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.

Unwanted phones recreated as interactive birds, part of “Escape III” by Anthony Goh and Neil Mendoza seen on display at the Barbican's Digital Revolution exhibition on July 2, 2014 in London, England. The exhibition brings together artists, designers, film makers, musicians and architects who push the boundaries of creativity that digitial technology can offer, and runs from July 3 until September 14, 2014. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images for Barbican Art Gallery)

A woman photographs a Norwegian spruce Christmas tree from Oslo after it was lit at Trafalgar Square in central London, December 4, 2014. (Photo by Toby Melville/Reuters)

South Korea's Amry Special Warfare Command (SWC) soldiers aim their machine guns in a frozen river during a winter exercise in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Thursday, January 8, 2015. About 200 SWC soldiers participated in this routine two-week winter drill. (Photo by Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo)

Relatives of a missing person scuffle with police officers on the bank of the Yangtze River, near Jingjiang, Jiangsu province January 17, 2015. A search and rescue operation was still underway after the boat capsized on January 15, leaving 22 people missing, including foreigners. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)

A Virgin Atlantic passenger plane flies in the sky with the moon seen in the background, in London, Britain January 19, 2016. (Photo by Toby Melville/Reuters)

Professional wrestler Eva Marie attends the Kaleidoscope Ball at 3LABS on May 21, 2016 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Sniper rifles sit on display for sale at the “Ready Gunner” gun store in Provo, Utah, U.S., June 21, 2016. (Photo by George Frey/Reuters)