# Photos from OEF **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [March 17, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630 "2014-03-17T16:42:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mafdark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mafdark/32/6322_2.png) [@Mafdark](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mafdark)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/1 "2014-03-17T16:42:05Z")
I had posted a couple of photos while I was overseas in my build thread and now that it’s been over a year since i’ve been back and I’m sorting through thousands of pictures and videos on my HD I thought I would share a few more. I’m not going to dump them all at once since that dilutes their significance. Instead I’ll post just a few and let people post questions and comments. I’ll post up more as certain things come to mind. If you have your own pictures from a foreign land, feel free to post them up here. The main airbase that we started off and ended up at. No tricks in this photo, the sun is setting behind a dust cloud. ![https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/337482_10100264918872495_462810969_o.jpg](https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/337482_10100264918872495_462810969_o.jpg) The following night in the same spot: ![https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t31.0-8/322127_10100268278444885_511601383_o.jpg](https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t31.0-8/322127_10100268278444885_511601383_o.jpg) A similar subject, but further on down the road: ![https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t31.0-8/858883_10100420921916145_1213357683_o.jpg](https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t31.0-8/858883_10100420921916145_1213357683_o.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mafdark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mafdark/32/6322_2.png) [@Mafdark](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mafdark)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/2 "2014-03-18T19:59:11Z")
Patrols took us down and back a 60 mile stretch of highway one. ![https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/165897_10100420921222535_2132485704_n.jpg](https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/165897_10100420921222535_2132485704_n.jpg) ![https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/559912_10100420921407165_982162567_n.jpg](https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/559912_10100420921407165_982162567_n.jpg) We would frequently come across Afghan security contractors ![https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/166786_10100420922859255_1716803148_n.jpg](https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/166786_10100420922859255_1716803148_n.jpg) ![https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t1.0-9/538788_10100271668022145_117813357_n.jpg](https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t1.0-9/538788_10100271668022145_117813357_n.jpg) Who were hired to secure the fuel that had been blocked from coming into the country from Pakistan ![https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/t1.0-9/6558_10100420925069825_286195762_n.jpg](https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/t1.0-9/6558_10100420925069825_286195762_n.jpg) ![https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/64162_10100420924989985_434643318_n.jpg](https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/64162_10100420924989985_434643318_n.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mafdark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mafdark/32/6322_2.png) [@Mafdark](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mafdark)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/3 "2014-03-19T15:58:08Z")
keep posting or no? ---
**Author:** ![maxwell](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/maxwell/32/6524_2.png) [@maxwell](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/maxwell)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/4 "2014-03-19T16:19:19Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![1QIKZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/1qikz/32/6112_2.png) [@1QIKZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/1QIKZ)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 4:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/5 "2014-03-19T16:51:40Z")
Looks veeeeeeeerrrrry hot…and dry. ---
**Author:** ![Onyx\_Z32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onyx_z32/32/7581_2.png) [@Onyx\_Z32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Onyx_Z32)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/6 "2014-03-19T17:11:59Z")
> [@maxwell](#): > > Yes. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Mafdark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mafdark/32/6322_2.png) [@Mafdark](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mafdark)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 6:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/7 "2014-03-19T18:00:54Z")
> [@1QIKZ](#): > > Looks veeeeeeeerrrrry hot…and dry. The forecast didn’t change a single day that we were there. At one point I wondered if they even updated it. The ground was so dry I felt compelled to take a picture of the one spot of green in my entire area: ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/IMG_1304.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/2/4/24c8526df5c8fc8d1adbf3eb2cfc7a31c06c421d.jpeg) We moved into a pretty nice FOB about an hour south of the airbase. The only downside was that there was both Afghan private security contractors and an Afghan Army Infantry unit living with us. This was during a year when there were 62 “green on blue” attacks ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/DSCN0311.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/5/1/51968d51cf7c4eedc39d950b52a0640929705e7f.jpeg) ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/NicePussy.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/b/1/b18c5c31cb6d6973cf4a499966f4ef686f9a60fb.jpeg) This was a huge concern but after the groups started associating tensions let down. ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/IMG_1356.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/0/9/0932b73e14ba29ca9deaabb422e68a9fa160d9b7.jpeg) We were there to facilitate the transition from NATO led to security to Afghan independent security. This meant we had to evaluate the security forces and the threats, train them, lead them, eventually follow their lead with backup, and finally walk away. I was assigned the National Police unit who secured 80 miles of highway 1. ---
**Author:** ![cougarspeed](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/cougarspeed/32/7468_2.png) [@cougarspeed](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/cougarspeed)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/8 "2014-03-19T18:55:51Z")
:tup: to getting home safe oh the memories… when im not on the road ill post some. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/9 "2014-03-19T20:31:00Z")
cool pics. stay safe and keep sharing ---
**Author:** ![ubengineering](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ubengineering/32/5171_2.png) [@ubengineering](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ubengineering)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 9:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/10 "2014-03-20T09:52:19Z")
I like the pics because it’s something 99.99999% of the world will never see, but I’d never wanna go there. ---
**Author:** ![Mafdark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mafdark/32/6322_2.png) [@Mafdark](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mafdark)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 12:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/11 "2014-03-20T12:50:01Z")
> [@Mafdark](#): > > We were there to facilitate the transition from NATO led to security to Afghan independent security. This meant we had to evaluate the security forces and the threats, train them, lead them, eventually follow their lead with backup, and finally walk away. I was assigned the National Police unit who secured 80 miles of highway 1. This process started by visiting with each checkpoint, talking to the police commander, check point commanders, and the elders of each village. This is where the thousands of pictures came in, I put my camera on “full auto” and handed it off to either my RTO or interpreter depending on what we we doing. We had pictures of every person, building, vehicle, and weapon. ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/IMG_0956.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/b/e/bee660b4ade87e68b56ad37d30d66440762570f2.jpeg) My job really turned into an interviewer of sorts. Trying to interpret translations and read between the lines of what was being said. There was always something going on; an angle being played. ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/IMG_1863.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/2/6/26e96d0a4fbd3dc8abbe96116725c958032a92db.jpeg) and no matter who I talked to, they were never far from weapons. ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/IMG_1865.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/5/e/5e0e3e54eeeb8b6e3afbde6e8c9979fb04d8588c.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![maxwell](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/maxwell/32/6524_2.png) [@maxwell](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/maxwell)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 12:59pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/12 "2014-03-20T12:59:46Z")
Dude. I don’t care what anyone else says, keep it coming. ---
**Author:** ![GV1390](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gv1390/32/5432_2.png) [@GV1390](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GV1390)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 1:06pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/13 "2014-03-20T13:06:26Z")
Damn. ---
**Author:** ![Freek](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/freek/32/7357_2.png) [@Freek](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Freek)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/14 "2014-03-20T14:30:38Z")
You were like far southern border with Pakistan? Not enough mountains to be anywhere near any of my old AOs. ---
**Author:** ![Mafdark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mafdark/32/6322_2.png) [@Mafdark](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mafdark)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/15 "2014-03-20T14:35:33Z")
> [@Freek](#): > > You were like far southern border with Pakistan? Not enough mountains to be anywhere near any of my old AOs. Right, I was closer to Iran. The Brits and Marines to our south (Camp Bastion) got most of what was thrown over the Pakistan border at us. ---
**Author:** ![Freek](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/freek/32/7357_2.png) [@Freek](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Freek)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/16 "2014-03-20T15:02:15Z")
> [@Mafdark](#): > > Right, I was closer to Iran. The Brits and Marines to our south (Camp Bastion) got most of what was thrown over the Pakistan border at us. Yeah, that was a pretty rough area back in 08 when I was there. Steadily head by taliban a lot. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/17 "2014-03-20T15:04:05Z")
Very interesting photos, glad you made it home ok and can share. I’d like to see more if you have them! ---
**Author:** ![Mafdark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mafdark/32/6322_2.png) [@Mafdark](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mafdark)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/18 "2014-03-20T16:10:02Z")
Lots and Lots more: My company was supposed to stick within 5 miles of the highway, Italians and Slovenians shared the AO farther off the highway into the desert and mountains, the Brits and US Marines were at our southern limit, American fuel was being shipped in enormous convoys 4 days a week from Tajikistan past me to the south and south east, the fuel was insured by NATO, driven by afghan civilians, and protected by Afghan private security (pictured in my 2nd post), the Afghan Army was constantly running operations just about everywhere, the ANP (National Police) were responsible for the highway (partnered with me) NDS (quasi intelligence agency) were everywhere in between and SF/Marine Recon did whatever they wanted. Typically they could be found handing out AKs to civilians in my AO to try and setup local police. It is what they call a jurisdictional nightmare. Afghan Army ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/1IMG_2578.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/1IMG_2578.jpg) We stopped here to help them with a jammed 50 cal. Its eyeopening to see all the american equipment being used. ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/1IMG_2573.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/1IMG_2573.jpg) here the italians randomly appear in my AO with ANA ![https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t31.0-8/859771_10100420940728445_653097147_o.jpg](https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t31.0-8/859771_10100420940728445_653097147_o.jpg) ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/IMG_1620.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/IMG_1620.jpg) The nature of my mission put us on foot on highway one on a regular basis. ![https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t31.0-8/860072_10100420940598705_991131973_o.jpg](https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t31.0-8/860072_10100420940598705_991131973_o.jpg) here with a fuel convoy in the background ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/830410_10100420939201505_1945205483_o.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Mafdark/AFG/830410_10100420939201505_1945205483_o.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mafdark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mafdark/32/6322_2.png) [@Mafdark](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mafdark)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/19 "2014-03-25T15:00:18Z")
Some of the sights were a culture shock to us new yorkers ![https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t31.0-8/860012_10100420921432115_1769431893_o.jpg](https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t31.0-8/860012_10100420921432115_1769431893_o.jpg) ![https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t31.0-8/856539_10100420921487005_350032739_o.jpg](https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t31.0-8/856539_10100420921487005_350032739_o.jpg) ![https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t31.0-8/861274_10100420921506965_1414487788_o.jpg](https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t31.0-8/861274_10100420921506965_1414487788_o.jpg) ![https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t31.0-8/860390_10100420921586805_1170363603_o.jpg](https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t31.0-8/860390_10100420921586805_1170363603_o.jpg) It was interesting to see no water but lots and lots of watermelons everywhere ![https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t31.0-8/856851_10100420921961055_1390270033_o.jpg](https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t31.0-8/856851_10100420921961055_1390270033_o.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mafdark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mafdark/32/6322_2.png) [@Mafdark](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mafdark)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630/20 "2014-03-25T16:18:04Z")
Just a drive around but go 720p fullscreen [https://youtu.be/Je92W6BJHdM](https://youtu.be/Je92W6BJHdM) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/photos-from-oef/268630.md?page=2)