Russia - Kaskad Military Unit - Guard of honor

One of the youngest 'cadets' keeping the guard of honor at the Kaskad's summer camp. In 1982, facing mounting casualties among inexperienced conscripts in Afghanistan, an experimental military unit (Kaskad) was set up where young troops were learning survival skills, shootings, and-to-hand combat. The war in Afghanistan is over but Kaskad still exists and many other camps have mushroomed. Since 1982, 8000 children have passed through Kaskad alone. (Photo by Arne Hodalic/Corbis via Getty Images)