The United States Army - Thread

[lightsout]

I saw some that in some of the pictures(vor033's) a guy had a DBAL laser sight. Would this be a private purchase or a is the army issuing DBALS?

[vor033]

U.S. Soldiers with Charlie Troop, 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division leave Combat Outpost Giro, Ghazni province, Afghanistan, July 23, 2012.

U.S. Soldiers with Charlie Troop, 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division provide security in Mush Kahel village, Ghazni province, Afghanistan, July 23, 2012.

U.S. soldiers serving with C Troop, 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, await an answer to a door in the village of Mush Kahel, Ghazni province, Afghanistan, July 23, 2012.

U.S. Soldiers with Charlie Troop, 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division enter a home in Mush Kahel village, Ghazni province, Afghanistan, July 23, 2012.

U.S. Army Pvt. Zakery Jenkins, front, with Charlie Troop, 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, provides security in Mush Kahel village, Ghazni province, Afghanistan, July 23, 2012.

U.S. Army Pfc. Vichetra Lim, with Charlie Troop, 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, provides security in Mush Kahel village, Ghazni province, Afghanistan, July 24, 2012.

U.S. Soldiers with Charlie Troop, 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division await a radio transmission in Pana village, Ghazni province, Afghanistan, July 24, 2012.

U.S. Soldiers with Charlie Troop, 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division set up security in Pana village, Ghazni province, Afghanistan, July 24, 2012.

U.S. Soldiers with Charlie Troop, 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division search Pana village, Ghazni province, Afghanistan, July 24, 2012.

[vor033]

Paratroopers of the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, patrol for insurgents in a vineyard Aug. 1, 2012, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. The battalion is part of the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team.

Lt. Col. Rob Salome, commander of 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and Sgt. Sean Blesedell, move along a grape-drying hut while on patrol Aug. 1, 2012, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Raisins are a major crop in the area.

Sgt. 1st. Class Alan Sutton, a platoon leader with 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, radios an update as his paratroopers clear a compound Aug. 1, 2012, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. The paratroopers deployed to Ghazni in March to help bring security to nearby Highway 1, Afghanistan’s most important road.

Paratroopers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, scan for insurgent activity before clearing a village Aug. 1, 2012, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. The brigade deployedto Ghazni in March to help bring security to the areas surrounding Highway 1, the country’s most important road.

Paratroopers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, move across open terrain under enemy fire just off Highway 1, Aug. 1, 2012, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. The brigade deployed to Ghazni in March to help bring security to the areas surrounding Highway 1.

Spc. Kirsten Price of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, returns fire on insurgents when they engaged his platoon with small-arms fire Aug. 1, 2012, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Price is firing an M249 squad automatic weapon.

Spc. Kirsten Price of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, returns fire on insurgents when they engaged his platoon with small-arms fire Aug. 1, 2012, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Price is firing an M249 squad automatic weapon.

A paratrooper of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, scans for insurgents as others dismount from vehicles along Highway 1 to conduct a foot patrol Aug. 1, 2012, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. The heavily-armed patrol includes dozens of combat engineers and infantrymen.

Spc. David Kemp, a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, sweeps for indicators of improvised explosive devices targeting soldiers patrolling on foot Aug. 1, 2012, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Kemp is based on Forward Operating Base Warrior in southern Ghazni.

Sgt. 1st Class Alan Sutton, a platoon leader with 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, searches for a command wire to an improvised explosive device Aug. 1, 2012, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. His platoon is sweeping the roadside of Afghanistan’s most important road, Highway 1, for roadside bombs.

[vor033]

Pfc. Kyle Peters and Pfc. Justin Ford, soldiers with 2nd Platoon, Apache Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, scan the horizon after taking small-arms fire from insurgents in southern Afghanistan, July 30, 1012.

Pfc. Ronald Heater, a soldier with 2nd Platoon, Apache Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, writes down grid locations while on a foot patrol in southern Afghanistan, July 30, 2012.

Staff Sgt. Kelly Rogne, a soldier with 2nd Platoon, Apache Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, uses a metal detector to scan for improvised explosive devices while on patrol in southern Afghanistan, July 30, 2012.

Staff Sgt. Jonathan Taber, a soldier with 787th Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team, works on disarming one of four improvised explosive devices found while on a foot patrol in southern Afghanistan, July 30, 2012.

Soldiers with 2nd Platoon, Apache Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, scan their sectors as they step off on a foot patrol in southern Afghanistan July 30, 2012.

Sgt. Cody Outcalt shows Spc. Ronald Heater, both soldiers of 2nd Platoon, Apache Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, where he spotted possible enemy troops moving in the distance while on a foot patrol in southern Afghanistan, July 30, 2012

Sgt. Cody Outcalt a soldier with 2nd Platoon, Apache Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, returns fire during a firefight with insurgents in southern Afghanistan, July 30, 2012.

Soldiers with 2nd Platoon, Apache Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, return fire during a firefight with insurgents in southern Afghanistan, July 30, 2012.

After collecting a few improvised explosive devices near an IED making facility, the 787th Explosive Ordinance Team placed them in the insurgent used building, set a charge and destroyed the building along with the IEDs, July 30, 2012 in southern Afghanistan.

[vor033]

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- A U.S. Army Soldier from D Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, Task Force 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, takes aim with a Barrett .50-calibre rifle, after taking fire at Combat Outpost Kherwar, Aug. 5, 2012.

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- A U.S. Army Soldier from D Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, Task Force 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, fires a Barrett .50-calibre rifle after taking small-arms fire at Combat Outpost Kherwar, Aug. 5, 2012.

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Soldiers from D Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, Task Force 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, watch a neighboring village after taking small-arms fire at Combat Outpost Kherwar, Aug. 5, 2012.

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- (from front) A U.S. Air Force Airman and U.S. Army Soldiers from D Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, Task Force 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, watch a neighboring village after taking small-arms fire at Combat Outpost Kherwar, Aug. 5, 2012.

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GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan—Soldiers with 18th Explosive Ordinace Disposal, 192nd Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Ordnance Group, perform a controlled detonation on more than 100 pounds of home made explosives in Mulakala, Afghanistan, Aug. 31, 2012.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan--Paratroopers of 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Brigade, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division, conduct a dismounted patrol through Mulakala, Afghanistan, Aug. 30, 2012. During this patrol they found more than 100 pounds of homemade explosives, which were detonated by Explosive Ordinace Disposal.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan—U.S. Army 1st Lt. Alexander Lawrence, the platoon leader for 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Brigade, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division, catches his breath after multiple dismounted patrols Aug. 30, 2012, around the village of Mulakala, Afghanistan. Lawrence led his platoon through three days of fire fights and patrols with no coalition casualties, and caused damage and disruption to the enemy and their supply routes.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan— Two Afghan men walk toward an American position as U.S. Army Spc. Skylar Mallchok of 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2 Brigade, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division, pulls security in Mulakala, Afghanistan, Aug. 30, 2012. The platoon was searching the town for improvised explosive device materials.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan—U.S. Army Sgt. Jacob Bauer, an infantry team leader with 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Brigade, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division, prepares to lead his paratroopers on a patrol in Mulakala, Afghanistan, Aug. 30, 2012. The paratroopers were searching for an improvised explosive device factory in the village.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan—U.S. Army Spc. Jessie Johnivan and U.S. Army Spc. Kevin Conklin, paratroopers with 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Brigade, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division, pull security on a rooftop in the village of ****uri, Afghanistan, Aug. 29, 2012.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan--Soldiers of 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Brigade, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division, along with an Explosive Ordinance Disposal team, two members of the Security Forces Advise and Assist Team and four Afghan National Army soldiers, prepare to move toward the town of ****uri, Afghanistan, Aug. 29, 2012. The ANA soldiers received intelligence from local nationals that the town had multiple Taliban suspects along with a large amount of weapons.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan—U.S. Army Spc. Skylar Mallchok of 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Brigade, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division and U.S. Army 1st Lt. Philip Bulger with the Security Forces Advise and Assist Team, pull security in a wadi system after receiving enemy contact from the town of ****uri, Afghanistan, Aug. 29, 2012. Bulger was accompanying 3rd Platoon during their 72-hour mission in the area as a liaison between the platoon’s leadership and the Afghan National Army Soldiers.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan—U.S. Army Pfc. Christopher Marshal of 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Brigade, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division, uses his Mine Hound metal detector to search for buried weapons in a compound in Janabad, Afghanistan, Aug. 29, 2012.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan--Paratroopers with 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Brigade, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division, switch security shifts early in the morning, Aug. 30, 2012, in a compound in Mulakala, Afghanistan.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan--Paratroopers of the 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Brigade, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division, prepare to search for a weapons cache after clearing an Afghan compound early Aug. 29, 2012. The paratroopers walked approximately 10 kilometers to the village of Janabad, Afghanistan.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan—U.S. Army Spc. Richard Foust, an infantry team leader with 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Brigade, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division, pulls security on a rooftop in the predawn hours of Aug. 29, 2012, in Janabad, Afghanistan.

[vor033]

Video footage of 2-12 Infantry soldiers at work on Forward Operating Base Joyce in Kunar province, Afghanistan. 04.29.2012

[vor033]

Cpl. Bobby Liverman, an infantryman with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, clears a village of possible threats during Operation Southern Strike III in the village of Jandad Kalay, district of Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. Liverman is from Jacksonville, N.C.

Pfc. David Koo, an infantryman from Atlanta, Ga., provides security during Operation Southern Strike III in the village of Jandad Kalay, Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. Koo is a soldier in Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Pfc. David Koo, an infantryman from Atlanta, Ga., provides security during Operation Southern Strike III in the village of Jandad Kalay, Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. Koo is a soldier in Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Cpl. Bobby Liverman, an infantryman with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, scans down a Jandad Kalay side street during Operation Southern Strike III in the district of Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. Liverman is from Jacksonville, N.C.

Pvt. Jamie Queen, an infantryman with Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, gives a thumbs up with a member of the Afghan Border Police during Operation Southern Strike III in the village of Jandad Kalay, Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. The 1-14th Cavalry is part of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and Combined Task Force Arrowhead. Queen is from Yorkville, Ill.

Pvt. Jamie Queen, an infantryman with Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, scans down a street armed with a Model-249 automatic rifle during Operation Southern Strike III in the village of Jandad Kalay, Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. The 1-14th Cavalry is part of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and Combined Task Force Arrowhead. Queen is from Yorkville, Ill.

Spc. Anthony Avillo, a trooper with Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron of the 14th Cavalry Regiment, finds some shade while providing security down a side street in the village of Jandad Kalay, Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. The 1-14th Cavalry is part of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and Combined Task Force Arrowhead. Avillo hails from Bellevue, Wash.

Capt. Andrew Figer, commander of Bravo Troop, 1st Battalion, 14th Cavalry Regiment, listens to one of his troopers, Staff Sgt. Justin Wenske, while other service member provides security during Operation Southern Strike III in the village of Jandad Kalay, Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. Figer hails from Dripping Springs, Texas.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Nathan Goedert and his military working dog Jacob provide security during Operation Southern Strike III in the village of Jandad Kalay, Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. Goedert is from Alamogordo, N.M. Goedert is stationed at Holoman Air Force Base.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Nathan Goedert, military dog handler, provides security during Operation Southern Strike III in the village of Jandad Kalay, Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. Goedert is from Alamogordo, N.M. Goedert is stationed at Holoman Air Force Base.

From left, Sgt. Joshua White of Roanoke, Va., and Staff Sgt. Justin Wenske of Brush, Col., both cavalry scouts with Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron of the 14th Cavalry Regiment, head towards the Jandad Kalay village during Operation Southern Strike III in the district of Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. The cavalry unit is part of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and Combined Task Force Arrowhead.

From left, Sgt. Joshua White, Spc. Michael Brown and Pfc. Chantz Palmer, soldiers with Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, appear after dismounting their Stryker fighting vehicle during Operation Southern Strike III outside the village of Jandad Kalay in the district of Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. The 1-14th Cavalry is part of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and Combined Task Force Arrowhead.

Spc. Michael Brown, human intelligence collector with Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, scans his sector during Operation Southern Strike III outside the village of Jandad Kalay in the district of Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. The 1-14th Cavalry is part of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and Combined Task Force Arrowhead. Brown is from Laurinburg, N.C.

[vor033]

Air Force Staff Sgt. Nathan Goedert and his military working dog Jacob find some shade during Operation Southern Strike III in the village of Jandad Kalay, Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. Goedert is from Alamogordo, N.M. He is stationed at Holoman Air Force Base.

Cpl. Bobby Liverman, an infantryman with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, takes a knee during Operation Southern Strike III in the village of Jandad Kalay, district of Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. Liverman is from Jacksonville, N.C.

Sgt. Luziano Chavez, a combat medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, holds an overwatch position during Operation Southern Strike III in the district of Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 2, 2012. Chavez is from Indio, Calif.

From left, Pfc. Michael Weymouth and Sgt. Christopher Ouzts, engineers with the 569th Engineer Company, Fort Carson, Col., provide dismounted security for Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Myers and his military working dog Rambo while clearing a hill of IED threats along a route used during Operation Southern Strike III in the district of Takhteh Pol, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2012. The location is the future site of an Afghan Uniformed Police substation. Myers, from Bluffton, Ind., is stationed at Moody Air Force Base with the 820th Security Forces Group.

From left, Pfc. Michael Weymouth and Sgt. Christopher Ouzts, engineers with the 569th Engineer Company, Fort Carson, Col., provide dismounted security for a military dog handler while clearing a hill of IED threats along a route used during Operation Southern Strike III in the district of Takhteh Pol, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2012. The location is the future site of an Afghan Uniformed Police substation.

Engineers with the 569th Engineer Company, Fort Carson, Col., clear a hill of IED threats while mounted along a route used during Operation Southern Strike III in the district of Takhteh Pol, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2012. The location is the future site of an Afghan Uniformed Police substation.

Pfc. Alex Christensen with the 569th Engineer Company, Fort Carson, Col., provides security in a turret during Operation Southern Strike III in the district of Takhteh Pol, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2012. The engineers cleared the site of IED threats in anticipation of the construction of an Afghan Uniformed Police substation.

Engineers with the 569th Engineer Company, Fort Carson, Col., clear a hill of IED threats while mounted along a route used during Operation Southern Strike III in the district of Takhteh Pol, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2012. The location is the future site of an Afghan Uniformed Police substation.

Pfc. Forrest Myers, an engineer and radio telephone operator with the 569th Engineer Company pauses while entering information in a radio while on a route clearance mission during Operation Southern Strike III in the district of Takhteh Pol, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2012.

Lt. Col. Steven Soika, commander of the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, communicates via radio while members of his unit provide security during Operation Southern Strike III in the village of Spin Kariz, Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, 2012. Other soldier are, from left, Cpl. B.J. Buie, Capt. Ryan McHatton and Capt. Brad Goodyear. The 5-20th Infantry is part of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. Soika is from Brunswick, Ohio.

From left, Capt. Brad Goodyear of York Pa., and Sgt. Chris Hagen of Winter Haven, Fla., both servicemen with the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, walk through a tobacco field during Operation Southern Strike III near the village of Spin Kariz in the district of Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, 2012. The 5-20th Infantry is part of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Capt. Ryan McHatton, security officer with the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, walks through a tobacco field during Operation Southern Strike III near the village of Spin Kariz in the district of Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, 2012. McHatton is from Lolo, Mont.

First Lt. Michael Porter, platoon leader with Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron of the 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, and Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Marco, a master-at-arms, take a break while on a dismounted patrol during Operation Southern Strike III near the village of Spin Kariz in the district of Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, 2012.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Marco, a master-at-arms, takes a break while on a dismounted patrol during Operation Southern Strike III near the village of Spin Kariz in the district of Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, 2012. The operation focused on dislocating the enemy from the local populations and connecting the district leadership with outlying villages.

From left, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Irvin Moment and Petty Officer 3rd Class Marco, both master-at-arms, take a break while on a patrol during Operation Southern Strike III in the village of Spin Kariz in the district of Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, 2012. The operation focused on dislocating the enemy from the local populations and connecting the district leadership with outlying villages.

Staff Sgt. Roberts, a soldier with Security Force Assistance Team 11, watches over other service members engaging in a shura during Operation Southern Strike III near the village of Spin Kariz in the district of Spin Boldak, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, 2012.

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A CH-47 Chinook helicopter empties its payload of 2,000 gallons of water on a wildfire near Chelan, Wash. Lightning strikes during a thunderstorm started the fires on the evening of Sept. 9.

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter empties its payload of 660 gallons of water onto a wildfire near Chelan, Wash., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012. Lightning strikes during a thunderstorm started the fires on the evening of Sept. 9.

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter takes off from a helipad near Leavenworth, Wash., to spend the day battling wildfires, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012. Lightning strikes during a thunderstorm started the fires on the evening of Sept. 9.

Staff Sgt. Steven Stretch tosses chock blocks into the back of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, prior to spending the day fighting wildfires near Chelan, Wash. Lightning strikes during a thunderstorm started the fires on the evening of Sept. 9.

A UH-60 Black Hawk crew readies its helicopter for a day of battling wildfires near Leavenworth, Wash., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012. Lightning strikes during a thunderstorm started the fires on the evening of Sept. 9.

A CH-47 Chinook helicopter empties its payload of 2,000 gallons of water on a wildfire near Chelan, Wash. Lightning strikes during a thunderstorm started the fires on the evening of Sept. 9.

[vor033]

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, are conducting a month-long exercise which is focused on platoon level collective training with enabler integration. The training will culminate in a combined arms live fire exercise later this month.

U.S. Army soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, 'Gimlets' pull security after dismounting from a M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicles, (ICV) Sept. 20, 2012, during a live fire exercise at the Pohakuloa Training Area, on Hawaii's Big Island

U.S. Army soldiers, from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, 'Gimlets'; secure the high ground and defend against a counter attack Sept. 20, 2012, during a live fire exercise at the Pohakuloa Training Area, on Hawaii's Big Island.

U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon Ingram, from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, 'Gimlets'; sets a security perimeter Sept. 20, 2012, during a live fire exercise at the Pohakuloa Training Area, on Hawaii's Big Island.

Two U.S. Army soldiers, from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, 'Gimlets'; take a moment to asses the situation Sept. 20, 2012, during a live fire exercise at the Pohakuloa Training Area, on Hawaii's Big Island.

U.S. Army Spc. Kyle Norman with the 66th Engineer Company, 225th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, runs and throws a grappling hook into a simulated mine field. The grappling hook is used to clear a path for combat engineers to clear a barbed wire obstacle with a Bangalore explosive Sept. 20, 2012, during a live fire exercise at the Pohakuloa Training Area, on Hawaii's Big Island.

U.S. Army soldiers with the 66th Engineer Company, 225th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, run for cover after placing a Bangalore explosive to clear a barbed wire obstacle Sept. 20, 2012, during a live fire exercise at the Pohakuloa Training Area, on Hawaii's Big Island.

U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon Ingram, from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, 'Gimlets' take cover behind a hill Sept. 20, 2012, as soldiers with the 66th Engineer Company, 225th Brigade Support Battalion, detonate a Bangalore explosive to clear a barbed wire obstacle during a live fire exercise at the Pohakuloa Training Area, on Hawaii's Big Island.

U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon Ingram, from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, 'Gimlets' gives directions to a fire team Sept. 20, 2012, during a live fire exercise at the Pohakuloa Training Area, on Hawaii's Big Island

U.S. Army Spc. Treven Grimaldi, from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, 'Gimlets'fires a M136 AT4 - Rocket Launcher Sept. 20, 2012, during a live fire exercise at the Pohakuloa Training Area, on Hawaii's Big Island.

U.S. Army soldiers, from 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, 'Gimlets' take a moment to catch their breath Sept. 20, 2012, prior to a commanders, After Action Review (AAR) of a live fire exercise at the Pohakuloa Training Area, on Hawaii's Big Island.

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U.S. Army Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, conduct walk-and-shoot training Oct. 2, 2012 at Fort Campbell, Ky.

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