Camp Marmal
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Camp Marmal | |||||||||||||||
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![]() An American C-5 aircraft at Camp Marmal | |||||||||||||||
Summary | |||||||||||||||
Airport type | Military | ||||||||||||||
Owner | ![]() | ||||||||||||||
Operator | Afghan Air Force | ||||||||||||||
Serves | Northern Afghanistan | ||||||||||||||
Location | Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan | ||||||||||||||
Built | 2005 | ||||||||||||||
In use | 2005-present | ||||||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 1,273 ft / 388 m | ||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 36°42′10″N 067°13′40″E / 36.70278°N 67.22778°E | ||||||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||||||
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Camp Marmal is the largest base of the Bundeswehr outside of Germany. It is adjacent to the Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi International Airport in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, at the foot of the Hindu Kush mountains. The camp was opened in September 2005 and has expanded in recent years. The camp gets its name from the bordering Marmal Mountains.
Camp Marmal hosts the troops of TAAC - North belonging to the NATO Resolute Support Mission.
More than 2,000 soldiers are currently stationed at Camp Marmal.
The base hosts a large medical center for ISAF forces and also local civilians. The base was heavily involved in supporting German combat operations in Afghanistan in early 2009.
History
Germany began building the site on 3 November 2005 and it opened on 2 August 2006.[1]
Hospital
The German military hospital was completed in 2007. Its primary purpose is to provide emergency services to the RSM troops. German civilians in Afghanistan and aid workers are also served, either under contract or in cases of emergency. Local Afghans are also cared for, as capacity and means permit.
Along with two operating units, there are specialists, outpatient clinics, intensive and intermediate care stations. The hospital, pharmacy, and laboratory have approximately 80 military personnel.
Facilities
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/German_Federal_President_Horst_Kohler_talks_with_the_troops_at_Camp_Marmal_-b.jpg/220px-German_Federal_President_Horst_Kohler_talks_with_the_troops_at_Camp_Marmal_-b.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/GTK_Boxer_im_Camp_Marmal.jpg/220px-GTK_Boxer_im_Camp_Marmal.jpg)
Military chaplaincy
The German chaplains offer space for recreation and spiritual care. There is also a Norwegian chapel inside Camp Nidaros.
The atrium
Planet Mazar
A recreation facility at Camp Marmal called Planet Mazar is located in the atrium. It offers pool tables, dart boards, football tables and a poker table.
Internet Café
There is also an Internet Café in which service members and contractors can connect to the pay-as-you-go internet with laptops or use the desktops provided. Internet cards can be purchased at Planet Mazar.
Fitness Center
The German Fitness Center is located by The Atrium.
Cafés
There are two cafés located in the atrium, The Lounge and K2.
Restaurants
The MAK Team Restaurant is located at the place of previous Norwegian D-Fac, ex camp Nidaros, compound just across the road from German Hospital. Mak team Restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine with a wide range of grilled food. It serves a variety of desserts as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. There is a restaurant located in the atrium, The Oasis. Various food items, coffee, sodas, and alcohol are sold at Planet Mazar, The Lounge, K2 and The Oasis.
Bazaar
A bazaar is located on base. It is open every day but Friday. Local vendors sell a variety of items such as military paraphernalia, loose gemstones, Afghan rugs, DVDs, local cell phones and electronics.
Cell phones and DVDs are no longer allowed to be sold at the bazaar per the German military. This also includes cameras and MP3 players, or anything else that can store data. The Norwegian PX has basic cell phones for sale between 40 and 60 Euros. Cell phone SIM cards and topup cards for Roshan and Etislat are still available for sale at the bazaar and the Norwegian PX. Etislat has the best cell phone signal in the base area and most of RC North.
A barber shop is also available at the bazaar.
Dining facilities
There are two dining facilities (DFAC) on Camp Marmal: a German and an American.
Fast food
At the very center of Camp Marmal, at the location of the ex-Camp Nidaros (Norwegian part of the camp), one can find MAK Team Pizzeria and MAK Team Restaurant. Pizzeria offers wide range of pizzas and deserts, and serves genuine European style espresso among other beverages. The restaurant serves mainly Mediterranean cuisine as well as a wide range of grilled food such as kebab and steaks. Services can be paid with Euros, dollars, and Eagle cash. Green Bean Coffee is located on the U.S. side of the base next to the PX, and accepts US dollars or Eagle Cash.
Money
Eagle Cash machines are located at the following locations: next to the German PX, the American PX, the U.S. Post Office, and the finance office. The Eagle Cash machine located in front of finance is mostly used for withdrawing money.
Personnel may also cash checks or draw advanced pay from the finance Office the Beach House.
Post exchanges
There are four post exchanges located on Camp Marmal. The Dutch B&S store and the American Exchange PX function as all-purpose stores that sell snacks, drinks, personal hygiene products, clothing, nicotine products, and various other supplies. The main German Deutsche Speicher PX (DSPX) primarily sells clothing items and military gear. All three PXs accept dollars, Eagle Cash, and credit/debit cards. The Dutch PX and the DSPX accept Euros. There is also a small German PX in the same building as the German Feldpost.
See also
- International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
- Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)
- Bagram Air Base
- List of airports in Afghanistan
References
- ^ "Chronology of the ISAF mission in Afghanistan". German Armed Forces via Google Translate. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)