A day in the life - Afghanistan

So I thought that I would share some of what I've done over here besides photograph wildlife, and for two reasons. The first is that I want you all to know that you tax-payer dollars are not just going to waste while I play with nature over here and the second is that I think that it's good for people back home to see things aside from what the media wants to report. I hope you all enjoy these ones.

One of my first patrols off of the FOB talking to some children.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ayhawk/1-8.jpg

Our mail comes in via helicopter and it's like a shark feeding frenzy only instead of sharks and baitfish it is soldiers and care packages!
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ayhawk/2-3.jpg

I am as passionate about food as I am snakes and other reptiles (and beer and mountaineering and gardening and...) and the food over here, as a general rule, is INCREDIBLE!
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ayhawk/3-1.jpg

Me and our medic with an ANA mortar team.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ejayhawk/4.jpg

It's about to get dusty! Dirt devils, as I've always known them, of epic proportions come sweeping across the valleys on a regular basis in late spring and summer.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ejayhawk/5.jpg

Roads here are terrible. This was after we tried to get this vehicle out of the ditch that the road collapsed into by pulling it backwards and sideways. That didn't work (as you can see here) but we were able to self recover and continue mission.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ejayhawk/6.jpg

Me, doing some fire support.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ejayhawk/7.jpg

Me, trying not to eat too much dust while riding in the back hatch of a Stryker.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ejayhawk/8.jpg

Sun setting next to our JTAC's truck (Air Force guys that work with Army units and talk to aircraft so that they can drop bombs) on patrol.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ejayhawk/9.jpg

Our emergency resupply coming in on a recent patrol.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...jayhawk/10.jpg

This is us blowing an IED that we found on a patrol.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...jayhawk/11.jpg

This is a MEDEVAC bird coming in on a recent patrol.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...jayhawk/12.jpg

These last three are of us doing sling load operations for the second time in 3 weeks.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...jayhawk/13.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...jayhawk/14.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...jayhawk/15.jpg

I hope you all like them!

Thanks for your service, whats your mos?

Great pics! Thank you for all that you and the other men and women do! God Bless!

I was an Army print/photo journalist for 6 years. I appreciate you sharing your experience with us. I finished my contract almost three years ago, and I miss it from time to time.

Thank you! I'm a 13 series, so Field Artillery! At present I'm a fire supporter.

Cool pics. I can only imagine how great that would feel to get a care package over there. Thank you for your service! :)

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by gsarchie

Thank you! I'm a 13 series, so Field Artillery! At present I'm a fire supporter.

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Nice! I was going to be 11x I also had option 40 (ranger assessment and selection program) in my contract. I was scheduled to leave for basic November 1st 2011 but I broke my wrist on October 23rd. I got discharged but they said I could get back into it. But recently developments will keep me out the military for good. I was diagnosed with a colloid cyst in the middle of my brain. I was pretty bummed out so lets just say I am extremely jealous of you lol. Where are you stationed when your not deployed?

Those are some awesome photos. thanks for sharing. What type of camera are you using?

The camera is a cheap Fujifilm Finepix T.

Sorry to hear that you weren't able to end up enlisting, but at least you tried!

Great photos! Thank you for your service and be safe!!!