Leger knew that from a young age that he wanted to be a pilot, signing up for warrant officer flight training as soon as he was eligible, in order to get a full grasp of the basics before he applied for flight school. While a knee injury prevented him from becoming a pilot, Leger was still able to become a skilled helicopter crew chief, one of the more difficult roles to pursue within the cockpit.

The above photos document Leger's own lens on his crew's adjustment to life in Iraq and helicopter maintenance in an arid climate and provide insight into the first few years of the U.S. presence in Iraq. Helicopter maintenance in the hot desert climate of Iraq meant employing unique solutions, seen in the image of helicopter cockpit covers, used to keep desert sand out of the cockpit and lower the internal temperature inside the cockpit. It also meant using the Black Hawk as your only source of shade.

Leger served in Iraq during the initial years of the conflict, which meant sleeping quarters, mess halls, and other base amenities were still in the rudimentary stages. Only later would more permanent structures be built. Leger's photos display service members' innovation and ingenuity as they adjusted to this situation. In Leger's photos below, you can see the most necessary project -- creating a shower out of a fuel tank from an Iraqi fighter jet.