A soldier from 4th Company, 3rd Kandak, 201st Corps, Afghan National Army, stands in the village of Haft Asiab in Afghanistan’s Wardak province, securing an incoming path while the rest of his element searched houses in the village during Operation Assaly II July 27, 2012. “Operation Assaly II is focused clearing patrols with the ANA going into villages and searching specific houses that could be associated with the Taliban,” said U.S. Army Capt. Colin Layne, commander of Battle Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, Task Force 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, and a native of Albuquerque, N.M. During the operation, elements of the 3rd, 4th and Weapons Companies, 3rd Kandak, 201st Corps, ANA, led the patrols from start to finish.