Dear Interested Reader,
The 505th PIR help distribute water purification systems. NATO Training Mission builds future IA leaders. "Old Hickory Bde" continues work in Al-Rashid. Suspected terrorists arrested in Ninewa and Diyala provs.
In Afghanistan, women learn entrepreneurship in Panjshir Valley. 759th MP Bn has Assumption of Responsibility ceremony. Local warlord and Taliban cmdr, and associates successfully targeted.
Joanna
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June 14, 2009
Blackanthem Military News
Paratroopers, IA soldiers assist in Nahia Wehda region
By Spc. Joshua Lowery
1st Lt. Andrew Osborn (right), a plt leader assigned to Co B, 1st Bn, 505th PIR, 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn Div, along with IA soldiers speak with residents of the Nahia Wehda region, located on the outskirts of eastern Baghdad, during a combined foot patrol, June 6. The combined forces partnered to hand out much needed water purification systems to area residents, address any concerns they may have, and assess security in the region.
IA soldiers and Paratroopers conduct a mission brief.
IA soldiers and Paratroopers provide security during a combined foot patrol.
An IA soldier gives a resident a water purification system, during the patrol in order to disrupt insurgent activity, check the area for IEDs and provide needed goods to the area's residents.
Sgt. Daniel Winstead, a team leader assigned to Co B, checks his sector.
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Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Phoenix Base
APO AE 09348
NATO Training Mission-Iraq Builds Future Iraq Army Leaders
FOB RUSTIMIYAH – The campus of the Iraq Military Academy at Rustimiyah (IMAR) is not unlike many other military academies found around the world. Young cadets march proudly down the dusty roads as marching music can be heard in the distance. It's here that NATO Training Mission-Iraq (NTM-I) administers one of its most important missions in Iraq – training the future leaders of Iraq’s army.
NATO has been in Iraq since 2004 at the request of the GoI. NTM-I is the unique and separate command from the CF that is responsible for executing NATO’s mission in Iraq. NTM-I is comprised of 13 nations that advise and assist in the training and professionalization of the ISF. NTM-I’s presence at Rustimiyah is just one of several key orgs that they assist in partnering with their Iraqi counterparts. In addition to IMAR, NTM-I also has a key advisory role at the Nat'l Ops Center, National Police Training at Camp Dublin, and instituted courses for senior commissioned and NCOs at the Nat'l Defense University and Sergeant-Majors Academy.
MG Paolo Bosotti, NTM-I Dep. Comm. Gen., had the opportunity to show a group of reporters the facilities at Rustimiyah yesterday and said, “It's important to show how NATO is working side by side with our Iraqi partners, and how we're working to reach a common objective.”
Rustimiyah houses not only the cadets attending the IMAR, but also mid-level officers attending the Joint Staff College (JSC). These IA officers attend courses that are taught almost entirely by other senior Iraqi officers. Iraqi Brig. Gen. Jawhar, JSC Cmdr, said, “NATO’s role in the JSC is to give advice, ultimately the final outcome is an Iraqi way of doing what is best.”
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Multi-National Division Baghdad RSS
Old Hickory Soldiers Continue Work in Al-Rashid
Story by Jon Soles
Capt. Christian Smith, cmdr of Co A, 252nd CAB, 30th HBCT, talks to an Iraqi man during a meeting of the al-Rashid District Advisory Council, June 9. Smith said the purpose of the meeting was to identify and solve problems with community services like water and waste management.
BAGHDAD – The Soldiers of Co A attended a meeting of the al-Rashid District Advisory Council, June 9, mostly in an advisory role. The meeting was to ensure that money allocated for public services was being properly utilized. Local Iraqi leaders gathered to discuss water, garbage pick-up and other public services, highlighting the growing self-sufficiency of the DAC, said Capt. Christian Smith, the cmdr of A Co. "Our presence here is in a support role. If there're areas we can make an impact, we can choose to get involved, but it's largely a hands-off approach for us," said Smith. "It's a coaching and mentoring role," he said.
Inside the al-Rashid DAC facility, the chairmen of the district's committees gathered to hear concerns from other civic leaders. At times, voices were raised as committee members refused to hear excuses from those responsible for carrying out public service needs. "We told them not to use the 'limited budget' excuse," said Abbas Altaai, chairman of the al-Rashid DAC Services Committee. "We never want them to mention this excuse. We want them to spend the budget on projects so the public will see it."
Abbas said he was glad to have Smith and his "Old Hickory Bde" Soldiers at the meeting to help build on the relationship the al-Rashid council enjoyed with their predecessors. "Being in the meeting is the best way to discuss long-term projects, and a good way to coordinate since the new bn came to the area," Abbas said. "This is a good invitation to build good relationships with CF."
Smith added that the DAC meetings are also a good way to get non-govt leaders involved in their community. "There're certain leaders in the community who don't have a role in the govt, but they might be economic leaders or tribal leaders, and by us meeting with them, it gives them more credibility," said Smith. "I'm satisfied in the respect that they're capable of running their own meeting, and I'm happy that they invited us to their meeting," Smith added.
Capt. Smith chats with an Iraqi boy following the meeting. Smith arrived in Iraq with the N.Carolina National Guard, "Old Hickory Bde," about 5 weeks ago.
Fire support officer, 1st Lt. Troy Smith (left), and Capt. Smith, talk to a local Iraqi boy before the meeting.
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq PAO
Iraqi Security Forces arrest suspected terrorist in Ninewa province
BAGHDAD - Mosul SWAT, with CF advisors, arrested a suspected terrorist June 9, with a warrant issued by Ninewa Ops Investigative Court during an op in the Ninewa province.
The arrested individual is suspected of emplacing roadside bombs and facilitating attacks against ISF.
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq PAO
Baqubah Police arrest suspected terrorists in Bani Zaid
TIKRIT - Baqubah's ERF 2, with CF, arrested 2 suspected terrorists during an op June 4, in the Bani Zaid area of the Diyala province.
Pursuant to warrants issued by the Central Criminal Court of Iraq, ERF2 entered the residences, arrested 2 of the 5 suspected terrorists, confiscated weapons and departed the area.
The detained individuals are believed to be responsible for smuggling weapons, concealing explosives, emplacing roadside bombs and conducting violent attacks against Iraqis residing in the area.
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Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs RSS
Afghan Women Learn Entrepreneurship in Panjshir Valley
Story by Capt. Stacie Shafran
For many women at Panjshir's food processing center in Bazarak District, this is their first opportunity to work. As they learn to process the produce into profitable jars of preserves and bottles of juice, their livelihood and social importance in Afghan society is expanding.
BAGRAM AIRFIELD - The fruit and vegetable bounty of Afghanistan's Panjshir province may make its way to grocery stores around the world someday, thanks to a PRT program. A food-processing program recently introduced into the Panjshir Valley is bringing economic prosperity, education, leadership and hope to the area's women.
During the May 12 opening ceremony at Panjshir's first food-processing center, the women's freshly made jams and fruit juices were on display and available for purchase. Their products already are being sold in local markets, and the goal is eventually to fill the shelves of Kabul's larger grocery stores.
The program came to fruition through a coordinated effort between the Panjshir PRT, the U.S. Agency for Int'l Development, and the Welfare and Development Org. of Afghanistan. It's designed to empower women, increase their social status, and above all, provide them with sustainable incomes, officials said.
Panjshir Valley is known for its agriculture-based society, and depending on the season, is filled with apples, apricots, grapes, mulberries, tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes. But because the area lacks consistent electricity and cold-storage facilities, most of the food goes to waste. "There's a clear market opportunity in food processing, and there'll be a strong demand for these products," said Jeremy Lewis, the U.S. Agency for Int'l Development rep to the PRT. "The best part is that they process a lot of the produce that normally goes to waste."
Through the help of Abdul Seddequi, the Welfare and Development Org. of Afghanistan dir. and driving force behind the program, 20 women are halfway through a 6-month course that's teaching them how to select produce from the bazaar and then process, market and sell it.
Saddequi spends his days traveling around Afghanistan and creating employment and training programs for women. He also is one of their strongest advocates. "This project is designed to provide opportunities for women to play a greater role in the socio-economic uplift of the societies," Seddequi said. "The activity will be a milestone in restoring the lost status of women in the Afghan societies."
For many women, this is their first opportunity to work. "My family's supportive of what I'm learning to do," said Lialima, a 37-year-old woman enrolled in the program. "Before this I was a housewife, and now I can provide some of our income."
In time, 4 more Panjshir districts will receive food processing centers. Each will train 20 women, with priority going to widows, extremely poor women and women who are the heads of their households. Women between the ages of 18 and 45 are eligible for the program, which also teaches the basics in Dari and mathematics, allowing the participants to read recipes and perform simple business skills. The women are not paid during their training; all money earned is saved collectively for future operating costs. The intent is for each food-processing center to be self-sustaining once donor support ends.
After the jams and juices are produced, they need to be moved to the markets. Some are nearby and are easily reached, but the community will be called upon to assist the women in transporting their products to more distant markets. "This is a critical aspect of community support," Seddequi said, "as it will help in the sustainability of the project and the ownership that the community feels over the project."
For the energetic and optimistic Seddequi, transforming his country and helping the women achieve success is his mission. Grand opening ceremonies, such as the one in Bazarak, remind him of the hard work and barriers he's overcome, he said.
As the PRT works with the Panjshir govt to develop the "Road to Badakshan" -- a 40-mile primary road that runs through the province -- team officials said the hope is to transform the province, spurring a generation of private investment and hope, along the road's path.
Eventually "rib roads" also will be designed and paved, connecting the remote villages in the side valleys to the new main road. Once completed in the summer of 2011, these road projects will improve the provincial govt's ability to reach its nearly 300,000 citizens, and link major commerce and govt centers, officials said. In addition to developing the infrastructure, they added, the road projects also will put local people to work, and can bring the province closer to having the many tastes of Panjshir, delighting palates around the world.
During the May 12 opening ceremony at Panjshir's first food processing center, Mr. Seddequi showcased the women's wares and explained the program to Panjshir's provincial leadership and Afghan media.
(Photo by AF Senior Airman Ashton Goodman)
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
ISAF promotes legal awareness at seminar
By Army Staff Sgt. David Hopkins
Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Conner gives a welcome speech to Afghan attorneys from the Laghman, Kunar and Nangarhar provinces.
KUNAR PROVINCE - Attorneys from Laghman, Kunar and Nangarhar provinces will be able to better help the Afghan people with legal issues and disputes, after attending a Jalalabad seminar the last week in May.
"We did the seminar to improve the ability of the attorneys to solve disputes in their districts, and to bring consistent legal awareness to the attorneys," said Azizurahman Niazai, an attorney working with the legal office of the 3rd BCT, 1st ID.
The seminar began with a speech by Master Sgt. Timothy Conner, NCO-in-charge of the 3rd BCT, 1st ID legal office. Conner's speech emphasized that ISAF is committed to assisting the Afghan people as they rebuild their country. "The job of the attorneys is legal awareness, and until now there was no standardization in the legal system," Conner said. "This kind of training makes them aware of the laws, and brings stability to the legal system across the provinces."
"We did all the planning for the seminar with attorneys and judges. They identified what topics would be most important, and we built the classes around them," Niazai said. "All the planning took about 3 months for this seminar. We gave lectures and also practical exercises, scenarios and a mock trial so they could see the laws and ideas in practice."
"This is a great seminar for us," said Ghulam Esa, attorney from the Lapor district of Nangarhar province. "This is the first time they've done this, and I think it's very important for us to bring the correct laws and rules back to the people in our districts. I represent all the attorneys in my district," Esa said. "The things I learn here I'll teach to my people. It's important for everyone in my dept, and it'll help us all solve issues with the people. We are attorneys, but we're also teachers and must teach the laws to the village elders."
"We took 50% of the attorneys from these provinces, and will take the other 50% the next time we do the seminar," Niazai said. "We did it this way so someone would still be in the districts to practice law and solve disputes. We will hold the seminar again in October."
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
MP unit takes authority for law enforcement in northeastern Afghanistan
By Army Staff Sgt. David Hopkins
Lt. Col. Laurence Lobdell, 759th MP Bn cmdr, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jonathan Narcisse, 759th command sgt maj, uncase the colors during the Assumption of Responsibility ceremony.
KUNAR PROVINCE - Two companies from the 759th MP Bn have come to northeastern Afghanistan, and in an Assumption of Responsibility ceremony, June 5, assumed the duties of the 527th MP Co.
"Welcome to TF Duke and to the area," said Army Col. John Spiszer, cmdr of the 3rd BCT, 1st ID. "What you're doing here isn't just killing bad guys; you have to change the perception of the people. You have to give the people faith in their govt and hope for their future."
The mission is one the Soldiers of the 759th are experienced with and ready for. They'll be working with the Afghan Uniformed Police, and partnering with the Operational Coordination Center (OCC) near the Pakistan border. "We just need to do our job and mission the best we can, and get back safe to our families," said Army Spc. Jessy Brown, MP.
"Your training and preparation, mixed with your professionalism and dedication have been evident in every step of the way," said Army Lt. Col. Laurence Lobdell, 759th cmdr, looking over the faces of his Soldiers, standing tall in formation. "Each and every one of you has an integral role in this unit, and I often remind you, as I will again today, to never forget your personal stake in your unit's greatness."
With the 759th just starting their 12-month tour, the job ahead may seem daunting, but they will work throughout their deployment to complete the mission their country has asked them to do. "We're here. We aren't leaving until the mission is complete," said Lobdell, "so together let's make it happen."
Members of the 759th stand in formation.
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American Forces Press Service
Precision Strike Kills Warlord, Associates in Afghanistan
KABUL – CF used a precision air strike in Afghanistan’s Ghowr province June 9, to target a local warlord and Taliban cmdr responsible for attacks along the main highway in the border areas of Ghowr and Herat provinces, military officials reported.
When intel sources recently confirmed Mullah Mustafa’s location in a remote, mountainous area of Ghowr’s Shahrak district, forces began planning an op to remove him. CF observed armed sentries outside his compound, indicating the militant was concerned for his own safety. Reports indicated he recently had acquired 6 remote controlled IEDs, distributing them to subordinates for use against the coalition.
CF observed Mustafa moving by vehicle from the compound. When he stopped in a remote area, he was joined by multiple militants. After determining no civilians would be endangered, forces used precision aerial munitions to strike the group, killing Mustafa and as many as 16 other militants.
The cmdr of about 100 fighters in western Afghanistan, Mustafa recently met with senior Taliban leaders and reportedly had connections to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Quds Force, officials said.
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