Featured photojournalist: Finbarr O'Reilly

from the agencies: A U.S. Marine patrols in Helmand province

A US marine from 2nd Platoon's 2nd Squad of the 1st Battalion, 8th Bravo company patrols near the town of Deh Zore in Helmand province Photograph: Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

from the agencies: A U.S. Marine for a helicopter to transport him home

A US marine waits in the moonlight for a helicopter to transport him home for leave from Musa Qala Photograph: Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

from the agencies: Afghan soldiers play volleyball

Shadows are cast on a mud compound wall by Afghan national army soldiers playing volleyball at their base in Talibjan Photograph: Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

from the agencies: Graffiti left behind by Taliban fighters

Graffiti left behind by Taliban fighters remains on the walls of a compound now used as a command centre for the US marine corps's 1st Battalion, 8th Bravo company at Musa Qala Photograph: Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

from the agencies: U.S. Marine shaves his head

Captain Joe Coenen, 32, from the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines Bravo company shaves his head using a small mirror at his base in Talibjan after a patrol Photograph: Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

from the agencies: U.S. Marines in southern Afghanistan

A machine gunner from the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines Bravo company wears a bandolier of bullets around his neck at his base in Talibjan after a patrol Photograph: Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

US marines from 1st Battalion, 8th Bravo company box in a tent used as a makeshift gym in their base at Musa Qala Photograph: Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

from the agencies: white phospherous used on Taliban in Afghanistan

Artillery rounds of white phosphorus explode above Taliban positions during a battle in Musa Qala Photograph: Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

from the agencies: U.S. Marines fire weapons during a battle with taliban

US marines from the 1st Battalion, 8th Bravo company fire their weapons during a battle against Taliban insurgents in Musa Qala district Photograph: Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

from the agencies: Graffiti marks the walls at Musa Qala district centre

Graffiti from a previous British deployment marks the walls at Musa Qala district centre, now used by US marines Photograph: Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

from the agencies: US marines in Helmand province

Private Brandon Voris, 19, of Lebanon, Ohio, from the 1st Battalion 8th Alpha company stands in the middle of his camp as a sandstorm hits the remote outpost near Kunjak in Helmand province Photograph: Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

from the agencies: a dinner marking the 235th anniversary of the Marine Corps at Musa Qala

A place setting with dog tags, a purple heart medal, a plate, cup, plastic cutlery and a burning candle on a table to symbolise former US marines who have served, fought, died or been wounded in battle, at a dinner marking the 235th anniversary of the marine corps, at Musa Qala Photograph: Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters