Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, practice Marine Corps Martial Arts Program techniques at Forward Operating Base Geronimo in Helmand province, Afghanistan Oct. 5. (Photo by Cpl. Daniel Flynn).

The FOB may seem meager in comparison to some of the larger, more-established bases in country, but the Marines here have everything they need, said Lance Cpl. James Pursley, a guard force Marine.

The base includes a chow hall, field-expedient bathrooms, showers and even a Morale, Welfare and Recreation tent with Internet and phone access, he explained.

The chaplain also operates out of the MWR tent. Marines know they can visit the MWR/chaplain tent for personal items such as razor blades, shaving cream and soap, as well as snacks, and the MWR/chaplain tent holds movie night every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Caldera, a religious program specialist, said, "We are here to do as much for the Marines as we can."

The MWR/chaplain tent offers many different services including snacks and coffee for the Marines, Caldera said.

"The only things I could do without are the sand storms," Pursley said of the dust devils that blow through camp almost daily in summer and are common year-round.

Though deployed, Marines continue maintenance training such as Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. There is also a gym that includes free weights so physical training is more than just running and pull-ups.

"Life on Geronimo is actually pretty good," said field wireman Lance Cpl. Eric Fisher."