Almost "Club Med" at FOB Salerno

Gordon and I are leaving for FOB Lightning tomorrow, yet I've received a number of emails asking what it's like here so I'd like to take a minute to describe the accommodations at FOB Salerno.

War zone or not, it's been very comfortable in the area where visiting members of the media are kept, with porta-potties that are cleaned every day, air conditioned tents with semi-private rooms, a fenced yard with a locking gate, and wonderful views of the local mountains. Take a look:

Each tent has plywood doors, with very large concrete barriers just outside to help  prevent any vehicles, sniper fire, or Taliban rockets from crashing into the living spaces inside:

The interior hallway and bedrooms are also made from plywood, quite simple and in some ways even elegantly appointed. My quarters have a large carpet and a folding chair that serves as a side table (since one leg is too short and can't be sat upon):

Just outside the gated yard is a private bunker, used only by media, members of the Public Affairs Office and their Afghan counterparts mostly during the day, and any passing soldiers, sailors, contractors, or others who might be passing by during an emergency. However, since the area is away from most other facilities on the FOB (which stands for "Forward Operating Base") it feels rather exclusive:

And just around the corner from the bunker are the aforementioned porta-potties, complete with a quaint, chocolate brown plastic, foot-pump operated sink.

While difficult to see in this photo, both liquid soap and paper towels are conveniently located within easy reach. Water pressure is not a problem (as long as one stomps hard as quickly as humanly possible on the foot peddles... otherwise, a trickle does nicely for hand washing).

Although we didn't have the opportunity to venture outside the FOB main gates (commonly referred to as "going outside the wire"), it is our understanding that courtesy transportation is also available upon arrangement.

Unlike Iraq, Humvees are no longer used while outside the wire in Afghanistan. MRAPs (that is, "Mine Resistant Ambush Protected" armored vehicles) are the preferred way to travel.

Finally, and very seriously, the staff and personnel throughout FOB Salerno have simply been outstanding throughout our stay. They have bent over backwards to show us around, answer countless questions, and even driven us to the DFAC (the "Dining Facility") in the evenings to save us the walk in the dark (note that Salerno has black-out rules after sundown, and it's difficult to navigate using small red, green, or blue lights unless you have some idea of where you're going and what the layout is.

We're almost certain to transit Salerno again on exit, as this is the best place in the neighborhood to catch flights for Bagram, and it is likely that the Brigade staff will like an exit briefing from us before we fly away.