Soldiers weightlifting in Forward Operating Base Gibraltar, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, 2008

Digital photograph by Sergeant Ian Houlding, Afghanistan, 2008.

2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment based at Forward Operating Base Gibraltar, near the town of Sangin in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during Operation HERRICK 8.

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 collection of digital images compiled by Sergeant Rupert Frere, Royal Logistic Corps.