A Battlefield Tourist

Outpost Life

Feb 14 at 2:02am by David Tate

COP Barrow in Bakwa district, Farah Province, Afghanistan

Marine life on a Combat Outpost can be a very interesting experience, unless you have to live there for six months.

COP Barrow

COP Barrow, itself, is also known as COP 2 because it’s the second of three outposts established along Route 515 which offers new found security for the people of this area.  The post is named after the famed Marine General Robert Barrow, the Corps’ 27th Commandant who ushered a new era into the Marine Corps following the drug-induced issues of the Vietnam-era.

When Marines first arrived on this spot a few months back, it was nothing but hard packed dirt that was farmed at one time. The Marines paid the owner for his lost crop and then got to work making it what it is today.  I’m told the COP went up in less than a week; construction turning the hard ground into six inches of moondust, that as most people should know by now, gets into everything rather quickly.  Fortunately, a week’s worth of rain turned to mud which was in itself packed into a rather hard surface.

The COP is a standard four corner outpost surrounded by HESCO barriers (large collapsible containers that are filled with dirt in lieu of sandbags) and a ring of concertina wire.  Inside are tents for the Marines that man the position, plus mortar pits in the event indirect fire is needed.

1 Star Amenities

Living Quarters – Typical military-style tents, some with wooden flooring, others bare dirt.  Standard G.I. cots are used with most of the guys living out of their packs.  Of course by now, many have built their own shelving out of whatever they can find.

Bathroom Facilities – Long live the piss tube.  Yes… piss tube.  Simple concept, actually, that I’ll probably employ at my campsite this year when I get home.  Three six-inch plastic pipes burrowed deep into the ground where you… well, you know.  In the past I’ve seen them with mesh and a urinal cookie across the opening.  Not here, though.  The ground doesn’t perk too well either, so they need to do something about that.  For the other bathroom needs, Marines use “wag bags”.  Another simple concept where you build a stool like fixture and stretch a pre-made bag across the opening.  It’s actually kind of cool because you don’t have to worry about someone peeing on the seat or something.  When business is done, it all goes into a zip lock, then into the trash and eventually the fire pit (that we use to identify where the COP is in the dark).

Showers – They exist, but aren’t used.  The water in the tank is too cold and the solar bags don’t work just yet due to the weather, so the guys are simply dusty and grimy through and through.  Most people only worry about their socks anyway, which are washed in whatever way one sees fit, then hung to dry.

Internet – Barrow has internet, four computers in all that are located in a small metal shipping container.  The speed isn’t too bad, either.  Unfortunately, the other two COPs have none.

Food – MRE’s are always available (Meals Ready to Eat), but there are also full tray MRE’s called UGR’s(don’t know what the acronym means) that are heated up and served hot, just like a chow line.

Actually, that’s about it.  If the guys need anything, they need to take a journey to Camp Bastion, about five hours away, usually… although one time it took me more than 24 hours.  I’ll tell you about that ordeal tomorrow.