Afghanistan bomb hunters

Sgt. Huseen Bafuay works cautiously during training as he dismantles a dummy bomb in Kunduz, Afghanistan.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

During Sgt. Bafuay’s training exercise, the internal fan on his helmet stopped working. “If the U.S. guys don’t fix it, it doesn’t get fixed,” another member of his Afghan unit said, shrugging. “I’m wondering who’s going to fix all these things after the Americans leave.”  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Sgt. Patrick Gorman, left, of Utah and Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Reese of Arkansas get ready for a route-clearance mission in northern Afghanistan in which they’ll help train Afghan troops to tackle the job. One of several tools they use to investigate and detonate explosives is the Talon robot, operated by Gorman.   (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. soldiers pray before a route-clearance mission in Kunduz province. Roadside bombs are the single biggest killer of U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan, responsible for 60% of combat deaths and injuries in the 11-year-old war.   (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Afghan police officers man a checkpoint in Kunduz province, northern Afghanistan.   (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Sgt. Travor Meysembourg of Weimar, Texas, is part of the team that goes out on route-clearance missions.   (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

An Afghan farmer waits as Spc. Uche Okoh uses a mine detector to sweep an area.   (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Spc. Uche Okoh’s boots trail weeds as he sweeps the Kunduz farmland for mines.   (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The mine-clearance convoy passes an Afghan farmer along a road.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Practicing with the Talon robot. “A route is only clear until you leave,” the company commander said. “Then you go back and clear it again.”  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)