A tea ceremony master use the Hishaku made by bamboo and makes a tea during the outdoor tea ceremony at Zuihoji Temple Park on November 3, 2011 in Kobe, Japan. The tea ceremony began in 1950 to commemorate the 14th century governor Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his tea master Sen no Rikyu, who are said to visit this area and enjoyed tea ceremonies. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)

The pit lane is reflected in the visor of a Mercedes Formula One pit crew member during the second practice session of the Australian F1 Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne March 13, 2015. REUTERS/Brandon Malone

A dog and its owner perform a routine in the main arena on Day three of Crufts at the Birmingham NEC Arena on March 10, 2012 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

People walk past the 23-foot “Unitled (LAMP/BEAR)” outdoor sculpture of a teddy bear by artist Urs Fischer April 8, 2011 in New York City. The 35,000 pound sculpture of a yellow teddy bear with a working lamp will be on display for five months in front of the Seagram Building in Manhattan. The sculpture is expected to sell for more than $10 million at Christie’s Post-War & Contemporary Evening Sale on May 11. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The sun catches on the panels of a 1928 Rolls Royce Phantom at Northington Grange, the summer home of the Grange Park Opera, on April 16, 2011 near Winchester, England. The English Heritage Grade 1 listed Greek Revival style property was the setting for the inter-war Rolls Royce20-Ghost Club members which was founded in 1949 by a group of owners of vintage Rolls Royce cars. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

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.