A new wooden walkway at the heart of Kandahar AB, Afghanistan, now features all the trappings of a stateside oceanside boardwalk, including fast food restaurants, a phone center, and gift shops. Stars and Stripes reports that the partially complete boardwalk is part of an improvement project begun by the base’s former commander, Lt. Col. Jim Hardy. Much of the base is in a near-complete status, as US and coalition forces continue a range of improvements, from the base’s runway—being lengthened and widened to accommodate a wider range of aircraft—to housing for US and NATO partner nation troops.
The Air Force in October carried out a homeland defense mission, with jets including F-16 Fighting Falcons, in Alaska’s remote Aleutian Islands to show a base there could safeguard the northern regions.