Camp Bastion

Courtesy Photo - High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles are loaded on to an aircraft aboard Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, to be shipped back to the states. Logistics Command Forward was resp More

A CH-53D Sea Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), waits for its crew to arrive for a routine mission on which the aircraft will reach its 10,000th flight hour. More

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan (Dec. 07, 2008) U.S. Senators John McCain, left, and Joe Lieberman leave the airfield aboard Camp Bastion. U.S. Military service members and British Royal Army personnel briefed U.S. S More

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham shakes hands with U.S. Marine Lt. Col. David L. Odom, the commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force- More

Marine Lance Cpl. Jason Mueske, an engineer with Route Clearance Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Afghanistan, tightens part of a wheel module to a "Husk More

Smoke from illumination flares hangs in the night sky over Camp Barber Dec. 9. U.S. Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Ta More

Petty Officer 2nd Class Charles Swoboda and Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Shaw organize boxes donated by citizens from across America.

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan (Dec. 12, 2008) Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class Charles Swoboda, left, and Religious Program Specialist 3rd Class Jason Shaw organize boxes donated by citizens from across Ameri More

Petty Officer 2nd Class Charles Swoboda (left) and Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Shaw (right) organize boxes donated by citizens across America on Camp Barber, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 12. Swoboda More

AFGHANISTAN (Dec. 21, 2008) Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visits with Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB ) 7, currently assigned to Camp Bastion. (U.S Navy photo b More

Sgt. Josh Westman (left), Staff Sgt. Cole Smigelski (center) and Lance Cpl. Jenny Watkins (right), of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 load a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter before takeoff Christmas mornin More

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Apr. 11, 2009) A Seabee assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 uses an up-armored front end loader to fill HESCO barriers during a project at Camp Bastion. NMCB- More

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Apr. 11, 2009) Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 lift a HESCO barrier into alignment during a project at Camp Bastion. NMCB-5 is deployed to Afghani More

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Apr. 29, 2009) Engineering Aid 3rd Class Raynante B. Taa records the information being relayed to him from Steelworker Constructionman Lisa W. Majzoub who is taking measurements d More

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan (Aug. 09, 2009) Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus speaks to an Afghan girl while touring a hospital at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. Mabus is on his first Middle East More

Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers carry a casket toward an aircraft at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Oct. 7, 2009. ANA soldiers and U.S. Marines and Sailors with Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan particip More

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Nov. 06, 2009) An MV-22B Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU), prepares to take off from the amph More

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Nov. 06, 2009) An MV-22B Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to take off from the amphibious assault sh More

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Nov. 06, 2009) An MV-22B Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Bata More

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Nov. 06, 2009) An MV-22B Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU), prepares to take off from the amph More

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Nov. 06, 2009) An MV-22B Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), takes off from the amphibious assault s More

U.S. Army Gen. Duncan McNabb, center, the commander of U.S. Transportation Command, greets Marine Corps Col. George S. Amland upon landing at Camp Bastion in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 15, 2010. McNabb More

U.S. Army Gen. Duncan McNabb, left, the commander of U.S. Transportation Command, greets Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Larry D. Nicholson upon arriving at Camp Bastion in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 15, 2010. More

U.S. Army Gen. Duncan McNabb, right foreground, the commander of U.S. Transportation Command, shakes hands with Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew Pugh before leaving Camp Bastion in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. More

U.S. Army Gen. Duncan McNabb, right foreground, the commander of U.S. Transportation Command, prepares to depart Camp Bastion in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 15, 2010. McNabb visited Afghanistan to recei More

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jessica Livingston, left, watches as Cpl. Colin McCall mounts an M240G machine gun aboard an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft April 24, 2010, at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. Both Mari More

HELMAND PROVENCE (May. 17, 2010) Utilitiesman 1st Class Nicholas Morgan, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5, watches emergency responders from Camp Bastion fight a fire at a supply area at More

HELMAND PROVENCE (May. 17, 2010) Emergency responders from Camp Leatherneck and Camp Bastion fight a fire at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. The crews worked overnight to suppress the fire and prevent it from fu More

HELMAND PROVIDENCE, Afghanistan (May. 17, 2010) Emergency vehicles line the perimeter of a fire at a supply area at Camp Leatherneck. Crews from both Camp Leatherneck and Camp Bastion worked overnight to suppre More

HELMAND PROVENCE (May. 17, 2010) Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 and fire crews from Camp Leatherneck and Camp Bastion help fight a fire at a supply area at Camp Leatherneck, Af More

Marines push one of Marine Heavy Helicopter 363's refurbished CH-53D helicopters on the flight line after rolling it out of an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. The squadron is now preparing to redeploy to Marine More

The Union Flag of the United Kingdom waves in the Afghanistan breeze between the Afghanistan and United States flags June 1 after 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) raised it in a morning colors ceremony to sig More

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Jun. 03, 2010) Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus visits with Sailors and Marines during a tour of Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. (U.S. Navy p More

Marines salute the colors during a transfer of authority ceremony on the flight line, July 7. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 is replacing VMM-261, who has been here since December.

Marines work to connect an M777 A2 howitzer to a CH-53E Super Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, July 13, for transportation to a new location in Regional Command (Southwest)'s area of operatio More

A row of M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzer cannons are staged to be lifted by air out of Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 13, 2010. The M777 is a new lightweight towed artillery piece that is dep More

Service members with the U.K.'s Royal Air Force Crash, Fire and Rescue, and Critical Care Air Support Team move an Afghan child from an ambulance to a U.S. Air Force HC-130 with 79th Expeditionary Rescue Squadr More

Lance Cpl. Jinming Lam, a member of the Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 (Forward) Sector Response Team, examines the tire well of a truck during a vehicle check point exercise, July 15. The SRT received tra More

Cpl. Estanislao Alvarez, a UH-1Y Huey crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), checks his gun before responding to a call for help from a small Danish gro More

United Kingdom Cpl. Mark Bone, an arming landing point commander with 664 Squadron, Army Air Corps, gets a quick seat belt lesson from U.S. Marine Sgt. John Leist, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squa More

U.K. forces board a U.S. CH-53E Super Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), here in the early morning hours July 30. HMH-466 inserted more than 100 troops into More

Lt. Col. Mitchell Cassell, commanding officer of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, and Sgt. Maj. Thomas Herman, the squadron's sergeant major, case their squadron's colors during a transfer of authority cer More

Lt. Col. Douglas Glasgow, commanding officer of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), stands at attention as Sgt. Maj. James Cully, the squadron's sergeant major, begins unca More

Lt. Col. Michael Moore, commanding officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, addresses the crowd during a memorial service Aug. 2 honoring two pilots who died in combat July 22. Maj. James "Weasel More

Soldiers of the 5th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, partnered with the Embedded Partnering Team, Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), form up to head to a training exercise aboa More

Liam Fox, the Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom, speaks with U.K. service members while touring the U.K. flight line here, Aug. 10. Fox shook the hand of every service member present, speakin More

A U.S. Air Force pararescueman, top, monitors an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier's vitals during a medical evacuation flight aboard a U.S. Air Force HC-130P Combat King aircraft at Camp Bastion in Helmand pr More

Cpl. Estanislao Alvarez, a UH-1Y Huey crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), stand next to the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway as he More

Staff Sgt. Robert Leatherman, the current operations chief for 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), ensures tent poles are connected properly during a temporary site construction project, Aug. 21. Marines from 3 More

Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to unload a CH-53E Super Stallion from an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane Aug. 22. Marines from More

Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, raise a rotor blade to the top of a CH-53E Super Stallion during its re-assembly process on the flight line here A More

Marines from 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), wait to board a CH-53E Super Stallion on the flight line, Sept. 2. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wi More

U.S. Marine Maj. Joshua Nelson, an Mk4 "Sea King" pilot with 846 Naval Air Squadron, Commando Helicopter Force in the Royal Navy, is participating in the Marine Corps Foreign Personnel Exchange Program. Nelson More

Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), stand at parade rest as they wait for a change of command ceremony to begin on the flight line here Sept. 30. Lt. Col. Rich More

Air Commodore Ken McCann, the U.K. air component commander, signed certificates for Staff Sgts. Timothy Pinney and Matthew Robinson to recognize for their contributions to joint U.S. - U.K. operations at the Ai More

Lt. Col. Michael Moore, the commanding officer of the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 Gunfighters, with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), jots down his judge's notes on a score card for the Gunfig More

The sun rises over a CH-53E Super Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), as it sits on the flightline here. The Super Stallions are used to transport troops and More

Cpl. Alex Higham, a Hazardous Material Marine, prepares to move and inventory materials the HAZMAT Center recently received. The HAZMAT Center at Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing More

Sgt. Thomas C. Foster, an air traffic controller with Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), communicates with the Air Traffic Control tower here and informs them of what he sees on th More

Cpl. Ryan Smith, a UH-1Y Huey crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), puts a de-linker back together on an M134 Minigun. The Huey is being prepped as the More

Air Force Maj. Cindy Lord, commanding officer of 71 Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit and her son, Lance Cpl. James Hill, an infantryman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, reunite at Lord’s promotio More

Marines of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), touch the front tire of a CH-53D Sea Stallion during the final event of the Ugly Games. During this event, Marines put on the More

Lt. Col. Michael Moore, the commanding officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), cases the squadron battle colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at the More

Dancers and entertainers from Combined Service Entertainment visited U.S. Marines and sailors as well as U.K. service members at the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) compound here Nov. 17. Tickets to the CSE More

Performers with Combined Services Entertainment visit Marines at Camp Leatherneck with 3rd Marine Air Wing during part of a regular tour to forward deployed locations worldwide Nov. 17. The CSE performers will More

Sgt. Calvin Seeley, chief instructor for 1st Combat Engineer Battalion Counter Improvised Explosive Device Class, teaches Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), about More

A CH-53E Super Stallions with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (-) (Reinforced) line the flightline here ready to support International Security Assistance Forces operations within the region. Being the onl More

CH-53E Super Stallions with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (Reduced) (Reinforced) line the flightline at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, ready to support International Security Assistance Force operations with More

A U.S. Marine Corps M1A2 Abrams main battle tank is offloaded aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Nov. 25. The Marine tank was flown in country on-board a U.S Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and marks the More

An Afghan National Police patrolmen react to a training grenade thrown during an advanced training course at Camp Bastion, Nov. 29, 2010. The Provincial Police Advisory Team seleceted a group ANP for a one-week More

Petty Officer 3rd Class Courtney Casey, a corpsman at the Flightline Aid Station, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, talks to Lance Cpl. Niki Brown, a CH-53D crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Ma More

Brig. Gen. Andrew W. O'Donnell Jr., the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) commanding general, awards five Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd MAW (Fwd), their combat aircrew wings at the fli More

The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) commanding general stands with the senior leadership of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd MAW (Fwd), and the five Marines who received their combat aircrew wings a More

Lance Cpl. Jasmine I. Vazquez, ammunition technician, Supply Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 15 (Forward), 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), picks up an ammunition crate at the Field Ammunition Supply Po More

Lance Cpl. Jose A. Delva, parachute rigger, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), grills burgers and hot dogs during a barbecue at the United Kingdom’s Bastion Hospital, Camp B More

Sgt. Marcus Galvan, a crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), pushes a cargo box to the front of a CH-53D during a general support mission. HMH-362 transports c More

Lt. Col. Craig LeFlore, the commanding officer of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), and Sgt. Maj. Leo Varos, the squadron sergeant major, case the squadron colors during More

Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 arrive aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, as an augment from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Jan. 15. Marine elements from the 26th MEU will reinforce securit More

Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 arrive aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, as an augment from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Jan. 15. Marine elements from the 26th MEU will reinforce securi More

Navy Lt. Sarah Ballard readies a prescription for one of her Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 352, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), at the Flightline Aid Station aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan More

Combat aircrew wings, pictured here, were presented to six Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), Jan. 20. Brig. Gen. Joseph Osterman, the 1st Marine Division (Fo More

U.K. Royal Air Force Group Capt. Guy van den Berg, the commanding officer of the 903rd Expeditionary Air Wing and air field manager, addresses U.K. and U.S. firefighters during an awards ceremony aboard Camp Ba More

Lance Cpl. Laura Magness, communications operator, 202 Signals Squadron, and Cpl. Craig Robinson, Administrative Cell, Joint Operating Bastion, pose with their trophies after completing the Bastion Half Maratho More

Allahmohamad, an engineer from the Afghan National Army’s 215th Corps, hammers a stake in place during a bridge building exercise at Camp Bastion Jan. 30. The bridge is built by hand with the simplest of materi More

British army engineers run to cover after placing an explosive charge on an obstacle barring their entry from a simulated enemy compound. British army engineers with the Brigade Advisor Group conducted a demoli More

The guide for Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 stands at parade rest with the squadron's guidon at a transfer of authority ceremony aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Feb. 1. The HMH-361 "Flying Tigers" pas More

The Afghan, U.K. and U.S. colors fly side-by-side, representing the joint effort of the Camp Bastion flightline project, during the Camp Bastion flightline ribbon-cutting ceremony in Afghanistan Feb. 10. The ex More

The platoons of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 and MALS-40 present arms to the national colors during their Transfer of Authority Ceremony aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Feb. 20.

Lance Cpl. Levi Anderson, heavy equipment operator, Heavy Equipment Detachment, Landing Support Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), prepares to load a V-22 Osprey at More

Brig.r George Norton, Regional Command Southwest deputy commander, walks through the Mushtark Bazaar in Zaranj district, Afghanistan Feb. 22. Norton paid a visit to Zaranj district to meet with Abdul Karim Bara More

A CH-53D Super Stallion helicopter with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 starts in preparation for a heliborne extraction flight operation at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, March 4. HMH-362 conducts heliborne e More

U.S. Marine Sgt. Ricardo Gomez, a combat camera production specialist with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), makes his way toward a CH-53D Super Stallion Helicopter to participate in heliborne flight extracti More

The Antonov An-225 touched down at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, March 7. The largest and heaviest aircraft in the world, the one-of-a-kind An-225 is currently operated by Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines and contracted More

Cpl. Kelsey J. Canoy, a helicopter mechanic with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, inspects the exterior of an AH-1W Cobra for launch aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, March 11. “We make sure everyth More

A sign designating Heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron 463's new home on the flightline at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, overlooks the desert horizon, March 12. Pegasus' current deployment marks the second time the s More

More than 400 coalition troops and civilians participated in a half marathon on Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, March 13. The fastest runner finished the 13.1-mile course in 1 hour, 22 minutes.

Sgt. Joseph W. Meccico, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264, communicates with the flight crew of a MV-22B Osprey during takeoff from Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Rawhid More

Sgt. Benjamin R. Schlicht prepares a .50-caliber machine gun to be mounted on a CH-53D Sea Stallion at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, March 22. Schlicht is a CH-53D crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron More

A KC-130J Hercules belonging to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 flies over the Middle East with two Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 MV-22B Ospreys, April 3. Six Ospreys with Marine Medium Til More

A KC-130J Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 rests on the Camp Bastion, Afghanistan flightline prior to escorting three MV-22 Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 to Naval More