Proto - Former NATO Allied Forces Europe Southern Europe (AFSOUTH) underground HQ in Cascano, Italy (Google Maps)

Anonymous

@ 2011-05-18 10:12:27

i worked in there 1970-71 in microwave radio area, 1 day(24) on 3 days off. loved it. Had a theatre, snack bar gym. train used to take us in. Gaurds were heavily armed. (army)

hghes500

@ 2011-05-21 07:59:46

Salve, la base è dismessa?? cosa c'era all'interno?? e quante entrate ha la base??

Anonymous

@ 2012-01-29 22:17:39

I was there 1972-73 Scars/crypto . Like U I enjoyed it Mid rats at 1130 at night best meal ever

Anonymous

@ 2013-01-02 10:38:07

worked there 1969-70. microwave. my buddy and i would double up, work 2 days(48 hrs) on seven days off great meals, great movies lived in picarelli, behind nsa

Anonymous

@ 2013-01-12 01:02:28

Worked there 86-89. For a while had the great schedule of work 24 hours and off for 72 hours. I got a lot of golf in at the recreation center in the volcano near Naples.

Anonymous

@ 2013-03-17 05:05:10

Hated the place. Loved the golf at Carney Park 87-89.

Anonymous

@ 2013-05-19 14:49:58

1969-71....system control. Great midrats! Good jumping off point to see some of Italy, especially Rome,
Europe on leave.

Anonymous

@ 2013-06-10 19:34:55

I worked there from 1990-1992. I ran the backup generators and maintained the electrical (U.S. Army 52E). 24 on, 72 off and got to sleep at night (unless the power went out). Pretty great. Got my Bachelors Degree on my off time.

Anonymous

@ 2013-06-14 10:15:30

I worked there from 1986 to 1994 met a lot of nice friends, the mens-hall was a shiet held by US army, just at end was manned by Italians and was delicious.....hello to all friends

Anonymous

@ 2013-09-01 10:31:50

1977-1979 -- Lived in the barracks in Bldg D on AFSOUTH. Since I was a day worker I had to ride a bus for an hour to get to Proto. There was always one or two games of hearts or spades being played in aisle between the seats. Man, this is bringing back memories. I was there when the DoD offered AFSOUTH a connection into the AUTODIN system. Trouble was, the slowest they could communicate was 600 baud and the fastest line in Proto's system was 300 baud. Luckily, we were able alter the computer software to poll the AUTODIN line often enough to pass traffic successfully. Yes, we were using a computer, a Dec PDP 1135, to move traffic from one NATO teletype machine to another. The wonders of technology.

Anonymous

@ 2014-01-30 22:28:28

I was stationed at PROTO 77 78 79. Fleet Center. Unbelievable
place.

Anonymous

@ 2014-07-14 09:37:53

I was stationed at proto 82-85 fleet center RMC Heddlesten on facebook. Great people there. We lived in Pinetamare. Nothing is the same now. I was just there a couple months ago visiting my son. NATO base is relocated out past Lago di patria only thing there is the Montessori school. NSA is located way out past capo. Carney park is almost abandon too bad. We played a lot of softball and football at Carney Park.

Anonymous

@ 2014-08-03 21:00:28

I worked in lovely PROTO from June 1988 to Feb 1990, doing the standard 24 hrs on, 72 hrs off. Really hated it at first, but learned to accept the NATO way of doing things. It shut down not too long after I left, to the thanks of many I'm sure

Anonymous

@ 2014-09-18 11:00:37

I worked at Proto 1972-1973. I was the Hospital Corpsman on duty in the clinic, I alternated with an Italian Corpsman, 2 days on, 2 days off. Great little theatre and dining area.

Anonymous

@ 2014-12-03 18:48:24

I worked there from 78 - 81 as an RM. Loved that 24on/72off schedule. Traded a couple of shifts once and was off for ages. Traveled all over Italy without taking any leave.

Anonymous

@ 2015-04-12 07:15:00

I was there from 1972-1974 in communications control and probably worked with the corpsman...of course we called you doc and you drove a BMW 2002. Had a great time at the Peroni bar and playing ping pong at Proto

Anonymous

@ 2015-09-09 14:31:30

I worked at Proto in Tech Control from 78-81...love it. 24 on 72 off. GREAT place to work. I remember mid-rats and eating with the Italians in Tropo. Man they made good food, and they always had wine and espresso. Would go back to duty wide awake and slightly buzzed! wonderful memories of Difiore, WO Simone and others!

Anonymous

@ 2015-10-27 13:47:54

I was there 93-94 great place great people except on person I wont name here

Anonymous

@ 2016-03-28 10:02:48

I was a Proto Mole from '93-95 IVSN.

Anonymous

@ 2016-04-09 18:28:45

I was there from Jan 92 to Jan 94, working in ScarsII. Most of that time I had one day on and FOUR days off! Slept in a cot in the ScarsII, but froze my butt off due to the A/C needed to keep the equipment cool. I lived in the Pozzouli Barracks, so that bus ride was looooong.

Anonymous

@ 2016-09-14 02:54:30

Like many of you from late 60's postings, I and my buddies used to live in and around the main Naval commissary in Pisciarelli. The friends, the bus rides out to the hole, and the midrats. How can you forget those? That was ideal duty for a dumbass young 20 year old. I worked in the crypto area and was lowly E3 then E4. Had a wife and the guys in the shop would go out to the hole and the wives would get together for prep for the next 48 off..Heaven.

Anonymous

@ 2016-10-28 13:15:12

i worked in proto fleet center 1975 to 1978. nice seeing all your comments..what memories.. we live in tower 2 in Pinetamarie.

Anonymous

@ 2017-03-01 23:34:17

Terry W Colvin here. I worked the Tunnel 4 communications center at Bagnoli. Recall the NATO war games (CIMEX/WINTEX) at Proto 1977 to 1980. Those of us living at those no longer existing apartment towers at Pineta Mare had the option of taking the bus back to our homes which I did. We had five children and my wife did not drive. When the Iran hostage crisis broke o/a November 4, 1979, we were working the war game at Proto. When the teletypes started to go silent we knew that something big had happened. Rumors that an airborne division would be deployed to Turkey began to circulate. As we know that did not happen. Good to read the stories here. A great assignment and the best shift duty I've ever had. Terry, now living a few miles south of Hua Hin, Thailand.

Anonymous

@ 2018-01-14 14:37:59

I worked in Fleet Center from1975 to 78. US Army. Great bunch of people. Lived in tower 2 Pinetamare. Sad it is no longer there. My name is Gustafson.

Anonymous

@ 2018-04-19 00:48:16

Played lots of ping-pong during my time at IVSN 93-95

Anonymous

@ 2020-12-03 17:26:18

I joined the Navy to see the world but ended up in a mountain a mile underground. I worked here 91-93. About an hour bus ride from our barracks in Naples. We worked 2 12hour days, 2 12hours nights and then 4 days off. Was guarded by Carabinieri (Carebears) and mostly American Navy and Italian conscripts.

Anonymous

@ 2021-05-31 12:55:56

I worked there 1985 to 1988 in the Technical Control Facility next to Crypto Techs. Loved the one on, three off shifts.

Anonymous

@ 2022-01-08 11:15:28

worked there 1963-65. great ride out from afsouth. also worked in tunnel 3 tech control.

Anonymous

@ 2022-05-16 18:39:45

Stationed there 1975 -1978 Tunnel 4 TARE Maintenance

Anonymous

@ 2022-11-22 13:50:50

I worked at Proto from 1974 to 1976 then got promoted to E9 and moved to the headquarters at AFSOUTH. Left in 77 to attend the Army Sergeant's Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas. Loved the assignment.

Anonymous

@ 2022-12-06 17:12:24

My ex-wife and I (both Army) were at Proto (mid 74 to early 76). I was in Fleet Center at first, but then went down to crypto. You could often find a poker game or a pinochle game at night --I very seldom slept until I got home. I always feel like I was in the Army Goldie Hawn was expecting to find in Private Benjamin. Condos, pool parties, 24 on-72 off, swap a shift and take off for a week without burning up any leave time. What a life.

Anonymous

@ 2023-01-08 21:07:36

I worked there on and off between 1983 - 1985 in the Technical Control Center (Communications) in the same area as the Crypto Equipment. I remember a few things such as learning how the French always seemed to turn off equipment on their end, whenever they didn’t have a need to communicate. This caused unnecessary tension and delays in passing communications. I have fond memories of the Multi National Nato Members I worked alongside. Some of the time I worked Proto as a Shift Supervisor, other times I worked at Bagnoli TCF. One not so fond memory was how they just painted over the mold on the walls. SSgt USAF Combat Communications Technician

Anonymous

@ 2023-04-25 17:35:23

SP/4 Don Hill here. I was at Proto from '62 to '64. I liked the experience over all. I was working as a telephone operator at the time. English speaking was needed . Food was great, as were the hours.

Anonymous

@ 2023-09-27 16:11:23

I was stationed at Proto Feb 76 until Feb 79 working in the Tech Control Center (NCC) first as a day worker then the 24/72 shift. I still have my Order of the Mole Award stating I survived 1080 days without the benefit of sunlight! Would like to go back as a tourist just for memory sake some day.

Anonymous

@ 2024-01-21 08:23:11

I worked there from Dec 1974 till Dec 1977 as a computer programmer. We switched out the old ITT7300 in 75 with the DEC 11/35. Lived in CastelVolturno and rode the bus to work everyday. Loved Italy.

Proto - Former NATO Allied Forces Europe Southern Europe (AFSOUTH) underground HQ

Proto - Former NATO Allied Forces Europe Southern Europe (AFSOUTH) underground HQ

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Proto - Former NATO Allied Forces Europe Southern Europe (AFSOUTH) underground HQ

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