a series of improvised claymore mines, or grapeshots detonate during a simulated ambush during demolitions training on fort a.p. hill, va., sept. 12. assaultmen from 1st battalion, 6th marine regiment, 2nd marine division, conducted the biannual training in order to sustain their demolitions expertise.
(photo by lance cpl. james w. clark : ii marine expeditionary force public affairs)

lance cpl. andrew grant places an improvised bangalore torpedo, an explosive designed for destroying obstacles and barriers, among concertina wire during demolitions training aboard fort a.p. hill, va., sept. 12. assaultmen from 1st battalion, 6th marine regiment, 2nd marine division, conducted the biannual training in order to sustain their demolitions expertise.
(photo by lance cpl. james w. clark : ii marine expeditionary force public affairs)

marines step over a knoll to inspect a blast site after detonating improvised claymore mines known as grapeshots, during demolitions training aboard fort a.p. hill, va., sept. 12. assaultmen from 1st battalion, 6th marine regiment, 2nd marine division, conducted the biannual training in order to sustain their demolitions expertise.
(photo by lance cpl. james w. clark : ii marine expeditionary force public affairs)

u.s. marines from 2/3 fox company watch as parachutes loaded equipments to resupply their base in farah province, southern afghanistan, on september 23, 2009. as president barack obama weighs his options for the afghan war, some lawmakers and analysts are pushing more modest strategies that would require a smaller us force and rely more on drones. (david furst / afp / ***** images)

a u.s. marine from 2/3 fox company hands a candy to an afghan girl while on patrol in farah province, southern afghanistan, on september 23, 2009. (david furst / afp / ***** images)

us marines from 2/3 fox company stand on a hill after clearing through a suspicious cave while on patrol in farah province, southern afghanistan, on september 23, 2009. (david furst / afp / ***** images)

an afghan villager stares at a us marine from 2/3 fox company patrolling in farah province, southern afghanistan, on september 23, 2009. (david furst / afp / ***** images)

afghan boys walk alongside a us marine from 2/3 fox company patrolling in farah province, southern afghanistan, on september 23, 2009. (david furst / afp / ***** images)

a us marine from 2/3 fox company searches an afghan men while on patrol in farah province, southern afghanistan, on september 23, 2009. (david furst / afp / ***** images)

a us marine from 2/3 fox company walks past their humvees as they set out from their base in farah province, southern afghanistan, on september 22, 2009. (david furst / afp / ***** images)

a us marine from 2/3 fox company attempts to connect a humvee to a mrap vehicle after it broke down while on patrol in farah province, southern afghanistan, on september 22, 2009. the top us and nato commander in afghanistan, general stanley mcchrystal, has warned president barack obama in a confidential report that the war against the taliban could be lost within a year without more troops. (david furst / afp / ***** images)

us marines from 2/3 fox company stack sandbags to protect a mortar position at their forward operating base in farah province, southern afghanistan, on september 22, 2009. (david furst / afp / ***** images)

u.s. marines from bravo company, 1/5 marines, 2nd meb, walk on a patrol in nawa district, aynak village, helmand province, southern afghanistan, monday, sept. 21, 2009. (ap / brennan linsley)