Marines in Afghanistan watch presidential debate

Marines watch the U.S. presidential debate live early Thursday morning at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. (Collin Kelly)

COMBAT OUTPOST PAYNE, Afghanistan — Once again, I’m checking in here from the House of Payne. Get it? Good.

To get to this outpost from Camp Leatherneck, photographer Colin Kelly and I rose before dawn this morning to hop an MV-22 Osprey. It meant we were awake as President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. W. Mitt Romney squared off in a presidential debate back in the U.S.

Helmand province is 8 1/2 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, creating issues whenever there are live events that many Americans watch, whether it’s a sporting event or something involving national politics.

Fox News’ coverage of the debate was carried on Armed Forces Network, which broadcasts a variety of programming from U.S. networks. A handful of Marines and I sat down in the helicopter terminal at Camp Bastion, the aviation base abutting Leatherneck, to watch.

The Marines watched quietly — much like both candidates were almost entirely quiet about the future of the U.S. military. Here’s hoping they get around to discussing it at some point, eh?