Afghan native Qasim Jousafi, center, talks to Army soldiers during a training exercise in a mock Afghan village at Fort Riley, Kan. Monday, Sept. 17, 2007. Jousafi plays the part of a village police chief in the exercise to help train U.S. soldiers to deal with Afghan civilians.
Afghan native Qasim Jousafi, center, talks to an Army soldier during a training exercise in a mock Afghan village at Fort Riley, Kan. Monday, Sept. 17, 2007. Many of the actors in this traveling troupe don't need a script to learn their roles. They're playing their countrymen back in Afghanistan or Iraq in an elaborate simulation designed to teach American soldiers how to deal with sometimes-hostile civilians.
Afghan native Mohammad Sadiq, center, walks with soldiers during a training exercise in a mock Afghan village at Fort Riley, Kan. Monday, Sept. 17, 2007. Sadiq plays the part of a village mayor in the exercise. The mock meetings require a handful of native speakers to play mayors or village leaders who will speak through a translator.
An Army soldier watches in the background as civilian role players are kept in a holding area during a training exercise in a mock Afghan village at Fort Riley, Kan. Monday, Sept. 17, 2007. Civilian actors play the part of native villagers in the exercise to help train U.S. soldiers to deal with Afghan civilians.
An Army soldier holds back civilian role players during a training exercise in a mock Afghan village at Fort Riley, Kan. Monday, Sept. 17, 2007. U.S. troops are training to be advisers who will help teach Iraqi and Afghan forces to be independent. The military believes reproducing the culture -- and emotions -- advisers will face is essential.
Civilian role players chant at Army soldiers during a training exercise in a mock Afghan village at Fort Riley, Kan. Monday, Sept. 17, 2007. Up to 85 role players gather six days a week at Fort Riley. Some hope the job leads to a position in diplomacy or military support services. Others say they are working to prevent misunderstandings and violence between troops and their Iraqi and Afghan countrymen.
Civilian role players chant at Army soldiers during a training exercise in a mock Afghan village at Fort Riley, Kan. Monday, Sept. 17, 2007. The Afghan and Iraqi immigrants travel around the country conducting training sessions. But the actors also include local residents, among them former soldiers.
An Army soldier holds back a civilian role player during a training exercise in a mock Afghan village at Fort Riley, Kan. Monday, Sept. 17, 2007.
Civilian role player Brian Tompkins, center, is held back by soldiers during a training exercise in a mock Afghan village at Fort Riley, Kan. Monday, Sept. 17, 2007.
Army Sgt. Jeffrey Townley, center, instructs role players before a training exercise at a mock Afghan village at Fort Riley, Kan. Monday, Sept. 17, 2007.
Afghanistan native Qasim Jousafi waits on a junked car for a training exercise to begin at a mock Afghan village at Fort Riley, Kan. Monday, Sept. 17, 2007.
Role player Lloyd Robbins puts on a costume as he prepares to play the part of an Afghan villager during a training exercise for Army soldiers at Fort Riley, Kan. Monday, Sept. 17, 2007.
Iraqi native Abdulsalam Mulla talks about being a civilian role player in training exercises at Fort Riley, Kan. Monday, Sept. 17, 2007.