Contemporary “population-oriented” military intervention and the objectives of protecting, supporting, and fighting alongside host-nation authorities and populations pose new challenges to Westernarmed forces’ traditionally combat-oriented understanding of duty. The article argues that militarypersonnel who engage in unarmed and nonthreatening interaction—noncombat contact—with hostcitizens are more likely to develop a stronger sense of duty—perceived obligations—toward the hostnation population. Interviews with US Army officers with experiences from Afghanistan show thatnoncombat contact with Afghan citizens led to increased willingness to safeguard the interests andwell-being of the Afghan population and adapt the mission accordingly.