"The guys are constantly working on the edge," said Maj. Jason Langelier, in charge of the roughly 150 soldiers involved in "force protection" at the PRT. They keep the camp secure, and looking after the safety of civilians, engineers and other soldiers involved in reconstruction.

"The CIMIC (civil-military co-operation) teams were going out without protection, or they wouldn't go out at all," said [Richard Tangalin]. After the security unit was put in place, there was an "exponential increase in activity," with more new projects being completed around Kandahar province.

"Kandahar's not secure enough yet for that," she said. "This PRT couldn't operate without the battle group."