T-barriers protect Balad troops
An Airman walks between a row of large T-barriers Feb. 21 at Balad Air Base, Iraq. Most Airmen assigned to the base live in a compound surrounded by towering T-barriers. They act as a line of defense against stray bullets and blast protection from mortar attacks. The weight of the T-barriers varies from four to 17 tons. The T-barriers' purpose is to protect all base facilities. This intricate network of pathways serves as a shield for more than 3,300 Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cecilio M. Ricardo Jr.)