Dear Interested Reader,
The 61st Cav Regt patrolling Konar prov. TF Wildhorse cut apart potential weapons. 25th ID team up to secure Khost during Op Champion Sword. TF Mtn Warrior assist Afghans improve quality of Life. Enemy fighters seized in Khost and Paktika provs.
In Iraq, Public Health Team reviews inspection process. 120th CAB patrol in Al Dhoura. Judges assemble for conference on military courts. Major sewage project completed.
Joanna
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July 31, 2009
CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Patrolling Konar province, Afghanistan
Photos by U.S. Army Spc. Evan Marcy
Army Capt. Adam MacAllister, cmdr, Co C, 3rd Sqdrn, 61st Cav Regt, 4th BCT, 4th ID, looks through his scope providing security, July 15.
1st Lt. Brandon Loomis leads a patrol through Zangbusheb village, July 14.
Pfc. James Kelley scans the side of a mountain for any potential threats, as Spc. Andrew Ewart provides security in Nishagam village, July 13.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Iron men cut apart potential weapons
Sgt. Trinity Lueschow, Forward Support Co G, TF Wildhorse, cuts large metal objects into smaller pieces to ensure that they are not used by insurgents, at FOB Mehtar Lam, Laghman province, July 23.
Spc. Brock Beers, cuts a used vehicle's rotor into smaller pieces.
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55th Combat Camera RSS
ANA, 4th BCT, 25th ID Team Up to Secure Khost
(Photos by Spc. Matthew Freire)
377th Soldiers conduct an air-assault mission to search Khost prov., during Op Champion Sword, July 28, which is a joint op involving ANSF and ISAF focused on specific militant targets and safe havens within the Sabari and Terezai districts of the prov., in eastern Afghanistan.
An ANA soldier plays with a child.
Soldiers from 377th wait for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter to land so they can depart.
U.S. Soldiers, from the 2nd Bn, 377th Parachute FAR, depart on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from an air assault mission.
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Blackanthem Military News
By CJTF-82 Public Affairs Office
Afghans improve quality of life with TF Mountain Warrior assistance
An ANP officer takes instructions on how to fire his machine gun from a Nuristan PRT member during weapons training at the live fire range at FOB Kalagush in Nuristan prov., July 23.
BAGRAM AIR FIELD - The Afghan govt, its citizens and ANSF throughout Nuristan prov. are taking full advantage of the skills, training and mentoring provided by TF Mountain Warrior service members to improve the security and quality of life for the people in the prov.
Construction of the Wama District Center began with a ground-breaking ceremony, July 20. A construction company gathered along with local villagers and leaders to start digging the foundation. The sub-governor, Din Muhammed, and the local police chief laid the first stone. The ceremony also included a luncheon sponsored by the construction company.
Nuristan PRT sponsors a weekly training session for local villagers to learn basic construction skills. An Afghan engr, Zalmi, conducts the classroom training for villagers who participate. Those who attend the class at least 3 times are given 10 bags of concrete per week for a project that will benefit their village. With regular attendance and project progress reports, each student continues to receive bags of concrete for their project.
ANP Gen. Jugabullah fires a M4 carbine during weapons training.
Gen. Jugabullah presents Certificates of Achievement to ANP Officers after they demonstrated outstanding marksmanship.
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Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs RSS
Troops Seize Enemy Fighters in Eastern Afghanistan
U.S. Forces Afghanistan RSS
WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces seized dozens of suspected enemy fighters during recent operations in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. military officials said.
In an op July 26, a joint Afghan and CF searched a compound in Khost prov., believed to be frequented by an insurgent known for coordinating attacks against troops as part of the Haqqani terrorist network.
After intel indicated militant activity at a compound near the village of Majles, north of the city of Khost, the joint force searched the area and detained 7 suspects, including the wanted man.
During ops July 25, a joint SECFOR searched a compound in the remote reaches of Paktika prov., in an effort to disrupt Haqqani command and control, communications, and supply lines in the region.
The joint team searched the compound in the Deela District of Paktika, about 95 miles southwest of Gardez, after intel indicated militant activity. Combined forces detained 5 suspects in the raid.
ISAF is a key component of the international community's engagement in Afghanistan, assisting the Afghan authorities in providing security and stability, and creating the conditions for reconstruction and development.
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MNF-Iraq
Public Health Team Reviews Inspection Process for Products Entering Iraq
By Spc. Richard Frost
Veterinarians and public health experts with the U.S. Dept of Agriculture and the U.S. Army tour a market in the city of Zakho, port city in the Kurdish region, near the entry point where these agricultural goods are imported and carried across the Turkish-Iraqi border.
HABUR GATE — "The purpose of the mission was to get a good look at the inspection process for plant and animal products coming into northern Iraq so that we can have a better understanding of any kind of road blocks that might be present," said Army Col. Stan Wood, chief of public health, 364th CAB.
Inspection processes here can cause significant delays, said an Iraqi official. So as a result, reps from the GOI requested the assistance of the U.S. govt to help solve the crisis. Addressing these delays would aid the importation process and assist American producers looking to export their products to Iraq, said Wood. More efficient procedures could stimulate growth within the Iraqi exportation trade as well, he continued.
"We want the Iraqis to have an effective inspection process that prevents the spread of trans-boundary diseases, but one that doesn't hold up the importation of products, so that it raises the price to the producers, which ultimately raises the price to the Iraqi consumer," said John Schnittker, an agricultural economist with the USDA based at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
Habur Gate is the primary entry point into Iraq from Turkey, and thousands of trucks make their way through this single checkpoint each day. Trucks carrying a wide variety of goods such as cement, steel and other construction materials are in cue along with trucks carrying animal feed, wheat, flour and even poultry products, and these agricultural products must be inspected.
At the end of the tours, all the members had a chance to sit and discuss their findings. Suggestions were made to add certain lab equipment that could facilitate additional testing here, rather than sending samples to Dohuk. Currently, these samples can take upwards of 24 hours for results. Adding this new equipment could reduce that time dramatically, a USDA representative said. "We came to some productive conclusions," Wood said. "The Iraqis were very appreciative of our efforts and said they look forward to a long-lasting relationship with their veterinary counterparts in the U.S.," he concluded.
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30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team RSS
Soldiers of Company B Patrol in Al Dhoura
Photos by Sgt. Robert Jordan
Staff Sgt. Stephen Whitley, a medic with Co B, 120th CAB, 30th HBCT, looks through his night vision goggles on patrol southeast of Al Dhoura, July, 25. Whitley is based out of FOB Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad.
Soldiers patrol southeast of Al Dhoura after receiving small arms fire, July 25.
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Blackanthem Military News
Iraqi Judges Assemble for Conference on Military Courts
By Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq
Dr. Ghalib, General Counsel to the MoD, and COL Lassus, MNSTC-I SJA, recognize the contributions and suggestions of Brig. Gen. Ghazi, Chief Judge of the Al-Anbar Military Court.
BAGHDAD - Twenty Iraqi judges from military trial and Cassation (appeals) Courts throughout the country convened, July 23 at the Blackhawk Conference Center to discuss the operation of Defense Ministry courts.
"This was quite a significant gathering of jurists," said Lt. Col. Peter Hayden, dep. staff judge advocate, MNSTC-I. "It represents the first time military judges at all levels of the judiciary, from all regions of Iraq, came together to share ideas with each other and with the general counsel's office."
Topics included the staffing and equipping of regional courts, improved procedures for the use and handling of forensic evidence, access to witnesses, and strengths and weaknesses in judicial training. The workshop concluded with a roundtable discussion and forum for the judges and general counsel, to identify effective resource and training priorities for the coming year.
"This is an important chance for the chief judges of the courts to meet each other and discuss how we each handle the cases to see what works best," said Brig. Gen. Ghazi, chief judge of Anbar military court.
"This event enabled everyone a chance to see how military justice works as a whole system," Hayden said. "The general counsel's directors and Cassation Court judges learned of the prosecutors' challenges and successes, and the trial judges understand some of the resource decisions faced by the MoD."
Since 2005, the MoD has established a Court of Cassation and 6 trial courts throughout Iraq to serve the disciplinary needs of the Iraqi Armed Forces. In that time, Iraq established codes for military justice and criminal procedure. The Defense Ministry successfully implemented this legislation to investigate and conduct an average of 1,115 disciplinary hearings per month in accordance with the rule of law. As with all efforts of the MoD General Counsel, this workshop was committed to improving the efficiency, discipline and professionalism of the Iraqi Armed Forces.
Brig. Gen. Raed, Chief Judge of the Court of Military Cassation discusses judicial training with the Director of Legal Affairs for the General Counsel, the Ground Forces Judge Advocate General, and judges from the Baghdad, Irbil and Najaf military trial courts.
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MNF-I
Major Sewage Project Complete
By Sgt. Brian Tierce)
Iraqi construction workers place new sections of pipe for a sewer network in the Salhiyah neighborhood of northwest Baghdad, recently.
BAGHDAD — The effort to restore essential services in Baghdad has seen a significant increase as security improves throughout the Iraqi capital. One example of this is the competition of a major sewer network project for the residents of Karkh.
"I was pleased to see this sewage project in our area," said Mobarak, Salhiyah neighborhood council chairman. "We've not seen a project like this occur in our area in over 15 years."
The project was one of many started and seen through to completion by members of the Joint Project Mgt Office (JPMO) of the 2nd HBCT, but this project stood out to the Soldiers because of the direct impact it will have on the citizens here. "The people of Salhiyah will have a new sewer network that will last for decades," said Maj. Andy Attar, officer-in-charge, JPMO, 2HBCT. "It's a great sign of Iraq moving forward."
Following a small ceremony to commemorate completion of the project, the contractor in charge provided a luncheon for the leaders in attendance. The luncheon was a chance for the leaders to discuss the importance of the project as well as reflect on their choice of who should be responsible for the construction of the sewage plant. "I was very happy to see this event turn out so successfully," said Jamal, Karkh Beladiyah director general. "I was happy about the choice of the contractor, because I knew he would follow up on his work."
Another positive sign for the project was the start to finish involvement by the local govt in an effort that shows Iraqis are ready to take and keep the lead on future reconstruction efforts.
"This sewer network was designed by Baghdad City planners," said Attar. "The work was supervised by their engrs daily with the Dagger Bde in overwatch."
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