Amy Rimmer, Research Engineer at Jaguar Land Rover, demonstrates the car manufacturer's Advanced Highway Assist in a Range Rover, which drives the vehicle, overtakes and can detect vehicles in the blind spot, during the first demonstrations of the UK Autodrive Project at HORIBA MIRA Proving Ground in Nuneaton, Warwickshire on Friday October 21, 2016. (Photo by Fabio De Paola/PA Wire)

Ranger trainees and trainee dogs simulate an ambush against rhino poachers at the Paramount Group Anti-Poaching training and K9 (canine) academy on November 26, 2014 in Magaliesberg, South Africa. One of the largest of its kind in Africa, the Academy will address the ever increasing need for training of Conservation Officers in anti poaching activities, wildlife contraband detection, specialist K9 solutions and Ranger K9 handler training – all of which have proven success rates in combatting and apprehending poachers and their activities. (Photo by Gianluigi Guercia/AFP Photo)

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.

A man smashes an apple with a sword placed on the head of a man wearing a knave costume during the Easter knight event on April 21, 2014 in Berlin. The easter knight event delivers an insight into medieval lifestyle. (Photo by Rainer Jensen/AFP Photo/DPA)

iPhone 4 hard case cover with portrait of Steve Jobs are on sale on October 9, 2011 in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province of China. Apple co-founder Jobs died on October 5, 2011 at the age of 56. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)

Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide product marketing Phil Schiller speaks about the new iPhone 4s at the company's headquarters October 4, 2011 in Cupertino, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Flowers and an iPad showing a picture of Steve Jobs are placed at a makeshift memorial for Steve Jobs at the Apple headquarters on October 5, 2011 in Cupertino, California. Jobs, 56, passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer... (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

A screen shows the new Automated Target Recognition software as a TSA employee, who couldn't provide her name, waits to walk into the advanced imaging technology unit to demostrate the new software that has been installed at Miami International Airport on August 23, 2011 in Miami, Florida. The new software is designed to enhance passenger privacy by eliminating passenger-specific images and instead auto-detecting potential threat items and indicating their location on a screen which shows a generic outline of a person. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)