Combat curbo, Afghanistan scrapping

Ok, so laying in bed last I started thinking back to Afghanistan. I left there in April so not too long ago. Scrappers there are just as hard working as anywhere else. My most memorable experience was when we were called to assist a convoy that had hit an IED. We rolled up to help secure the area. I notice a wheel to a MATV between the down vehicle and myself. I think to myself I'd pick that sucker up if I had the chance. Aparently the afghan police thought the same thing and he in fact snagged it up, sure enough by the time the whole ordeal was over and we were heading back to base I see the same guy turning in the wheel at the scrap yard. I got a huge laugh out of that. Just wanted to share this experience with y'all.

Army,

Interesting...what do scrapyards look like over there? Got any photos? Do they load shipping containers and truck them somewhere or what? Do they use oxyacetylene torches to break stuff down? Chisels?

I kinda just realized I have no clue of how technically advanced they are over there. I know they run around in thoroughly thrashed cars and trucks but I always kinda thought they fixed stuff by sacrificing a goat to it or something!!

Thanks,
Jon.

If only.... Not that I'd want to be in a war zone and thank you by the way Army Scrapper for your service, but former war zones HAVE to be a money pit for the scrappers of the world. I watched a show on Nigerian oil pirates the other day and the ships they just leave rotting in canals that are ALL metal. The burning hulks of cars in Iraq and these other places... its just money to be had but it takes money to make money and I can't go get it....lol

Thank you for your service army, but I watched some video some where of scrappers who would go onto bomb testing ranges and take scrap metal even tho there was warring signs showing that there could be bombs ready to go boom or the tank they where cleaning the metal up from could be the very next target of a fighter jet! Now....this is all in the USA. Now I wish I knew where I saw that video....

To answer your question from what I remember they were small yards that I seen. Maybe 30 by 30 and a lot of shred. Their scales was a balance and the counterweights were buckets of concrete. If I remember correctly. I did see quite a few of these small yards. My guess is they load down a jingle truck to haul to a larger yard. I did see some nifty metal balers that they would use to bale hesco barrier wire up into manageable blocks. I wish I had one to bale wire and cans myself! If I remember correctly they had torches and crude welder as for tools in the yard. And yes to answer everyone else scrap metal was everywhere. One place I stayed had 3 old Russian tanks within about 250 yards. Imagine that.. Pulling up with a tank on the scrap trailer.

I have actually scrapped in Afghanistan. The small FOB i was at had a pretty bad fire and all of the A/C units were destroyed, but instead of throwing them away I snaged them up and took them apart. I had my Afgan counterpart take them to the yard and he brought back 3 goats and 2 sheep. Which over there was pretty significant. Everyone of the ANA guys ate like kings that night. I ate with them everyone other day and it was great to see everyone happy after the fire.

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Originally Posted by 18c troll

I have actually scrapped in Afghanistan. The small FOB i was at had a pretty bad fire and all of the A/C units were destroyed, but instead of throwing them away I snaged them up and took them apart. I had my Afgan counterpart take them to the yard and he brought back 3 goats and 2 sheep. Which over there was pretty significant. Everyone of the ANA guys ate like kings that night. I ate with them everyone other day and it was great to see everyone happy after the fire.

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You probably did more to help national relations in that one act than anyone in DC has done in the last 30 years.
When I was doing convoys, the civ truck drivers had their own food, but I would always bring them snacks and drinks when I had extra. I got all of the hot tea I wanted, man I miss that stuff.