Main Operating Base

A Main Operating Base ( MOB) is in the language of the United States, the largest stage a military base outside the mother country. It involves points within befriended host countries where stationed permanently combat troops, firm command and communications facilities, powerful bunker and defense systems, an efficient access to airspace or the sea, living and care facilities for dependents of soldiers are present.

The MOBs go back to a concept that U.S. President George W. Bush unveiled in August 2004 for the deployment of the armed forces of the United States. It looks to 2014 before a withdrawal of U.S. forces, in particular from Western Europe and a relocation to the USA and to a lesser degree in other states. Central elements of this new deployment concept are the MOBs downstream Forward Operating Sites ( FOS) and Cooperative Security Locations ( CSL).

MOBs in Europe are the military airfields Ramstein, heritage home and Spangdahlem and the three combined army bases Grafenwoehr, Hohenfels and Vilseck in Germany, the Aviano Air Base in Italy, the military port of Rota in Spain, the base of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy, the headquarters of the U.S. Navy in Naples. In Asia, the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa serve, the military port of Yokosuka, and Camp Humphreys in South Korea as MOBs. Outside of Western Europe and East Asia, the U.S. plans no explicit establishment of MOBs.

The distinction between the Main Operating Base and Forward Operating Base ( FOB ) is also common in the parlance of NATO and other military forces.

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