Dear Interested Readers,
This first story is from the Air Force Newsletter, and I was totally awed, as you will be too! Lots of big successful ops going on with large weapon caches found, and many criminals caught or killed. With many ops going on at night, I can't always print the pictures, which usually are in green!
Joanna
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All-female KC-135 crew performs inflight refueling over Iraq
Senior Airman Killian Lange, 340th EARS boom operator, prepares to refuel an A-6 and two F-18s over Iraq March 18, which commemorated the role of women in the Air Force as part of National Women's History Month. She is deployed from Mildenhall, England.
by Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
379th Air Expeditionary Wing
"Most people, especially civilians, assume when you say 'Air Force' that you fly planes anyway, so it's not really shocking to them," Airman Lange said. This is her third deployment in the three years she's served, so the combat environment isn't new to her. "I never thought I'd be in the military, but once I became interested in joining, I knew I wanted to do a flying job."
She said she doesn't really think of what she does as "something amazing" until she sees Air Force recruiting commercials and talks to her friends and family about her job - then, she said, "getting other people's input makes me realize how cool it is."
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
April 3, 2008
AQI financial leader captured in Salman Pak
CAMP VICTORY - CF detained a key AQI leader in Salman Pak, south of Baghdad, April 2. The individual serves as a financial and logistical facilitator for AQI in the local area, determines the amount of money to be paid to AQI for the release of kidnap victims, and trains suicide bombers how to use self-detonating and VBIEDs. He is responsible for numerous attacks against CF and the IA, including recent suicide attacks.
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Iraqi Army, MND-C Soldiers clear road of IEDs
FOB KALSU - IA soldiers and MND-Center Soldiers successfully cleared a vital road for local residents between Maderiyah and Kutimiyah March 29.
As a result of tips from local citizens, a route clearance and EOD team from 2nd BCT, 3rd ID and the Iraqi Army was able to identify and clear 5 IEDs from the road. When MND-C Soldiers first arrived, the road was impassable and the bridge between the two communities had been destroyed.
In addition, Iraqi tips in the area resulted in the unit uncovering 2 57 mm projectiles, a pressure strip initiating device and a 120 mm mortar with detonation cord.
Members of an EOD team receive 57 mm projectiles, prepared as IEDs, from a resident of Maderiyah.
Soldiers carry the components of an IED.
An IA Soldier and Sgt. Kyle J. Nygaard, a plt. sgt. return to a joint security site.
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ISF, CF conduct combined operation
FOB HAMMER - IP organized and executed a clearing op in Jisr Diyala, March 29, with Soldiers from 1st Cav Regt, 3rd HBCT and local members of the SoI.
The op detained 4 criminals and recovered rocket-propelled grenade launchers, RPG warheads, dozens of AK-47 assault rifles and multiple rifle magazines.
Jisr Diyala has been peaceful over the past several months allowing CF and the GOI to conduct electricity, water, sewage and road projects improving the area. But, after an increase in criminal activity Iraqi and CF took action. "This op highlights the ISF's ability to work with CF and quickly act on credible intel to deny criminal elements the ability to conduct attacks," Capt. Damond Davis, a Regt fire support officer.
Lt. Col. John Kolasheski (right), cmdr., and fellow Soldiers conduct an op in Jisr Diyala.
An IP and a Soldier from 3rd Sqdrn, provide security.(U.S. Army photo)
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15 caches, IED factory discovered in northern Iraq
TIKRIT - IA and CF Soldiers discovered 15 weapons caches and an IED factory in northern Iraq, April 1.
The weapons and ammo discovered included a 155mm and 3 120mm rounds, a 122mm Illumination round, 14 107mm rockets, 58 82mm and 12 60mm mortars, along with other small-arms munitions.
More than 60 pounds of explosives and IED making materials were also discovered among the caches, while the IED factory contained more than 3,500 pounds of additional explosives.
The caches were found in both Diyala and Salah ad Din Provinces, and the IED factory was discovered in Ninewah.
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IA Soldiers, U.S. SF conduct combined operation in Makhiat
BAGHDAD - In the village of Makhiat, near Mosul, IA Soldiers, advised by U.S. SF, detained 4 suspected AQI terrorists.
These AQI are suspected of violent acts including kidnapping, torture and murder of innocent Iraqi civilians. They are also suspected of suicide and improvised explosive attacks against Iraqi and CF as well as video recording violent attacks for AQI propaganda.
Five other suspects are being detained for questioning.
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Iraqi Special Operations Forces kill 14 criminals in Basra
BALAD - Iraqi SOF, advised by U.S. SF, killed 14 criminals, March 31. The op was directed by senior Iraqi leaders in the port city of Basra. The ISOF planned and conducted the mission to capture and arrest the criminals in an abandoned school.
According to recent intel info, these criminals planted IEDs along the roads leading to the school. They also set up defensive fighting positions around the facility. The school was a staging point for armed assaults against Iraqi SF as well as a storage facility for illegal weapons, ammo and explosives.
While clearing buildings next to the school, ISOF also found and released 6 ISF members who were being held at the compound.
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