Full Mission Profile
This gallery doesn't contain images of heroic acts, although most of these men did run towards the sound of the gunfire without hesitation. These are memories of the warfighter's day-to-day tasks. Plan, prep, execute, and everything in between.
Some spouses recognized the sacrifice as necessary, others felt ignored and forgotten.
The sacrifice was real.
"To gun-smoke and pussy, live by one and die by the other. Love the smell of both." -ODA
The full mission profile generally consisted of:
-Workout
-Receive the mission
-COA development
-PCC/PCI
-Rehearse the mission
-Jock up
-Load up
-Infil
-Clear the objective
-Fight
-Exfil
-Rest
-AAR
-Call home to check on Momma
-Receive the next mission
Each painting is derived from a specific moment of an ODA team member. They took the picture or video footage between 2008 and 2013 serving on a combat tour in Afghanistan assigned to an Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA).
Shindand Airfield, Afghanistan 2011
"I'm going for a jog"
Retrieve the mask
"You are an attachment until you pass dive school"
Infil
"Wheels Up"
RPG
"Back blast area not clear, knucklehead!"
OPORD
"What's your PACE Plan?"
CJSOTF approval
"They are amassing on bikes, about 100 of them"
Glass House
"I get to train the ANA and you guys get the glory to fight at Bala Morgab"
M320 GRG
"Send it to building 117"
Chai
"WTF am I doing here?"
Exfil, headcount
"Let's go terp"
22 Seconds
"Mike, get down!"
Checking in
"Hey sweetie, I'll be gone for a few days. Just calling to see how you are doing. Love you."
Re-fit
"I don't think YOU understand Mike, those batteries suck!" ~~ YEET
Jock-up
"Let's rock and roll"
Demo
"Let's get to work boys"
