ANCIENT MONASTERY

U.S. Army Capt. Rick Brunson, Chaplain, center, explains to soldiers how this building was a scriptorium for monks that once occupied the Saint Elijah Monastery long ago at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq, Jan. 21, 2009. Brunson is assigned to the 215th Brigade Support Battalion. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. JoAnn S. Makinano

SWEEPING VIEW

U.S. Army Cpl. Oscar Tovar takes a knee during a sweep to check Main Supply Route Tampa for improvised explosive devices as part of an un-mounted route clearance, outside of Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq, Jan 3, 2009. Tovar is assigned to 172nd Infantry Brigade's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Wendy Wyman

RADIO REPORT

U.S. Army 1st. Lt. Matt Kotlarski uses Spc. Richard Petrus' radio to give an update to the command element while supporting the Iraqi Police 1st Emergency Reaction Force Battalion as they clear sections of Mufrek, Iraq, from Al-Qaeda influences, Jan. 16, 2009. The soldiers are assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Walter J. Pels

SEA HAWK AT SEA

U.S. Navy sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis watch as an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter transfers cargo during a replenishment at sea with the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Bridge in the western Pacific Ocean, Jan. 18, 2009. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Walter M. Wayman

POLLING STATION

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Steve Smith checks his surroundings during a voting site assessment Jan. 26, 2009, in the Al Karradah district of eastern Baghdad, Iraq, to prepare for upcoming provincial elections. Smith, a platoon leader, is assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Alex Licea

PLAN OF ACTION

U.S. Army Capt. Brian Sweigart discusses the best plan of action for searching an Istaqlal Qada neighborhood with an Iraqi police officer during a combined patrol northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 23, 2009, to secure the community before the upcoming provincial elections. Sweigart commands the 25th Infantry Division's Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Brad Willeford

SUNRISE STRETCH

U.S. Marines participate in physical training on the last day of a corporals course on Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, Jan. 29, 2008. The Marines are assigned to 9th Provisional Security Forces, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. The goal of the two-week course is developing the leadership skills of the corporals. U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph L. Swafford Jr.

PROOF

Iraqi National Police officers show their purple index fingers as proof of having voted outside the Abu Ghraib Boys High School, Jan. 28, 2009. Iraqi Security Forces, detainees, hospital patients and other special needs cases were given the opportunity to vote three days before the general population in the provincial elections, scheduled for Jan. 31. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brock Jones