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Photo 6. A discovered radio-controlled IED found along Route Bronze in the Haditha Triad.

Photo 7. Searching Iraqi soldiers for contraband, weapons, and military property before they are sent on leave to Najaf.

Photo 8. Typical scene along Route Bronze, the main route between Camp Ali and Asad Airbase.

Photo 9. The standard operating procedure for the Iraqi army upon returning from leave: reunite with friends, tell war stories from back home, and wander aimlessly around the Iraqi brigade camp.

Photo 10. Iraqi soldiers jammed into the Leylands, excited about catching the leave buses in Al Asad.

Photo 11. [
left to right
] The author, Qatan, and Major Gaines fishing in the Euphrates to supplement the Iraqi diet.

Photo 12. The author enjoying the company of Iraqi soldiers during a meal.

Photo 13. The MiTT and the Iraqi army secure the Barwana market so the MiTT can purchase food to supplement the Iraqi soldiers' diet

Photo 14. The convoy prepared to carry the Iraqi army to war has a malfunction along Route Bronze and the Iraqi soldiers try to solve the problem.

Photo 15. During a combat patrol through Haditha, we stopped to conduct an overwatch mission in order to capture or kill IED emplacers along the main route through town. At the conclusion of our mission, a young boy [
second from left
] alerted us to an insurgent ambush awaiting us across the street. We quickly adjusted our patrol route and returned to base safely.

Photo 16. Iraqi soldiers express their excitement before they conduct their first independent convoy.

Photo 17. [
Left to right
] Ali Jabber, Mohammed, and the author on board a speedboat on Lake Qadisiyah.

Photo 18. Ali Jabber directs the island inhabitants to line up and show their identification to his Iraqi soldiers in order to determine who the Egyptian insurgents are.