Dear Interested Reader,
Next generation CROWS II increases soldier safety. Combat communications Airman Russell Dickey keeps vital info link online. George and Shirley Jackson send the 455th ESFS a 480' thank you.
Iraq: The Flintstone Palace gets a face lift by Soldiers, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. National Police renamed Federal Police. Validating IP in Kirkuk.
Joanna
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August 5, 2009
CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Next generation CROWS II increases Soldiers safety
By Army Pfc. Cody Thompson
The next generation common remotely operated weapons system (CROWS) weapons station is attached atop a MRAP vehicle, July 31, on Bagram Air Field.
BAGRAM AIR FIELD - The next generation of common remotely operated weapons station offer an updated version with more options to potentially protect service members and defeat insurgents across Afghanistan.
Located on top of MRAP vehicles, the CROWS II allows for safer travels by enabling the gunner to sit inside the vehicle, which prevents potential casualties in vehicle rollovers. "Fact is we won't have as many people killed in rollover," said Army Capt. Timothy Ashcraft, Chief of Training with the Combined Joint TF-82.
For Army Staff Sgt. Robert Martuszewski, the div master gunner, gunner safety is a personal issue. "I had a buddy die when he was thrown from the turret when his vehicle hit an IED," he recalls.
With the gunner protected from vehicle rollovers the gunner can concentrate his focus on eliminating enemy targets. Once a gunner locates a target, he can utilize the laser range function of the CROW II to track the enemy and accurately engage the target.
CROWS II are feathered with an assortment of weapons capabilities including an M-2 .50-caliber machine gun, M-240 machine gun, MK-19 automatic grenade launcher, and the M-249 squad automatic weapon. "The new generation of CROWS includes advanced optics, a more user friendly control interface, which allows you to do more inside the vehicle," said Martuszewski.
The system has body heat locators that can find insurgents day or night. "The system has night and day thermals, and with 90% ballistics accuracy, the gunner system is truly amazing," said Sgt. 1st Class Andre Jones, field service rep with Crew Served Weapons.
"In case you lose electronic capabilities the gunner can undo the lock clutches and manually operate the gun," said Jones. "So, you still need to conduct your head spacing and timing checks prior to the mission."
A Soldier stares into the next generation of CROWS. CROWS II enables service members to attack insurgents from atop a MRAP vehicle.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Andre Jones, operates the new CROWS.
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USAFCENT Combat Camera Team
Combat Communications Airman keeps vital info link online
by Staff Sgt. Stacia Zachary
AF Senior Airman Russell Dickey combat communications radio operator assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation flight, provides backup communications support for the critical medical evacuation mission, Kandahar Air Field, July 21.
(AF Photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller)
KANDAHAR AIR FIELD -- Communications have failed. Conventional methods to restore them are not available. In response, an Airman races through his tent and out the door to double check azimuth readings, and rapidly shifts to backup communications. This isn't a scenario that could happen. It did.
As a combat communications radio operator, Senior Airman Russell Dickey is charged with providing backup communications for the aeromedical mission. Aeromedical evacuation flights transfer seriously ill or wounded servicemembers and civilians from one echelon of medical care to another through the use of aerial transportation.
"I was sitting at my desk when Airman Dickey went racing past," said Lt. Col. Sandra Duiker, 451st EAEF cmdr. "Next thing I know he's getting azimuth readings and setting up equipment so that we could talk with our people in Bastion. He showed real initiative because he knew what to do and just did it."
"I train people back home but I can honestly say I never knew how valuable some of our communication systems are until now," he said. "As a radio operator, my job is to make sure that we always have communications."
As a result of getting the communication set up, the AE team was able to execute a rapid aeromedical evacuation of a severely wounded servicemember - aiding in the long chain of people and events that got him home alive.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
East coast sends deployed Airmen 480 Ft. thank you
By Senior Airman Felicia Juenke
Members of the 455th ESFS hang a 480 foot banner from Md., to boost morale of the troops at Bagram Air Field, July 31.
BAGRAM AIR FIELD -- Hundreds of 455th Expeditionary SECFOR Sqdrn Airmen responsible for base security and defense, received an unusual gift from America -- a 480' banner full of thank you notes from Americans across the eastern-seaboard.
George and Shirley Jackson, the banner-project organizers, have organized banner creation efforts for the past 15 years, by having members of different communities sign it and write notes of thanks. They make banners for American and coalition service members serving in harm's way around the world.
The Airmen at Bagram Air Field hung the banner in a spot where thousands of local Afghans, CF and Americans would be able to view the notes.
Even though Mr. Jackson has health problems he sends banners to support U.S. and CF. The 455th ESFS had many different ways of expressing how they felt about being able to hang the banner. "It makes us feel that what we're doing here is important, and that we're appreciated for doing the mission," said Airman 1st Class Evan List.
While many of the Airmen felt the same way List did, Tech. Sgt. Jerrod Klein, expanded on the comments. "We really appreciate the support and the patriotism; it should be bottled up and sent around America," Jerrod said.
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DoD Imagery
Hamadulha Helmand, a leader in the Barackside tribe, speaks with Marine Corps Lt. Col. William McCollough, cmdr of 1st Bn, 5th Marine Regt, about district infrastructure improvements during a civil affairs group patrol in the Nawa District of Helmand prov., July 30, 2009.
(DoD photo by Staff Sgt. William Greeson, U.S. Marine Corps)
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Multi-National Division - Baghdad PAO
VBC servicemembers, Iraqi scouts leave their mark on community
Maj. Gary Farley leads a group of Iraqi Scouts and Girl Guides up a winding pathway to the entrance of the Flintstone Palace.
(Army photos by Sgt. 1st Class Ron Burke)
VICTORY BASE COMPLEX, BAGHDAD - Twenty five children lined up outside the entrance to Saddam Hussein's old Flintstone Palace, on Camp Slayer, August 2. The boys and girls formed 2 groups, each led by a volunteer servicemember.
Maj. Gary Farley, an Iraqi Ground Forces Command MiTT advisor for MNC-I, led one of the groups up the winding path to the entrance of the main structure, while the other group was led around the palace to the edge of a man-made lake.
Maj. Raheem Falah, a member of the ISOF, and Farley have worked together for several months,
organizing events for the children. Today, the Iraqi Boy Scouts and Girl Guides of Victory Base Complex began a community service project, and learned a little about fishing. "Maj. Raheem wanted to do something off site," said Farley. "We wanted to show the kids that this place is part of their history, and that community service begins by connecting ideas and bringing people together to accomplish a mission."
The Flintstone Palace was commissioned by Saddam Hussein for his grandchildren and modeled after the neighborhood in the Hanna-Barbera cartoon. Over the years, the unused structure has fallen into disrepair in some areas and is covered with graffiti. Inside the main structure of the Flintstone Palace, Farley led the children through the doorway. The children looked around, wide-eyed, at the spray painting that accumulated over the years. A linguist explained the day's mission to the children: beautify the building after learning its history, and take a break by fishing from the back porch of the building.
The kids wasted no time grabbing paintbrushes and paint. With VBC servicemembers by their sides, they began white-washing the walls of the palace, as other servicemembers took care of the higher areas with rollers.
On the porch outside the palace, the water glistened as the sun slowly drifted west. Small groups of scouts and servicemembers huddled over fishing poles, showing the children how to bait the hooks, swing the poles back and cast the lines. Once the children understood what to do, they began to cast out, disturbing the water's smooth surface as each baited hook plopped down.
Spc. David Hughes, an ammo specialist with 2nd Plt, 664th Ordinance Co, 10th Sust Bde, 1st Cav Div, and 13-year old Mohammad picked their spot and baited their line. "I've got a 2-year old back home and I'd like someone to do this with my daughter if the opportunity came up," said Hughes..
On the edge of the structure that resembled a balcony, Maj. Raheem blew a whistle, signaling that the groups needed to switch places.
Inside the main building, 1st Lt. Jacqueline Zuluaga, an ambulance plt leader with the 256th Area Support Medical Co, 421st Multifunctional Medical Bn, 1st Medical Command, seemed to be everywhere at once. The Florida NG Soldier, who was one of the event's main planners, was shoving water bottles into the icy depths of a big cooler. "We wanted the children to paint the palace and clean up the graffiti," she said. "It's more for them than for us. Scouting is all about giving back to the community, and here they're doing that and establishing a new footprint. This can empower them to take ownership of their community," she said.
As the children moved from room to room, they would stop and marvel at the explosion of color on one large wall where Abdul Sajad, an artist, was hard at work painting a mural depicting a summer landscape with flowers and birds in flight.
After both groups had painted and tried their new-found skill at fishing, they lined up outside the rear entrance of the building. Each child came in, dipped their palms in colorful paint, and left their
little handprints on the wall. "The kids need to learn about giving back," said 1st Lt. Jessica Burton, 644th Ordinance Det, 620th CSSB, 10th Sust. Bde., 1st Cav. Div. "They can learn to take pride in their work and in their community. These kids weren't even allowed here in Saddam's time," said Burton, an officer-in-charge of an ammo supply point.
Muralist Abdul Sajad is painting a summer scene on a large wall inside the main structure of the Flintstone Palace.
Sgt. Kassidy Fitzwater, a multi-channel system operator with the Co B, 146th ESB, MNC-I, and several other servicemembers white-wash the ceiling and high walls. Fitzwater has been volunteering with the org. since Jan.
On the back porch of the Flintstone Palace, located on the edge of Camp Slayer, Sgt. Joshua Martin, a human resources NCO from TF 1st Medical Bn, shows Ali how to hold the fishing pole so he can turn the spool and reel in the line. Martin and several other servicemembers from across Victory Base Complex volunteer their time each week to work with the Iraqi Boy Scouts and Girl Guides.
Ten year old Auta, a member of the Iraqi Girl Guides takes a break from painting over the graffiti in the Flintstone Palace to turn around and survey the colorful mural that is being painted on the wall behind her. This was the first outing and community service project that the one-year old org. has embarked upon.
Spc. David Hughes shows 13-year old Mohammad how to reach back and cast the fishing pole.
1st Lt. Jessica Burton shows 9-year old Zaina her yellow handprint and the little Iraqi girl guide follows suit by pressing her blue-covered palm to the wall.
Lt. Col. Don Summers, the team chief of the Rapid Equipping Force, steadies his power drill as several others make sure the sign remains straight. After painting over the graffiti as part of a community service project, the sign signifies their commitment to beautifying the area. It reads: "Restoring one place at a time. The Iraqi Boy Scouts and Girl Guides worked to improve this site. Please keep Iraq beautiful. The future of Iraq thanks you."
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MNF-I
National Police Renamed Federal Police
BAGHDAD — The NP are now known as the FP, a name change that became effective, Aug. 1. The name change “goes side by side with the objectives of the national unity govt,” said a spokesman for the Police.
Lt. Col. Al-Baydani said the FP have a plan to set up a bde HQ in every prov., including the self-ruled Kurdistan region, over the next 2 years. He said the FP’s role is to protect all of the citizens of Iraq. In many areas of Baghdad, Basrah, Mosul and Amara, the FP have proven their ability to restore peace and order for the good of all citizens.
Over the past 3 years, the former NP nearly doubled in size to 42,000 members. Under the command of Lt. Gen. Al-Awadi, the Police force has raised its training to a higher standard of professionalism. All brigades have now completed advanced individual training courses and more than 5,700 Policemen have completed the specialized Carabinieri training taught by the Italian Police and NATO forces.
Awadi has also removed corruption and improved the ethnic and religious diversity in the ranks of the FP and implemented a Police code of ethics.
Since June 30, the FP have also performed another role, providing escort duty of U.S. military convoys through the cities of Iraq.
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Multi-National Division - North PAO
Validating Iraqi Police in Kirkuk
A group of policemen from the Yaychi Police Station stand proudly as their station is validated during a ceremony, July 29.
(Army photo by Pfc. Justin Naylor)
FOB WARRIOR, KIRKUK - For more than 35 years, the doors of the Yaychi Police Station outside of Kirkuk remained closed; its windows shut and its hallways empty.
In 2006, as a combined effort between the Government of Iraq and the U.S. military, IP finally returned to work at the station. For 3 years, these policemen trained continuously and worked closely
with their U.S. counterparts. With every training iteration and mission, the Yaychi IP honed their skills and ultimately proved they were capable of providing security for their community.
"There are good things happening here," said Yaychi's Mayor, Falah Jalal. "Compared to other cities in the area, Yaychi has hardly any crime or acts of terrorism," he continued. "Our community is very safe because of the IP. It makes everyone happy to see the Yaychi IP station be validated."
"Learning how to conduct vehicle searches, traffic control procedures, training on crime scene investigation and assessments are only a few of the things that the IPs have worked on with U.S. MP," said 1st Lt. Carl Yeaney, a plt leader with the 2-18th MP Co. "The IP have been very receptive to the training, and they've also taken it on themselves to conduct their own training, which they do
before every mission," he continued. "They now do everything that a functioning police station in the U.S. would do."
"We had to prove that we were capable," said Maj. Sabar Ahkmed, the EO of the Yaychi station. "We've detained more than 80 bad guys and found more than 500 mortars and rockets," he continued. "I'm very proud of the progress the policemen have made."
For the Soldiers of 1st Bn, 8th Cav Regt, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav Div, the IP have been a vital partner. "We've seen a willing and trustworthy partner in our combined security op," said Lt. Col. David Lesperance, cmdr of the Yaychi IP Station. "...since June 30 and even before, we have seen an eager and proficient force that has fully and capably taken the lead."
A challenge for the Yaychi IP is working in a city dissimilar to others in the area. Instead of a prominent majority, it has communities from various ethnicities. "In Yaychi, we see a diverse community," said Lesperance. "Arab, Kurd, and Turkoman, Sunni and Shi'a, live alongside one another in peace and respect. The harmony achieved here stands as an example for all of Iraq, and the police who serve and protect the people of Yaychi have the monumental responsibility of preserving that harmony. They deserve a great deal of credit for preserving it thus far."
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One Team
Sgt. 1st Class Aldo Delgado patrols alongside an Iraqi Soldier during Op Mufa-Ja'ah, a combined air assault mission, July 31, in the small town of Shakkat, located in the Ma'dain region outside of eastern Baghdad. More than 50 IA Soldiers and paratroopers conducted the mission in order to seize potential weapons caches in the region and deny enemy forces the ability to store or smuggle weapons into Baghdad.
(Photo by Pvt. Jared Gehmann)
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MNF-I
On the Horizon
Army Spc. Lucas Butler scans the horizon with the sight of his M-249 automatic weapon during an anti-IED and anti-indirect fire mission in the area of Abu Ghraib, July 30, 2009. Butler is an infantryman assigned to the 1st ID's 2nd Bn, 112th Inf Regt, 2nd BCT.
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