Outdoor gym, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Oxford, Iraq, 2009

Digital photograph by Corporal Adrian Harlen, Royal Logistic Corps, Operation BROCKDALE, Iraq, 2009.

FOB Oxford, situated near to Basra International Airport, was established on a tiny island surrounded by waterways. As British Army operations in Iraq drew to a close in 2009 a platoon of 5th Battalion The Rifles were tasked with patrolling the area in order to deter attacks on the airport and to disrupt insurgent smuggling routes.

Makeshift gyms were a common feature of outposts and bases set up by British soldiers in their deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan following the terrorist attacks on the USA on 11 September 2001. Such gyms helped to maintain physical fitness and combat the boredom of deployments where off-duty troops were confined to bases and outposts. At more established bases fully equipped gymnasiums were installed to fulfil the same purpose.

From a cd of multimedia relating to Operation BROCKDALE, Iraq, 2009.