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.

Two robotic legged squad support system (LS3) machines by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency follow a technician during a demonstration at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia, on September 10, 2012. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mallory S. VanderSchans via The Atlantic)

Silver medalist Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot of Kenya and gold medalist Almaz Ayana (R) of Ethiopia during the medal ceremony for the women's 10000m final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Athletics, Track and Field events at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 12 August 2016. (Photo by Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA)

John and Edward Grimes of the band Jedward from Ireland peform at a dress rehearsal the day before the second semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 on May 11, 2011 in Duesseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Sumo wrestlers in their women's match at the 2021 Russian Sumo Championship at Ak Bars Wrestling Palace in Kazan, Russia on February 14, 2021. There are over 6,000 sumo wrestlers in Russia. (Photo by Yegor Aleyev/TASS)

A model is seen backstage, having makeup applied, ahead of the Casely-Hayford show during The London Collections Men SS17 at BFC Show Space on June 11, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

2016 Rio Olympics, Weightlifting, Final, Women's 63kg, Riocentro, Pavilion 2, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 9, 2016. Marina Rodriguez (CUB) of Cuba competes. (Photo by Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)