SGT Espejo II, and SGT Mendez from the California National Guard sit on the tailgate of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter and watch out over a valley in Northeastern Afghanistan while on a personnel delivery mission. Smoke from evasive flares can be seen trailing the aircraft reminding everyone on board that no flight is routine and that they are still in hostile territory. Photographs taken by MSG Martin J. Cervantez on his deployment to Afghanistan were used as reference material for the painting.