An abandoned village lies near Route 515 in the district of Delaram, Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jan. 19. Elders from surrounding villages told Marines that most of the villages in the area had been abandoned by families fleeing insurgent activity. Combat engineers with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion use the Buffalo Mine Protected Clearance Vehicle, affectionately named "Bonecrusher," to clear the roads of improvised explosive devices, making the area safe for the local population. Vehicles like Bonecrusher are an integral part of the Route Clearance Platoon attached to Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan. SPMAGTF-A's mission is to conduct counterinsurgency operations and train and mentor the Afghan national police and Afghan national army. U.S. Marines are in Afghanistan to reinforce success and sustain the momentum of the ongoing progress by alliance forces.