Dear Interested Reader,
Starting off the New Year with electricity for the Iraqi people of Tuwaitha. The 419th CSSB assumes responsibilities of 165th CSSB. Iraqi Firefighter Apprentice Training Course is moved to the Int'l Zone and expanded. IA Engrs train with Talon Robots. Huge munitions weapons caches found. In Afghanistan, a weapons cache is destroyed in Ghorak district, while CF maintain pressure on terrorist cell in Ghazni.
Joanna
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Jan. 01, 2009
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Tuwaitha connected to Qasab power station
TUWAITHA - The citizens of Tuwaitha and MND - Baghdad Soldiers celebrated the connection of the Tuwaitha power lines to the Qasab power station, Dec. 28 east of Baghdad.
Maj. David Raugh, TF 1st Bn, 35th Armored Regt, 2nd BCT, 1st Armored Div EO, attended the ceremony. The power line project was initiated by CF to sustain basic services for the local population, thus gradually improving the quality of life.
"Thanks to the CF for the project. The people of Tuwaitha are very grateful, because now they have good power, while before, they had none, or very bad power," said Jablowi, who represents Jisr Diyala in the Nahia Council.
These programs highlight the transition from completely fundedand constructed projects done by Iraq's allies to local leaders and citizens bearing the burden of caring for themselves and their future, said Raugh.
Maj. David Raugh prepares to cut the ribbon with Mahmoud Jablowi, Tuwaitha SoI leader, and Nahia Council member, Shaykh Qays.
(Army photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Wolfe)
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Blackanthem Military News
419th CSSB Assumes Responsibilities of 165th CSSB
By Pfc. Michael Syner
Lt. Col. Kristan L.K. Hericks and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul C. Swanson, the senior leaders of the 419th Combat Sust Support Bn, 10th Sust Bde, uncase the bn colors for the first time in Iraq, officially marking their assumption of authority, Dec. 18. (Photo by Pfc. Michael Syner)
CAMP TAJI - The Transfer of Authority ceremony is the final step, and clear symbol of the actual changing of unit authority.
This is the 419th's first deployment in support of OIF, though many of the Soldiers assigned to the unit have deployed several times, said Lt. Col. Kristan L.K. Hericks, the cmdr. of the 419th.
"Wolfpack," said Hericks, addressing the 419th, "your extended preparations, challenging training and steady commitment to the Army's goals and ideals over the last year will at long last be put to full employment as we now assume command and control of this professional organization and crucial mission. Thank you for your continued efforts, and your sacrifices, motivation and dedication to the mission and each other." The 419th will be deployed in Iraq for roughly nine months. "Our mission is to provide distribution oversight for logistics services," Hericks said. "We are very enthusiastic about the opportunity to participate in this mission."
"Soldiers of the Chariot Bn, welcome to the 10th Sust Bde and the Muleskinner team," said Col. Mark E. Drake, cmdr. of the 10th Sust Bde. "I know your team has prepared and trained very hard for this mission and are ready for the challenges that await you."
The outgoing cmdr., Lt. Col. Randall "Beau" Bradford gave his remarks immediately following the casing. "This has been a time of great transition, and our Soldiers have met every single one of the many challenges they faced."
"My Soldiers did well," said Capt. Jason B. Kendall, the 165th HHC cmdr. "We can walk away with a real feeling of accomplishment."
"The 165th CSSB command group and staff's dedication and devotion to duty during their tour of duty in Taji were evidenced by their accomplishment of a wide variety of operational commitments and missions," said Hericks.
"We've got all the tools we need to accomplish the mission," said Pvt 1st Class Chris M. Sonnenburg, a signal Soldier with the 419th. "The 165th gave us good training. With that, we'll be able to give the detachment cmdrs. what they need to finish their missions."
Lt. Col. Kristan L.K. Hericks addresses the detachment cmdrs. and reps during the transfer of authority ceremony.
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Iraqi Firefighter Apprentice Training Course Moved, Expanded
(By Senior MSgt. Trish Freeland)
An Iraqi firefighter double checks his partner's personal protective equipment before participating in a live fire training scenario in Baghdad, Dec. 24, 2008.
(Photo by Staff Sgt. Paul Villanueva II)
BAGHDAD — Iraqi firefighters are more than half-way through the firefighter apprentice course being taught for the first time in Baghdad’s Int'l Zone (IZ). The class was previously conducted at Taji Military Base just north of Baghdad, but the location lacked advanced live fire trainers and had a very limited capacity for students.
“The maximum class size at Taji was 10. In the IZ, we have 5 extra instructors from Civil Defense who enable us to teach an additional 24 students for just one class,” said Tech. Sgt. Brian Partido, a fire rescue advisor deployed from Little Rock AF Base, Ark.
The new location allows firefighters from the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defense, which includes the Iraqi AF and Army, to come together at one location for training. This particular training session marked the first time the 2 ministries worked together at this level. “It was easy to show how beneficial the training would be. The Iraqi AF firefighters weren’t getting the training they needed at Taji,” said Maj Trenton Roney, a training advisor deployed from Langley AF Base, Va.
The 60-day course was designed and conducted by the Coalition AF Training Team, a division of Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq and augmented by U.S. AF firefighters from the Dept of Public Works and nearby Sather Air Base.
“We took the fire apprentice course from the U.S. AF and adapted it to the way Iraqi firefighters operate here, and then had it translated into Arabic,” said Partido.
The class brought together an eclectic mix of firefighters with different levels of firefighting experience. Col. Al Azawi, dir. gen. of the Training Academy, has been a firefighter for the last 4 years. He said the class was a good refresher. “I’ve had rescue and firefighting training before, but this class offered a lot of new info,” he said. “I never worked with airbags before this.
Upon graduating in early January, the firefighters will return to stations throughout Iraq to put their newly sharpened skills to use. “We started with the basics and worked our way to the more advanced techniques,” said Sgt Partido. “It’s amazing to see how far they’ve come in such a short amount of time. I think they’re going to do excellent.”
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Iraqi Army Engineers Train with Talon Robots
By Pfc. Adam Carl Blazak
An IA engr navigates a Talon robot through a makeshift IED training course at COP Al Kindi, Mosul, Dec. 30, 2008.
MOSUL — Various explosives are used by the enemy to disrupt or destroy the significant security gains made here by Coalition and Iraqi SF. Coming across an IED isn’t a rarity here, and defeating these weapons is no easy task. However, significant strides are being made. Simply put, “It’s intense every time,” said SSgt. Jeron Pilger, training cadre, 59th Mobility Augmentation Co., 84th Engr Bn., 18th Engr Bde. Although specialty trained Soldiers can go and examine a suspected IED, it is always preferred that a robot go first.
With this lifesaving technology, the engr co. realized the importance of sharing the knowledge, so they teamed up with their Iraqi counterparts for an afternoon of robotics training. Pilger was part of the team of engrs who helped implement the robotics training program for an Iraqi engr regt.
One of the Soldiers participating in the training, Pvt. Salem Hamo, Eng. Regt 2nd IA Div. said that in the past “Soldiers would pick up the IEDs by hand, but using the robots makes the job safer.”
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Sons of Iraq members lead Soldiers to huge munitions find
COB SPEICHER, TIKRIT - Tips from local SoI members led Soldiers to several large weapons caches, Dec. 29, one of which is the largest weapons cache discovered since 25th Inf Div units began arriving in Salah ad-Din province in November.
At approx. 2 p.m., a member of the SoI led Soldiers from the 2nd Bn, 35th Inf Regt, 25th Inf Div, to a weapons cache SW of Samarra. The cache contained 153 artillery rounds, 130 mortar rounds, 81 rocket rounds, 21 rocket mortars and 36 empty rounds of various munitions, which could be used to make IEDs. "This is definitely the largest cache that has been discovered in our area," said 1st Lt. Tommy Nguyen, plt leader, 2nd Bn.
At approx. 4:20 pm, a SoI member directed Soldiers from 2nd Bn., 35th Inf. Regt. to another large weapons cache SW of Samarra. The cache consisted of more than 250 munitions, including mortar rounds, high explosive rounds and propellant charges.
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MND-B Soldiers disarm IED at SoI checkpoint
BAGHDAD - Dec. 29, in Baghdad's Rashid district, at approx. 8 p.m. in the Aamel community, SoI members reported a roadside bomb to Soldiers from Co A, 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID.
"The 1st BCT, 4th ID, conducts routine checks on members of the Iraqi SF during ops to teach, coach and mentor our partners," said Maj. Dave Olson, 1st BCT Spokesman, 4th ID.
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A hospital corpsman assigned to Co B, 1st Bn, 4th Marine Regt, RCT 1 hands out candy to Iraqi children in the Andaloos Precinct of Al Fallujah. Marines and IP are conducting foot patrols in the area to interact with the citizens.
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U.S. Forces - Afghanistan
Afghan Commandos, Coalition forces destroy weapons cache in Ghorak district
KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan Commandos and CF conducted an air assault op in Ghorak district, Kandahar province, to search for IED cells, Dec. 27.
A search of the village yielded a weapons and supply cache. The weapons cache contained an anti-personnel mine, 2 anti-tank mines and a bowl of unidentified powder presumed to be IED making material. The combination forces safeguarded 320 civilians before beginning their search.
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U.S. Forces - Afghanistan
Coalition forces maintain pressure on terrorist cell in Ghazni
KABUL, Afghanistan – CF killed 2 armed Taliban militants while targeting the network’s kidnapping and roadside bombing ops in Ghazni province, Dec. 28.
In Gailan District, approx. 200 km NE of Kandahar, CF targeted a Taliban militant known to coordinate and carry out the kidnappings of Afghan officials and westerners to finance their criminal activities. Additionally, the targeted Taliban militant is assessed to facilitate and direct roadside bombings along Highway One in Ghazni and Zabul provinces.
During the op, CF called for all individuals inside to exit the building peacefully. Disregarding these instructions, the 2 militants engaged the force with small-arms fire. In order to neutralize the threat, CF engaged the militants inside with hand grenades and killed them.
A search of the building following the op revealed multiple AK-47s.
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