NSW operator in Kabul around 2015. Notice this was before the widespread adoption of the Mk27. This was the last leg of the old Sig with the latest iteration of the MK25 P226, complete with a threaded barrel and extended mag baseplate.
This was also before the "golden gun" era, back when units like NSW and Delta were still employing the classic black HK416D with the factory quad-rail handguard. Another interesting detail is the use of the Magpul EMAG. These export magazines were a staple for 416 users at the time, because older Gen 1 and Gen 2 PMAGs wouldn't seat properly in the HK's straight magwell.
You can also spot an Aimpoint Micro (T1/T2) paired with a magnifier, and a Surefire muzzle device, commonly used in reconnaissance work back then.
The ultimate giveaway for the exact timeframe is the deployment shirt he’s wearing, which bears the date 03-10-2015, This is the date of the Kunduz hospital airstrike in Afghanistan. Following that event, a small number of custom shirts were made within the NSW / tactical community to commemorate the deployment and units serving on the ground during that specific, intense window of the conflict.
