KABUL, Afghanistan — Just a little more than a year ago, the Operational Test Command's forward operational assessment team 8 had to pull up stakes from Iraq and move its headquarters and focus to Afghanistan. History's about to repeat itself as team 17 moves most of its members to Qatar from Afghanistan and Kuwait.

Assessment teams have been operational in the theater since 2003 with the mission of assessing everything from counter-threat technologies to unmanned aerial and ground systems that gather intelligence on enemy activities.

"Since the onset of military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, soldiers have had to rely on systems and equipment that either had never been fielded before or that needed modifications to keep pace with a war that continues to evolve," said Col. John Lakso, team 17's commander. "The Army Test and Evaluation Command responded to this challenge by deploying assessment teams to the combat theater under the direction of OTC."

Lakso's team — composed of soldiers, Army civilians and contractors — have hit the halfway point of its six-month tour. The move to Qatar remains on track, Lakso said, with five team members already in place setting up the new location. The rest of the team is closing out operations in Kuwait and Afghanistan.

"We've conducted assessments on the Keyhole Sniper Surveillance System, the Stryker Mobile Gun System, the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle with Underbody Improvement Kit, the Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative, the Individual Gunshot Detection System, Route Clearance Optic System and Prophet Enhanced, to name but a few," Lakso said.

Team members travel to several locations to conduct assessments.

"To get to the truth, you have to get on the ground and talk directly to soldiers," he said. "It's an integral part of our business to get their comments, feedback and observations; there is no better way to get at the truth."

Team members have had some time to relax, Lakso said.

"We had a Halloween Amazing Race and Costume Contest," he said.

Lakso's wife, Wendy, serves as the team's family readiness group leader.

"The spouses and families are doing well," she said. "It's all about expectation management; the families were provided a very in-depth brief by leaders prior to the deployment pertaining to where everyone was going to be and what they would be doing.

"That, along with continuous updates provided by my husband that I send out to the spouses and families, has immensely helped mitigate anxious feelings," she said.

Wendy Lakso said families will be sending team members care packages for the holidays.

"It's just good to know that shortly after the holidays, they'll all be returning home," she said.