THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Joint Cordon and Knock Near Camp Taji, Iraq

U.S. soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, utilize simple gestures to communicate with the local children during a cordon and knock at Taji Market, near Camp Taji, Iraq, Aug. 9. Small moments like this help the next generation of Iraqis learn that they do not need to fear the U.S. Army. (Photo by Spc. David Sharp, Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq.)

U.S. soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, thoroughly search houses, during a cordon and knock with Iraqi army soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 9th IA Division, at Taji Market, near Camp Taji, Iraq, Aug. 9. (Photo by Spc. David Sharp, Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq.)

Iraqi army soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 9th IA Division, conduct a cordon and knock with along with U.S. soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Taji Market, near Camp Taji, Iraq, Aug. 9. The soldiers search for illegal weapons and other items that may have been smuggled into the area. (Photo by Spc. David Sharp, Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq.)

U.S. soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, conduct a cordon and knock with Iraqi army soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 9th IA Division at Taji Market, near Camp Taji, Iraq, Aug. 9. The soldiers search for illegal weapons and other items that may have been smuggled into the area. (Photo by Spc. David Sharp, Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq.)

An Iraqi army soldier from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 9th IA Division, checks the surrounding area near the roof of a house, for illegal weapons that might be hidden there, at Taji Market, near Camp Taji, Iraq, Aug. 9. (Photo by Spc. David Sharp, Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq.)

An Iraqi child plays with a chem-light given to him by U.S. soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, during a cordon and knock with Iraqi army soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 9th IA Division, at Taji Market, near Camp Taji, Iraq, Aug. 9. The soldiers search for illegal weapons and other items that may have been smuggled into the area. (Photo by Spc. David Sharp, Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq.)

U.S. soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, socialize with the local children during a cordon and knock with Iraqi army soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 9th IA Division, at Taji Market, near Camp Taji, Iraq, Aug. 9. (Photo by Spc. David Sharp, Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq.)

An Iraqi army soldier from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 9th IA Division, checks the surrounding area near the roof of a house for illegal weapons that might be hidden there, at Taji Market, near Camp Taji, Iraq, Aug. 9. (Photo by Spc. David Sharp, Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq.)