Forward Operating Base Shank

Shank Airport
IATA: OAA – ICAO: OASH
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Afghanistan
Location	Baraki Barak, Logar Province, Afghanistan
Elevation AMSL	6,614 ft / 2,016 m
Coordinates	33°55′19″N 69°04′41″E / 33.92194°N 69.07806°ECoordinates: 33°55′19″N 69°04′41″E / 33.92194°N 69.07806°E
Map
OAA Location of airport in Afghanistan
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 16L/34R 2,094 6,870 Concrete 16R/34L 610 2,002 Concrete
Source: AIP Afghanistan[1]

FOB Shank (IATA: OAA, ICAO: OASH, also known as Firebase Shank) is a forward operating base of the U.S. military, located in the Logar province of Eastern Afghanistan, about 12 km south-east of the city of Baraki Barak.

As of July, 2008 it was the home to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops actively supporting the Afghan National Security Forces by training the Afghan National Police. The Police Academy, led by a U.S. Police Mentoring Training team, cooperates daily with Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team Logar, which is composed of 200 Czech Soldiers and about 10 civilians.

These efforts focused on training the Afghanistan National Auxiliary Police to become members of the ANP.

As of 8 July 2008 Czech and Afghan instructors were teaching the fourth group of cadets at the Academy. Each group attends a three-week cycle which includes first-aid treatment, tactics, patrolling, weapons training, vehicle-check-point procedures and many other police-related subjects. The practical part of the training also includes scenarios where cadets are ambushed by simulated oppositional forces.

During 2014 the base was downsized partly by 858 Engineer Company, 223rd Engineer Battalion and was expected to be turned over to the ANA before the early of 2014.^[2]

The last few convoys containing equipment from FOB Shank back to Bagram Airbase were completed during October 2014 by the 730th Transportation Company, 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade.^[3]

Deployed units

Aviation

• Elements of Combat Aviation Brigade, 82d Airborne Division
  • B Company (Flippers) using the Boeing CH-47F Chinook

Ground forces

• Company A, 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division during July 2009.^[4]
• Alpha Battery, 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team during July 2012.
  • M777 howitzer
  • M119 howitzer
• A Co., 1st Battalion - 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division during 2011-2012.

References

1. AIP Afghanistan - Important Information
2. "Afghanistan: April 2014". The Atlantic. May 10, 2016.
3. "Ruffians close down FOB Shank". DVIDS. August 9, 2016.
4. "710 BSB bolster security around FOB Shank". US Army. Retrieved August 9, 2016.

External links

• "Camp Shank/Forward Operating Base Shank". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 21 March 2007.