Dear Interested Reader,
Thanks to the generous Americans, winter coats and shoes are donated to Karmah children. IA leaders and CF discuss security for upcoming elections. Co A, 27th Inf. teach the importance of map skills. Border Enforcement Commandos graduate course. Tribal leader donates land for new IP station. ISF and 82nd Abn soldiers conducted a joint patrol through the historic Matanabi Book Market. In Afghanistan, efforts are being made to expand and modernize Afghan NP emergency medical-patient transportation capability.
Joanna
_____________________________
Jan. 17, 2009
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Winter Coats Donated to Karmah Kids
A young girl holds new boots and a winter coat donated by U.S. Marines from RCT 1.
(Photo by Lance Cpl. Achilles Tsantarliotis)
KARMAH — U.S. Marines distributed shoes and cold-weather coats to children here, Jan. 6. During Karmah’s coldest months, ranging from 60 degrees during the day to freezing temperatures after dusk, many children are without winter apparel and some even without shoes on their feet.
The unit’s chaplain, Navy Lt. Brandon Harding, initiated the effort by contacting various non-profit orgs. throughout the U.S. for donations. The clothing drive was the fifth the Marines have coordinated, donating approx. 4,500 pounds of clothing overall. “The response has been overwhelming,” Harding said. “It’s amazing to see how generous Americans are. Hopefully it helps Iraqi people see we’re good people.”
Iraqi children lined up by the dozens, patiently waiting to receive a pair of shoes and a coat to combat the biting cold at sundown. The children were more than enthusiastic and could not stop smiling and thanking the Marines and Sailors for the valued donations. “It’s very good,” said Hamid Naief, a father of 7 residing in central Karmah. “From the first time CF got here, things have been very good. This shows the generosity first hand. We need it so much,” he said. “I do not like seeing the kids go to school, or to play with bare feet and without jackets. The Americans helping us means so much. They are our friends and we thank them.”
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Iraqi leaders and Coalition forces discuss elections
TIKRIT - Iraqi and CF military cmdrs. gathered for conferences Jan. 10 in Ninewah Province, and Jan. 15 in Diyala Province to discuss cooperation and support for the provincial elections.
Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin, III, comm. gen., MNC-Iraq, received a Security Cooperation Council briefing Jan. 15 regarding the provincial elections scheduled Jan. 31 in both provinces. Briefers included Mr. Kareem, Iraqi High Elections Cmdr., Iraqi Maj. Gen. Hashem, Iraq Ground Forces Cmdr., Maj. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, comm. gen., MND-North, and Brig. Gen. James C. Nixon, dep. comm. gen. of ops, MND-North. Briefers made recommendations on security and provided intel on the climate in hostile areas.
The GoI has requested CF support to ensure safe, legitimate and credible elections in hostile areas.
U.S. and Iraqi leaders of Diyala Province discuss the upcoming provincial elections in a Security Cooperation Council meeting on FOB Warhorse, Jan. 15.
(Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Walter J. Pels)
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IP improve map skills
HUSSENIYAH -
IP officers from the Al Zahour IP Station, follow Sgt. Timothy Miller, inf. team leader with Co A, 1st Bn, 27th Inf Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, attached to 3rd BCT, 4th ID, on a navigation training session, Jan. 4.
(Army photos by Sgt. 1st Class J.B. Jaso III)
Sgt. Miller shows the officers of the Al Zahour IP Station the importance of using a compass in navigating through this northeast Baghdad region.
Officers from the Al Zahour IP Station plan a route to conduct a dismounted patrol while Sgt. Timothy Miller, observes the IP implementing the skills they had just learned. Miller instructed the IP officers on navigation skills during a training session, assisting in the transition of security from CF to Iraqi SF.
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Border Enforcement Commandos graduate course
FOB DELTA - The 2nd half of the 1st Co, 3rd Bn, Dept. of Border Enforcement Region Commandos graduated from a 2-week training course on mounted and dismounted techniques, urban and close quarter combat, medical training and snap traffic control points at the Karmashiyah Border Fort, Jan. 13.
"Thank you to the support of training team from the U.S. forces, and the experience they provided the Iraqi Soldiers in this training," said Iraqi Col. Jaber, cmdr. of 3rd Bn, DBE Region Commandos, in his speech to the Soldiers at the graduation. "I thank the Soldiers of the 1st Co, and the officers, for their work and cooperation with the U.S. forces, to serve as the new Iraqi future."
Soldiers from 2nd Plt, Btry B, 2nd Bn, 20th FAR instructed the training. "Today we celebrate the commandos of the DBE, as they complete their initial training, and prepare to assume their role on freedoms' frontier, as the lead guardians of the sovereign border of Iraq," said Lt. Col. Timothy Bush, 2nd BN, 20th FAR cmdr.
First Lt. Layne Christopher, Plt Leader, 2nd Plt., Btry. B, was the officer-in-charge of the 2-week training courses. "The next step is conducting joint ops with the commando co, and continually improving and building off the skills they learned in the course," he said.
Lt. Col. Timothy Bush hands out a certificate.
(Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson)
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Tribal leader donates land to MoI for IPs
BAGHDAD - As the Security Agreement between the GoI and CF gains momentum, the Iraqi people continue to assume the protection, care and responsibility for the security of their country. This is no different in the rural, farming area of Arab Jabour; where local citizens have taken a stand to improve their quality of life and increase their commitment to the safety of their community, by supporting the grand opening of the Arab Jabour IP Station, Jan. 11.
"This IP Station was made a reality because a local shaykh donated the land where this station is located," said AF Capt. Christopher Snell, a PTT Training officer serving with Detachment 3, 716th MP Bn, 8th MP Bde. "This gesture truly illustrates the concern for safety and security from the local population. The neighborhood previously had a SoI group that would patrol the community, but they wanted to do more." After the community members decided on a police station, a local tribal leader donated the land to the Ministry of Interior and asked that a local police station be built.
"The IP really took the lead on the process of opening this police station," said Snell. "We were there to support them on the plans, but they wanted to take full responsibility for the project, and they just kept moving forward on it."
AF Capt. Christopher Snell (left), and Lt. Col. Darryl Johnson, cmdr. of 716th MP Bn., 8th MP Bde., attend the grand opening. The Soldiers and Airmen of the unit provide PTT Training expertise to the IP and assisted with the process of opening the station.
(Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Jessika Malott)
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National Police lead patrol during market visit
BAGHDAD - NP officers and IA Soldiers, partnered with Soldiers assigned to the HHC, 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn Div, conducted a combined patrol Jan. 13 in the Rusafa district of eastern Baghdad.
Iraqi SF and their MND-B partners conducted the op inside Baghdad's historic Matanabi Book Market. Iraqi citizens greeted the patrol during its mission, with many of the residents saying they felt the partnered patrols have been an important reason for the improved security in the past few months.
The leaders took time to speak with shop owners, greet customers and discuss the need to maintain recent security gains. The Matanabi Book Market was closed nearly 2 years ago after a suicide bomber attack, and reopened to the public in December. The market and its surrounding shops welcome thousands of residents and showcase some of Iraq's finest selection of food, art and clothing.
"I don't think we could have walked this market without a platoon-size force a year ago," said SSgt. Michael Foley, a squad leader assigned to the personnel security detachment. "It is a clear sign of the improvements on security made across the country, and it was great to see the market so busy. Working hand-in-hand with the ISF makes it all that much better. "This is what we like to see - people living their normal lives and away from fear. It was quite a site to see."
Staff Sgt. Michael Foley (left), patrols the Matanabi Book Market.
(Army photo by Staff Sgt. Alex Licea)
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ISF, MND-B Soldiers detain wanted criminal, seize munitions, weapons caches
BAGHDAD - Jan. 15, in Baghdad's Rashid district, IA soldiers partnered with 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained a suspected murderer, in the Saydiyah community of the Rashid district, using an Iraqi issued warrant from the Baghdad Ops Center.
During 3 separate patrols, IA soldiers with soldiers from the 1st BCT discovered a barrel containing 4 57 mm rockets buried in the ground in Karb De Gla, 2 pipe bombs in Arab Jaboor, and confiscated 2 AK-47 rifles in the Saydiyah neighborhood.
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Tooth Ache
Military working dog, Kitti, awaits her root canal at the feet of her handler, Senior Airman Adam Belward, 882nd SF Sqdrn, at an air base in Southwest Asia, Jan. 15, 2009. Kitti's op required the collaboration of both an AF dentist and an Army veterinarian.
(Photo by Senior Airman Courtney Richardson)
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Tea Time
Marine Gunnery Sgt. Ralston Clarke drinks tea while attending a meeting with Iraqi leaders in the city council building, Hit, Nov. 29, 2008.
(Photo by Lance Cpl. Lindsay Sayres)
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January 11, 2009
U.S. Forces - Afghanistan
CSTC-A provides ambulances for ANP medical field
KABUL, Afghanistan - In an effort to expand and modernize the Afghan NP emergency medical patient transportation capability, servicemembers deployed to the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan command surgeons office, provided 7 modified Ford Ranger urban ambulances to the ANP office of the surgeon general.
There are 76,000 members of the ANP and the overall goal is to reach 82,000 in the force. Afghanistan has no pre-existing concept of police forces and ensuring medical treatment is a critical mission, explained Brig. Gen. Qandahar, ANP surgeon gen. "The medical situation in Afghanistan is critical. These ambulances will help us transport patients quicker in order to save more lives," said Qandahar. The ambulances distributed throughout Kabul region are configured to carry 2 litter patients, 6 ambulatory patients, or 1 litter patient with 1 to 3 ambulatory patients, which allows for a more expedient and effective medical care system.
"It makes me very happy for the police to have these ambulances," said Colonel Wan, ANP dep. surgeon gen. Now the ANP hospital, ANP Police Academy, ANP Central Training Center, Afghan border police clinic and ANP Shamshod clinic can offer police personnel, within their region, a reliable transport to a medical facility.
According to AF Major David Andrews, CSTC-A ANP senior medical advisor, this is just the beginning. "This is where the rubber hits the road," said Andrews. "We have to keep pushing forward with better training, more people and getting out in the field."
In addition to the 7 urban ambulances delivered today, 283 tactical ambulances designed for rough terrain emergency medical evacuation are scheduled to be delivered early this year.
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