Throughout the course of the long war in Afghanistan, Coalition troops have relied on thousands of military working dogs to help keep them safe, and make their jobs easier. The dogs are trained to detect explosives, to find illegal drugs, to search for missing comrades, or target enemy combatants. Not only are they active on the front lines, but behind the lines they serve as therapy dogs, service dogs, and loyal companions. They also share the same risks as the ground troops, suffering injuries and sometimes death on the battlefields. Gathered here are images of these dogs and their handlers in Afghanistan and back home, from over the past several years, part of the ongoing series here on Afghanistan.

Racegoers in fashionable hats attend Ladies Day at Cheltenham Festival on March 15, 2017 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by David Davies/PA Wire)

Brazilian model Adriana Lima continues her vacation in Marbella, Spain on July 29, 2019. Dressed in a short blue jumpsuit. (Photo by The Mega Agency)

American actress and singer Lucy Hale seen on location for “Katy Keene” on the streets of Manhattan on October 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/GC Images)

British actress Jameela Jamil arrives at the 2019 InStyle Awards at The Getty Center on October 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Actress Ella Balinska attends a Charlie's Angels VIP Screening Hosted by Elizabeth Banks and Natalie Zfat, in Partnership with Harry & David at AMC Empire 25 on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)

Competitors climb in front of the Matterhorn mountain at the start of the 21st Glacier Patrol race in Stafel outside the ski resort of Zermatt, Switzerland, 18 April 2018. The Glacier Patrol (Patrouille des Glaciers in French), organized by the Swiss Army, takes place from April 17 to 21. Highly-experienced hiker-skiers trek for over 53km (3994m ascent and 4090m descent) along the Haute Route along the Swiss-Italian border from Zermatt to Verbier. (Photo by Valentin Flauraud/EPA/EFE)

A heavily tattooed Japanese woman poses for photographs near Asakusa Temple during the third and final day of Sanja Festival, on May 20, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. Sanja Festival is one of Japan's major festivals and is held annually in the Asakusa area of Tokyo. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)