Dear Interested Reader,
We honor the courage and character of Medevac Pilot James Frederick awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross at Camp Taji. NP and the 505th PIR participated in a humanitarian drive in New Baghdad, where they also conducted joint weapons cache search. U.S. soldiers deliver school supplies thanks to generous Americans back home. Iraqi Navy to have state-of-the-art pier facility. Camp Lejeune Marines take the helm in Al Anbar province. Also at Camp Lejeune, an Iraqi Sheikh comes to prepare Marines for upcoming deployment to Iraq. A most interesting story originating out of Camp Atterbury, Ind. will have a lasting effect in Afghanistan.
Joanna
______________________________
Feb. 13, 2009
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
NP, Paratroopers determined to help in New Baghdad
Capt. Agustin Dominguez, a fire support officer assigned to 2nd Bn, 505th PIR, shows Iraqi children his camera screen after taking their picture.
(Army photo by Spc. Josh Lowery)
FOB LOYALTY - Iraqi SF and Paratoopers from the 2nd Bn, 505th PIR, 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn Div, distributed more than 800 donated blankets, and dozens of children's toys to Iraqi civilians during an Iraqi-led humanitarian drive Feb. 4 in the New Baghdad district of eastern Baghdad.
Iraq Brig. Gen. Ali Dabown, cmdr. of the 8th NP Bde, worked with local leaders of New Baghdad to ensure the needed goods went to less fortunate people of the district. "We love and support the NP," said Abd Jaheel after receiving her blanket. "This is such a great gift for us, and we are very happy."
This is the second humanitarian drive in the last 2 weeks that the NPs and their U.S. counterparts conducted in the New Baghdad district. Ali, local leaders and CF have made events like this a priority.
Lt. Col. Louis Zeisman, cmdr, 2nd Bn., 505th PIR, said the NPs and local leaders are not only keeping the citizens of New Baghdad safe, but also trying to improve their daily lives. "The great thing about working with leaders in this area is that they care about their community. It is very rewarding to work with them, as they not only ensure the security of the populace, but also work to improve the quality of life of those they serve."
The Iraqi forces and MND-B Paratroopers are planning to do a third humanitarian drive in New Baghdad in the future. They are also planning a series of school supplies distribution events to help local area schools.
Iraqi Brig. Gen. Ali Dabown gives a wool blanket to a woman during a humanitarian drive.
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NP, Paratroopers conduct joint cache search
Shawra Wa Um Jidir
NP officers walk through a hole in a fence during Op Doubleday, Feb. 9 in the New Baghdad district of eastern Baghdad. NPs partnered with Paratroopers assigned to 2nd Bn, 505th PIR, 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn Div, in a combined clearance op to search for weapon caches in and around the district of New Baghdad.
(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Josh Lowery)
NP Officers partnered with Paratroopers assigned to 2nd Bn, walk down a trench to an assembly point during Op Doubleday. The combined clearance op cleared and disrupted insurgent networks and weapon caches.
Soldiers find a location to search for suspected weapon caches. The op, was named in honor of American Civil War Admiral Abner Doubleday.
Pfc. Davin Atkins, a rifleman deployed with 2nd Bn, uses a metal detector to search for weapon caches. The combined clearance op was conducted over several miles.
(Army photos by Spc. Josh Lowery)
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MEDEVAC Pilot Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism, Saving Lives
By Sgt. Jason Dangel
CAMP TAJI — An aeromedical evacuation pilot from the CAB, 4th ID, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross here, Feb. 6, for heroism and extraordinary achievement in support of OIF.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 James Frederick was presented the award by Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, the comm. gen. of the 4th ID, for rescuing 4 trapped Iraqi NP officers in eastern Baghdad, July 18, 2008. Frederick, piloted his UH-60 air ambulance helicopter while hovering over a burning building to save the men. The rescue called for a possible hoist; a unique op that requires the crew to drop a cable and foot harness in order to hoist up each rescue victim individually using a winch-like apparatus.
In order to make the hoist successful, Frederick maneuvered and maintained a stabilized hover approx. 7 feet over the rescue location, while each Police officer was safely lifted into the aircraft one by one by the MEDEVAC crew members.
“I went out and did what I was trained to do, what I have practiced to do. And that’s what it came down to,” said Frederick, a 16-year veteran assigned to Co C, 2nd Bn, 4th Avn. Regt. “Since the day I came into the Army, I’ve always been told to do what you’re supposed to do; do what you’ve been taught to do and do it the right way, and things will get done. Rewards and accolades will come from performing your duties and responsibilities the way you were taught.”
Typically these types of ops are considered extremely dangerous and vulnerable to enemy attack due to the amount of time the aircraft is stationary. “As far as I know and from a conventional forces standpoint, this was the first hoist rescue that has been done in Iraq,” said Frederick. “The mission itself was a broad brigade team effort. We had attack helicopter support. We had unmanned aerial vehicles overhead filming the mission as it went on, and the brigade cmdr. was on the radio as we were conducting the op. It was truly a brigade effort in order to make it happen.”
“I’ve been truly blessed with these volunteer Soldiers. You are the credentials of the U.S.,” Hammond said before presenting the award to Frederick. Concluding his speech, Hammond approached Frederick, and as is customary, the pilot began to raise his hand in salute, only to be stopped by Hammond. “No, I’m going to salute you,” the general said.
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Supplies Delivered to Karkh School Kids
By Sgt. Brian Tierce
BAGHDAD — As the security situation in Baghdad continues to improve, U.S. Soldiers look for the opportunity to conduct missions focused more on helping Iraqi citizens than winning battles. MND – Baghdad Soldiers surprised school children and teachers alike with a school supply delivery in the Karkh district of NW Baghdad, Feb. 10.
“Various orgs. and families from the U.S. generously donated the supplies in order to show good will towards the people of Iraq and assist with educational needs,” said Capt. Michael Roscoe, an Iraqi SF coordinator. “The children and teachers of the schools were both surprised.” The delivery consisted of 50 boxes filled with backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils and much more. It was evident from the smiles on the children’s faces that the supplies were well received. “The children are all very happy with the generous donation,” said Alaa Rahman, Uroba School headmaster.
The Soldiers have been very active in the community during their deployment by helping to renovate and refurbish numerous schools in their operational environment. A partnership between the bn and the Ministry of Education has improved schools like Uroba and Rasheed, and along with it, educational opportunities for Iraqi children who otherwise might not get the tools to succeed in the classroom.
“These Supplies will assist the students very much,” said Zanab Hussein, Abi Tammam Primary Boys School headmaster. “Most of them are from poor families and cannot afford a lot of supplies.”
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Iraqi Navy to have state-of-the-art pier facility
By Nicole Dalrymple
Gulf Region Div
BAGHDAD – The Iraqi Navy has given the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Gulf Region Div (GRD), approval to initiate construction of the Umm Qasr pier and seawall project in al-Basra province.
This is the first Foreign Military Sales project between Iraq and the USACE. FMS is a program where the host country pays the U.S. government for construction and supplies related to its military.
“FMS is a new process for us,” said Rear Admiral Kadhum, head of the Iraqi Navy. “We are satisfied with the project design, and ready for construction to begin. A trust has been built between the Iraqi Navy, Ministry of Defense and GRD. This is a very important project for us, and will help build a strong Navy for Iraq.”
Maj. Gen. Michael R. Eyre, comm. gen. of the GRD, said, “This is an excellent example of the Iraqis taking the lead, and the dramatic transition taking place in Iraq right now. In this case, the GoI is providing project funding, and we are supporting them with contract and construction mgt.”
“I have enjoyed doing this specialized work for the Iraqi Navy,” said Brig. Gen. Jafar, director of works for Iraq’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) – Infrastructure. “The contractor has incorporated our ideas into the project, which will provide greater capabilities to the Iraqi Navy and provide for our future security. I look forward to seeing our vision become a reality on the ground.”
“This project is of strategic importance in protecting Iraq’s oil platforms, and it is also important to MoD and all of Iraq,” Kadhum added. “It will also help the people of Basra, specifically Umm Qasr, as construction will bring jobs and business to the local area. This project shows that the CF didn't just come to liberate Iraq, but came to help build Iraq.”
Construction will begin in March and is expected to be complete in September. The GRD will be providing construction mgt out of the Gulf Region South District, which oversees construction in Iraq’s 9 southern provinces.
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Camp Lejeune Marines take the helm in Al Anbar province
AL ASAD AIR BASE -- For the third time since the start of OIF in 2003, Marines from the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) have assumed the mantle of MNF-W, which oversees Coalition efforts in Iraq’s Al Anbar province.
During a Feb. 9 ceremony aboard Al Asad Air Base, Maj. Gen. Richard T. Tryon, comm. gen. of II MEF (Fwd), assumed command of MNF-W from Maj. Gen. John F. Kelly, the comm. gen. of the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based I MEF (Fwd).
Kelly and his Marines deployed to Iraq in January 2008, and during the past 12 months, I MEF (Fwd) and its partners in the Iraqi SF made tangible and long-lasting contributions to the overall security situation in Al Anbar, which has helped usher in an era of peace and prosperity in the province. “After the troop surge in 2007, Anbar was transitioning from being a heartland of the insurgency to being the first province to expel Al Qaeda,” said Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, the comm. gen. of the XVIII Abn Corps and MNC-Iraq, who provided the transfer of authority ceremony’s opening remarks. “Today, Anbar is much safer, and the IA and IP are much more capable, and the people of Anbar have a better life. You can return to the U.S. knowing you made a genuine difference for this country,” Austin added, reflecting on the accomplishments of Kelly and the men and women of I MEF (Fwd).
In a symbolic gesture, Kelly and Sgt. Maj. W.N. O’Connell Jr., the sgt maj of I MEF (Fwd), cased their unit’s organizational colors before Kelly made his final remarks as the comm. gen. of MNF-W. “Those of us who came here and put our lives on the line had the noblest of intentions,” said Kelly. “Not for land – not for oil – not for prestige, or for anything else but our country’s security and other people’s freedom.” Kelly lauded the accomplishments of the CF under his command and praised their efforts that enabled the Iraqi people to take part in the recent, and peaceful, provincial elections. “By dipping your fingers in a bottle of ink,” Kelly said, addressing the Iraqi political, tribal and military leaders in the audience, “you sounded the death knell for terrorism and extremists who destroy and never build, who kill and never nurture, who want to tear down the society now and never build for the future.”
Although Kelly was appreciative for the decline in casualties during I MEF (Fwd)’s time in Iraq, he solemnly reflected on those 28 Marines and soldiers who lost their lives in 2008 under his command. “What makes me eternally grateful is the relatively small number of American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines I have lost in comparison to what it was like in my previous 2 tours,” Kelly commented. “I think of our fallen every day, and I will think of them for the rest of my life. I will never forget them and their loved ones.”
After Kelly’s remarks, Tryon and Sgt. Maj. Kip Carpenter, the sgt maj of II MEF (Fwd), moved to the stage to uncase the II MEF (Fwd) organizational colors, symbolizing their assumption of command aboard the base and throughout Al Anbar province. “To Major Gen. Kelly, a longtime friend and running mate – congratulations on a successful deployment,” began Tryon, a former enlisted sailor who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1975 to become a career Marine infantry officer. “The many meaningful contributions you and your team have made during this past year have absolutely set the conditions for success, and we will continue to march.”
Attending the ceremony were a number of high-ranking Iraqi tribal, military and political officials, and several Marine gen. officers, including Gen. James F. Amos, the asst. commandant of the Marine Corps, Lt. Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the dep. commandant for Plans, Policies, and Ops at HQ Marine Corps, and Maj. Gen. Paul Lefevre, the dep. comm. gen. of MNC-I.
“Today we turn the page and begin to write a new chapter in OIF,” Tryon continued, “and as we do so, we will go forward with honor, courage, and commitment, and we will accomplish our mission.” To do so, Tryon will be assisted by Brig. Gen. John E. Wissler, who serves as his dep. comm. gen. The boots on the ground for MNF-W will be provided by RCT 6 and 8, the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Fwd), the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd), and a number of U.S. Army, Iraqi and Coalition units.
“We will demonstrate by our actions to the people of Anbar and Iraq that there is truly no better friend than those Marines, sailors, soldiers, airmen and civilians of MNF-W.”
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Iraqi sheikh prepares Lejeune Marines for upcoming deployment
By MSgt. Keith A. Milks
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – In the years since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime, ordinary Iraqi citizens have stepped forward and taken an active role in charting their country’s future.
Key among those citizens were the hundreds of Iraqi sheikhs, or elders and persons of financial or political prominence, whose voices and actions have put Iraq down a path toward peace and democracy. Among these men, prominent businessman Sheikh Tarik Al-Alabdullah from the Al Anbar province has emerged as a vocal advocate for Iraqi progression and a strong supporter of the Marine Corps’ mission in western Iraq.
Within hours of his arrival in North Carolina on a recent, self-funded goodwill visit to the U.S., Sheikh Tarik met with officers from the II MEF (Fwd) and briefed them on his insights to the current situation in the Al Anbar province. II MEF (Fwd) is scheduled to spearhead the Marine mission to Iraq in early 2009, having returned from the region earlier last year.
“We are at the very early stages of building our command element,” said Maj. Gen. Richard K. Tryon, Comm. Gen. of II MEF (Fwd). “As we come together, the opportunity to share your perspective will be very useful. You can help us do what both our govts want us to do,” continued Tryon, “and build a democratic, sovereign Iraq.”
For more than 2 hours, Sheikh Tarik briefed Tryon, the II MEF (Fwd) Dep. Comm. Gen., Brig. Gen. John E. Wissler, and their principal operational staff officers, on the current tribal, political and economic situation affecting the people of the Al Anbar province.
“I have the honor to be here with you and look forward to more cooperation as we work toward freedom and democracy in Iraq,” Sheikh Tarik told the assembled officers. “The main purpose of this trip was to say thank you for everything the Marines have done in Al Anbar.”
The next day, following a MV-22 Osprey over flight of Camp Lejeune and a “windshield” tour of the base, Sheikh Tarik met with the cmdrs. of the units that will maintain the security situation on the ground throughout Al Anbar province. While the previous day’s brief was strategic in nature, the second brief was grittier and dealt more with day-to-day, tactical issues.
“Sheikh Tarik’s visit provided a unique opportunity for unit leaders to receive info and thoughts from a prominent Iraqi leader,” said Capt. Paul C. Teachey, the asst. ops officer for the 8th Marine Regt. “It also served as a venue for unit leaders to ask specific questions regarding the security situation with the Iraqi SF, as well as the continued progress in economic development and governance.”
As focus in Iraq shifts away from full-scale combat ops and toward Iraqi unification and self-reliance, a central theme in each day’s briefings was how the Marines could best support the rebuilding of Iraq’s infrastructure and economic stability. According to Teachey, Sheikh Tarik elaborated on what Al Anbar specifically needs for continued growth and development, and how improvements to the province’s agricultural and transportation infrastructure will benefit the average Iraqi citizen.
“All of these priorities have a direct impact on the small unit at the tactical level,” Teachey said. “I consider myself extremely lucky to be given the opportunity to hear Sheikh Tarik comment on the present security situation in Iraq … the experience was invaluable.” Joining Teachey for the brief were other officers from the 8th Marines, as well as reps from the 6th Marine Regt and the 2nd Bn., 10th Marines (Civil Affairs).
“I look forward to more cooperation as we work toward freedom and democracy in Iraq,” Sheikh Tarik told the assembled officers. In looking to the future, Sheikh Tarik spoke of the Marine Corps’ past successes in Al Anbar, which was once the most dangerous province in Iraq, but whose security situation has drastically improved in recent months. “No one can ignore what the Marines have done,” Sheikh Tarik said. “Without your efforts, we’d still have Al Qaeda killing our people. The Marines have created a trust between the Marines, the provincial people and the sheikhs. Without your support, we could not have reached this stage of unification in Iraq.”
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Roadside Service
Iraqis offer Tammer, or dates, to pilgrims traveling along Baghdad's Airport Road, Feb. 11, heading south to Karbala for the Islamic religious holiday Arba'een. Shiite Muslims conduct an annual pilgrimage to the city in observance of the Islamic holiday, Arba'een. Iraqi SF provided security for the religious observance that was once forbidden by the Saddam regime.
(Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams)
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Blackanthem Military News
Mission in Afghanistan plant seeds for economic growth
By Sgt. Robert G. Cooper III
1-19th Agribusiness Development Team, Cmdr. Col. Brian Copes (fourth from left) participates in a mock groundbreaking ceremony on a snowy day at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, a sub-installation of Camp Atterbury, Ind. The ceremony is part of the team's preparation to deploy to Khost Province, Afghanistan, where they will participate in missions aimed at improving farming production.
CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - The need for citizen-Soldiers has never been more important in the Global War on Terror than now. As new American policies begin to shift military focus from Iraq to Afghanistan, so too does the nature of the ops. While battlefields wrought with combat and casualties still exist throughout the Middle East, top military leaders are now shifting tactics from fighting to rebuilding, sustaining and growing.
But how, in war-torn Afghanistan - a country that has been entrenched in battle for decades - can the process of rebuilding begin? To answer that question, U.S. Army officials have turned their attention toward the National Guard, where civilian experts in economic growth now have the opportunity to bring their select skills from the heartland to the front lines. As a result, National Guardsmen from 7 states have volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan as specialized units, tasked with the singular purpose of jump-starting the agricultural economy of Afghanistan.
The units, called Agribusiness Development Teams (ADTs), are a new breed of Army ops. Rather than focusing on combating terrorism with weapons, these ADTs focus on rebuilding Afghan trust in both their economy, and in their govt through the country's chief industry - agriculture.
Maj. Shawn Gardner, the ops and training officer for Indiana's 1-19th ADT, stressed the importance of agriculture when it comes to successful ops in Afghanistan. "Agriculture sustains about 60 to 70% of the population of the country, so we won't have true security until the economic state is better repaired," Gardner said. "We'll start at the grassroots level, helping them maintain their agricultural baselines, and grow from there."
While the mission may sound simple at first, the concept of Soldiers putting down weapons to pick up a plow is much deeper. "The tactical mission is to help the local farmers learn to establish some farming techniques that have been lost through several generations of war, and with that, the strategic mission is to help them have a better understanding and appreciation of their provincial govt," Gardner said.
In order to stimulate the Afghan economy through agricultural initiatives, the ADTs will have to start at the provincial level, Gardner said. For the Hoosier Soldiers of the 1-19th, their mission focuses on Khost province, historically an agricultural hub for fruit and nuts prior to the Soviet invasions of the late ‘70s. Coupled with years of civil warring and tribal fighting, the current state of agriculture exists only through 1 to 2-acre subsistence farms. Kevin McNamara, a professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, said the farms, offering barely enough for local communities to get by with, are a stark contrast to what Americans consider farming to be. "Afghan agriculture is completely different from Indiana, but the strong agricultural backgrounds of the individuals deploying is significant," McNamara said. "This mission speaks highly of the Soldiers who volunteer to improve the lives of those in dire straits. Without this mission, we wouldn't be able to stabilize Afghanistan."
McNamara, a former Peace Corps member, who has been to Afghanistan on numerous occasions to assist in agricultural education, has been partnering with the 1-19th to provide training on some of the short and long term goals of the ADT. "Agriculture is the industry there," he said. "There isn't much else. Most people are poor there, so this agribusiness team approach will have a definite impact on improving and stabilizing their incomes.
"The training we developed was an outgrowth of a meeting I had with 1-19th leadership last June," McNamara said. "They were certainly excited about the opportunity of the deployment, but realized the challenges it presented. After speaking about challenges they would face, both cultural and technological, we developed training based on base-line info of current agriculture statistics in Afghanistan."
The statistics centered the training Soldiers received last year on small enterprise farming and addressed soil fertility, wheat production, fruit production, forestry, animal husbandry and horticulture. The knowledge provided by Purdue's Dept of Int'l Agriculture focused on facets that McNamara said will have a direct impact not only on increasing production, but increasing the incomes of local farmers. "We're hitting the issue of farming income, which is exciting," McNamara said. "That means more wheat to eat and more milk to drink. The more we increase their production, the more we increase their wealth and pull them from poverty."
The training also focused on addressing current shortfalls in Afghanistan's arid environment, which limits rainfall to mere inches per year. "We had a session on pest mgt., where we looked to see how weeds and diseases are affecting crops, and we discussed what pests or diseases to look for and how to treat them," McNamara said. "Irrigation is also very important, but hard to work with since the people don't have the education or financing to afford it. Our training gave a thorough overview on irrigation techniques that are relevant."
Once deployed, McNamara said that Purdue will continue to provide expert oversight. "We will have video teleconferencing capabilities, and a reach back system where we will have a full-time desk position that can provide answers in a quick fashion."
1-19th ADT Cmdr. Col. Brian Copes said the deployment will feature many initiatives designed to both educate and sustain the instruction his team will provide to local Afghan communities. In addition to partnering with other U.S. depts such as the Agency for Int'l Development, the team also will conduct agriculture education and info ops missions, which provides education through print and broadcast media. To use a phrase he borrowed from Purdue, Copes calls the focus of their agriculture missions "post-production, post-harvest, value-added processing. It's a big, sexy term but once you understand how to turn grapes to raisins, it becomes clear," he said. Copes related the phrase to teaching local Afghan farmers how to trellis grapes, which are currently grown on the ground on most farms. Upon showing them how to increase grape production, the 1-19th can then show farmers how to streamline their storage capabilities, thus increasing the production of raisins.
Copes also plans to use programs from American youth education groups, such as 4-H and Future Farmers of America, to reach out to the Afghan's next generations of agriculturalists. The 1-19th also will use high school agriculture courses taught by one of the team's ADT leaders, who teaches the same curriculum at Emmerich Manual High School in Indianapolis. "We've got a curriculum already, but we need to begin adapting it to their cultural needs," Copes said. According to the World Fact Book nearly 1 in 3 Afghans can't read, so Copes said they've also made plans for radio public service announcements on food safety and nutrition.
The ADT also will work with Khost University, one of Afghanistan's 15 universities. Copes said he and dep. cmdr. Col. Cindra Chastain met with the university's chancellor and vice chancellor last year. "We had an early dialogue, and they warmly embraced the idea of a partnership with us. Our plans are to further develop 3 large greenhouses that have not been put into use there. We hope to figure out how to use them as a research facility. We will also utilize approx. 200 acres of university property to establish a demo farm."
Many challenges, most of them cultural, will be waiting for the team upon arrival, McNamara said. "We've armed these Soldiers with a good understanding on how to improve the situation there," he said. "But it won't be easy and it won't be quick. There's a lot of potential, but this will probably be the hardest jobs these folks have ever had. The Afghan people will be reluctant to adopt changes they can't understand, because it puts family at risk. There aren't banks or institutions that can support them. Understanding the production systems there and improving them will be their biggest challenge."
While Copes admits that change won't happen overnight, the focus of the mission isn't on immediate gratification. "The reality is, I'm only going to be there for 10 months, but we don't know how long the U.S. will be there," he said. "We're planning for up to 5 rotations through Indiana, but that's up to the current administration. The knowledge and expertise we leave behind will be there long after our money and tractors go away."
Capt. Bob Cline, a member of the 1-19th ADT, Indiana National Guard, accepts a sprig of wheat from an Afghan role-player during training at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center. The training focused on their mission overseas, where they will provide agricultural expertise to Afghan communities in order to foster economic growth and community trust in the country's provincial govt.
1-19th ADT Cmdr. Col. Brian Copes (far right) congratulates an "Afghan leader."
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