Dear Interested Reader,
Maj. Robert Kilpatrick's co-workers send toys and other necessities to Iraqi youngsters. Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Edwards weighs in on the makings of a good mentor. IA finds major weapons cache in Mosul. Troops find recently made Iranian munitions. Ft. Benning Mortar Training Team trains IA mortar cadre. In Afghanistan, a successful airpower summary for Feb. 16 is provided.
Joanna
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Feb. 21, 2009
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Deployed soldier’s stateside co-workers send toys to Iraqi youngsters
Maj. Robert Kirkpatrick plays with children at the Nasiriyah’s Mama Suna Primary School, Feb. 17, 2009.
By Norris Jones
Gulf Region South district
TALLIL AIR BASE – Friends and co-workers of Maj. Robert Kirkpatrick sent donated toys to southern Iraq, generating loads of smiles from Iraqi youngsters, who visited the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Gulf Region South (GRS) district’s HQ at Tallil Air Base on Feb. 17.
Kirkpatrick, a member of the 416th Theater Engr Command, HQ in Darien, Ill., explained that he’d received numerous e-mails from home asking what he needed. He suggested sending toys that could be delivered to neighboring Iraqi schools during visits by the USACE employees. Kirkpatrick, an Army Reserve soldier, works as a senior process engr for Aux Sable Liquid Products located in Channahon, Ill. His co-workers took up a collection and sent him a couple large boxes containing “a great variety of nice toys,” including cars, dolls, stuffed animals, a big fire engine, colorful sleeping bags, pillows, and a CD player. “It’s a great company to work for and they’ve been very supportive of my deployment here,” noted Kirkpatrick, who has 23 years of military service.
Kirkpatrick is the ops officer at GRS, and overseeing more than 130 construction projects in Iraq’s 9 southern provinces. The projects include new schools, hospitals, courthouses, roads, bridges and new water treatment facilities, that in some cases are providing communities with access to clean water for the first time ever.
Kirkpatrick says he joined the Army “to get more focused on my future. I went from being a poor HS student to being a much better college student after 3 years active duty.” This is his third tour to Iraq in the past 5 years. “Working with the USACE is a great assignment. We have an important mission,” Kirkpatrick explained. “Things are improving here, and you can see that the Iraqis are on the right path. It’s encouraging.”
Approx. 30 Iraqi students from Nasiriyah’s Mama Suna Primary School arrived at GRS HQ beaming with huge smiles. The children held flowers, which they presented to the Americans who greeted them. The children sang a song in English that started, “Father, mother, I am sick – get the doctor quick, quick quick,” recited their A-B-C’s, and then sang a song in Arabic.
Staff from GRS greeted the youngsters alongside members of the Alpha Btry, 3rd Bn, 133rd FA out of Ft. Bliss, Texas; and the Alpha Co, 445th Civil Affairs from Mountain View, Calif. They grilled hamburgers, served pizza, played games with the children and then presented each child with a toy, soccer ball and book bags filled with school supplies.
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Blackanthem Military News
A top ranking Soldier weighs in on the makings of a good mentor
By T.D. Jackson, Camp Atterbury PA
Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony Edwards checks on his troops during detainee ops training at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, a sub-installation of Camp Atterbury.
(Army photo by Sgt. Joseph Rivera Rebolledo)
CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - Anthony Edwards is a self-described small-town country boy with big dreams. "I want to be a better leader than anyone who has led me," he says.
Ironically, there's nothing small about the man: not his stature, his personality or even his job. Command Sgt. Major Anthony Edwards is the man with the plan at Camp Atterbury, an installation renown for training deploying troops. Edwards is the top enlisted Soldier of the 205th Inf Bde here, the main unit responsible for providing this training. At six-feet-four inches, Edwards commands with authority more than 400 Soldiers. This "country boy" had it in him all along.
As a kid, Edwards can remember always wanting to be in the military. "Most of the movies or shows on television were about cops or about the army. That helped plant the seed of wanting to be a Soldier," he said. And what the television didn't cultivate, his older brothers did. Edwards had 2 older brothers in the military, and he said when they would come home they always would talk about the drill sgts. "I looked up to my brothers, and if a drill sgt left such an impression on them, then I want to be this guy." "Not meet this guy," he said, emphatically, "Be this guy. I want to be this drill sgt." And he did just that. After enlisting in the Army, Edwards said he started out with the idea of being this guy that intimidated his brothers. "But after the first 6 or 7 months as a drill sgt you actually see the good that you do," he said. Edwards said it gave him a sense of purpose to help mold and mentor young people who often had no direction. "So it becomes bigger than anyone could ever imagine if you're into it for the right reason," he said.
But being the great Soldier that he is, did he need a mentor? "You bet," he said. "It's someone to guide you in the right direction," he said. "My mentor helped me to be who I am, to be able to do what I'm doing, to have the impact that I think I have on people," he said. What it boils down to, he said, is treating people the way you want to be treated. "The bottom line is that this little country boy treats everyone with dignity and respect 97% of the time. And the other 3% means you really done messed up!" he said without cracking a smile.
After more than 27 years of service, Edwards is still committed to respect and living the other 6 Army values in the pursuit of impacting Soldiers' lives. Edwards remembers one thing his father always said was to try to make a difference in everything you're a part of. "My father said, be a better leader by interacting, listening and never rushing off to make a decision without putting yourself in the other person's shoes." And although Edwards probably would not fit in the average Soldier's shoes, it would not stop him from going to bat for someone he believes in. "If a Soldier tells me he screwed up, I'll take my bayonet and fight for him," he said. "But if what he said isn't true," he trailed off. "I won't say the rest." At the end of the day, Edwards said, integrity is all that matters. If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson
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Iraqi Army finds major weapons cache in Mosul
Staff Brig. Gen. Majid (left), Iraqi cmdr, Lt. Col. Alfred Padden (center), team chief, 6th Bde, 2nd IA Div MiTT, and Iraqi Staff Brig. Gen. Ragheed, cmdr, sit to discuss the weapons cache find.
(Photos by 2nd Lt. Charles Calvo)
TIKRIT - The IA discovered a large weapons cache hidden in a basement during ops in West Mosul, Feb 14. The cache contained approx. 80 rockets ranging from 57-107mm, 69 mortar rounds ranging from 60-120mm, 19 rocket warheads, 12 projectiles ranging from 57-105mm, 12 RPG launchers, 10 rocket launchers, 2 missiles, 100 improvised rocket tubes, 646 grenades, 39 machine guns, 49 fuses, 1,300 blasting caps, 600 rounds of ammo, 161 PG7 propellant sticks, 300 pounds of explosives materials, and 2 propane tanks wired for emplacement as IEDs.
The Iraqi unit found the cache while conducting a cordon and search op of Al Sina'a, a neighborhood the Soldiers had been searching, since a bomb-maker blew himself up several weeks ago. Driven by leads, the Iraqi SF systematically searched the densely populated neighborhood until the discovery was made.
"This is the fruit of labor between the CF and the Iraqi SF in the area," said Col. Geoff Ellerson, cmdr, 3rd NP Div, NP Training Team.
Munitions and explosives are laid out.
Staff Brig. Gen. Majid reads off a list of the weapons and explosives found, to a reporter from the Al Iraqia satellite TV news station.
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Troops Find Recently Made Iranian Munitions
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
American and Iraqi forces have discovered Iranian weapons in Iraq that were manufactured as recently as last year, a U.S. military official said Feb. 18. Army Col. Philip Battaglia, cmdr of the 1st Cav Div’s 4th BCT said in a Baghdad news conference, "The seized weapons include hundreds of 107 mm and 122 mm rockets, and about 500 deadly bombs that military officials call EFPs because they’re designed to pierce armor in various stages of construction.
The colonel’s area of ops, known as MND - Center, covers the Iraqi provinces of Dhi Qar, Muthanna and Maysan, the latter of which borders Iran. As a matter of procedure, troops hand the weapons over to Iraqi SF for disposal, while others are sent for further analysis, he said.
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Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Phoenix Base
APO AE 09348
Ft Benning MTT trains IA mortar cadre at Besmaya Range Complex
BESMAYA - 3 members of the Ft Benning, Ga. based Inf Mortar Leaders Course recently deployed to Besmaya Range Complex to train the initial cadre for the Lt Artillery Wing of the IA Artillery School.
The Mortar Training Team (MTT) brought more than 23 years of combined experience in the training and use of U.S. mortar systems, including training foreign national Soldiers in the proper methods of emplacing mortars and utilization of the most modern methods for fire direction and control. U.S. Army SSgt. Kevin Burnette, one of the MTT members said, “The course provides the IA with an excellent learning opportunity, and the skills to utilize their mortar systems in the most effective manner."
Burnette, Sgt. 1st Class Richard Toms, Jr. and Sgt. John Bennett arrived in Besmaya in mid-January to conduct a Train-the-Trainer course for IA cadre, Coalition advisors, and contract instructors to enhance their expertise in the latest fire control and fire observation procedures.
Upon completion of the initial training of the advisors and contract instructors, the 3 MTT instructors transitioned to an ‘overwatch’ of the 10 advisors and instructors, as they taught the same program of instruction to the 15 Iraqi mortar cadre. When all classroom and hands-on training is complete, all coalition and Iraqi personnel will conduct a mortar live fire under the MTT cadre supervision.
IA Capt. Joad, the senior Iraqi cadre member, stated, "The training in Serbia was good on the mortar systems, but I feel more confident in my fire direction and fire observation skills from the training we are receiving now. The training pace here has been much better, allowing us the time to understand the procedures." With assistance from the Coalition advisors and contract instructors, the Lt Artillery Wing will train future Iraqi mortarmen when the IA begins fielding their operational 81mm and 120mm mortars in Jun. 2009.
In addition to this tour in support of Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq training requirements, Toms is a veteran of 3 combat tours in Iraq and 1 to Afghanistan. Burnette is a veteran of 2 each combat tours. Bennett has 1 each combat tour. All 3 NCOs trained Afghan NA and Police personnel, as well as IA personnel, in basic mortar skills.
The MTT’s crucial assistance in the development of this training program, is a key step forward in professionalizing the Iraqi military. This is a vital step towards ensuring Iraq’s self-sufficiency during the critical transition from coalition to Iraqi-led ops.
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Blackanthem Military News
110th QM Co. makes their mark
By 1st Lt. Dezerie Jemmott
CAMP LIBERTY -
On Feb. 2, Spc. Maureen Alberts, beautifies the co area with a mural on the Co TOC's door, Jan. 31. The mural recognizes the 110th Quartermaster Co's Leadership and each of its Platoons. 110th Quartermaster Co, 553rd CSSB, 10th Sust Bde is currently serving a 12-month deployment.
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Afghanistan Airpower Summary for February 16
F-15E Strike Eagles struck an encampment in the Herat province with guided bomb unit-38s. The strike targeted anti-Afghan leadership members, using tactics to minimize bomb blast and prevent injury to nearby personnel, not affiliated with enemy forces.
In the vicinity of Balocan, UK Royal AF GR-9 Harriers targeted anti-Afghan personnel on a motorcycle using a Paveway guided bomb. The targeted individuals had been emplacing IEDs on area roadways. The Harrier waited to release its weapons until the individuals left a local settlement, so there would be no risk to Afghan civilians. The aircraft later flew a show of force to deter other enemy activity.
Navy F/A-18A Hornets hit an enemy force on a mountainside with GBU-38s while providing overwatch for a Coalition convoy travelling near Tarin Kowt. The enemy briefly opened fire on the convoy with mortars, small arms, and RPGs when the Hornets' bombs decisively ended the engagement.
Near Orgun, AF A-10 Thunderbolt IIs used their 30mm cannons and general purpose 500 pound bombs to destroy an enemy mortar position. The strike was called in after the position began launching mortar rounds toward a Coalition forward base.
Strike Eagles dropped GBU-12s near Garmser, targeting an enemy force moving in during an attack on a Coalition ground unit. The aircraft dropped bombs in a field near, but not on the enemy's position, successfully targeting enemy personnel, but preventing damage to civilian structures in the vicinity.
Coalition aircraft responded to a call from troops under automatic weapon and RPG attack near Qalat. Providing shows of force which suppressed enemy fire, the maneuver gave the Coalition patrol a window in which to safely withdraw.
An A-10 flew a show of force over Gardez to prevent rocket attacks on a Coalition forward base sited in the area. The attack caused suspicious individuals near the site of a previous rocket firing position to scatter.
In Nangalam, another A-10 flew a show of force to discourage anti-Afghan force activity as Coalition reps met with local leaders. The aircraft remained overhead keeping watch and serving as a visible deterrent.
A Coalition aircraft provided a show of force supporting Afghan NA ops in Qalat. The aircraft performed the maneuver and kept station overhead to give an additional measure of safety while Afghan soldiers contacted local residents and searched for enemy personnel and equipment.
During a Coalition convoy op in Kabul, an F-15E flew overhead and conducted a show of force along the convoy's travel route. The visual airpower presence provided a non-lethal level of force to deter anti-Afghan attack. A Navy F/A-18C Hornet performed a similar mission near Lashkar Gah.
Joint Terminal Attack Controllers assigned to Coalition units verified the success of these missions. In total, 80 close air support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan SF, reconstruction activities and route patrols. 16 AF surveillance and recon aircraft flew missions as part of ops. Additionally, 4 Navy and Coalition aircraft performed tactical recon.
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