Afghanistan: Soldiers Depart In Planes That Rival Ryanair For Legroom (PICTURES)

The Huffington Post UK  |  By   |  Posted: 28/03/2012 16:19 Updated: 28/03/2012 16:19

Afghanservicemenpreview

There are very few who sign up to join the armed forces for the comfort, the laid back lifestyle and the ample personal space and privacy.

Incredible pictures, released on Wednesday, show soldiers from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) on their way to serve in Afghanistan cooped up but in good spirits en route to the warzone.

The soldiers' humour and camaraderie was evident as they embarked on their journey at Manas air base in Kyrgyzstan.

The troops, some of the 15,000 ferried through the air base each month, will head out on year-long tours, ahead of the planned drawdown of troops in the country, before a total evacuation by 2014.

The removal of troops has been made harder by the region's ongoing instability – many troops, British, American and NATO, are killed each month by Taliban insurgents, IEDs and, in some cases, members of the Afghan National Army.

Launch Slideshow
?
 HIDE THUMBNAILS
1 of 11
PLAY ALL
VOTE ON THIS SLIDE

ADVERTISEMENT

FOLLOW UK

There are very few who sign up to join the armed forces for the comfort, the laid back lifestyle and the ample personal space and privacy. Incredible pictures, released on Wednesday, show soldiers ...
There are very few who sign up to join the armed forces for the comfort, the laid back lifestyle and the ample personal space and privacy. Incredible pictures, released on Wednesday, show soldiers ...
 
 
  • Comments
  • 3
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Post Comment Preview Comment
To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.
View All
Recency  | 
Popularity
02:26 AM on 03/29/2012
Wow! Looks a lot more comfortable than being crammed into an old RAF VC 10!
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Kritikos
Intelligence is not a science
11:18 PM on 03/28/2012
A modern day version of the old slave ship transport arrangement; surely they didn't give a damn though, even if it were standing room only.
KenInd
We too shall get through this.....
09:24 PM on 03/28/2012
As long as thy return in a seat, and not a box, I am happy for them.

Good luck, guys. Thanks.