A MILITARY BASE
1. The following sentences have been mixed up. Arrange them to obtain a coherent
paragraph about what a military base is:
In most cases, a military base relies on some
outside help in order to operate.
However, certain complex bases are able to
endure by themselves for long periods because they
are able to provide food, water and other life support
necessities for their inhabitants while under siege.
In general, a military base provides
accommodations for one or more units, but it may
also be used as a command center, a training
ground, or a proving ground.
A military base is a facility directly owned and
operated by or for the military or one of its branches
that shelters military equipment and personnel, and
facilitates training and operations.
1. _____________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________________________
2. Match the facilities that can be found on a military base with the activities
associated to them:
FACILITIES ACTIVITIES
__ 1. armoury a. a place used by the troops responsible for the
security of the barracks
__ 2. assault course b. troops assemble for inspection, attend
ceremonies, do parade drills
__ 3. barracks c. on-base department store
__ 4. chapel d. shoot at the target, load weapons
__ 5. commissary e. jump, crawl, climb, run
__ 6. firing/shooting range f. the administrative work/office of a barracks
__ 7. gym/fitness centre g. living accommodation for single junior-enlisted
service members
__ 8. HQ h. living accommodation for families, spend time
with your family
__ 9. indoor range i. soldiers and NCOs have meals when at work
__ 10. health clinic/infirmary/medical centre/ j. the place where a unit’s stores, clothing and
medical reception centre (MRS) equipment are stored
__ 11. main entrance/gate k. provide religious services
__ 12. on-base housing/married quarters l. a unit’s vehicles are kept and maintained
1
__ 13. mess hall/cookhouse (UK)/ m. have a regular checkup; receive treatment
Dining Facility (DFAC) (US) when ill
__ 14. parade ground/square or drill square n. secure location where weapons are stored
__ 15. PX/NAAFI shop/NATEX o. small-bore weapons are fired
__ 16. orderly room p. make plans, issue orders
__ 17. Quartermaster’s stores (QMs’ stores) q. on-base grocery store
__ 18. motor transport (MT) (UK)/ r. the building where officers meet, eat and relax.
Transportation Section (US)/ Single officers sleep there as well (UK)
Transportation Motor Pool (TMP)
__ 19. guard room s. show your ID, sign in
__ 20. Officers’ Mess/Officers’ Club t. work out, lift weights
3. Read the list of activities below and decide where the actions described take place
using some of the place names from the previous exercise:
1. Corporal Anderson is preparing the tables for tonight’s formal dinner. __________________
2. Corporal Franks is explaining to a visitor how to get to the Officers’ Mess. __________________
3. Lt Bell, the duty officer, is checking that all the unit’s weapons are present __________________
and in good condition.
4. Members of the wives’ club are practicing for a small-bore competition next __________________
week.
5. The Colonel’s wife is buying food for the weekend. __________________
6. Sergeant Smith is arranging for a vehicle to pick up stores from Brigade. __________________
7. Corporal Jones is on sick parade. In the night he began to feel ill and thought __________________
he might have flu.
8. Private Merrick is trying to get a new combat jacket because he has __________________
damaged his present one.
9. Lt Langton is on leave and is doing the ironing while his wife is fixing the __________________
kitchen sink.
10. WO2 Jackson is supervising the preparation of lunch for soldiers and JNCOs __________________
11. The battalion 2IC is checking that everything is ready for the formal parade __________________
later today
12. The Chief Clerk, WO2 Carter, is checking the personal details of recently __________________
arrived soldiers.
13. Lance Corporal Philips has just fallen into the water obstacle. __________________
