The lines start forming in the early to late evening hours. At Vitina Base, for instance, soldiers may stand in line for as little as a minute, or as long as 30 minutes. They are asked to limit calls to 20 minutes. But they can surf the Internet or watch television as they wait. The calls help keep soldiers' spirits high.
Many bases also have e-mail capability.
If they are waiting in the afternoon for a phone line, they can walk a few steps from the phone bank and get a haircut. Soldiers at Vitina also work out in a large weight room. The camp is in an old factory, so there is plenty of floor space for gym equipment. Like Monteith and Bondsteel, Vitina Base has a snazzy Cappachino Bar, where soldiers meet to talk during their free time. But not all the camps have first-class amenities.