In the Shadows of War: Silent Strength of Soldiers After Dark
On October 3, 2009, over 300 Taliban fighters attacked Combat Outpost Keating in eastern Afghanistan, where just 53 U.S. soldiers were stationed. Surrounded and outnumbered, the enemy breached the perimeter and set parts of the base on fire in a brutal, early morning assault.
Despite overwhelming odds, the soldiers fought back with fierce determination. Staff Sgt. Clint Romesha led a daring counterattack to retake the compound, while Spc. Ty Carter risked his life repeatedly to supply ammo and rescue wounded comrades.
After 12 hours of combat, air support forced the Taliban to retreat. Eight Americans were killed, but the unit held strong—turning a near defeat into a legendary stand.
The American military is no stranger to night attacks. From Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. forces have long operated in environments where darkness is often used by the enemy as cover. This is why the Department of Defense places a strong emphasis on night operations and trainings.
Step into the shadows through these photos and witness the intensity of the moments when soldiers prepare to face the unknown in darkness.
Red Flag Night Operations
U.S. Air Force Captain Ariana Savino, serving as a KC-135 Stratotanker copilot with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, piloted an aircraft from the 117th Air Refueling Wing stationed at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Alabama. Her flight supported the Red Flag-Nellis 25-3 exercise over Nevada’s Test and Training Range.
These nighttime Red Flag missions are crafted to boost combat preparedness and improve performance in challenging, all-weather conditions by replicating intense, real-world battle scenarios during darkness.
A Squad in the Dark
Paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment—nicknamed the “White Devils”—of the 82nd Airborne Division gathered for a group photo following an 81mm M252 mortar live-fire drill during the Devil Avalanche exercise at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This training event focuses on nighttime operations, enhancing proficiency with essential weapon systems, and maintaining force readiness throughout the mission.
Into the Smoke and Darkness
A fire fighting team operated in darkness to extinguish a mock blaze within the hangar bay of the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), as part of a large-scale fire drill. Afloat Training Group instructors were on board to assess the crew’s capacity to respond effectively to a major onboard fire while at sea.
Paratrooper Opens Fire During Night Training
A paratrooper from the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment—known as “1 Panther”—within the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division, played the role of opposing forces during the Devil Avalanche exercise at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Armed with an M4 carbine, the soldier fired suppressive shots to hinder enemy movement.
Devil Avalanche focuses on training soldiers to operate in low-light conditions, sharpen skills with critical weapon systems, and maintain operational readiness throughout the exercise.
Soldiers Poised for Night Assault
U.S. Army operators from the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) joined elite units from the United Kingdom and Poland in a joint nighttime assault during a training exercise in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
After three weeks of collaborative preparation, the multinational teams executed a final mission that involved surrounding the objective, neutralizing or capturing a high-value target, and conducting sensitive site exploitation operations.
Through the Green Glow
Courtesy: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Griffin Payne
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Ernesto Nevarez from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment—part of Joint Task Force–Southern Border—conducted nighttime surveillance near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Using PVS-14 monocular night vision goggles, he monitored the terrain to support border security efforts under the cloak of darkness.
Directed by U.S. Northern Command, the task force is focused on securing the southern border, countering unlawful activity, and executing agile, full-spectrum operations across multiple domains to enhance Department of Defense mission effectiveness.
Silent Boarding
On May 17, 2025, U.S. Marines from Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/6 of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted nighttime on/off loading drills aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) in the Atlantic Ocean using an MV-22 Osprey aircraft. These Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) exercises honed their ability to operate swiftly and precisely in low-light scenarios, preparing them to retrieve stranded personnel or equipment in hostile environments.
As part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise (ARGMEUEX), the training emphasized joint operational readiness across sea, air, and land, ensuring the Marines remain agile, lethal, and mission-capable in global crisis-response situations.
Stealth in Motion
U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted a black-out night driving exercise on Kin Blue Beach, Okinawa, Japan. This tactical training enabled concealed vehicle movement in low-visibility conditions, refining their operational readiness for missions requiring stealth and precision.
The operation reflects their readiness to carry out complex mobility tasks across the Indo-Pacific, where precision and concealment are essential. Marine Maybush, who took part in the exercise, is originally from Maryland.
Night Hike
U.S. Marine Corps officer candidates advanced through a critical phase of training known as the Forge, held at Officer Candidate School on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. This grueling event challenged candidates’ endurance, leadership, and mental toughness with a combination of day and night hikes, simulated indirect fire scenarios, limited sleep, and complex team-based obstacle navigation.
Designed as a final proving ground, the Forge pushes aspiring officers to operate under intense pressure and embrace the core values of resilience and teamwork that define Marine leadership.
Night Vision in Action Over Afghanistan
On October 7, 2013, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Larry Webster, a loadmaster with the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, conducted a cargo airdrop in Afghanistan’s Ghazni Province.
Following the mission, Webster utilized night vision goggles to scan for potential threats in the surrounding area—ensuring the safety of both aircraft and ground forces during nighttime operations. He was deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, in support of ongoing U.S. efforts to provide logistical and tactical support in a high-risk combat zone.
Steam, Light, and War
A Navy F-14 Tomcat launched into the night from the USS Enterprise (CVN 65), creating a dramatic trail of steam and light that silhouetted flight deck crewmen on October 7, 2001.
The aircraft departed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, initiating strike missions against al Qaeda terrorist training camps and Taliban military installations in Afghanistan. These precise and strategic actions aimed to disrupt terrorist operations and weaken the Taliban regime’s combat capabilities.
Blast in the Night
A fiery burst from the rocket motor pierced the night sky on March 30, 1998, as U.S. Marines with Delta Company, 3rd Platoon, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion fired a TOW missile from a Light Armored Vehicle during an exercise at Fort Pickett, Virginia.
This wire-guided anti-armor weapon—short for Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided—relayed flight corrections through delicate guidance wires, steering the missile toward its target with precision. The live-fire training highlighted the unit’s ability to engage armored threats effectively and underscored their operational readiness from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
In the Dark, They Ready the Guns
Under the cover of darkness on July 22, 2025, U.S. Army soldiers from Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery Regiment, 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the Washington National Guard engaged in a live night fire exercise at Yakima Training Center, Washington.
The event involved unpacking artillery munitions and refining operational procedures as part of their annual training cycle. These soldiers focused on enhancing their tactics, techniques, and decision-making processes while receiving real-time feedback to sharpen combat readiness and improve overall unit performance in field conditions.
Flash and Recoil
Beneath the night sky on July 22, 2025, U.S. Army cannon crew members assigned to Gun 6 with the 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery Regiment, 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Washington National Guard, executed a live-fire range using an M777 towed 155mm howitzer at Yakima Training Center, Washington.
This indirect fire certification was part of Raven Focus, a two-week collective training exercise designed to reinforce artillery proficiency, crew coordination, and combat readiness. The nighttime setting added complexity and realism to the scenario, ensuring the unit’s preparedness for high-intensity operations under limited visibility.
Lt. Reed Launches Super Hornet into Action
Amid roaring engines and the hum of coordinated flight deck operations, Lt. Elliot Reed signals a Carrier Air Wing 8 F/A-18E Super Hornet for launch from the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) on July 14, 2025.
As the flagship of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, the Ford stands as the world’s largest aircraft carrier and showcases a fusion of cutting-edge technology, modernized shipbuilding, and refined operational practices from its predecessors. Its deployment supports a broad strategic mission: strengthening U.S. security and prosperity, deterring global threats, and delivering sustained maritime power across the globe.
