Dear Interested Reader,
East Mosul COP Courage transfers to ISF. Op shifts efforts to outreach in Diyala. CF closes COP Rock. Main Supply Route Tampa reopens to local traffic. Criminals arrested in Taji, and large weapons cache seized in Hor al-Bosh.
In Afghanistan, engrs apply D-Day-like focus to Camp Leatherneck. PRT Kunar begins construction on the first area school. MP unit mentors, trains ANP in Logar, Wardak provs.
Joanna
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June 11, 2009
Multi-National Division - North PAO
East Mosul COP to transfer to Iraqi Security Forces
The front entrance of COP Courage boasts a significant architectural design. The outpost was originally a palace used by one of Saddam Hussein's daughters.
(Army Photo by Spc. Angela Widener)
MOSUL - Across all of Iraq, CF are working toward their departure from major cities and turning over their COPs and installations to ISF, the GoI or previous property owners.
COP Courage, located in eastern Mosul, is no different. It's being prepared for transition to the IA prior to June 30. The outpost, originally a palace used by Saddam Hussein's daughter, has had consistent CF presence for approx. 6 years. "The COP allowed us to act as a quick reaction force," said 1Lt. John Petersen, 1st plt leader for Alpha Co, 1st Bn, 12th Cav Regt. "If something happened and an element needed back up, we were able to respond within 5 to 10 minutes. This will mark the end of a U.S. presence in eastern Mosul, with all these buildings being turned back over to the IA," said Petersen. "A lot of IA soldiers feel that they're ready to step up for this new challenge, but many of them think they'll still need help from us." The help will come from transition teams, as part of the ongoing partnership with the ISF and U.S Forces.
COP Courage
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Operation shift efforts to outreach in Diyala Province
FOB Warhorse, Diyala - Residents throughout Diyala province have been receiving humanitarian aid from ISF along with members of the 1st Stryker BCT, 25th ID as part of op "Glad Tidings of Benevolence II," which began May 1.
Thus far 23 areas have received humanitarian aid distributions, while 19 more are planned for the near future. Distribution of aid is conducted as part of a combined venture to help those most in need in the province.
Residents receive rice, sugar, grain or other cooking necessities, and local school children in need of school supplies receive pencils, paper or recreational items such as soccer balls.
"With the greatly improved security posture of a majority of cities in Diyala, which have been cleared as a result of ongoing Coalition and ISF ops, the provincial govt has begun to provide and reestablish not only critical essential services to the population, but they have provided crucial humanitarian assistance in the form of food, water, and medical supplies to areas in desperate need," said Lt. Col. Thomas Bayer, dep. officer for the southern command post MND-N.
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Multi-National Division - North PAO
Coalition Forces move out of Outpost in southeastern Mosul
MOSUL - The closing of COP Rock located in SE Mosul marked a significant milestone for CF serving in the capital of Ninewa Province. COP Rock was formally returned to the land owner during a small ceremony in late May, after U.S forces removed any trace of their ops.
COP Rock was the first of many CF bases set to close and transfer to GoI control in Mosul as U.S forces in Iraq demonstrated their commitment to the Security Agreement, which requires combat troops to relocate out of Iraq's cities by June 30. "The closing of COP Rock will allow ISF to take responsibility for security ops and will enable CF to focus more heavily in a training and supervisory role," remarked Staff Sgt. Devin Trathen, a Soldier with Bravo Co, 1st Bn, 67th Armor Regt, the unit that lived and operated at the COP.
COP Rock's closure was a significant undertaking involving assets from 3 different CF units. For the Bravo Co Soldiers, closing COP Rock was a bittersweet experience. They were excited about returning the property back to the land owner, but saddened by leaving the place they called home for the past several months. At the conclusion of the withdrawal effort, the owner walked through the property and was satisfied with the effort by CF to return the property to him.
"The people in the neighborhood might recognize that their country is finally standing on its own and, therefore, have more faith in their forces," said Spc. Andrew Smith, a Soldier from Bravo Co.
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American Forces Press Service
Iraqi Public Gains Highway Access
Cars head south down Main Supply Route Tampa, June 2, 2009. The road reopened to local traffic the previous day at Convoy Support Center Scania.
(Army photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Thacker)
CONVOY SUPPORT CENTER SCANIA – CF opened 2 lanes of traffic along Main Supply Route Tampa for use by Iraqi travelers during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, June 1.
Dozens of people from various agencies came to commemorate the event, including U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill; Gov. Salman al-Zargany of Iraq’s Babil province; Army Brig. Gen. David Elicerio, MND- S dep. cmdr for ops; Maj. Gen. Fadil Raddad, dir. gen. of Babil’s police; members of Iraqi media; and soldiers who supported the mission.
"We stand on a route where people have traveled … for thousands of years," Hill said. "This has been one of the main routes from the Fertile Crescent down to the sea. When we've a moment like this, a moment where we can mark important progress,” he said, “we should stop and think about those difficult times, and think about how we're going to make a better future. Today, we are going to re-attach a very important service: this beautiful highway, which will now go from Baghdad down to the sea."
Scania is the main refueling point for coalition convoys traveling north or south between Kuwait and anywhere north in theater. Convoy Support Center Scania is south of Baghdad, outside of city limits, and will continue to serve as a logistical support center.
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Multi-National Division - Baghdad PAO
IA, MND-B operation nets seven criminals
TAJI -An op by Iraqi and MND-Baghdad Soldiers, May 31-June 2, resulted in the warranted arrest of 7 individuals, one of whom was wanted in connection for attacks against IA and U.S. forces, and the kidnapping, torture and murder of several Iraqi civilians.
Members of the IA and Soldiers from 1st Bn, 111th Inf Regt, 56th Stryker BCT, MND-B, successfully concluded a 3-day op culminating in the arrest of criminals in the vicinity of Taji.
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Multi-National Division - Baghdad PAO
IA and U.S. forces destroy large cache in Hor al-Bosh
First Lt. Joshua Fox walks along side rows of mortar rounds.
(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Richard Brauer)
TAJI - June 5, members of the IA and U.S. Soldiers with 1st Bn, 112th Inf Regt, 56th Stryker
BCT, seized a cache consisting of 281 82mm mortar rounds and 350 50mm mortar rounds in the vicinity of Hor al-Bosh.
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American Forces Press Service
Engineers Apply D-Day-like Focus to Afghanistan Buildup
By Donna Miles
Navy Seabees position a truss for the new "Noah's Ark" HQ and ops center under construction at Camp Leatherneck, June 5.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Rooks)
CAMP LEATHERNECK – The last time the 25th Naval Construction Regt had a mission even remotely approaching the scope of its task in Afghanistan, was during its last deployment, preparing for the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France.
So 65 years later, Navy Capt. Jeff Borowy recognizes the symbolism as he borrows words from Army Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower to tell the Seabees he commands, “The eyes of the world are upon you.”
The unit, decommissioned after World War II and recommissioned just last year in Gulfport, Miss., is part of the massive buildup under way in Afghanistan to accommodate incoming U.S. forces. One testament to their efforts is Camp Leatherneck, a facility that is springing up in record time alongside the British Camp Bastion in Helmand province.
Camp Leatherneck – a reference to the high leather neck collars Marines once wore to protect themselves from sword blows -- will serve as the base for about 6,000 Marines, most of whom already have arrived.
Leatherneck is one of 9 bases Borowy’s team has been working on, alongside their other service counterparts, contract employees and Afghan workers, as they expand existing outposts and build new ones in the sand. “This place was desert at the end of January. I mean nothing,” Borowy told reporters accompanying Defense Secretary Robert Gates last month as he visited Camp Leatherneck. “And now you've got a 443-acre secure facility with 4r miles of berm.”
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Mason, a Seabee supporting the construction effort, gave a big thumbs-up to the facilities being assembled: Force Provider tents with latrines and shower facilities. “I’ve had worse conditions on field exercises,” he said. For now, Borowy said, the big challenge is “trying to get the job done in time for the warfighters coming in,” particularly in light of the logistical challenges associated with getting equipment and supplies to the desolate plain.
Amid hundreds of tents that dot Camp Leatherneck rises a massive wooden building that will serve as its centerpiece. “Noah’s Ark,” as the 12,000-square-foot HQ and ops center is affectionately called, consists of 129 trusses, each requiring 1,300 nails. “We don’t all come into theater with a box of nails in our back pocket, and even if we did, it would be gone in a day,’ Borowy said. “The logistics chain has been really challenging, but it's working.”
Camp Leatherneck also will include a massive airfield able to accommodate up to 55 helicopters and other aircraft. Marine Corps Col. David Jones, who is leading that construction effort, called it the largest project of its scope to be conducted in a combat setting.
Jones’ Marines are working from sunup to sundown to level and compact the ground before laying matting for the new runway. The metal alloy pieces lock together like a jigsaw puzzle, and will serve as a temporary surface until it is replaced with asphalt. All told, the amount of matting being laid to accommodate the troop buildup boggles the mind. “When you consider all the matting we're putting in, you could go 2 football fields wide from the steps of the U.S. Capitol down to the Lincoln Memorial,” Borowy said. “That’s how much matting is going into this whole area of ops.”
Despite the workload and the searing heat, Borowy said, he has no problem challenging his crews, and said he rarely hears complaining. “They have to be dragged off the site,” he said. “They just keep swinging their hammers when the crew leader says it’s time to go.” The engrs and construction crews “know the importance of this,” he said. “They're doing what they signed up to do, … building things that the Marines and airmen and soldiers appreciate.”
U.S. Marines with 1st Bn, 5th Marine Regt relax at Camp Leatherneck, June 3, 2009.
(DoD photo by Lance Cpl. James Purschwitz, Marine Corps)
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
PRT Kunar begins construction on the first area school
By Navy Lt James Dietle
On the new school site, the PRT Cmdr, Murray Tynch quizzes children of Tornaou village on their spoken English lessons.
KUNAR PROVINCE - Education has become a key focus in Kunar province for the PRT, which has mapped out a construction plan to build 58 schools along the border. "The PRT believes education plays a vital role in rebuilding Afghanistan," said Lt Cmdr Rob Ross, the PRT engineering Officer-in-Charge.
The PRT inspected the groundwork for the first school in the Tornaou Village, of the Chowkay district, June 2. Located on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kunar province is one of the most volatile areas in Eastern Afghanistan. However, despite these difficulties, PRT Kunar has ambitiously planned to start the construction of the 58 schools before the end of 2009.
The Tornaou Village School holds a special significance to the members of PRT Kunar for several reasons. "The Dewaygal Valley road was just completed in Feb. and it has given us the chance to bring development further up the valley," Ross said. "We're continuing to build on our previous successes."
"Right now, Kunar's education infrastructure is in need of some help. Many villages don't have school buildings within walking distances. It's not uncommon to see children studying under the village tree. Extremes in weather can easily prevent classes from being held in these unsheltered areas. With the construction of these new buildings, children will have a place to learn every day, rain or shine," Ross said.
Since rich farmland is scarce throughout the Dewagal Valley, the school will have a unique two-story design. This design minimizes the footprint of the school to save valuable land that is better suited for farming. When complete it will be the tallest building in the small village. Over 300 boys and girls will be able to receive primary education at the facility.
"By increasing education we can raise the quality of lives for these children and families. We look forward to the time when the children of Kunar will all have the chance to be engrs, teachers and doctors," said Cmdr Murray Tynch, Kunar PRT cmdr.
Local villagers start construction for the school.
Teachers of Tornaou Village conduct school classes under trees to mitigate the intense
summer heat.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
MP unit mentors, trains ANP in Logar, Wardak provinces
By Army Pfc. Melissa Stewart
Army Spc. Jeremy Todd, MP Soldier laughs with an ANP member at COP Baugess in Logar province.
(U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Melissa Stewart)
LOGAR PROVINCE -- In a barren and dusty valley of the Charkh District, a U.S. MP unit conducted training with the ANP, helping them to become a more self-sufficient force to protect and serve the local population.
The Police Mentor Team, attached to the 3rd BSTB, TF Spartan, taught basic police tactics to the ANP for Logar and Wardak provinces. "We mentor the ANP, teach them some of our tactics, help them fix up their district centers and checkpoints," said Army Pfc. Anthony Poventud, MP.
ANP learn first aid, casualty evacuation, room clearing, how to search a person, and other basic police skills from the PMT. "They have a police course that they go through on their own where they learn the basics," said Army 2nd Lt. Christopher Peters, MP plt leader, HHC, 3/10 BSTB. "What we do is sustainment training."
Besides training the ANP on tactics, the MP platoon also focuses on building trust between the ANP and local population. "It's a main focus that the ANP get out into the villages and develop relationships, thereby creating trust so locals will come to the ANP when they need help," said Peters.
"We're seeing progress," said Peters. "I think the key to everything here in Afghanistan is how we treat the people. When the ANP see us now they get excited and wave at us. That means we've made a good impact. Hopefully the way they treat us is the way the Afghan people will in turn treat them. It's all about trust and respect."
ANP now run their own checkpoints along the roads in their districts and help with humanitarian aid drops. One ANP checkpoint has stood out to Peters for the outstanding work and dedication of its personnel in eliminating enemy movement into nearby villages. "The Debrai Bridge checkpoint in Charkh is my personal pride and joy," said Peters. "They know what they're doing, and they work hard."
By building trust between ANP and local nationals, responsibility of Afghanistan will hopefully move away from ISAF personnel and increasingly into the hands of a competent, trusted ANP.
The MPs have worked with 5 districts in the Logar and Wardak provinces to date, and will continue to extend their mentoring efforts throughout their deployment.
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