THE TENSION: Combat Camera: JTACs - Keeping the Army Safe

Staff Sgt. Paul Ythemar pulls rear security in the back hatch of the Stryker assault vehicle while enroute to the next objective of his clearing mission in Baghdad. Ythemar is assigned to the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. Photographer: Tech Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo.

Dressed in an Army Battle Uniform Senior Airman Dan Strom dons his battle armor in preparation for the day's clearing missions in Baghdad. Strom is a Joint Terminal Attack Controller in-charge of communicating coordinates for close air support during fire fights with enemy ground forces. Photographer: Tech Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo.

The Stryker is the fastest assault vehicle being used by the U.S. Army to provide security in the Baghdad area. Joint Terminal Attack Controllers in-charge of communicating coordinates for close air support during fire fights with enemy ground forces are embedded with Army personnel. Photographer: Tech Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo.

Members of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry secure a local Baghdad village of weapon caches during a routine clearing mission. Photographer: Tech Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo.

A local Iraqi woman walks calmly into an Army secured site in her neighborhood and greets Senior Airman Dan Strom with a thumbs up in approval of their presence their. Later she reports kind gratitude to the Battalion leaders. Strom is a Joint Terminal Attack Controller in-charge of communicating coordinates for close air support during fire fights with enemy ground forces. Photographer: Tech Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo.