Inlander photographer Young Kwak is traveling with a crew from Fairchild Air Force Base to the Transit Center in Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Read his previous posts here.
An estimated 500 members of units the Army 4th Infantry Division and Marine Corps 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, among others left combat in Afghanistan on Friday, Dec. 13, to fly to their home bases. But they first had to be processed at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan.
A customs office operated by the U.S. Army ensures that all military personnel passing through Manas don't bring any unauthorized items on the plane ride home. Returning services members from deployment are briefed and inspected before leaving for the passenger terminal (PAX). Lt. Lucas Pace, of the Army's 391st Military Police Battalion Detatchment 5, states that the customs office at Manas processes approximately 80 percent of the military personnel leaving Afghanistan.
Once cleared through customs, military personnel then waited at the PAX for a bus to transport them to the airfield for the flight home.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
US Army HAC 130 Engineers Specialist Otis Ross keeps warm before a customs briefing.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
Los Angeles Air Force Base First Lieutenant Travis Root stores his rifle in a case before a customs briefing.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
US Army 391st Military Police Battalion Specialist Seth Schmidt delivers a customs briefing to returning military personnel from combat deployment in Afghanistan.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
Military personnel returning from combat deployment in Afghanistan watch US Army 391st Military Police Battalion Specialist Seth Schmidt deliver a customs briefing.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
Returning military personnel from combat deployment in Afghanistan watch US Army 391st Military Police Battalion Specialist Seth Schmidt deliver a customs briefing.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
US Marine Corps First Combat Engineering Battalion Gunnery Sergeant Lloyd Beckford checks his rifle during a customs briefing.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
US Marine Corps First Combat Engineering Batallion Corporal Jesse Rosinski, standing next to his IED detection dog, Sergeant Mason, watches a customs briefing.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
Returning military personnel from combat deployment in Afghanistan watch US Army 391st Military Police Battalion Specialist Seth Schmidt deliver a customs briefing.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
US Marine Corps Corporal Arnold Alejo checks his bag after a customs briefing.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
Returning military personnel from combat deployment in Afghanistan throw away unapproved items for travel.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
US Army 391st Military Police Battalion Detachment 5 Corporal Jesse Hutchin, right, moves a bucket of personal bags after screening at the customs office.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
US Army 391st Military Police Battalion Detachment 5 Sergeant Clarissa Giles, right, checks a bag belonging to US Air Force Headquarters Lieutenant Colonel John Howard.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
US military service members returning from combat deployment in Afghanistan enter the Passenger Terminal.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
US Air Force 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Airman First Class Krysten Cole, right, processes US Army HHBN 4th Infantry Division Military Police E5 Sergeant Thomas Evans, who has returned from combat deployment in Afghanistan.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
US military service members wait at the Passenger Terminal for a bus to bring them to an airplane that will carry them home.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
US Marine Corps First Combat Engineering Battalion Corporal Rene Pugapera cleans his rifle while waiting for a bus to pick him up to an airplane to send him home, at the Passenger Terminal.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
US military service members returning from combat deployment in Afghanistan board an Omni Air International 777 for a flight home.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
US military service members returning from combat deployment in Afghanistan board an Omni Air International 777 for a flight home.
click to enlarge 
Young Kwak
Military personnel returning from combat deployment in Afghanistan board an airplane to go home.
