Congress has approved appropriations for the past 13 years of war that total $1.6 trillion for military operations, base support, weapons maintenance, training of Afghan and Iraq security forces, reconstruction, foreign aid, embassy costs, and veterans' health care for the war operations initiated since the 9/11 attacks. This report discusses the Department of Defense's FY2015 war request and various issues for Congress regarding the funding of the war on terror.

This report discusses the current political state of Afghanistan, focusing particularly on the influence of the Taliban and other militant groups, and on the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. This report also discusses the U.S.-Afghanistan relationship, in both the short and long term, and U.S. efforts under the Obama Administration to provide military, reconstructive, and stabilization aid.

Audio log for a recording of an interview with Mario Lindsey, U.S. Army veteran. In the interview Lindsey talks about his decision to join the army; deployments in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan; being separated from his family; decision to take position leading an ROTC program at the University of North Texas in 2013; experiences teaching the cadets; and overall lessons learned in the military.

Audio log for a recording of an interview with Scott Young, third generation Army and UNT ROTC instructor. In the interview Young discusses his experiences as a student ROTC cadet at University of Florida, his deployment in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, and Baghdad, and teaching cadets at the University of North Texas.