For those of us that have served in the U.S. Army for any period of time we have known some pretty basic buildings that we have called home. In 1970 at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, I lived in the same type of building that millions of Soldiers have lived in since the late 30's. They were (and, at some installations, still are) two-story buildings that had open bay sleeping areas with a latrine on the first floor and two to four smaller bedrooms that were generally occupied by NCOs. The joke in the 70's was that they were considered "temporary" at the time of their construction and were generally labeled with the letter T before their building number (like T-406). These buildings were well-known all around the U.S. and have been prominently displayed in such movies as "Stripes" and "A Soldier's Story". They had character. The exposed framing in the rooms made great shelves for smaller items like butt cans, weapon cleaning kits, toilet articles and the occasional beer can.
The massive sheet of linoleum that was waxed and buffed every night before lights out became the bane of many recruits because it was impossible to keep in a scuffless state long enough for the Drill Sergeant's inspection each morning. The plumbing sucked (literally in some buildings) and at some posts the heat was provided by a coal furnace that had to be stoked hourly all day and all night. Few recruits after the seventies realize that the name "Fire Guard" was originally assigned to the detail that kept the furnace going and was awake to sound the alarm in the event that the furnace erupted in flames.But what has all of this got to do with Afghanistan...?
Well, the old barracks buildings of my youth have been replaced by B-Huts and Super B-Huts. I have never gotten a good answer about where the name came from. Most people say that it is a model name but no one can show me an A-Hut or a C-Hut. What they have in common with the old barrack buildings is simple. They are temporary and are designed to house Soldiers and other service members in a no-frills environment for an unspecified length of time. Few have functional windows; some have concrete floors and some were built with wooden floors over an open area that increases the heat in the summer and the cold draft in the winter. Other than that, they are identical in appearance. They are cheap to build, go in quickly and will fit anywhere.
One big difference between the barracks and the B-Hut is the presence of an attempt at air conditioning and heating through a small heat pump device called a Chigo. That's the brand name of most of them but has become the name of the device regardless of the manufacturer (kind of like Kleenex...). The plans are available to all commands so when we need to put a few in, we put the bid request out to local contractors and the award goes out in less than a week. Usually the construction begins within a few days of the award. The paint plan is included so all are a generic tan color with the occasional white trim.
They are everywhere. Even in the most remote locations, if we can get the materials to the site, there will be a B-Hut. In the mountainous areas where electricity is hard to maintain with a generator, we will see a wood-stove inside. In those locations air conditioning is seldom an issue. In the most remote sites where we can get stone contractors, we use stone huts. Those are rare.
But there are some locations where my guys work that a B-Hut or an alternative structure just won't do. They are forced to live in bunkers like the one pictured above, that are reinforced by immense logs, immense rocks, dirt-filled Hesco Bastion walls and sandbags. See the picture below for what a Hesco looks like. It's a name, like the B-Hut, that anyone serving here will never forget.
Bunkers are a source of pride for those that have been involved in their construction. The better the protection, both overhead and side, the better the rating. You have even more to be proud of if it includes only a short walk to the urinal (called a "piss tube", a Viet Nam era
invention) and the latrine where the real work is done...Life in a bunker is obviously pretty austere. The ETTs that sleep in bunkers do so in their clothing in close proximity to their body armor and weapons. They are usually in locations that are constantly under observation by the enemy. Showers, if there are any, are cold and taken only when necessary. Electricity is provided by small generators that are turned off at night so they don't inhibit the ability to hear enemy activity. Warmth is illusive but is often provided by one's own body heat in layered clothing and a good mountain sleeping bag.
Gardens... that just sounded good. There are no gardens. We never promised you a rose garden...
Sarmajor
5 comments:
In Viet Nam they had SEA HUTs for South East Asia Hut. They are basicly the sm as B huts. They are based on usint 4X8 sheets of ply wood with cuting the ply wood. I believe the B HUT stands for Bosina where the built thousands.
I am currently in Afghanistan 2007 to 2009.
Thanks Rod. I have heard the same things since I initially wrote this. Stay safe.
Sarmajor
Thanks Rod. I have heard the same things since I initially wrote this. Stay safe.
Sarmajor
The similiar buildings in Kosovo were called C huts. They are larger than B huts.
The C huts have 4 bays which hold about 6 people to a room, and a bathroom facility between the 2nd and 3rd bay. They also have a covered porch which runs down both sides of the building. The doors are on the sides of the building instead of the ends.
The similiar buildings in Kosovo were called C huts. They are larger than B huts.
The C huts have 4 bays which hold about 6 people to a room, and a bathroom facility between the 2nd and 3rd bay. They also have a covered porch which runs down both sides of the building. The doors are on the sides of the building instead of the ends.
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