the Dara district of Panjshir province, Afghanistan. Jara is a medic assigned to the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team. Photo by SGT Teddy Wade, US Army, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/with-perseverance/
The Afghan national flag was raised above Khan Neshin castle in the Rig District Center for the first time 8 July 2009, signaling the arrival of Afghan governance in the southern reaches of Helmand province. Photo by Cpl Aaron Rooks, USMC, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/bulletproof/
An all-too-common sight at Camp Eggers: The US, Afghan, and UK flags at half-staff... Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/bulletproof/
Money changer in Kabul. Photo by Marcel Mettelsiefen, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/the-bigger-concern/
An Afghan National Police (ANP) officer maintains security at the Allagakh checkpoint along Highway 4 in Afghanistan Jan. 14, 2010. The ANP's mission is to maintain law and order throughout Afghanistan and support its government. Photo by TSgt Francisco V. Govea II, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/the-bigger-concern/
Afghan National Police respond to the attacks. AP photo, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/18/6-hours-in-kabul/
Five hours after the attack began, gunfire was still echoing through the downtown, as commandos cornered the last holdouts in a nearby office building. Photo by Ahmad Massoud, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/18/6-hours-in-kabul/
Father and Son in Kabul. Photo by Michael Kaiser, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/18/the-762-retirement-plan/
SSG Adam Sokolowski, USA, a marksmanship instructor assigned to the US Army Marksmanship Unit, explains sight adjustments to an AANA soldier at the Kabul Military Training Center in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo by SSgt Larry E. Reid, Jr., USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/18/the-762-retirement-plan/
CMSgt Toya Johnson, USAF, assigned to NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, unloads a bag of donated clothes and toys during a volunteer community relations mission at a children's orphanage in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo by SSgt Larry E. Reid, Jr., USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/17/mission-critical/
1Lt Stacy Monaghan, USAF, plays kickball during a volunteer community relations mission at a children's orphanage in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo by SSgt Larry E. Reid, Jr., USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/17/mission-critical/
Accordian player in the Afghan National Army band, before the ceremony. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/4th-of-july-at-camp-eggers/
Afghan National Army band playing "The Star-Spangled Banner." Photo by CSTC-A, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/4th-of-july-at-camp-eggers/
The view from TV Hill, with zoom. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/12/zanbilaks-wall/
The Old Kabul wall, built in the late 400s. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/12/zanbilaks-wall/
TV Hill, from the main MoD compound. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/towers-on-the-high-ground/
Going on a water run. TV Hill housing in the background. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/towers-on-the-high-ground/
The women selling Kleenex in the street have a tough life... Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/10/the-tough-way/
...but not as tough as the women begging from potholes (because they're safe from the cars there) with their kids. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/10/the-tough-way/
SMSgt Schell and an ANA soldier at the Central Workshop Vehicle Division. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/selling-hope/
A hand-cranked winch, made from scratch over 130 years ago. Well-maintained, it still works perfectly. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/selling-hope/
Banks of computers controlling AWCC pre-paid cel phones... Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/06/seeing-the-elephant/
...sit about 50m from this tract of farmland. Whoa. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/06/seeing-the-elephant/
I am here to receive the certificate... Photo by SMSgt Brett Kolash, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/the-lost-diamond/
...for Afghanistan! Photo by SMSgt Brett Kolash, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/the-lost-diamond/
Paghman river, Wardak Province. Photo by Õnne Pärl, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/victory-is/
Mountains just to the west of Kabul, as seen from Camp Eggers. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/victory-is/
There's not much copper or fiber optic cable in Afghanistan (yet), so you see a LOT of microwave links. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/towers-matter/
Salang site -- at over 11,000ft (3,350m) -- is the highest microwave site in Afghanistan...and maybe in the world. Photo by Afghan Wireless Communications Company, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/towers-matter/
The “Jezail” was the standard weapon for Afghan rebels. With a captured or stolen Brown Bess flintlock, a more comfortable stock... Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2009/12/28/130-years-later/
... and a rifled barrel, they were accurate to 150m (which was more than enough to drive the British back to their county). Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2009/12/28/130-years-later/
Sunset at Okuma Beach. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2009/12/27/the-okinawa-connection/
Sunrise at Camp Eggers. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2009/12/27/the-okinawa-connection/
My tree, complete with origami ornaments. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2009/12/25/exactly-what/
Charlie Company's Ops Center, during an operational exercise. TV Hill is in the background. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2009/12/25/exactly-what/
The formation swaps out their national caps and berets... Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2009/12/24/christmas-eve/
...for the dark blue berets of the European Gendarmerie Force. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/2009/12/24/christmas-eve/
The view from TV Hill. Photo by Col Clayton Perce, USAF, at http://cperce.wordpress.com/
