Hammer Cut

FOB Hammer opens barber shop By Spc. Ben Hutto 3rd HBCT, 3rd ID Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team now have one more morale booster at the ever-improving Forward Operating Base Hammer.

A ribbon cutting ceremony marked the opening Sunday of the Hammer Cuts Barber Shop, located next to the new Post Exchange on FOB Hammer. Hammer Cuts Barber Shop took approximately 1 week to complete, according to 1st Lt. John Enfinger, FOB mayor. Steps involved in creating the shop included establishing a location, power generation, air conditioning, plumbing, sinks, water, and solid flooring. Both Army and Air Force Soldiers were involved in making the establishment fully operational. “It was a joint effort to provide our Soldiers with a much needed morale booster,” Enfinger, of New Brockton, Ala., said.

According to Enfinger, the barbers, contracted from the Army and Air Force Exchange Services, are from India and the Philippines. Hair cuts cost 3 dollars for both male and female Soldiers, a significant decrease from the average seven dollars at Fort Benning, Ga., where the 3rd HBCT calls home. “I am very glad that AAFES was able to provide this service to our Soldiers,” said FOB Governor Lt. Col. Kelly Lawler, Monticello, N.Y., native, and one of the first Soldiers to have his hair cut at Hammer Cuts.

The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and already has a steady clientele, according to Enfinger. The profit goes to AAFES and the barbers collect tips. “Hammer Cuts is great” said Sgt. Jeremiah Thompson, Headquarters Company, 3rd HBCT, from Jacksonville, Fla. “The prices are great and it’s a very clean establishment. It’s a good sign that progress is being made at FOB Hammer.”