FOB Spider

Master Corporal Travis Good gives those of us back in Canada some perspective on what it's like to work out of a rough Forward Operating Base in Panjwayii district, as part of the 2PPCLI Battle Group:

As night approaches, tired bodies with a belly full of rations start the familiar trek to their bunks to get some well-deserved rack for the evening. The familiar routines of the nightly spider check are carried out before decent shuteye can be obtained. Flashlights go on almost in unison, and the beams dance across cots and ceilings, hoping to catch the spiders before they descend into our sleeping bags. Sandals at the ready, smaller soldiers on the shoulders of larger soldiers swing wildly at the arachnids as others watch intently before shutting down their senses for the night.

While those not on shift snore the night away, soldiers tip-toe cautiously around their slumbering bodies on their way to the tower for a shift on observation post (OP). Familiar rustling sounds emit from the kitchen area: it’s our local celebrity, Sonic the Hedgehog, taking advantage of the quiet night to feast on Cheerios that have been left out for him. Local music plays in the sea-can (shipping container) where the ANP have made their home. The smells of chai and barbecued goat fill the air amid conversation and laughter. The ANP men’s shadows dance on the walls as they horse around and joke with each other until the wee hours of morning. Do these people ever sleep?

Thanks to MCpl Good for taking the time to put his thoughts to paper - or electrons, I guess - and share his experience with the rest of us. And thanks to CEFCOM for giving him a forum to tell that story.