A forward operating base (FOB) is any secured forward

operational level In the field of military theory, the operational level of war (also called operational art, as derived from russian: оперативное искусство, or operational warfare) represents the level of command that connects the details of ...

military position, commonly a

military base A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. A military base always provides accommodations for ...

, that is used to support strategic goals and tactical objectives. A FOB may or may not contain an

airfield An aerodrome (Commonwealth English) or airdrome (American English) is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for publ ...

hospital A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emergen ...

machine shop A machine shop or engineering workshop (UK) is a room, building, or company where machining, a form of subtractive manufacturing, is done. In a machine shop, machinists use machine tools and cutting tools to make parts, usually of metal or pla ...

, or other logistical facilities. The base may be used for an extended period of time. FOBs are traditionally supported by

main operating base Main operating base (MOB) is a term used by the United States military defined as a "permanently manned, well protected base, used to support permanently deployed forces, and with robust sea and/or air access". This term was used to differentiate ...

s that are required to provide backup support to them. A FOB also improves reaction time to local areas as opposed to having all troops on the main operating base.

Description

In its most basic form, a FOB consists of a ring of barbed wire around a position with a fortified entry control point, or ECP. More advanced FOBs include an assembly of

berm A berm is a level space, shelf, or raised barrier (usually made of compacted soil) separating areas in a vertical way, especially partway up a long slope. It can serve as a terrace road, track, path, a fortification line, a border/ separation ...

s, concrete barriers, gates, watchtowers, bunkers and other force protection infrastructure. They are often built from

Hesco bastion The Concertainer, known colloquially as the HESCO MIL, Hesco barrier, or Hesco bastion, is a modern gabion primarily used for flood control and military fortifications. It is made of a collapsible wire mesh container and heavy duty fabric liner, ...

s. FOBs will also have an Entry Control Point (ECP). An ECP is a controlled entry and exit point of the FOB and will typically have positions to protect personnel against Personnel Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (PBIED) and Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIED), along with blast mitigation with standoff protection.

Bases in Iraq

* FOB Abu Ghraib * FOB Al Asad * FOB Caldwell * FOB Carpenter * FOB Courage * FOB Danger * FOB Falcon * FOB Echo * FOB Grizzly * FOB Iskandariyah *

FOB Kalsu Forward Operating Base Kalsu, also known as 'FOB Kalsu', COS Kalsu or simply Camp Kalsu, was a U.S. Military installation in Iskandariya, Iraq, 20 miles south of Baghdad. It was officially closed by members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st C ...

* FOB Loyalty * FOB Marez * FOB MacKenzie * FOB Q-West * FOB Speicher FOB Haditha Dam

Bases in Afghanistan

FOBs in the United States

Other reported Coalition installations in Afghanistan 2001–2016

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Forward Operating Base Military installations of the United States