A group of Afghan children gather around Spc. Gadiel Ortega, a cannon crewmember from Escondido, Calif., for A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Spartan Steel during security combat patrols in Khowst province, Jan. 25. TF Spartan Steel is part of the Spartan Brigade based on Forward Operating Base Salerno in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom XII-XIII.