Military Interactions With Children

Images depict military personnel interacting with local children, distributing food and supplies, set against a backdrop of war-torn environments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

040325-M-5753Q-013. Base: Rawah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

030409-M-9792P-010. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 11th Marines Regiment

051207-A-2718K-051. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Mosul Country: Iraq (IRQ)

Cpl. Sadie M. McCombs, a Marine with the female engagement team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, hands food to Afghan children during a patrol through the village of Tajik Khar in Garmsir, Afghanistan, Dec. 18. With Easy Company, 2/2, and local Afghan National Army providing security, the FET moved from compound to compound, hoping to speak to the females to discuss what medical care and humanitarian assistance was needed for them.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Galen Murphy-Fahlgren, a 22-year-old anti-tank missileman with Combined Anti-Armor Team 2, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and a native of Canton, Mich., hands candy to a group of Afghan children during a partnered security patrol with Afghan Border Police here, Jan. 30. In southern Garmsir district, an area with a history of tribal conflict, the growing ABP force has deepened its roots and established governance through the mentorship of the 3/3 Weapons Co. Marines. The ABP is younger and significantly smaller than the Afghan National Army and police forces, but its mission is vital as Afghan forces prepare to assume lead security responsibility in Garmsir. ÄúIf the ABP didnÄôt exist, there would be holes all along AfghanistanÄôs southern border,Äù said Capt. Jason Armas, 33, the commanding officer of Weapons Co., 3/3, and a native of Rye, N.Y.

040325-M-5753Q-013. Base: Rawah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

070105-A-6553F-010. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM State: Babil Country: Iraq (IRQ)

A U.S. Army Soldier from Delta Company 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division holds an Iraqi child in Al Buaytha, Iraq, Nov. 17, 2007.

070205-A-1985S-070. Base: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: EUROPE

040414-F-2902B-006. Base: Sadr City State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ)

051110-M-4314O-021. Base: Al Iskandariyah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

A U.S. Army Soldier from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment talks with a local Iraqi boy during a routine presence patrol through the Al Furat section of Baghdad, Iraq, Aug. 20, 2007.

060212-N-6901L-190. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Istaqal Country: Iraq (IRQ)

040713-M-5505M-014. Base: Fallujah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

September 8, 2009 - U.S. Marine patrols through the Nawa bazaar with an Afghan boy in the Nawa district of Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Petty Officer 1st Class Freddy Mejia, a corpsmen with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, inspects a cut on Khalids forehead in Now Zad, May 19. Khalid, a young Afghan boy, fell off of a motorcycle the day before and injured his head. While on patrol, Marines spotted the boy and took him to the corpsmen to inspect the bandage. Mejia, a 30-year-old native of Puerto Rico, determined he could help the boy, cleaned the wound and applied a fresh bandage. The village has an Afghan doctor, but Marines still provide medical care when needed.

040106-F-1798W-025. Country: Iraq (IRQ)

060326-A-1211S-062. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Forward Operating Base Gabe Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: A

A US Marine Corps (USMC) Marine 1ST Platoon (PLT), Echo Company (E CO), 2nd Battalion (BN), 2nd Marines, stands guard over a local Iraqis awaiting questioning during Operation Trifecta under Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Base: Zaidaon State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

050718-A-9039F-088. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Bagram Airfield State: Parwan Country: Afghanistan (AFG) Scene Major Command Shown: CJTF-76

Herat Afghanistan - Brig. Gen. Michael A. Ryan, U.S. Forces Afghanistan, offers his condolences to families of those killed during an operation targeting insurgents near Herat province, Feb.17, 2009. The joint U.S. and Afghan investigation discovered weapons and ammunitions at the site. Brig. Gen. Ryan also met with key village leaders to convey his commitment to security in the region and throughout Afghanistan.

U.S. Marines and Jordanian Soldiers assigned to the Quick Response Force Brigade observe a target during an all-female marksmanship subject matter expert exchange between U.S. Marines and Jordanian Soldiers in Zarqa, Jordan, Feb. 21, 2024. U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command and the Jordanian Armed Forces developed the exchange to highlight the similarities in marksmanship training and the impacts that inclusivity has within our militaries. Marine Corps

060121-A-2777C-043. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Mosul Country: Iraq (IRQ)

Tech Sgt. Latha Caillouette, Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul structures engineer, talks with contractors during a site visit to a proposed bridge erosion control project near Shah Joy, Afghanistan, March 4. The PRT is comprised of Air Force, Army, Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. Department of Agriculture personnel who work with the government of Afghanistan to improve governance, stability and development throughout the province.

050718-A-9039F-051. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Bagram Airfield State: Parwan Country: Afghanistan (AFG) Scene Major Command Shown: CJTF-76

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Brian Sandau treats an Afghan girl for burns on her leg during a civil affairs group patrol with U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment and Afghan National Army soldiers in the Nawa District of Helmand Province, Afghanistan, July 17, 2009. Due to the increased number of security patrols in the area, more locals have been seen in public. The Marines are deployed to support NATO's International Security Assistance Force and will participate in counterinsurgency operations. The will train and mentor Afghan National Security Forces to improve security and stability in the country.

040801-F-5789F-009. Base: Balad State: Salah Ad Din Country: Iraq (IRQ)

030408-M-5607A-025. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Country: Iraq (IRQ)

040906-F-2034C-014. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Balad State: Salah Ad Din Country: Iraq (IRQ)

A U.S. Army Soldier from Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division greets a local boy in Al Buaytha, Iraq, Nov. 17, 2007.

050929-A-2098S-016. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Forward Operating Base Marez State: Mosul Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 172ND SBCT

A soldier from the Afghan National Army and a local Afghan boy enjoy a light moment during a patrol in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 25, 2010. The ANA soldiers and Marines from India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, patrolled through a residential section of the city to conduct counterinsurgency operations as part of Operation Moshtarak, a push to rid Marjah of Taliban presence and intimidation.

050828-F-4441R-231. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ)

060121-A-5745M-007. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Liberty State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 10TH MTN DIV

050428-F-3408B-043. Country: Iraq (IRQ)

050718-A-9039F-092. Subject Operation/Series: SWARMER Base: Samarra State: Salah Ad Din Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION (AA)

060128-A-7969G-014. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Cooke (TAJI) State: Salah Ad Din Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: A490CA

060326-A-5745M-037. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Liberty State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 10TH MTN

050918-A-3749Z-001. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Sharon State: Paktia Country: Afghanistan (AFG) Scene Major Command Shown: 1ST BN (ABN) 508TH INF

070110-A-7438M-010. State: Salah Ad Din Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: SOUTHEAST

030430-M-5972A-015. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Country: Iraq (IRQ)

020819-A-6042E-025. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Paktia Country: Afghanistan (AFG)

050117-A-5043I-009. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 10TH MOUNTAIN

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Corey West, from 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, watches and smiles while a young Iraqi girl tries on his sunglasses in Ja'ara, Iraq, Aug. 31, 2007.

050702-A-9144B-104. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Country: Unknown Scene Major Command Shown: 1/11 ACR

060313-A-5043I-020. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Ramadi Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 109TH INFANTRY

060312-N-7586B-202. Base: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ)

050126-F-8584G-147. Base: Logistics Support Area Anaconda Country: Iraq (IRQ)

050718-A-9039F-036. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Bagram Airfield State: Parwan Country: Afghanistan (AFG) Scene Major Command Shown: CJTF-76

050816-A-0575B-033. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Bagram Airfield State: Parwan Country: Afghanistan (AFG) Scene Major Command Shown: CJTF76

051008-A-8255A-137. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Al Riyad State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: NORTHEAST

060117-A-5745M-038. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Liberty State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 10TH MTN DIV

051228-A-7969G-020. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Cooke State: Taji Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 320FA,CA

041025-A-9039F-008. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Charharikar Country: Afghanistan (AFG)

060317-A-5745M-011. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Liberty State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 10TH MTN DIV

030516M-0367H-013. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Karbala Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 3rd BN 7th MAR

020524-F-2902B-001. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Bagram Air Base State: Parwan Country: Afghanistan (AFG)

990628-M-5696S-048. Subject Operation/Series: JOINT GUARDIAN Base: Zegra State: Kosovo Country: Yugoslavia (YUG) Scene Major Command Shown: 26th Marine Expedtionary Unit

060318-A-0527A-015. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Kandahar Airfield Country: Afghanistan (AFG)

Lance Corporal (LCPL) William Kazy gets a low-five from a Kurdish evacuee while he and his partner LCPL Derrell Cason walk their post during Marine Joint Task Force Operation PACIFIC HAVEN. PACIFIC HAVEN provided Kurdish evacuees political asylum from Iraq. While on Guam, the Kurds are provided shelter, food, clothing, medical care and assimilation classes for life in the United States. Subject Operation/Series: PACIFIC HAVEN Base: Tiyan State: Guam (GU) Country: Northern Mariana Islands (MNP)

Sgt. 1st Class Scott Shepro, a platoon sergeant with the 82nd Airborne Divisions 1st Brigade Combat Team, meets with village elders during a foot patrol with Afghan soldiers May 8, 2012, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Shepros platoon is assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

060501-A-0527A-003. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Kandahar Airfield Country: Afghanistan (AFG)

040619-F-5789F-009. Base: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ)

040329-M-5753Q-112. Base: Hadithah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

030502-F-7203T-003. Subject Operation/Series: OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ)

A U.S. Army Soldier with the 153rd Medical Detachment (Blood Support), 56th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 62nd Medical Brigade, conducts a practical exercise wearing advanced chemical protective garments on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Sept. 23, 2022. The practical exercise was the culmination of a 2-day introductory course on chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incident basics, taught by decontamination subject matter experts with the Washington National Guards 10th Homeland Response Force.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Alexander Schell, facilities management staff officer assigned to 3st Battalion, 71st Cavalry Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, shakes hands with an Afghan National Army soldier from 1st Afghan National Army Battalion, 1st ANA Brigade, 205th Hero Corps, who provided security for a mosque opening ceremony April 1, at Tarok Kolache village in Arghandab District. Schell, a native of Center Line, Mich., helped provide security for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the mosque. The mosque is the first completed structure in a massive joint reconstruction effort by Tarok Kolache landowners and International Security Assistance Forces since the village, previously a Taliban stronghold, was destroyed October 2011, in an effort to rid it of insurgents.

Army Staff Sgt. Will Gingras pulls security at the gate of the Shah Joy Boys School, Zabul province, Afghanistan, while engineers from Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul inspect construction at the new school, April 9. The new school will house 20 classrooms and replace the old school next door. Sgt. Gingras is assigned to PRT Zabul's security Force.

Air Force Reserve Capt. Andrea Uchiyama, 419th Security Forces Squadron, vaults a teammate over a wall during the CIOR 2022 Land Obstacle Course in Athens, Greece on August 2, 2022. The Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers Military Competition is an annual reserve military competition with NATO member states and other participating nations with 34 countries in total, representing 1.3 million reservists. The MILCOMP, which has been held since 1957, is a military pentathlon testing service members in pistol and rifle marksmanship, land and water obstacles and orienteering. (U.S. Army Reserve phot by Staff Sgt. David Graves)

U.S. Army Maj. Ian Lauer of Echo Troop, 5th Calvary Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, presents an Iraqi student at a school in Tunis, Iraq, with a backpack on March 12, 2009.

030217-M-5150A-007. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Camp Coyote Country: Kuwait (KWT) Scene Major Command Shown: 7th Marines

060326-A-5745M-006. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Liberty State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 10TH MTN

030408-M-5607A-023. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Country: Iraq (IRQ)

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mark Martin, left, civil affairs team leader for Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Farah, and Ray Sudweeks, right, U.S. Department of State representative in Farah, pass out toys and school supplies to Afghan children during a visit to a returnee and refugee village, Feb. 9. PRT Farah visited the returnee and refugee village on the outskirts of Farah City to conduct a site survey and deliver humanitarian assistance. PRT Farah's mission is to train, advise and assist Afghan government leaders at the municipal, district and provincial levels in Farah province, Afghanistan. Their civil military team is comprised of members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, the U.S. Department of State and the Agency for International Development (USAID).

061202-F-4925S-052. Base: Dire Dawa Country: Ethiopia (ETH)

051002-A-4339E-011. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Liberty State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 48TH BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Daniel Feeney, a motor transport operator chief with Combat Logistics Battalion 6 (CLB-6), Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, is welcomed by his family after returning from Finland on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Dec. 8, 2022. Task Force Red Cloud, headquartered by elements of CLB-6, was deployed to Finland in support of Exercises SYD 2022 and Freezing Winds 2022 to enhance U.S. and Finnish select interdependence in the maritime domain; solidify bilateral maritime maneuver within the Finnish littoral environment; and foster strong relationships between U.S. Marine Corps and Finnish Defense Force sustainment units.

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Justine Roberts, public affairs officer with I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), shows the children how to use a jump-rope, May 15, during a village medical outreach outside Naw-Abad. Marines and medical officers from Brigade Headquarters Group and 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, I MEF (FWD), and an Afghan national army medic from Camp Shorabak, set up and conducted the outreach to provide medical care and assess long term medical needs.

030411-F-8362B-032. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: An Nasariyah State: Dhi Qar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

051010-A-1327A-042. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Bagram State: Parwan Country: Afghanistan (AFG) Scene Major Command Shown: CJTF76

041201-M-6795S-006. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Khowst Country: Afghanistan (AFG)

040809-A-1581H-018. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Al Hillah Country: Iraq (IRQ)

050718-A-9039F-039. Subject Operation/Series: GLORY LIGHT Base: Sadr Al Yusufiyah Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 2ND BTL. 4TH BGD. 6TH IA DIV

060418-A-3749Z-015. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Bagram Airfield State: Parwan Country: Afghanistan (AFG) Scene Major Command Shown: CJTF-76

A U.S. Soldier from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 6th Infantry Division, assigned to Task Force Regulars receives a lift from an Iraqi boy and his mule on Route Douglas in the Jameela Market in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq, May 31, 2008.

Spc. Brianna Massey, combat medic from the 1st Battalion, 163rd Cavalry Regiment inserts a nasopharyngeal airway device into Spc. Hannah McCabe, combat medic from the 1st Battalion, 163rd Cavalry Regiment during a hands-on medical training portion of a combat life saver class (CLS) class at the Joint Training Center, Jordan, July 31, 2022. The course went over the tactical field care process, where Soldiers are taught how to properly treat a variety of different injuries and wounds in a field setting.

060326-A-5745M-008. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Liberty State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 10TH MTN

120424-N-AC887-015HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (April 24, 2012) Secretary of the Navy the Honorable Ray Mabus hands out candy to Afghan children near Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Mabus conducted battlefield circulations with Marine and Navy forces, received updates on progress from coalition and Afghan leaders, and thanked service members for their service and sacrifice.

060402-N-2653P-332. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Kabul Military Training Facility Country: Afghanistan (AFG)

031207-F-9629J-009. Base: Byhassan Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: AMC

050805-F-4441R-091. Base: White Gold Village State: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ)

060720-N-6893T-001. Base: Beirut Country: Lebanon (LBN)

040809-F-1351B-007. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ)

041116-F-2034C-041. Complete Scene Caption: US Army (USA) Specialists (SPC) William Randall assigned to Charlie Troop, 1-4 Cavalry, 1ST Infantry Division, carries his 5.56mm M16A2 rifle at the ready position as he provides security for his team and the Iraqi National Guard (ING) as they pass out flyers and candy for Operation Paper Cut in Ad Dwr, Iraq, during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Paper Cut is an information operation conducted by Charlie Troop and the Iraqi National Guard to prevent Anti-Iraqi influence in the area by handing out flyers letting local Iraqis know they are here to build a bridge of friendship and how to contact the police, Iraqi National Guard or Joint Coordination center if they are threatened and how to get medical assistance if hurt. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Ad Dwr Country: Iraq (IRQ)

040607-M-0631S-024. Base: Camp Ali State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 1-BCT

A U.S. Air Force Airman from 506th Air Expeditionary Group, a U.S. Army Soldier and a Turkish air force member transport an Iraqi child to safety during a multinational humanitarian airlift effort on Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq, July 8, 2007. The victim was hurt in an attack in Tuz Khurmato, Iraq. Airmen from the 506th Air Expeditionary Group and Turkish army and air force members worked together to receive, transfer and medevac almost 30 injured Turkmen civilians and family members to the Turkish capital city of Ankara for further treatment.

040415-M-6553M-044. Base: Port-Au-Prince Country: Haiti (HTI)

050505-M-9656F-013. Base: Al Iskandariyah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 155BCT

051208-A-0673W-015. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Victory, Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ)

U.S. Army Capt. Jan Rose, of Charlie Company, 431st Civil Affairs Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, medically evaluates a local national during a humanitarian mission in Tahrir, Iraq, June 30, 2007.

060127-A-1526R-106. Base: Poptun State: Peten Country: Guatemala (GTM)

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