Professional dog walker Nobuaki Moribe leads his clients' pets across an intersection in Tokyo on Friday, May 28, 2021. (Photo by Hiro Komae/AP Photo)

Tech. Sgt. Milo Hinson, 3rd Combat Camera Squadron, uses a flashlight while shooting a Berretta 9mm during the night-fire portion of Advance Weapons, Tactics and Techniques training in San Antonio. During night-fire training, airmen learn how to tactically illuminate targets with flashlights and practice using night vision goggles. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder/U.S. Air Force). 2011

A Brussels Airlines aircraft prepares for landing in Cointrin airport during sunrise over the Mont Blanc in Geneva December 1, 2011. (Photo by Denis Balibouse/Reuters)

From left, Brazilian model Adriana Lima, British model Lily Donaldson, Brazilian model Alessandra Ambrosio, US model Taylor Hill, and US model Martha Hunt acknowledge applause during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show inside the Grand Palais, in Paris, Wednesday, November 30, 2016. The pulse-quickening, celebrity-filled catwalk event of the year: the Victoria's Secret fashion show takes place in Paris with performances from Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. (Photo by Francois Mori/AP Photo)

Dutch collaborators under arrest at Nijmegan, Holland. They were rounded up after the capture of Nijmegan Bridge by the Allies. (Photo by H. Warhurst/PNA Rota/Getty Images). 1945

Hotel staff practice self-defence skills after a training session given by team member of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, April 7, 2016. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

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.

Myanmar T-72 battle tank competes in an individual race of the Tank Biathlon competition as part of the 7th International Army Games 2021 at the Alabino training ground, Moscow region, Russia, 27 August 2021. The 7th International Military-Technical Forum “Army-2021” is held from 22 August till 04 September 2021 at 23 military training grounds of 11 countries. Five thousand participants of 277 teams from 42 countries compete in 34 military contests. (Photo by Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA/EFE)