Camp Rhino Forward operating base ( FOB ) Rhino , also known as Camp Rhino , was the first US land base established in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom . It was located in the Registan Desert , southwest of Kandahar . History . The FOB was captured by what is regarded as the longest helicopter raid in history . The site was observed by US Navy SEALs for four days prior to the Marines from the 15th MEU and Charlie Company BLT 1 / 1 ( Battalion Landing Team ) landing to capture it on 25 November 2001 . Before its capture , it is believed that the small desert outpost was being built for use as a drug distribution hub . The facility was surrounded by a wall and four hardened guard towers . Within the facility there were numerous new warehouses , offices , and even a small mosque which was declared off limits to all personnel as a sign of respect . The paint on some of the buildings was barely dry . Sealed roads ran throughout the camp , and it was also bisected by a cement moat . While under the cover of darkness , CH - 53E Super Stallion s and AH - 1W Super Cobra helicopters , from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit on board the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu flew the Marine assault force from the North Arabian Sea , through Pakistan , to secure the camp . The CH - 53Es utilized aerial refueling from KC - 130 tankers , while the AH - 1Ws used an existing Forward Arming and Refueling Area ( FARP ) as they proceeded north . Once the initial insert of forces was complete via the CH - 53Es , multiple waves of KC - 130 and C - 17 aircraft allowed for quick build - up of combat power . At its peak , approximately eight CH - 46E from HMM - 163 , four CH - 53E from HMH - 465 , three UH - 1N , and four AH - 1W aircraft from HMLA - 169 were deployed there . These helicopters made squadron HMM - 163 ( REIN ) . More UH - 1N and AH - 1W helicopters joined the mission from the 26th MEU . Camp Rhino was in use from 26 November 2001 to 1 January 2002 . At its peak , the camp contained about 1100 US Marines and sailors , Australian Special Air Service Regiment soldiers , and dozens of embedded reporters . The troops were commanded by Brigadier General James Mattis , USMC . Combat patrols and encounters of the enemy were constant . Camp Rhino also served as a detention facility for the American Taliban John Walker . Life at the spartan Camp Rhino was rough . There were no showers or wash facilities , no messing facilities ( only ration packs ) , every drop of water had to be flown in , and most troops were simply accommodated in a large , open warehouse building . Troops were either sleeping on the cold cement of the warehouse or on the cold dirt outside the camp . The uncertain , tactical nature of the base meant that lights were generally not allowed after dark , and aircraft only operated at night . The base was surrounded by extremely desolate desert terrain resembling the surface of the moon . Strategic importance . Camp Rhino was the US - led coalition ' s first strategic foothold in Afghanistan and made the ground war in Afghanistan possible . While Rhino was being established , fierce battles between Taliban and Northern Alliance troops were still underway near Kandahar . But then the Taliban , realizing that US forces were now very close and were willing to operate at night , capitulated and retreated north to the mountains of Tora Bora . Supported by the USMC 26th MEU , the coalition forces based at Rhino then moved up to capture the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar International Airport in mid - December 2001 , following a three - week period of consolidation at Rhino . Kandahar International Airport then became the main coalition base in southern Afghanistan , while Bagram Air Base was established further to the north near Kabul . The majority of forces who had initially based out of Rhino had re - located to Kandahar by Christmas Day .