A simulated Taliban fighter, portrayed by a role-player,

A simulated Taliban fighter, portrayed by a role-player, fires blank rounds from an AK-47 at a nearby combat logistics patrol during a combat skills training exercise at Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 22. The purpose of the training was to give the Marines an opportunity to see first-hand what they would see during deployment. The Marines hopped out of their vehicles to provide suppressing fire while casualties were evacuated.