FORT STEWART EXERCISE

U.S. Army soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division load a simulated casualty into an M113 armored personnel carrier during a mission readiness exercise at Fort Stewart, Ga., Sept. 25, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Alfred Johnson

SECURITY DRILL

U.S. Army soldiers from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division tighten up security at the front gate of a mock Forward Operating Base during a mission readiness exercise at Fort Stewart, Ga., being held in preparation for an upcoming deployment to Iraq, Sept. 26, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Johancharles Van Boers

MORNING MISSION

A Polish army soldier with the Civilian Military Cooperation unit at Camp Echo, Iraq, prepares for a morning convoy mission to Ghammas, Iraq, to inspect a completed engineering project by an Iraqi contractor, Sept. 27, 2006. The Polish CIMIC funds, contracts, and inspects projects. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dawn M. Price

MEDICAL CLINIC SURVEY

Polish army Lt. Col Andrzej Kujawa, commander of the Civilian Military Cooperation unit at Camp Echo, Iraq, shakes hands with Iraqi doctors following a site survey at a medical clinic in Ghammas, Iraq, Sept. 27, 2006. The Polish CIMIC funds, contracts, and inspects projects. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dawn M. Price

FAST-ROPE EXERCISE

Explosive Ordnance Disposalmen conduct a fast-rope exercise from an SH-60F Seahawk helicopter aboard the USS John C. Stennis in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 28, 2006. U.S Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Johnnie Robbins

EXERCISE IN THE PACIFIC

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Fornengo and Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Rowe, USS Paul Hamilton, stand by to pick up their Visit, Board, Search and Seizure team members as they board a civilian ship during an exercise in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 26, 2006. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jon Hyde

LOADING INTO A CH-53

U.S. Marines with the Helicopter Support Team pile into a CH-53E Super Stallion after successfully completing the recovery of an immobilized UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq, Sept. 27, 2006. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. James B. Hoke

NATO-RUSSIA COUNCIL

United Kingdom Minister of Defense Des Browne, left, and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld attend a NATO-Russia Council meeting, at Portoroz, Slovenia, Sept. 29, 2006. Rumsfeld was in Slovenia to meet with Slovenian leaders and attend the NATO Defense Ministerial. Defense Dept. photo by James M. Bowman