Last time he spoke with Alaska reporters, Col. Michael Howard, commander of the deployed 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, reported temperatures of 100 degrees, an agriculture system in terrible shape and a savage Taliban enemy.

That was in May.

Now seven months into a yearlong deployment, Howard delivered updates to reporters during a conference call Oct. 16.

One of the first changes he mentioned was the temperature.

Col. Michael Howard, commander of 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division escorts senior State Department representatives Ambassador Nancy Powell, Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli, and Dr. Ruth Whiteside at Forward Operating Base Salerno in the Khost Province of eastern Afghanistan on Oct. 14.

"It's technically fall over here, and the temperatures are dropping in some places," he said "However it's not at all uncommon for us to still get midday temperatures in the 90s."

The brigade operates in southeast Afghanistan, in the provinces of Paktika, Paktia and Khost. In February, 3,500 soldiers deployed from Fort Richardson to these provinces, but now, according to Howard, "we're about 5,500 men and women strong," due to the arrival of additional soldiers he requested. Some of the additional units provide air support and security. Others specialize in agribusiness and reconstruction.

Since February the brigade has helped Afghans build their agribusiness and reconstruct their infrastructure in addition to defending against the enemy and supporting the Afghan security forces. Seventy-three percent of Afghans in the three provinces make their living through farming, according to Howard, so agricultural assistance is particularly helpful.

The brigade trained more than 3,000 Afghans in agriculture, livestock management, and construction.

"This year Afghanistan had a bumper harvest," Howard said. "We not only had a record spring harvest, but we also had a tremendous fall harvest." In addition to the cooperative weather, "credit also goes to the hard work of the coalition forces and their agriculture and agribusiness training. It was secured and run by Afghans. By far this event evokes more national pride than any other single event that I've seen."

Toward improving Afghan infrastructure, there are 390 kilometers of road under construction and plans for 128 more. Soldiers restored 29 schools, five medical facilities and three courthouses.

Howard also reported on his force's partnership with Afghan National Security Forces. When they arrived there were 9,000 ANSF soldiers in their area. Now there are 14,000. Through training with his brigade, Howard reported that they "have improved their competence and professionalism dramatically."

Within their provinces, the Afghan national army core grew by 2,200 soldiers, the regional police command grew by 1,500, and the border police grew by 300.

"There are no missions here that are (United States) only," Howard said. "They're all Afghan and (United States)."

He said this partnership has had an effect on the enemy, too.

As the Afghan forces have teamed with Americans and improved in their conduct and efficiency, Afghan civilian and American military causalities have decreased.

"The last time I spoke to you, the civilian casualties caused by the enemy were skyrocketing," Howard said. "Seven months ago we were told that we had inherited the most violent battle space in the country. Well, enemy activity has dropped every month since May in our area."

Enemy activity dropped by 5 percent overall. Howard acknowledged that's a small figure but he said in other regions of Afghanistan, enemy activity is climbing.

Civilian causalities have dropped each month, too, for an overall decrease of 49 percent. American soldiers have gone after the people causing civilian casualties, and they have held enemy commanders accountable in the local press.

"U.S. casualties and fatalities are way down as well," he added. Compared to the last unit in their battle space, the number of soldiers wounded in combat dropped 57 percent and fatalities were down as by 80 percent.

One reason is the arrival of 160 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, or MRAPs, that protect soldiers better than the traditional Humvees from an IED, an improvised explosive device commonly referred to as a roadside bomb.

"Since we've gotten the MRAP, we've not lost a soldier to an IED in it," he said.

Still, the brigade has had 11 fatalities and 31 soldiers were evacuated out of Afghanistan and will not return due to their wounds.

Daily, the brigade's battalions train policemen, provide helicopter support, and go after insurgents. Though Howard spoke of accomplishments, he acknowledged there are challenges remaining.

As part of their mission, they will continue attacking the enemy's network of soldiers, leaders, and financiers. With winter coming on, the enemy comes out of the elevations in their mountainous region, were paratroopers operate in upwards of 10,000 feet. With the enemy threat lessened, the government feels more empowered to work with the population, so the brigade will have an opportunity do more work with them.

And for the holidays, they will try to have a traditional meal for Thanksgiving and Christmas. They expect to be flooded with decorations from the states.

"We unfortunately won't stop doing missions," Howard said. "I think to do that would be asking for a nice big black eye from the enemy. We will keep going all winter long."