In Pictures

Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment guard a village perimeter whilst their commander negotiates with community leaders [Picture: Cpl James Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment enter a village housing suspected insurgents [Picture: Cpl James Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

A patrol leader directs his troops during an advance on a suspected enemy position [Picture: Cpl James Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment engaging in close-quarter battle training during Exercise Prairie Thunder [Picture: Cpl James Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

A soldier from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment engaged in contact drills on Exercise Prairie Thunder [Picture: Cpl James Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

A patrol leader shouts instructions during contact drills on Exercise Prairie Thunder [Picture: Cpl James Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

A soldier from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment engaging in close-quarter battle training during Exercise Prairie Thunder [Picture: Cpl James Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

A patrol leader shouts instructions during counter-insurgency operations on Exercise Prairie Thunder [Picture: Cpl James Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment taking part in contact drills during Exercise Prairie Thunder [Picture: Cpl James Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

A soldier from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment takes aim during Exercise Prairie Thunder [Picture: Cpl James Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment carry out a patrol during Exercise Prairie Thunder [Picture: Cpl James Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment evacuate a comrade during a simulated battlefield casualty exercise [Picture: Cpl James Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment operate a tank bridge transporter on Exercise Prairie Thunder [Picture: Cpl James Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

An armoured vehicle convoy crosses a bridge during Exercise Prairie Thunder [Picture: Cpl James Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]