Gallery: The Barren Desert That’s a Survival Camp for Soldiers

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    A soldier in the Foreign Legion crosses two mountains on a rope suspended 300 feet up.
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    Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE
    02

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    French troops carry a casualty to a Black Hawk helicopter during a rescue exercise.
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    03

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    French troops in the Bara Desert during a simulated battle in Djibouti.
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    04

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    A Foreign Legion soldier shows off his tattoos.
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    05

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    A Foreign Legion tank during a simulated battle in the Djibouti desert.
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    06

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    A Foreign Legion soldier stakes out a position during a simulated battle in Djibouti.
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    07

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    US troops during a simulated mission in Djibouti.
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    Troops attend to a wounded soldier, awaiting evacuation via Black Hawk helicopter.
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    Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE
    09

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    US and French troops patrol the Djibouti desert at sunrise.
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    10

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    US and French troops prepare to participate in a simulation where they have to build a camp within a protected perimeter.
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    11

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    A French army tank on a mountain.
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    Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE
    12

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    Foreign Legion troops rest in the shade of a tent they built in the Grand Bara desert.
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    Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE
    13

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    US and French commanders study a map to find a safe landing point for a Black Hawk helicopter.
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    Luca Locatelli/INSTITUTE
    14

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    A Black Hawk helicopter takes off after a rescue mission.
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