On Patrol

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Afghan President Hamid Karzai stand at the Pentagon on Thursday during a ceremony to honor Karzai. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Nevin Mills reunites with his daughter after returning home early Thursday at Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado. The 140th Wing spent three months in support of U.S. Central Command and Africa Command. Colorado Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Wolfram M. Stumpf

Musicians from Topside, of the U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band, play a song Tuesday while Joanna Emilia dances. Topside performed in the fishing town of Salamansa in Cape Verde as part of Africa Partnership Station, an initiative aimed at strengthening maritime relationships. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Felicito Rustique

U.S. soldiers and sailors come together before their provincial reconstruction team leaves Sunday for a mission in Farah City, Afghanistan. The group met with local leaders to discuss economic growth initiatives. U.S. Navy photo by Lieutenant Junior Grade Matthew Stroup

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael Lennon, assigned to NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan at Camp Eggers in Kabul, pulls the Lanyard of a D-30 Howitzer during testing on Sunday. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kleynia R. McKnight