For centuries Afghanistan has found itself stuck in the middle of war and conflict. Still despite topping the news cycle early on in the Global War on Terror (that is not over by the way) many have little insight as to what it is like to deploy, live and operate in the war torn country. The following pages will give you a glimpse into just what a day in the life of a US patriot in Afghanistan is as well as the dangerous terrain in which they operate.
Terrain: Contrary to many beliefs, Afghanistan is not a giant desert. The terrain in the war torn country is extremely diverse and often times difficult for even the most skilled mountaineer. The Hindu Kush mountains stretch along the Afghanistan/Pakistan border and maintain some of the highest peaks in the world. Their highest point, Terichmir, is found across the Afghan border in the violent, Taliban controlled district of Chitral. Its peak tops out at 25,289 ft.
Don’t trust us on the terrain? Take a peek from these F-15E Strike Eagles. With the rugged terrain in Afghanistan and higher elevations comes frigid temperatures and snow-capped peaks. You may sweat a lot in Afghanistan, but some of our coldest winters were spent in Afghanistan.