European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 13, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pace 8 stars and stripes july expansion planned for Afghanistan Airfield by Mark stars and stripes Afghanistan strategically located near the largest City in the Northern portion of regional Jala Labad which encompasses Forward operating base is grow ing almost faster than its size will first built to House a battalion sized the base is now Home to the Headquarters of the 173rd airborne brigade combat some Ameri can troops and civilians As Well As afghan Security forces and local workers Are living and work ing on the More than 120 afghan guards help the 173rd pull Security around the bases encompassing 383 the Airfield is split in half by the and the vast majority of person Nel be on the smaller South because Lon term plans include moving All the forces to the South of the and having the Afghanistan National army air corps operate an air base on the North a 109acre expansion has been planned on the South our biggest concern right now without the sex things Are going to remain said David 173rd airborne brigade combat teams support battalion executive who is filling the position of Fob mayor while obtaining the new which is occupied by to takes time and involves higher military authorities than those at Jala Labad As Well As the Afghanistan Interior and transportation depart seed said Hes hopeful a decision on the additional acreage will be made during the 173rds other projects on Fenty Are under including a new tactical operations Center for the better and More billeting for the soldiers and and new facilities for the local medical company and Forward surgical Brick and mortar housing is since Many of the soldiers on Fenty still live in tents and others Are housed in plywood buildings with a life Span of three to five because the unit scheduled to replace the 173rd next summer is seed one of the main projects working now is expanding the rotary Wing aviation area adjacent to the plans also Are under Way for repairing and upgrading the runway what were doing is certainly in line with build ing the Economy of the local said Pat an Engineer officer who works in 173rds Man Euver enhancement cell were trying to incorporate the local afghan construction companies with the build out of email Mark  Mark and stripes service members stationed on Forward operating base part of Jala Labad walk by the framework for what will be the new Home of the bases medical company and Forward surgical carrying the Torch right Chad of fort halts during a foot patrol near Forward operating base Murray in the Arab labour District Southeast of Price is with company 1st 30th 2nd 3rd infantry the battalion is one of the Lead elements of Marne a Security operation that began last month along the Tigris River South of Baghdad and is designed to prevent sunni insurgents and weapons from infiltrating into the iraqi later that a Roadside bomb killed two soldiers with Bravo l30th who were Clearing houses just Down the direct engagements with insurgents in the area have been and hidden bombs Are the biggest threat to soldiers in the photos by Drew Brown stars and stripes soldiers search for Roadside bombs while on foot patrol near Forward operating base an iraqi woman clutches her head As soldiers talk with her husband in an adjoining room during a night Richard of during a Security Haft while on foot