Dear Interested Reader,
Sgt Aaron Simmons receives a Christmas call from Pres. Bush, while some soldiers get to decorate Christmas cookies! The 4th BCT 3rd ID transferred authority to the 172nd IBCT at FOB Kalsu. The IA begins M1A1 tank training. Army reserve CG Lt Gen. Jack Stultz visits Balad. A Civil Services Dept offers on-the-job training opportunities. In Afghanistan, CF diminishes the Taliban's terrorist network in Kabul province, while Afghan Commandos capture the insurgent cmdr. Mulah Dahoud.
Joanna
__________________________
Dec. 27, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
MND-B NCO receives Christmas phone call from Pres. Bush
By Sgt. Zach Mott
SHA'AB - Many Soldiers spend Christmas either with their Families or calling them from 5,000 miles away while they continue to answer the call for the nation.
For one Soldier serving with the 3rd BCT, 4th ID, this year's phone call was more special than others, when he received a phone call from the Commander-in-Chief himself, Dec. 24. "It's definitely something I'm going to remember for the rest of my life," said Sgt. Aaron Simmons, who was 1 of 9 service members to speak with Pres. George W. Bush via telephone.
The president wished Simmons, who serves with Co A, 1st CAB, 68th Armor Regt, a Merry Christmas and wished Simmons' wife Fawn and son Ethan a Merry Christmas, and thanked them for their sacrifice while he is away.
"He knew I was from Texas, and that it was more special to talk to someone from Texas," Simmons said, referring to the president's home state.
Sgt. Aaron Simmons talks with a group of boys about a backpack design during a visit to the Al Murooa School for Girls on May 12.
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Soldiers Celebrate with Christmas Cookies
By Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield
CAMP VICTORY — MND – Baghdad Soldiers gathered together at the Ironhorse Oasis Dining Facility this week to celebrate Christmas and decorate cookies. As Christmas movies played in the background, the Soldiers sat around a table filled with colorful frostings, sprinkles and cookies shaped as snowmen, angels and Christmas trees – laughing and talking about Christmas memories.
“This is something I used to do when I was a kid,” said 1st. Lt. Arlene Pina, with the 716th MP Bn, 8th MP Bde. “It’s reminds me of being back home with my Family.”
The cookies were baked by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Komlofske, and Sgt. Lisa Burnett, both of whom are cooks with HQ Support Co, Special Troops Bn, 4th ID. The frosting and the decorative toppings were donated by a supportive family from Killeen, Texas.
“This is a great opportunity for Soldiers to get out, take a break and make the best out of the holiday spirit,” Burnett said. “It can get kind of lonely here around the holidays because we all miss our families, but I think it’s important to get together and spend time with the family we do have; right now, we are each others family.”
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Vanguard Bde transfers authority to 172nd Infantry Bde
FOB KALSU - The 4th BCT, 3rd ID, transferred authority to the 172nd IBCT during a ceremony at FOB Kalsu, Dec. 18. The 4th BCT will return to Fort Stewart, Ga., after a 15-month deployment in the area of southern Iraq, approx. the size of Switzerland.
"I'm proud and honored to hand-off our established Iraqi partnership to a unit with such a strong reputation," said Col. Thomas
James, cmdr. of the 4th BCT. "Throughout our interactions with your team during our transition, it is evident that we are passing our investment to a group of professional, patriotic and dedicated Soldiers that will take our established partnership and accomplishments to a higher level."
James transferred the reins of authority to Col. Jeffrey Sinclair, cmdr. of the 172nd Inf Bde, based in Grafenwoehr, Germany.
"We thank our brothers and sisters in the Vanguard Bde who have served with honor, and forged partnerships that allow us to succeed and continue the uninterrupted support to the citizens of Iraq," said Sinclair.
James gave credit for his Soldiers' success to the extraordinary efforts of both the Iraqi SF and local SoI programs. The 4th BCT Soldiers have increasingly worked with their Iraqi SF counterparts in missions to keep insurgents out, and reduce the sectarian violence that once plagued the area.
"Most of us in the Blackhawk Bde left only a short time ago, when a stable and prosperous Iraq seemed like a long shot," said Sinclair. "Now, we return to a nation full of brave leaders and Soldiers, new business opportunities and people who chose a path of opportunity as new global participants. To my new Iraqi friends who serve in govt positions, or who live and work throughout the province, the Blackhawks are humbled by your warm welcome, and we absolutely look forward to serving with you on a sometimes bumpy road to a peaceful and prosperous Iraq," said Sinclair.
Col. Jeffrey A. Sinclair and Command Sgt. Maj. Steven W. McClaflin uncase the 172nd's colors.
(Army photos by Sgt. Michael J. Taylor)
Col. Thomas James and Command Sgt. Maj. Luis M. Torres, 4th BCT, 3rd ID cmdr. and senior enlisted advisor, case the brigade colors.
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Iraqi Army Begins M1A1 Tank Training
By Lt. Col. Christopher Delarosa
In this Oct. 31, 2008 file photo, Iraqi Soldiers are introduced to the tanks their Army will use in the future.
Photo by Spc. Chase Kincaid
TAJI — The IA Armor School here hosted an M1A1 tank orientation for the first group of 28 Iraqi Army M1A1 tank crewmen, Dec. 21. The crewmen, selected from the cadre of current IA Armor School instructors and IA 9th Mechanized Inf Div, will continue their orientation through Jan. 2. Final selectees will then participate in a 3 month train-the-trainer course with U.S. Army instructors at the Combat Training Center. Once their training is complete, the graduates will serve as instructors for the remaining IA crews, building basic M1A1 skills prior to the arrival of their own M1A1 tanks.
This approach will allow the IA to significantly accelerate the fielding of its new armor regiments. The GoI purchased 140 advanced M1A1 Abrams Integrated Mgt. Situational Awareness tanks, scheduled to arrive in the fall of 2010.
“The M1A1 tank is the future of Iraq; the Soviet equipment is our past….the M1A1s will lead us into the future,” said IA Col. Ghazi, IA Armor School Commandant.
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Army Reserve CG visits Balad
BALAD - Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz, the comm. gen. of the Army Reserve, visited Joint Base Balad Dec. 25 to celebrate the holiday
season and speak with troops. Stultz attended and judged Soldiers decorated vehicles in the Op Ho Ho Ho Holiday parade along with Brig. Gen. Michael J. Lally, 3rd Sust Command (Expeditionary) comm. gen., served Soldiers lunch at the Oasis dining facility, spoke at the education center, and attended the Op Ho Ho Ho Variety Show at Sustainer Theatre.
While at the Blackjack Education Center Stultz discussed the transformation of the Army Reserve, and re-enlisted 2 Soldiers: Sgt. 1st Class Thaddeus C. Benton, 244th Military Intel Bn and SSgt. Anna Bruski, 259th CSSB.
Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz speaks with Airman 1st Class David Charette and Tech. Sgt. Russell Sarkela from the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Group, while waiting in line for lunch.
(Army photos by Spc. Kelly Anne Beck)
Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz visits the Corps. Distribution Center and speaks with Soldiers from the 259th CSSB, who support the 3rd Sust Command (Expeditionary), to hear about the ordering and distribution process at Joint Base Balad.
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CSD proves viable option for transitioning SoI security personnel
BAGHDAD - Iraqi SF and a civil services dept (CSD) in the Jihad community offer on-the-job training mixed with classroom activities to provide alternative options for former SoI security personnel in Baghdad's Rashid district. The CSD has 400 students, said al-Kinani, principal of the CSD. Approx. 100 of them are former SoI.
"If this project didn't exist, the students would have a choice - to be criminals or constructive citizens," said Kinani, who also holds a degree as a civil engineer. "We give them the opportunity to become constructive citizens; to learn something, a profession so they can go out in the Jihad community and be somebody."
The economy in the Northwest Rashid area has improved due to the increase in open shops and more house construction, said 1st Lt. Matthew Wilden, 2nd Plt Leader assigned to Co C, 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID. The improvements have led to an increase in returning families in Jihad coming back to their homes and a growing real estate market, said Wilden.
"With all that going on, the job market is looking good for the CSD graduates," said Wilden. "They will at least come out with some good skills and be able to find a job."
"As the former security personnel get other jobs, the SoI program should fade away," Wilden said. "With the security situation improving, the SoI will not really be needed, so it's putting them in job training where they will be a more productive member of society." The Jihad CSD offers 11 different training areas, such as commercial driving, electrical engineering and basic medicine. "The goal is to eventually get all the SoI into the CSD or ISF," said Wilden.
The Jihad Neighborhood Council recommended Sa'ad Mishjen attend the CSD based on his background as a former SoI member and experience building the CSD facility during its construction. Mishjen attends the commercial driving course at the CSD and never imagined the studies would be so in-depth. "When I came here, the project and the classes went beyond my expectations," Mishjen said. "I never imagined it would be like this." Mishjen said he hopes to find work for the GoI as a commercial driver after his training is complete.
"I am a business owner," Kinani stated. "I could generate more money doing my business, but because I believe in this project, because I believe in my people, I want them to change their lives. That is why I and the teachers are here. We believe these people will be good members of society."
An engineering instructor draws a diagram on the board during an electrical engineering course.
(Army photos by Sgt. David Hodge)
An Iraqi student stands next to an internal combustion engine during a mechanics course.
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United States Forces-Afghanistan
Coalition forces maintain pressure on terrorist network in Kabul
KABUL, Afghanistan – CF killed 6 armed militants and detained 3 suspected militants during an op to diminish the Taliban’s terrorist network in Kabul province, Dec. 22.
The op in Sorobi (Sorubi) District, approx. 60 km northeast of Kabul City, targeted a Taliban militant believed to conduct terrorist activities throughout the Kabul, Laghman and Kapisa provinces. Carrying out orders from senior Taliban leaders, both in Afghanistan and abroad, the militants directed roadside bomb attacks, and moved foreign fighters and weapons into the region.
As CF approached the militant’s compound they were engaged by small-arms fire. The force returned fire killing 2 armed militants. During the search of the buildings, CF again came under fire from armed militants inside the building. The force engaged the armed militants and killed them while protecting 21 women and 30 children.
During the op, the force discovered multiple AK-47s and other military equipment. These items were destroyed to prevent future use.
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U.S. Forces - Afghanistan
Afghan Commandos capture the Baglan District Headquarters bomber
KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army Commandos (ANAC), accompanied by CF captured Mullah Dahoud, an insurgent cmdr., during an early morning raid on a suspected IDE cell in Pol-e-Kohmri, Baglan province, approx. 150 km from Kabul, Dec. 23.
The ANAC conducted the raid on a compound reported to be Dahoud’s home and a transit point for insurgent fighters. During the search of the compound, ANAC detained Mullah Dahoud with no resistance.
Mullah Dahoud and his insurgent fighters were reportedly responsible for the attack on the Baghlan District HQ that killed Afghan officials and civilians in October 2008, and for the Fobrica Sugar factory bombing in 2007 that killed over 50 civilians.
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