Hi Jared Mevissen,
I realize that this is a somewhat older thread now... but I just found this site. I assisted in the construction of several of these in Afghanistan... in fact, I was actually stationed at the location of this picture...
these are called "Hesco Barriers". The come in a few different sizes and they are not really for structural value but for Force Protection.
When we arrived at a location that would be made into a COP (Combat Outpost) or expansions to existing FOB (Forward Operating Base), we would get pallets/bundles of these delivered by CH-47s. If you've a got a backhoe and/or skid loader, you can fairly rapidly create a solid wall.
Predominantly, we would open the steel caged designed box {with cloth barrier to prevent dirt from falling out but it won't hold liquid} and place where it will remain. Next we would fill it with fairly large rocks and then gravel, then dirt. This would give it greater ability to stop bombs, mortars, rockets, & shrapnel fragments. typically, initial row would be built with the largest sized Hesco barrier we had around the perimeter. Being rocky/mountainous (with loose dust/dirt in the areas I was in), we could have a football field sized area perimeter secured in about 2 days (with a team or two of engineers). Once the perimeter was built with ECP (Entry Control Point - meaning a winding entrance so no one could drive straight thru [SVBIED] to force entry and blow us up), another ring inside that perimeter would be build (2 deep now) and then stack one vertically on top of the other 2... then lastly, a triple-strand C-wire ring on top would be permanently installed to prevent people from climbing over. Lastly, towers would be placed at the corners to provide over-watch, and a mortar pit created to shoot/hold ammo that, if hit, wouldn't blow up everything inside.
I hope that gives you a good idea on how we quickly created a fairly secured compound (and shooting range barrier)... to your point, these are cheap (Retail $7 ~ $15ea - size dependent) and really serve security and maybe as a sort of retaining wall, but, I don't REALLY see them as a better idea than an earth bag system. I'm still new to the idea of earth bag, and am excited to find out that there is a growing movement in Texas (where I am), and even communities and workshops - which I hope to attend soon... A google search on Hesco will take you to their site.... I think you will eventually, like the other replies, find that earth bag is probably more advantageous due to its variability and maneuverability once loaded.
hope this helps.
