Millitary newbie here!

I've been trying to figure out the difference between a Forward Op'g Base and a Contingency Op'g Base....Speicher used to be an FOB, but was renamed a COB due to its size. Does that mean it's bigger than an FOB or smaller? 

COB is bigger.

Speicher is huge. With great amenities. If you've got a Speicher contact, he's probably more interested in entertainment stuff, like snack food, movies and magz over needing sustenance food and basics. I think they've even got a Burger King there.

COP (combat outpost?) is smaller

FB (firebase) is tiny.

That's what I was guessing, but the "contingency" word threw me. It sounds more temporary than "forward" so seemed like it ought to be smaller, but I knew it was huge.

We've sent lots of greeting cards to Speicher, and they blast through them faster than we can keep up, so I know they're one big base!

Thanks for the info!

Colourful I saw your website and your cards are AWESOME! I support mostly guys in really rural Afghanistan and they have NO access to cards to send home. If you ever wanted to send some over to the Korengal Valley, Arroyo and Calvert would spread them around the two main bases there for ya. I bet they'd really appreciate that!!  (plug for my guys! ha!)

Shelly

Shelley, one of our shippers sends to a contact there - we had a 'card surge' earlier this summer to cheer them up. :) Christmas is comin' the cards are stacking up, send me some names and we can add them to our lists!

 DUh, if I wasnt so exhausted I'd have seen you put their names in your post, lol. Ignore me. I spent too much time running around at the fair today! lololol....

colourful:

one of our shippers sends to a contact there

Yayyyy!! Thanks!! Those two guys are on the two bases, the KOP and Vegas. They're small bases, if you get em to them, they'll spread the love. Thanks girl!!

You also have to keep in mind that just because the name of the larger base is in the address, isn't an indication for sure that they are actually on that base.  They could be at a small, remote outpost and still get their mail through that base that is used as a mail hub.

Gran

Gran -- I agree with you 100%  

And in response to a similar question a few months back, in SGT Nevels’ (Steve-O) post (one of our old contacts), Steve talked about how that worked.

--Marilyn

Ahhh this is so true! I can't believe i forgot that. I even had a couple contacts last year that had a Speicher address and were in a really remote place. I guess i just assumed the contact was on Speicher. Hmmm, gotta stop checking the forum late at nite, I didn't have my whole brain on :)

 (and the guys and gals on the big bases still need lotsa love!)

 You junkies are full of such great information! Thanks! One of the Speicher contacts is at the CSH, though, would it be safe to assume a CSH is not remote? Or can CSHs be like I used to see on M^A^S^H and be out in the middle of nothing?

So much to learn.... :)

colourful:

. . . . . would it be safe to assume a CSH is not remote? Or can CSHs be like I used to see on M^A^S^H and be out in the middle of nothing?

Oh, not to worry, my dear Junkie friend  -- all of us are learning all the time -- it's the Junkie Way!!!

Because they are large and relatively difficult to move, Combat Support Hospitals are not the front line of Military Medical Care. Battalion Aid Stations, Forward Support Medical Battalions and Forward Surgical Teams are usually the first point of contact medical care for wounded soldiers. The CSH receives most patients via Helicopter Air Ambulance, and stabilizes these patients for further treatment at fixed facility hospitals. Ideally, the CSH is located as the bridge between incoming helicopter ambulances and outgoing Air Force aircraft.

 (By the way, just a piece of *trivia* -- CSH is pronounced "cash" -- )

And -- if your contact is at a CSH, please consider adding him/her to the CSH thread we have going here on the Forum.  We want to be sure our wounded and those who care for them are supported and loved -- as many as we can!

Thanks!
--Marilyn