Jonathan Saruk Photography

Images: Afghan Boot Camp

Soldiers of the Afghanistan National Army take an oath to defend their country during a mid-course ceremony at the Kabul Military Training Center March 19, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan. A group of 1,200 soldiers have completed five weeks of training of a ten week course. Approximately 25,000 soldiers a year graduate from the program located on the outskirts of Kabul. Increasing the number of Afghan soldiers is a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
   
New recruits for the Afghanistan National Army are inspected by an officer before being split into platoons November 12, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. Platoons are organized so that educated soldiers are evenly dispersed and so that they are ethnically diverse. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
   
A mural of soldiers of the Afghanistan National Army inside a building at the Kabul Military Training Center March 19, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Approximately 25,000 soldiers a year graduate from the center located on the outskirts of Kabul. Increasing the number of Afghan soldiers is a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
     
  
New recruits for the Afghanistan National Army stand at attention before sunrise during physical training November 27, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
   
New recruits for the Afghanistan National Army perform exercises at sunrise during physical training November 27, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
   
A new recruit for the Afghanistan National Army performs physical training at sunrise November 27, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
     
  
A new recruit for the Afghanistan National Army waits instructions from an officer during shooting practice November 29, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
   
New recruits for the Afghanistan National Army are given instructions before entering the mess hall November 13, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
   
A new recruit for the Afghanistan National Army, as seen through a target during firing practice, waits to be evaluated by an officer November 25, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
     
  
New recruits for the Afghanistan National Army eat breakfast after completing their physical training at sunrise November 27, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
   
New recruits for the Afghanistan National Army file out of the barracks before sunrise to do physical training November 27, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
   
New recruits for the Afghanistan National Army march from their barracks to the firing range November 29, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
     
  
New recruits for the Afghanistan National Army play volleyball November 27, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
  
Soldiers of the Afghanistan National Army take an oath to defend their country during a mid-course ceremony at the Kabul Military Training Center March 19, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan. A group of 1,200 soldiers have completed five weeks of training of a ten week course. Approximately 25,000 soldiers a year graduate from the program located on the outskirts of Kabul. Increasing the number of Afghan soldiers is a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
   
New recruits for the Afghanistan National Army load AK-47 magazines at the firing range November 29, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
     
  
A new recruit for the Afghanistan National Army waits at his target to be evaluated by an officer after shooting practice November 29, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
   
New recruits for the Afghanistan National Army enter the firing range before shooting practice November 29, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
   
AK-47s and books with excerpts from the Koran lay on a table as soldiers of the Afghanistan National Army take an oath to defend their country during a mid-course ceremony at the Kabul Military Training Center March 19, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan. A group of 1,200 soldiers have completed five weeks of training of a ten week course. Approximately 25,000 soldiers a year graduate from the program located on the outskirts of Kabul. Increasing the number of Afghan soldiers is a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
     
  
Soldiers of the Afghanistan National Army take an oath to defend their country during a mid-course ceremony at the Kabul Military Training Center March 19, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan. A group of 1,200 soldiers have completed five weeks of training of a ten week course. Approximately 25,000 soldiers a year graduate from the program located on the outskirts of Kabul. Increasing the number of Afghan soldiers is a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
   
A new recruit for the Afghanistan National Army waits at his target to be evaluated by an officer after shooting practice November 29, 2008 at Camp Zafar outside of Herat, Afghanistan. The group of 800 recruits are the inaugural class of the training center, which hopes to increase the number of Afghan soldiers in the field, a major goal of coalition forces in Afghanistan.