Dear Interested Reader,
The 120th CAB making new friends. Air Cav "Medevac" on call and ready. Baghdad School of Art for Girls celebrates renovations. GnySgt Jason Eckman shares formula for success.
In Afghanistan, IED attacks targeting civilians test peoples courage and resolve. As Americans, how would we react in such a ruthless environment? Lt. Gen. Rodriguez assumes new leadership post. TF "Steel" takes command in Laghman prov.
Joanna
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June 27, 2009
30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team RSS
Making New Friends in Mahmudiyah
Story by Sgt. Mary Phillips
Sgt. Elisabeth Keene, attached to the 120th CAB, 30th HBCT, plays with a little boy outside of FOB Mahmudiyah, June 22. Keene is part of a group of Soldiers who went to the village on the other side of the FOB wall to conduct a census in the area.
BAGHDAD – As U.S. troops continue to leave the cities for the rural areas, in accordance with the articles of the Security Agreement, an important first step is just getting to know their new neighbors. Soldiers with 120th CAB, took time to visit their Iraqi neighbors.
Capt. Sara Woods, with Civil Affairs Team 31, conducted a census in the small village just on the north side of the FOB, to learn more about the Iraqis who lived there. With the help of an interpreter, Woods and other Soldiers walked to every nearby home and spent a few moments talking with the families. Soldiers also chatted with residents and shop owners. "We've never talked with the people here, and we wanted to introduce ourselves," said Woods.
The 120th Soldiers asked everyone they met how they felt about living right next to the base. "Most of the people we talked to said they felt very safe being so close," Woods said. "We all laughed about the big guns going off at night. They said it startles them, and we told them it startles us, too!" The base has a 3-gun firing plt of 155mm Paladin self-propelled howitzers that occasionally fire for practice, or to support troops.
Residents also expressed concerns about the eventual departure of coalition troops. "Many of them are worried that as soon as we leave, the insurgents will come back," said Woods.
The U.S. visit also brought a community concern to Woods' attention, one which will benefit the villagers. According to residents, when the base was built – before this unit's arrival in Iraq – the main waterline into town was somehow cut, and residents haven't had fresh water since. "If we hadn't gone out there and talked to the people living outside the FOB, we would've never known they were not getting water through the line," said Woods. "Now we can figure out a way to help them get clean water."
Capt. Sara Woods (standing in Humvee), prepares to throw a soccer ball to a group of children.
Soldiers of the 120th chat with a young boy outside his home.
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1st Air Cav Bde, 1st Cav Div Public Affairs RSS
Air Cav Medevac: on Call and Ready
Story by Sgt. Travis Zielinski
Watching vigilantly out of the window for the landing site, Sgt. Karen Henson, a flight medic in Co C "Medevac," 2nd Bn, 1st Air Cav Bde (ACB), 1st Cav Div, puts on her surgical gloves as the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter approaches it's destination, June 22. The medevacs were called to transport a Soldier wounded by a grenade attack.
CAMP TAJI – As the phone rings, silence fills the room, all eyes and ears become focused on the Soldier answering. The word "urgent" is uttered and the sequence begins.
"Mission!" is yelled throughout the hallway and aircrews scramble. A once quiet building is now filled with the commotion of a well-organized and practiced procedure.
Depending on the type of call, the aircrews of C Co "Medevac," have time limits from when they receive the call to when they leave the ground and are en route to the point of injury. During an urgent call, the aircrews have just minutes to leave the ground.
"Once the 9-line medevac request is received, the crew chief and a pilot will grab their gear, head out to the aircraft and prep it up to the point of engine start," said Capt. Alek Finley, medevac det. officer in charge for Co. C. "During that process, the pilot-in-command is checking the grid coordinates and plans the route to the pick-up; while the medic gets any follow-up info from the unit about the patient," said Finley. "As soon as the pilot-in-command hits the seat, the engines are started and the aircraft taxis out," said Finley. "If it's an urgent medevac, we will let the tower know, and they will pretty much clear up all the airspace for us."
The short time period before take-off is critical for the medics to gain as much knowledge about the situation as possible. "Right off the bat I go into ops and find out where we're going, what the unit's call sign is, what the nature of the injury is, and any additional equipment that we need to bring with us," said Sgt. Karen Henson, a flight medic in Co. C.
Being a medic in a flight co., it is important to make the most of the time you have. With the short flight time between areas, medics have to be prepared to deal with whatever situation comes their way. "When we get 3 to 4 minutes out I will give them a call; one, to let them know that we're inbound, so they can get the Soldier packaged, just so we can spend the least amount of time on the ground, and 2, to get a patient update," said Henson. "With this one, all I knew it was urgent and he had taken shrapnel to the hands and legs," said Henson. "So getting an update on this one gets me in the mindset of what I need to be prepared for, and I waste the least amount of time possible once the patient is in my care."
The medevac pilots have a great deal of experience and their role in the mission is never taken lightly. "Once we're a minute inbound, all the talking and all the chatter stops. It's like game-time – it's time to focus on what's going on," said Finley. "Typically, you do some type of recon; you will fly over the landing zone, especially if it's someplace you've never been to before," said Finley. "It's just to try and give everyone as much situational awareness that you can, and then you commit to the landing."
Their patient had received an initial treatment for his injuries at a troop medical clinic before coming into the care of the 1st ACB's medevac, where he would then be transported to the 10th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad. "It's important to constantly check the wounds, vitals and the alertness level of the injured Soldier, to ensure his condition doesn't degrade," said Henson.
The pilots, crew chiefs and medics of Co. C, have a great sense of pride knowing they're helping Soldiers get through life-threatening situations.
"Being a medic, you can go to sleep at night knowing that you made a difference, knowing that this guy will be able to go home and see his mother, his wife, his sister and continue to live his life," said Henson. "It gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling."
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Special to American Forces Press Service
Baghdad School of Art for Girls Celebrates Renovations
By Army Sgt. Brian Tierce
Army Lt. Col Christopher Beckert looks at works of art created by students of the Baghdad School of Arts for Girls in the Mansour district of northwestern Baghdad, June 23, 2009.
BAGHDAD – Eight months of work by 1st ID’s 2nd HBCT and Iraqi Education Ministry officials culminated in a ceremony celebrating renovation of the Baghdad School of Arts for Girls.
“Today’s event is under the slogan ‘Art can talk,’” said Kareema Hashim, the school’s headmistress. “We look forward to the increased production of the students, thanks to the generosity of our friends in supporting this art school.”
Hashim said the school opened its doors in 1935 and has graduated many famous Iraqi artists over the years. But in recent years, degraded security led to the school being unable to maintain ops, and the equipment the students used became either outdated or unserviceable.
After discovering the school in their area of ops, soldiers from the bde’s 5th Sqdrn, 4th Cav Regt, kick-started an effort with support from the Education Ministry to provide the school with equipment. With help from Dep. Education Minister Nihad al-Juburi, a contract was established to provide the students with the tools they need to develop their abilities.
“Through projects like this, Dr. Nihad is fulfilling his vision for educating Iraq’s young women in the best possible artistic techniques,” said Army Lt. Col. Christopher Beckert, the bgde’s dep. cmdr. “I wish all of you the best of luck in the coming school year, using the equipment in the great institute, and I ask that you accept it as a gift from the American people.”
The chance to refurbish the school was made possible by the improved security in the area. The contractor who performed the upgrades said the situation has seen a marked improvement since he began working with CF.
“I've worked with the American Army for 4 years; I've worked over 50 contracts, and through many difficult times,” Abbas al-Maliki said. “Thanks to security improvements made by the presence of the IA, IP and the SoI, the neighborhood is no longer safe for the enemies of Iraq.”
“I thank the teachers and the professors here at the institute for their dedication and their love of the arts, and for transferring that love of art to their students,” Beckert said.
Kareema Hashim, left, headmistress of the Baghdad School of Arts for Girls, smiles during a June 23, 2009, renovation ceremony while sitting in front of art created by the students at her school.
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Special to American Forces Press Service
Face of Defense: Gunnery Sergeant Shares Career Secrets
By Marine Corps Cpl. Bobbie Curtis
Marine Corps GnySgt. Jason Eckman provides security for Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Juan Ayala during a visit to an IP security station in Habbaniyah, May 23, 2009. Eckman received a combat meritorious promotion to gunnery sergeant during a ceremony at Camp Al Taqaddum, 3 weeks earlier.
(Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Richard McCumber III)
CAMP AL TAQADDUM – When Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jason Eckman was promoted to gunnery sergeant on May 2, he became one of the few Marines to know the rare honor of being meritoriously promoted for combat service.
A meritorious promotion in the Marine Corps is an irregular promotion that allows particular Marines who stand out above their peers to compete before a board of more senior Marines for a small number of predetermined slots to their next rank.
The promotions are harder to achieve the higher a Marine advances in rank. For this particular board, only 2 promotion available slots were open for all of the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. Eckman competed against 9 other staff sgts to earn his promotion.
Eckman describes his whole life as a pathway leading to self-improvement, with experiences that have given him the tools and drive to achieve his goals along the way. “Everything in your career is a stepping stone to improve yourself,” he explained. “I try to stay as well-rounded of a Marine as possible.”
“It starts at recruit training,” he said. “To continue on, you’ve got to have some good mentors, and take the things you like and discard the things you don’t like to make you a well-rounded Marine.” His formula to success was simple from the beginning. He chose to learn and live by the Marine Corps’ 14 leadership traits: judgment, justice, decisiveness, integrity, discipline, tact, initiative, endurance, bearing, unselfishness, knowledge, loyalty, enthusiasm and confidence. “It’s bred into you as a Marine,” he said. “Once I got in the Marine Corps, I enjoyed being in and being part of it,” he said. “That’s why I never got out.”
Eckman also was presented with an opportunity that he credits as one of the largest of the stepping stones, one that was key in teaching him small unit leadership skills: drill instructor duty at a place he knew all too well, Parris Island. “Being a drill instructor was a huge stepping stone for me,” he said. “The small-unit leadership you learn down there really helped me out.” The challenge of forging a group of recruits with different backgrounds and personalities into a team of Marines, he added, taught him many of the skills he uses today. He said being in the personal security detail is one of his favorite jobs and that the small-unit camaraderie makes it a rewarding atmosphere. “You’re working in that small unit, and it’s a lot tighter,” he said. “The incredible bond we have is one thing I especially enjoy. They talk about the top 10% of the Marine Corps. … Well, I have the top 2% under me,” he said. “They don’t need guidance, and their professionalism is outstanding.”
After only 4 months of leading the team throughout Iraq with Brig. Gen. Juan Ayala, the 2nd Marine Logistics Group cmdr, Eckman received the combat meritorious promotion to GnySgt, an event he considers one of his greatest moments.
Ayala’s aide-de-camp, 1st Lt. Dan Meyers, is the personal security detail’s officer-in-charge. He said he nominated Eckman because he was a natural choice for a combat meritorious promotion. “His natural leadership and initiative was far beyond that of a staff sgt,” he said. “When it came time to put a name forward for a meritorious board, it was a no-brainer for me.
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American Forces Press Service, MNC-I
Forces in Iraq Detain Suspected Terrorist, Seize Weapons
WASHINGTON – Iraqi forces arrested a suspected terrorist, and U.S. and Iraqi forces seized a massive weapons cache in Iraq in recent days, military officials reported.
In Anbar province yesterday, the Iraqi SWAT team in Qaim arrested a man who is suspected of smuggling materials and foreign fighters into Iraq and is believed to be responsible for the deaths of police officers in Ramana.
Elsewhere, ISF and MND Baghdad soldiers seized a massive weapons cache, June 23 near Tarmiyah, north of Baghdad. The cache contained 26 grenades, 35 RPGs, 5 roadside bombs with detonation devices, 2 antipersonnel mines, a suicide vest, 100 rocket and mortar rounds, and a mix of other ammo, including thousands of small-arms rounds.
Iraqi and U.S. soldiers also recovered base elements used to produce explosives, including military-grade plastic explosives and the mechanisms for triggering them.
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DoD Imagery
Staff Sgt. Nicholas Lien, a Civil Affairs Team NCO for the 1st Bn, 82nd FAR, attached to 3rd Bde, 82nd Abn Div, finalizes a contract with Abdel Hamid who runs the public works project in Jisr Diyala, north of Baghdad, that employs 69 local residents.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Reckless IED attacks kill indiscriminately
By Army Pfc. Andrya Hill
Navy Lt. David Bennett, a Physician's Asst with the Paktika PRT, carries a civilian hit by an IED into the 67th Forward Surgical Team facility on FOB Sharana, for treatment following an attack, June 7.
FOB SALERNO - The rate of civilians killed by IEDs in eastern Afghanistan has risen 117% in the last year. Insurgents have shifted their primary focus from CF, to target the local residents. While they continue to fight CF, effective IED strikes resulting in CF deaths have decreased by 70%, and the insurgents have begun to consistently target Afghan citizens.
Army Col. Michael Howard, cmdr of the 4th BCT (Abn), 25th ID, who controls the battle space comprised of the Paktika, Paktya, and Khost Provinces, explained that anyone who possesses the courage to speak out against the Taliban becomes a target. Contractors who work with the CF, Afghan Govt Officials, Policemen, the Afghanistan Army, moderate Mullahs, Elders, and innocent civilians who support their govt, are all receiving threats and becoming targets, he said.
"They are targeting civilians. IEDs that go off with a command wire are not an accident. Someone pulled a trigger," said Howard. "They also are using force in an indiscriminate and irresponsible way. When they put a pressure plate IED in the road, when there is ten times more civilian traffic than military traffic, it puts all civilians at risk. This happens all the time."
Dr. Haqmal, a Khost City resident who works at the Salerno Hospital, said that the increase in civilian attacks has been predominate to the point he is relocating his family to a safer area, just as many residents are now doing. "The enemy targets civilian people now," Haqmal said. "They kill all those people who have knowledge, who are educated. They want to hold the people in the dark. They think if the people have knowledge, they'll terminate the fighting. Anyone that has sympathy with the govt, they will kill."
Nazifullah Karimi, from Khost province, explained the people are angry, that it's not a majority, or a high percentage, but every Afghan has been affected. At least one member of each extended family has been targeted, threatened, or intimidated by the insurgents. "They don't march in the streets, but that doesn't mean that they're not furious. There is such intimidation from the Taliban, that they can't vocalize how disgusted they are. The Afghans that we work with, that we've become friends with, tell us there is outrage," concurred Howard.
The attacks create intense fear that runs rampant through the villages. Residents who can't send their families to a safer place, have taken refuge in their own houses, keeping their children home from school and travelling as little as possible, said Dr. Habibi, a local surgeon and scholar who works at the Salerno Hospital and teaches at Khost University. "It doesn't matter who: children, teachers, doctors. They kill everyone. Everybody is scared," Habibi said. "I see my family once a week because from here to there, there's no security, and there's great possibility of assassination."
The ANSF are determined to protect their country from the insurgents rising to power. They work diligently to inform the population of preventative measures, as well as providing avenues to report enemy activity anonymously. They react quickly to IED attacks, and Howard spoke of an example that is a reflection of the consistent capabilities of the ANSF. "The governor responded immediately to an attack this morning," he said. "He condemned it, he sent medical care to the wounded, and he sent his soldiers to chase after the bad guys. They got them."
The ANSF and CF encourage the locals to evaluate the activities of both the insurgents and their govt, to arrive at an educated, self-deduced conclusion, in order to gather the courage to unite and defend their families, communities and country.
"Look around and see," Howard offered. "Every time there's a fight between your Army and the Taliban, who wins and who loses? How many schools, roads, and mosques have been built by the Army, and then compare that to the Taliban. Look at your Govt: is it progressing, is it getting bigger, is it getting stronger? Are resources flowing from it? Are they providing some basic services like healthcare and education? Then look at the Taliban, and see how much of that they are doing. You will see that one side has done a lot of good, and one has done a lot of evil. You will see an imbalance. Look, and then decide for yourselves how many of these things came from the Govt and how many came from the Taliban."
An increasing number of civilians are following his advice, and through their experiences, they can begin to understand the very different goals of the insurgents, and the goals of their govt. More and more villages are banding together and taking a stand, turning the insurgents' tactics of intimidation into newfound strength and determination.
"The insurgents try to control our country. They want to impose their will on us. They want us to live under their harsh rules, but we don't want that to happen," said Gharanai. "Our village will be safe, because we're uniting and will no longer let somebody come to do destructive activities in our village."
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Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs RSS
Rodriguez Assumes New Afghanistan Post
(Jim Garamone of AMPS contributed to this article)
KABUL - Army Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez arrived in Afghanistan yesterday to assume his post as dep. cmdr of U.S. Forces Afghanistan. He'll serve in that capacity on an interim basis, as NATO officials set up a new intermediate command that Rodriguez will head in the alliance's ISAF to oversee day-to-day military ops.
Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Robert Gates explained the rationale behind the new command structure, and where Rodriquez will fit in under Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who commands both U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. "The problem we needed to address is that the cmdr of ISAF under the current arrangement has far too many responsibilities to be able to guide the tactical battle on a day-to-day basis across the country," Gates said. "The plan is for General McChrystal and the British dep. cmdr -- Royal Marines Lt. Gen. Jim Dutton -- to have more of a strategic role in looking across the country at a more elevated level in terms of cooperation between civil and military efforts."
The command as proposed would be an intermediate HQ under the ISAF cmdr that would focus on the tactical situation. "It would be very much like the corps cmdr in Iraq under the MNF-I cmdr," Gates said. "So you've got somebody with the overarching responsibility for strategy, but somebody working the day-to-day battle."
As dep. cmdr of U.S. Forces Afghanistan, Rodriguez will direct the day-to-day ops and ensure efficient command and control of U.S. forces, and continue effective integration and coordination between U.S. and CF operating under ISAF, officials said.
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4th BCT, 4th ID Public Affairs RSS
Task Force 'Steel' on Target
Story by Elizabeth Raney
Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Mendoza Sr. of the 2nd Bn, 77th FAR, Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, 2-77 FA cmdr, Army Command Sgt. Maj. William Johnson of 4th BCT, 4th ID, and Army Col. Randy George, 4th BCT, 4th ID cmdr, sing along to the army song in the transfer of authority ceremony. They relieved the 1st Bn, 6th FAR from Fort Hood, Texas.
LAGHMAN PROVINCE – Army Col. John Spiszer, TF Duke cmdr, had no doubt the unit would perform and work well with the Afghans. "You're going to continue the mission here and put TF 'Steel' on target. We've trained for over a year for this mission and stand ready to do whatever it takes to assist the Afghan people," Forsyth said.
"We, as the 'Steel Warriors,' pledge to treat all citizens with dignity and respect," Forsyth said. "We'll provide support to the advancement of the province in accordance with the leadership of the area. We're committed to an Afghanistan that stands strong with a growing economy, and a secure population."
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