Dear Interested Reader,
COB Basrah celebrates July 4th. Humanitarian aid to Gogigli. Growth moves ISF toward police primacy. Liaison officers new addition to FOB Warrior in Kirkuk. Terrorists arrested in Hawijah and Tikrit.
In Afghanistan, Op Khanjar Update #2. Military leaders meet with Helmand gov. ANCOP graduates 321 new officers. Deployed 82nd Abn Sgt Maj David Henderson (ret) earns Masters degree. Celebrating freedom on COP Penich.
Joanna
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July 8, 2009
MNF-I
American Pride
(left) Sgt. Andrea Drost, Staff Sgt. Angela Bedessem, Staff Sgt. Jacqueline Cornwell and Spc. Tamarra Dreier participate in the 34th Red Bull ID's Independence Day celebration on COB Basrah, July 5.
(Photo by Sgt. Frank Vaughn)
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Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq RSS
Iraqi Children Receive Toys and School Supplies
(Photos by Petty Officer 1st Class Carmichael Yepez)
Combat Medic, Spc. Michael "Danger" Dade, assigned to 12th Bde, 2nd IA Div, MiTT, is surrounded by Iraqi soldiers at an Iraqi COP in Mosul, June 29.
An Iraqi girl holds school supplies and candies, waits as her grandmother packs items she received during a humanitarian aid drop-off mission in the neighborhood of Gogigli.
An Iraqi girl smiles into the camera after she received school supplies from IA soldiers.
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Blackanthem Military News
Growth Moves Iraqi Security Forces Toward Police Primacy
By Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq
BAGHDAD - ISF continued to grow in June, developing and refining their capabilities and shouldering more of the burden for providing security for Iraq. This meets a key goal of the U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement for ensuring police primary.
Today, there are more than 100 ISF bns engaging in simultaneous ops around the country. They're trained and capable to take the lead in security and counterinsurgency ops. More than 416,000 ISF personnel are assigned to work in the MoI SECFOR, with an additional 239,000 working at the MoD, for a total of more than 655,000 available to stabilize conditions in the nation.
U.S. Army Col. John Maietta, director of Strategic Ops, Iraq Training and Advising Mission, noted that with the benefit of support and assistance from cCF, the ISF are now increasingly able to stand on their own to serve and protect the people of Iraq. Maietta called the success in professionalizing the ISF a "tremendous accomplishment for the people of Iraq. It reflects the growing capabilities of the ISF."
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Multi-National Division – North PAO
Iraqi liaison officers new addition to U.S. brigade in Kirkuk
FOB WARRIOR, KIRKUK – A group of Iraqi liaison officers have begun working side-by-side with Soldiers from 2nd BCT, 1st Cav Div, to improve security and coordination.
The liaison officers come from the IA, IP, Kurdish Army and Iraqi Oil Police, who work together on FOB Warrior in Kirkuk, to share info and coordinate key assets with the U.S. military and one another.
The officers began working together a week ago and have already begun to see the positive results of their coordination. “It's very easy to share info when you're working this closely together,” explained Brig. Gen. Mohammed Abass, an IP working as a liaison officer on FOB Warrior. “This coordination has given promising results and has sped up the process of dispersing info between different agencies. It should have happened a long time ago.”
“It gives us a common operational picture between IA, IP, OIP and the Kurdish Army,” said Maj. Kevin Capra, bde planner for 2nd BCT. “We're all sharing info on ops, coordinating movements and sharing intel.”
Another benefit of the coordination is bringing together groups that have had conflicts in the past, primarily the Kurdish Army and IA. “We're being open and transparent,” said Capra. “If there's any question on what different elements are doing, such as IA moving through contentious areas, we're able to notify all the leaders who need to know very quickly. This open dialogue really helps avoid unnecessary tension and overreactions due to misunderstandings.”
The fact that the liaisons represent multiple military orgs allows them to share info that enables them to hunt terrorists wherever they may be. The liaison partnership will hopefully continue to thrive even when U.S. troops are gone. “I want to see it stay like this,” said Abass. “We're going to try and keep this intact.”
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Multi-National Division – North PAO
Wanted insurgent detained in Hawijah
FOB WARRIOR, KIRKUK – IA Soldiers detained a wanted insurgent in Kirkuk Prov. for allegedly being involved in attacks resulting in the deaths of 37 people early July 4, in Hawijah.
Mahdi Khalil was detained by IA soldiers. He's believed to be associated with the VBIED detonations on June 30 and April 15, both in Kirkuk city, which killed 37 and wounded 114 Iraqi citizens.
The unit is partnered with the 1st Bn, 8th Cav Regt, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav Div, who supported the op by providing intel and positively identifying the suspected insurgent once he was detained.
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Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO
ERB arrests suspected key leader of terrorist network in Tikrit
BAGHDAD – The ERB, along with CF advisors, arrested a suspected terrorist during an intel-driven op in Tikrit, a town northwest of the Iraqi capital, July 2. During the Iraqi-led op, the elite IP force was operating under the authority of a warrant issued by the Criminal Investigative Court of Karkh. The constables arrested the suspected terrorist who is allegedly a key leader of an insurgent cell responsible for criminal activities.
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Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO
Iraqi SWAT arrests suspected murderer
TIKRIT – Bayji SWAT, with CF advisors, arrested a suspected terrorist July 3, during an op in the Salah ad-Din prov., pursuant to a warrant issued by the Bayji Investigative Court.
The arrested individual is suspected of murder and being a member of a terrorist cell which conducts roadside bomb attacks.
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MNF-I
Riding High
Sgt. Ivan Acevedo enjoys a camel ride at a bazaar in COB Adder's Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone, July 5.
(Photo by Sgt. Mark Miranda)
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Blackanthem Military News
Operation Khanjar Update # 2
By US Forces Afghanistan PAO
Marine Corps Sgt. Ryan Pettit (left) and Cpl. Matthew Miller with 2nd Bn, 8th Marine Regt fire their service rifles during an op in Helmand Prov..July 3, 2009. The Marines are part of the ground combat element of RCT 3, 2nd MEB.
(DoD photos by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau, U.S. Marine Corps)
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand Province - U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers and police are continuing clearing ops in key population centers along the Helmand River valley, in an effort to secure the local population from the threat of Taliban and other insurgent intimidation and violence.
Almost 4,000 Marines and sailors from Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan (MEB-A), along with more than 600 Afghan NSF, are currently operating in the districts of Nawa and Garmsir in central Helmand province. MEB forces are operating as far south as the vicinity of Khan Neshin, the capital of Rig district in the region of the Helmand River valley known as "The Fishhook."
The Marines and Afghan forces are continuing to patrol, and have begun engaging with key leaders in the districts in order to better understand the concerns and needs of Afghans in the area. Once security is established, civil affairs personnel and other non-governmental orgs and agencies will begin establishing programs aimed at building long-term governance and development throughout the Helmand River valley.
Marine Corps Capt. Matthew Martin, cmdr, Golf Co, 2nd Bn, 8th Marine Regt, uses his radio during an op, July 3, 2009.
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Military leaders meet with Helmand governor
By Cpl. Aaron Rooks
LASHKAR GAH, Helmand Province -
Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, comm. gen. of Marine Expeditionary Bde-Afghanistan, shakes hands with Helmand Prov. Gov. Gulab Mangal before a meeting, June 23. Leaders from MEB-Afghanistan, TF Helmand and ANSF met with the gov. to discuss future ops in the prov.
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Blackanthem Military News
ANCOP Graduates 321 New Afghanistan Officers
By Petty Officer 2nd Class Paul Dillard
Members of the Afghan Civil Order Police (ANCOP) stand at the ANCOP graduation in Adraskan, Herat Prov., June 4. Graduates from the 16 week class will join the officers of the 3rd ANCOP Brigade stationed in Herat.
(photo by U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Larry Baruwa)
CAMP EGGERS - Brig. Gen. Aftakhri, cmdr, spoke during the graduation and asked his new officers to do the right thing at all times. He reminded them that the public would be watching them, and ANCOP was expected to set the example for others to follow. ANCOP receives some of the most intense training available. In the 16 weeks of training, ANCOP Urban Units receive specialized crowd-control training, while ANCOP Rural Units receive specialized patrol tactics training. The courses are taught by Int'l Police Advisors, and the U.S. military.
With the newly-graduated bn joining the 3rd Bde, 16 ANCOP bns have been fielded, with a target-end strength of 5,365 personnel by January 2010, consisting of 4 bdes; one Urban Bde (Kabul) and 3 Rural Bdes (Kandahar, Adraskan, Zurmat) totaling 20 bns.
In his keynote address, U.S. Army Col Stephen Yackley, the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan Dep. Cmdr for Police Development, told the recent graduates, "as you prepare to report to your assignment, always remember that ANCOP are the best police force in Afghanistan. Your fellow countrymen know it, and soon the enemies of peace and stability will know it."
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Blackanthem Military News
CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Deployed 82nd Airborne Sergeant Major (ret.) earns Masters Degree
By Army Spc. Bryan Willis
David Henderson, Army Sgt Maj. (ret.), was presented his diploma by Maj. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, cmdr, Combined Joint TF 82, July 4, at Bagram Air Field. Henderson earned a Master's degree in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University, and although retired from active duty, is serving as the Safety Dir. for the 82nd Abn Div in Afghanistan.
(Photo by Army Spc. Bryan Willis)
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Celebrating freedom on Kunar province's frontline
Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller
Sgt. 1st Class Jose Urrutia proves his title as COP Penich's "grill master" during an Independence Day celebration, July 4. The outpost, home of Alpha Co, 1st Bn, 32nd Inf Regt, 10th Mtn Div, shipped in more than 200 pounds of burgers, bratwursts, steaks and ribs for the event.
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