Camp Dahlke: A Strategic Stronghold In Afghanistan's Complex Landscape

Camp Dahlke is a U.S. military base in Afghanistan, located in the Logar Province of eastern Afghanistan, about 12 km southeast of the city of Baraki Barak. The base was previously known as Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank, which was one of the most heavily rocketed FOBs in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2014, the base was turned over to the Afghan National Army (ANA), who established Camp Maiwand at the northern end. American forces later returned and reoccupied the southern portion, renaming it Camp Dahlke. Camp Dahlke has been used to support the deployment of the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade, with facilities to house 1200 personnel. The camp has faced frequent rocket attacks from insurgents, and U.S. artillerymen have conducted terrain denial missions to deter enemy rockets.

Camp Dahlke is a US base in Afghanistan

FOB Shank was built in 2008 by the Alpha Company of the 508th Special Troops Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division, with assistance from the 555th Engineer Battalion. The base was named after SSG Michael A. Shank, who was killed in the Logar Province in 2006.

In 2014, the base was handed over to the ANA, who established Camp Maiwand at the northern end of the FOB. The US forces later returned and reoccupied the southern portion of the FOB, renaming it Camp Dahlke. Camp Dahlke was expanded in 2018 to support the deployment of the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade and has facilities to house 1200 personnel.

Camp Dahlke has been the site of artillery operations, with US artillerymen working to deter enemy rockets. The camp has been targeted by insurgents, who have historically used spots near the camp as launching pads for rocket attacks. US artillerymen have conducted terrain denial missions, hitting these spots to prevent future rocket attacks.

The 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade, a unit of experienced advisors, has been working to train and support Afghan troops at Camp Dahlke. The brigade has about 800 advisors, mostly officers or NCOs with combat experience in Afghanistan or Iraq. The brigade's advisors work with Afghan soldiers on artillery positions, help coordinate air strikes and other tactical support, and assist with planning operations.

It was previously known as Forward Operating Base Shank

Camp Dahlke, previously known as Forward Operating Base Shank, is a US military base in Afghanistan. It is located in the Logar province of eastern Afghanistan, about 12 km southeast of the city of Baraki Barak.

FOB Shank was built in 2008 by the Alpha Company of the 508th Special Troops Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division, with assistance from the 555th Engineer Battalion. The base was named after SSG Michael A. Shank, who was killed in the Logar Province in 2006.

During Operation Enduring Freedom, FOB Shank was one of the most heavily rocketed US forward operating bases in Afghanistan. In 2014, the base was turned over to the Afghan National Army, who established Camp Maiwand at the northern end of the FOB. American forces later returned and reoccupied the southern portion of the FOB, renaming it Camp Dahlke.

Camp Dahlke was built from the ground up and has no fancy amenities. With constant incoming fire from the Taliban, it is a blackout base, meaning there are no external lights at night, and helicopters take off in the dark without lights. Soldiers have nicknamed the base "Rocket City".

Camp Dahlke is home to the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, and every type of air support mission is conducted from the base, including medevac, resupply, and combat. The Chinook CH-47 is the workhorse of the 101st CAB, as it functions better in Afghan weather than a Blackhawk and can carry more weight.

The Afghan War against the Taliban is one of the longest wars in history, now in its 18th year. NATO Operation Resolute Support, led by the US with the help of over 40 other countries, aims to train and eventually provide a stronger Afghan National Army that can protect their own country.

Camp Dahlke has been used to train the Afghan National Army

Camp Dahlke, a US Army base in Afghanistan, has been used to train the Afghan National Army (ANA) as part of NATO Operation Resolute Support. The US Army has been working to train and support the ANA, with the goal of eventually providing a stronger Afghan National Army capable of protecting their own country.

Camp Dahlke was established in 2014 on the southern end of the now-abandoned Shank Base, with the aim of providing air support for the ANA in their fight against the Taliban. The base houses soldiers from various combat aviation brigades, including the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, which redeployed to Camp Dahlke from Camp Buehring, Kuwait, in May 2016. These soldiers augment an existing garrison from the 3rd and 4th Combat Aviation Brigades, whose mission is to train, advise, and assist the ANA in clearing the local region of Taliban insurgents.

The training provided by US military advisers at Camp Dahlke focuses on addressing long-standing issues within the ANA, such as poor logistics and organisation, as well as a reliance on static checkpoints that are vulnerable to attack. The advisers work closely with mid-ranking and junior Afghan officers and soldiers to gain a better perspective on the real strength of the ANA. They assist in coordinating air strikes and providing tactical support, while also helping with basic military organisation, such as filing requests for vehicle repair and ammunition resupply.

The presence of US forces at Camp Dahlke and their training efforts have faced challenges, including constant incoming fire from the Taliban, which has resulted in a blackout at the base with no external lights at night. Despite these difficulties, the air support provided by the US Army continues to be a significant advantage for the ANA in their efforts to retake control of lost regions and prevent the capture of new ones.

The base has been subject to frequent rocket attacks from insurgents

Camp Dahlke in Afghanistan has been subject to frequent rocket attacks from insurgents. The camp, located in the Logar Province of eastern Afghanistan, was previously known as Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank, which was one of the most heavily rocketed bases in the country during Operation Enduring Freedom. FOB Shank was turned over to the Afghan National Army in 2014, and American forces reoccupied the southern portion of the base under the name Camp Dahlke.

Camp Dahlke has been a frequent target of rocket attacks by insurgents. In an article published in October 2019, it was mentioned that rocket attacks occurred almost every other day when the unit first arrived at the camp. However, the frequency of the attacks decreased over time, and by September, the soldiers were receiving only about one attack every two weeks.

The soldiers at Camp Dahlke have employed various strategies to deter enemy rockets and protect the base. They have conducted terrain denial missions, hitting spots historically used as launching pads by insurgents. They also have M777 Howitzers in place and are ready to fire back at insurgents within a few minutes of an attack. The unit has fired hundreds of artillery rounds from these Howitzers in support of U.S. and Afghan forces.

The constant rocket attacks have had a significant impact on the camp and the soldiers stationed there. Camp Dahlke has been referred to as a "blackout base," meaning there are no external lights at night to avoid becoming a target. The soldiers have also had to adapt to living with constant incoming fire and the ever-present threat of attacks.

Despite the challenges, the unit at Camp Dahlke has been successful in deterring the enemy and reducing the frequency of rocket attacks. Their quick response and accurate fires have sent a strong message to the insurgents, and they continue to work towards ensuring the safety and security of the base and the surrounding area.

US artillerymen at Camp Dahlke have been working to deter enemy rockets

Camp Dahlke is a US Army base in Afghanistan, built on the site of the now-abandoned Shank Base. The base is named after Army Staff Sgt. Jason Sean Dahlke, who was killed by enemy fire in 2009.

The artillerymen fire for terrain denial purposes, hitting spots historically used as launching pads by insurgents who shoot rockets at the camp. They also fire back at insurgents within a few minutes of incoming rockets. According to Staff Sgt. Anthony Yannarella, a section chief with the battalion's Bravo Battery, "When the enemy shoots rockets at us, they are shooting and running. For us to be able to shoot back and get that counter-fire, we need to move quickly to get to that gun".

The speed and accuracy of the artillerymen's fires have led Yannarella to believe that they have deterred the enemy. When they first arrived, rocket attacks occurred almost every other day. By September, these attacks had slowed to about one every two weeks.

The US artillerymen are also helping to build up the Afghan artillery force. Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Bernier, a senior operations advisor, visits Afghan bases to train them on their artillery and mortar systems.

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