Dear Interested Reader,
Airmen celebrate arrival of Jewish Torah and Ark at Balad. Cmdr Gen Odierno lauds 56th Stryker Bde efforts. Iraqi SF arrest al-Mashadani for suspected crimes. Chamchamal partners cut ceremonial ribbon on correctional facility. Combined forces capture a suspected terrorist cell leader. In Afghanistan, combined forces killed 13 militants and destroy weapons caches, while also striking at insurgents in Helmad. More than 1300 Afghan villagers are treated at SOF clinics.
Joanna
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April 2, 2009
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing RSS
Airmen Celebrate Arrival of Jewish Torah and Ark
Story by SSgt. John Gordinier
Capt. Sarah Schechter, chaplain, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) rabbi, describes the newly arrived Jewish Torah, following a Torah dedication ceremony at Gilbert Memorial Chapel, March 21. A Torah is a big parchment leather scroll on which the Five Books of Moses are handwritten in Hebrew. For thousands of years, this is how Jews have maintained their law, teachings, religion and society.
JOINT BASE BALAD (JBB) – Every congregation has a Torah scroll, which is kept in a special ark. A dedication ceremony takes place whenever a new Torah is incorporated into a Jewish faith community. “A new Torah or even the repair of one is very costly,” she continued. “A new scroll can easily take a year to make. In this case, the Jewish Welfare Board (JWB), an organization that endorses rabbis in the U.S. Armed Forces, and supports Jewish military programs, donated this Torah for our use here.
“Getting the Torah to Iraq was not an easy task,” Schechter added. “It wasn't something we could just give to someone to take through customs, and know for sure it would get through. After several weeks of talking to different shippers, the JWB shipped it through U.S. postage, but had to insure it for a fraction of its true value. The day it arrived here was an emotional time for me. It was almost like seeing a beloved member of my own family.
The Torah is housed in a structure called an ark and SSgt. Christopher Dudas, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engr Sqdrn structual craftsman, volunteered to made JBB’s ark, which is made of wood. “It took him 10-15 hours to build the ark and he did a beautiful job,” Schechter said. “I'm so proud that we have something that was made by the people … for the people of JBB. It's more special than anything we could have bought.”
The rabbi started the afternoon service with a number of prayers in Hebrew and then launched into the Torah dedication. Tech. Sgt. Craig Lifton, 332nd AEW Public Affairs NCO in charge of journalism, read out loud from the new Torah as part of his bar mitzvah, which followed the dedication ceremony. “We combined the dedication ceremony with an adult bar mitzvah,” Schechter said. “A bar mitzvah is a rite of passage held traditionally for Jewish boys when they reach 13 years old and a day. Bar mitzvah literally means, ‘son of the commandment,’ -- meaning the person is now of age to fully participate in all aspects of the Jewish religion.”
Sometimes history or a family situation, such as the death of a parent, overwhelms a family and the child never ends up receiving the training originally planned, Schechter said. This was the case for Sgt. Lifton. “For a lot of personal reasons, to include the loss of my mother when I was a child, I never fully became involved in my religion,” Lifton said. “I've learned a lot from Rabbi Schechter about my faith and the Hebrew language. This is probably the most enriching thing I have ever done.”
“I'm very proud of Lifton,” Schechter said. “He did a great job. Here we were celebrating a Torah dedication, and with Lifton’s bar mitzvah we were also celebrating his dedication to the Torah; to learning it and to living it. He’s a real inspiration, because it takes a lot of humility and patience to learn something new like this.”
To conclude the dedication ceremony, Schechter placed JBB’s new Torah in the wooden ark. “It's a huge responsibility to have this in our possession and a great privilege,” she said.
Capt. Sarah Schechter walks around and thanks service members for attending the Torah dedication ceremony, while Tech. Sgt. Craig Lifton carries the newly arrived Jewish Torah behind her.
SSgt. Christopher Dudas hammers in the final pieces to the ark he volunteered to make. Dudas is deployed from Hickam AF Base, Hawaii.
Tech. Sgt. Craig Lifton laughs as he is hoisted up in the air by fellow servicemembers during his bar mitzvah.
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Iraq commander lauds 56th Stryker Brigade efforts
Gen. Odierno (right), talks with 56th Stryker BCT Command Sgt. Maj John Jones.
BAGHDAD - MNF-Iraq Cmdr, Gen. Raymond Odierno, praised the work of 56th Stryker BCT Soldiers following
a visit to the Taji region of Iraq, north of Baghdad. Odierno met leaders of the Pa. Army National Guard Unit, March 21, while also participating in a patrol conducted by one of the 56th SBCT companies in Tarmiyah.
Odierno took time at the conclusion of a daily morning briefing to laud the 56th, saying the bde "has done a very good job of picking up the fight" from the unit it replaced in Feb. - the 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, based in Hawaii.
"I found the bde and the co. that was in that area to be very aware of its surroundings, and to be developing good relationships with the Iraqi SF - specifically the IA units there - as well as quickly bonding with the community," Odierno said. "It was a very impressive visit and they are on the right track."
Odierno commented that the bde "has established a very good relationship" with the civilians who comprise the reconstruction team at work in Taji. "They're using some of the unique capacity they have, that a National Guard unit brings, specifically, the number of police officers they have who normally serve as police officers back home. They're using them in order to support the police training teams that are working with the local police," Odierno said.
Command Sgt Maj. John Jones, 56th SBCT command sgt maj, spoke with Odierno during the visit. Jones said Odierno wanted to know about the living conditions of the Soldiers. "He was asking about the welfare of the Soldiers," Jones said. "He asked about the life support and the force protection for Soldiers at our JSS's. "Our Soldiers need to know that a general officer at that level is concerned about them," Jones added.
Gen. Raymond Odierno (left), talks with Col. Marc Ferraro, cmdr, 56th Stryker BCT, 28th ID, during a patrol through the Tarmiyah market, March 21.
(Army photos by Spc. Kimberly Milett)
Gen. Odierno (fourth from left), walks through a market in Tarmiyah, with Col. Marc Ferraro (far right).
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SF Arrest al-Mashadani for Suspected Crimes
BAGHDAD – Adel al-Mashadani was arrested on March 28 in an op led by the Iraqi Emergency Response Brigade (ERB) and supported by CF advisors.
Mashadani was arrested under a warrant issued by the GoI. He is suspected of illegally searching, detaining and extorting bribes in excess of $160,000 a month from the citizens of Fahdil, IED attacks that killed Iraqi SF, leading an IED cell, leading an indirect fire cell, ties to AQI, and collusion with the terrorist network Jaysh al Islami.
He was not detained because of his involvement with the SoI.
“We remain thankful for the extraordinary work of the SoI, and the contributions they have made to the security of Iraq,” said Maj. Gen. David Perkins, spokesman for MNF – Iraq. “The SoI have provided a great service to the people of Baghdad.”
Fighting in Fadhil subsided overnight with sporadic gunfire ending by 2 a.m. ISF met with SOI leaders in the area on Sunday and made a call to turn-in weapons in the area.
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Chamchamal partners cut ribbon on correctional facility
By Hassan Mohammad
Gulf Region North
Chamchama – The Gulf Region Division (GRD), USACE in Iraq completed the 2-year, Chamchamal Correctional Facility on time and on budget and were on-hand recently for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
The project, managed by the Gulf Region North district, marked one of the largest partnership agreements in Iraq for USACE. GRD Comm. Gen. Maj. Gen. Michael Eyre presided over the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – the final phase of the partnership initiated to build the facility.
In his opening remarks, Eyre said, “This project was no simple task to accomplish. However, with the combined team effort of all the partners and open communication and coordination, we were able to overcome all the challenges associated with the project. This is a remarkable accomplishment that sets the standard for all construction efforts.”
According to Gary Lowe, the GRN project engr for the correctional facility project, “The success of this project encompasses the entire USACE business model, which is proven and tested by the history of our org. This Federal Correctional Facility project is the first of its magnitude and type completed on schedule and within budget, and that is a USACE success story for the Iraq mission.” Lowe said the major construction challenge for the project was starting with a poorly maintained existing structure, that was built without consideration of any int'l building codes. Engrs had to redesign the existing facility’s internal layout and support buildings to make it a modern correctional facility that complies with both int'l and U.S. Coalition requirements for the humane treatment of inmates. The redesigned structure also meets modern electrical, plumbing and fire safety codes.
The correctional facility, located outside the city of Chamchamal in northeastern Iraq, will house 2,000 medium security inmates and 1,000 high security inmates. The facility will have a staff of 1,200 employees, which includes a large guard force. Most of the staff will be hired locally, providing a much-needed economic boost to the surrounding communities.
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Iraqi Security, Coalition forces respond to recent attack
TIKRIT – Samarra SWAT with CF conducted a raid March 24 in Salah Ad Din Province to capture a suspected terrorist cell leader responsible for criminal and terrorist actions. In response to a recent attack against CF, Samarra SWAT and CF advisors arrested the suspect pursuant to a local judicial-issued warrant.
The detained individual is also allegedly responsible for the facilitation of weapons sales, illegal arms movements and coordinating attacks in and around Samarra.
“The teams dedicated a lot of time, effort and resources to this target,” said the CF ground forces cmdr. “This operation is a model for successful cooperation.”
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U.S. Forces Afghanistan
Forces Kill 13 Militants, Destroy Weapons in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, March 27, 2009 – Afghan and CF killed 13 militants, detained a suspected militant and seized weapons caches in ops in Afghanistan over the past 4 days, military officials reported.
In Helmand province’s Lashkar Gah district, Afghan and CF arrived at a compound militants had occupied for the night. The force immediately was engaged. Several militants fled, while the force continued to receive small-arms fire from inside a building. The force cleared the building, killing 3 militants. One militant was barricaded in one of the buildings, using women and children as shields. The force used precision small-arms fire to kill the militant with no harm to the women or children.
The force pursued the armed militants who had fled the compound on foot. One militant was killed when he maneuvered on the force. Four other militants engaged the force with a PKM machine gun and were killed. Two militants armed with AK-47 assault rifles were killed after posing a serious threat to a nearby compound. One suspected militant was captured unharmed and detained.
Also yesterday, Afghan national SF, assisted by CF, killed 2 armed militants and destroyed anIED in Oruzgan province’s Deh Rahwod district. The Afghan-led force was conducting a combat recon patrol in a known area of heavy militant presence, when they observed 3 militants planting IEDs along a frequently traveled road. Once it was determined that the area was clear of civilians, forces called for close-air support, killing 2 militants.
In ops March 24, Afghan soldiers, assisted by CF, discovered and destroyed 2 weapons caches while on a combat recon patrol in Herat province’s Shindand district. Concerned local villagers stopped the patrol and directed the commandos to the location of 2 weapons and ordnance caches in a nearby area. The commandos unearthed the first cache, which was buried less than 2-feet deep in a dried-up riverbed near a well-traveled road. The cache consisted of 10 mortar rounds, 7 cases of 30 mm anti-aircraft rounds, a 100 mm projectile, 9 rocket fuses and 4 grenades. The 2nd cache contained 20 RPGs, 30 sabot rounds, 8 Russian smoke canisters and 2 cases of 20 mm anti-aircraft rounds.
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Blackanthem Military News
ISAF, ANA troops strike at insurgents in Helmand
An ISAF soldier, along with his ANA counterparts, pauses during op AABI TOORAH.
KABUL - Afghan National Army (ANA) and Int'l Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops launched an op to strike at insurgents in Marjah, central Helmand, March 19. The 700-strong force, involved in Operation AABI TOORAH, meaning "Blue Sword," successfully targeted insurgents in a region where they were known to meet, equip and train their followers.
The op was followed by a shura held by District Gov. Habibullah and the Nad-E Ali District Community Council; with elders from Marjah. The shura was aimed at empowering the people of Marjah to express their wishes for development, through reps on the Nad-E Ali District Community Council. "The enemy wanted to attack Nad-E Ali district but failed. Our brave ANA, ANP and ISAF forces raided them and defeated them. Three bridges next to the school have been built; the boundary walls of the clinic, repair of town roads, and ditch clearance are in progress," said Nad-e Ali District Gov. Habibullah. "Accommodations for the ANP will soon be built. Canal work is being planned now and schools and clinics will, again, be built in Marjah in response to the people's requests. An op will soon be conducted in the Marjah area and the Community Council involving elders from Nawa, Marjah and Nad-E Ali will also be prepared to serve the people of Marjah."
"This was a very successful, deliberate joint op that demonstrated clearly to the enemy that the TF continues to operate where and when it chooses," said Lt Col Al Litster, Royal Marines, Chief of Ops for TF Helmand. "We will continue to erode the capability and influence of the enemy and enable the extension of legitimate governance throughout Helmand."
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U.S. Forces Afghanistan RSS
Afghan NA, Special Ops Troops Treat Afghan Villagers
KABUL – Afghan NA commandos and ANA soldiers working alongside SOF troops provided medical care for more than 1,300 Afghan villagers at SOF clinics throughout the southern and western parts of Afghanistan this week.
Hundreds of men, women and children gathered at healthcare facilities in the Farah, Helmand and Herat provinces to receive medical and dental care from ANA commando and ANA doctors and medics, as well as Afghan civilian doctors and nurses. The Afghans traveled from near and far to visit the clinics, bringing with them an array of ailments and injuries. One elderly gentleman was all smiles after he had 2 painful teeth removed by the dental team in Shindand District, Herat province. Also in Shindand, a small child with a burned foot and a young man with a dog bite were among many who found relief from a commando doctor. Another man came to the clinic seeking follow-up care after undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound.
The clinics open their doors multiple times throughout the week, welcoming Afghans who would otherwise find no relief from the medical hardships they face. “The Afghan NA’s commandos and soldiers are taking the lead in Afghanistan’s healthcare. The welfare of the Afghan people is uppermost in the minds of the country’s SF,” said Maj. Gen. Mohammad Azimi.
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CJTF-101 Bagram Media Center
ANA Soldier at outpost in Konar province
An Afghan NA Soldier from the 6th Kandak looks out over a remote river valley from an Afghan NP outpost in Konar Province, March 19. Alliance forces have been mentoring ANA and ANP members on military and civil ops to help quell violent extremists in the region.
(Army photos by Sgt. Matthew C. Moeller)
An Afghan NP member monitors the remote river valley below.
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