Dear Interested Reader,
PRT-Zabul helps reconnect Afghans, govt. Afghans in Nangarhar and Kunar provs. prepare for Ramadan with a little help.
Iraq: Mosul Reconstruction Cell hosts Ramadan dinner. Osprey joins fight to support Iraq's war against terrorism. Sun purifies water in remote region. Clothing and toys collected for children of female prisoners. High profile terrorists captured.
Joanna
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September 9, 2009
Joint Sustainment Command - Afghanistan RSS
PRT-Zabul Helps Reconnect Afghans, Government
Story by Staff Sgt. Marcos Alices
AF Lt. Col. Andy Veres, the PRT-Zabul cmdr., and Gov. Mohammad Naseri discuss future plans on improving the province. PRT-Zabul – a civil and military org. that brings reconstruction, development, governance and security to the province – work side by side with the provincial govt to reconnect it with their people.
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD – A country's future depends upon the people connecting with the govt. Afghanistan has held only its second democratic elections since ousting the Taliban in 2001 and now is trying to rebuild the govt's relationship with its people.
CF provide a helping hand through the use of PRTs. "The purpose is to give hope and a means for a better future to people recovering from war and oppression under a totalitarian regime," said AF Lt. Col. Andy Veres.
PRT-Zabul is located in the heart of Qalat City. Reps from the U.S. Dept of State and U.S. Agency for Int'l Development, work with the PRT to help the Afghans live in a free and democratic country. They work hand and hand with Mohommad Naseri, the Zabul prov. gov., and his staff to improve the lifestyle of the Afghan people throughout the prov.
"We [the PRT] try to build the govt infrastructure in a small community from the smallest element and up," said Army 1st Sgt. Conrad Gamez, the PRT-Zabul senior enlisted officer.
The PRT has more than 20 ongoing projects all through the prov. The team works on projects that include everything from building community centers, schools and roads to providing agricultural training. Local unskilled laborers also have the opportunity to attend mechanic, welding or nursing training at the PRT. The nursing program is a yearlong course. Each course provides Afghans with marketable skills, according to AF Cpt. Rick Vermillion, a PRT-Zabul civil engr. All the PRT efforts are focused on meeting the gov's priorities outlined in the provincial development plan. "The main thing we're trying to do is boost their economy," said Vermillion. "If we're hiring a local Afghan, he's putting money into his home to feed his family."
"We're the construction firm," said AF Tech. Sgt. Eric Field, a PRT-Zabul infrastructure craftsman. "If a large company wanted to build a skyscraper in New York City, we will be the guys to talk to, in order to build on budget and on time."
The PRT extends its arms in every facet of the provincial govt to include the Ministry of Public Health. The team has provided advice and assistance with matters dealing with the health of Zabul's population. The PRT helped to refurbish the provincial hospital and establish programs to improve the locals' lifestyle. Smart Food, a program for malnourished children, and Clean Water, a process to provide Afghan families chlorine to kill bacteria and parasites in local water, help reconnect the people with their healthcare system, according to AF Staff Sgt. Paul Herrera-Ramirez, a PRT-Zabul aerospace medical tech.
"We've a great conglomerate of the right people to help make the govt self-sufficient," said Gamez. The PRT is a joint effort between military services. The team is comprised of Airmen, Soldiers, Guardsmen and Reservists with specialties ranging from infantrymen to civil affairs. All have a sense of achievement and do a job with a level of importance that they may otherwise never do in their life, according to Veres. PRT-Zabul is only one of two U.S.-led teams. The other PRT is located in Farah.
"They've a chance to rebuild a country, renew a way of life and allow a society to fly out from the ashes of 50-plus years of war," said Veres.
Gov. Mohammad Naseri question children during his Aug. 24, trip to Sha Joy District to discuss issues and concerns with village elders.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Afghans prepare for Ramadan with a little help
NANGARHAR PROVINCE – ISAF service members visited the village of Samar Khayl, to deliver dates to the local mosque for Ramadan, Aug. 29. The Soldiers were warmly welcomed during their first visit to the village. The dates were for the Afghans to use for breaking their daily fast.
CF and ANSF conducted a joint dismounted patrol in the town of Abdul Kheyl, Aug. 28. The Afghan and coalition soldiers passed out toys for the children of the village.
KUNAR PROVINCE – ISAF service members delivered food to 20 families in the Chinar and Kolack villages, Aug. 29, after village elders told service members in the area that numerous families needed food for Ramadan. Each family received a bag of rice, flour, and a jug of cooking oil for the Ramadan holiday.
ISAF forces and local Afghans of Khewa village held a meeting to discuss local issues, Aug 29. During their visit ISAF forces passed out dates, gave prayer rugs to the local mosque, and soccer balls to Afghan children. A couple of the soldiers taught the local Afghan boys some soccer techniques.
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Multi-National Division – North PAO
Mosul Reconstruction Cell hosts Ramadan dinner
Members of the MRl and 130th Engr Bde sample a wide variety of traditional Iraqi food during a Ramadan celebration dinner sponsored by the MRC at FOB Diamondback.
(Army photos by Staff Sgt. Melanie Trollinger
MOSUL — To promote an understanding of Islamic faith and Muslim culture, and in celebration of Ramadan, the Mosul Reconstruction Cell hosted a dinner for MRC staff and Mosul city reconstruction leaders, Sept. 2.
Lt. Col. Fabian Mendoza, Jr., 130th Engr Bde cmdr, talks with Iraqi reconstruction leaders.
Lt. Col. Chad Walker talks with another Soldier during a Ramadan celebration dinner. Walker is the Mosul Reconstruction Cell officer-in-charge.
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Blackanthem Military News
Osprey joins fight to support Iraq's war against terrorism
By Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jimmy Pan
Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Force Soldiers, with U.S. forces advisors, prepare to conduct their first combined mission using the CV-22 Osprey in Baghdad. The mission resulted in the successful capture of 2 alleged terrorists.
(Photo by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ja'lon Rhinehart)
BAGHDAD - The CV-22 Osprey, the world's first tiltrotor aircraft, whirled into action as an infiltration platform for ISOF during an early-morning mission in Baghdad, Aug. 17.
Although the new aircraft was flown by U.S. AF personnel, the troops and mission were led by the elite Iraqi Soldiers. "Initially, I think that they [ISOF Soldiers] were a little leery of the new aircraft," said the AF pilot who flew the Osprey during the mission. "But after using it for the mission, I think we have made the ISOF Soldiers believers in the Osprey."
For take-off and landing, the Osprey operates as a helicopter. However, during flight, it operates as a turboprop airplane. The advanced aircraft, named after a bird of prey also known as the Sea Hawk, can transport 24 Soldiers, 20,000 lbs of internal cargo or 15,000 lbs of external cargo. These capabilities provide ISOF and U.S. SOF with a fast yet versatile infiltration platform.
The mission partnered with the Iraqi troops was a resounding success. "The ISOF was positioned at the exact drop-off point they coordinated, and they were able to quickly prosecute their target," the AF pilot said.
The elite Iraqi team successfully detained 2 individuals and seized a large weapons cache during the mission. The ISOF Soldiers were proud of the successful mission and grateful to the Osprey crew for their assistance. They especially appreciated the ride up, the hover down, and the flight home.
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MNF-I
Sun purifies water in remote region
By Pvt. Jared Gehmann
Spc. Rachael Potts and an Iraqi engr prepare to run dirty water through a solar-powered water filtration system at FOB Hammer, Sept. 5.
(Photo by Pvt. Jared N. Gehmann)
BAGHDAD — In an effort to provide a better quality of life for the citizens of Iraq's Ma'dain region, U.S. paratroopers put their time and energy into learning how to set up and operate a solar-powered water filtration system.
Paratroopers assigned to 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn Div, implemented a self-powered, energy efficient water filtration system to provide the area's residents fresh, clean drinking water. However, for this system to be effective, regional leaders need to be shown how it works.
That’s where Spc. Rachael Potts, a water treatment specialist assigned to Co A, 82nd BSB, came in and put her knowledge to work to show some of the region's engrs how to put the system to use.
"I got involved with this filtration system a few days ago while working on a reverse osmosis system," said Potts. "But once I heard about this system, I wanted to see what it could do in order to help our Iraqi partners." The solar-powered system uses a series of hoses and filters to purify brackish or dirty water in areas where clean water is limited. The Ma'dain region, located on the outskirts of eastern Baghdad, is a vast, mostly desolate area where most water sources consist of dirty, mineral-filled wells.
The system can treat about 6,000 gallons of water a day. Despite its size, the system is also transportable in order to provide clean drinking water to even the most remote villages in the region. "So far we have 25 of these systems to place all over the Ma'dain region in areas such as the towns of Narwan and Salman Pak," Potts said.
During a demonstration of the solar-powered filtration system’s capabilities to local Iraqi engrs, Potts partnered with Abbas Hassan, the chief engr of al-Nahywan Water Treatment facility, to demonstrate to Hassan's fellow engrs how the system functions.
"The water filtration system is impressive because it solves both of the main problems we have right now, which is having access to clean water while also having a reliable power source to make the machine work and clean the water," said Hassan.
Along with Potts, several combat medics assigned to the bn's Co C came out for the demo in order to receive hands-on experience with the system and witness the results of the water-cleaning process. To ensure the water was to the drinkable standard, the medics performed a series of quality assurance tests. "It was amazing how much cleaner this water was after it ran through the machine," said Spc. Wayne Terry.
U.S. and Iraqi leaders discussed their hopes of putting this system to use in the much-needed areas across in region in the near future. "We appreciate all the help the U.S. Army has given us in making our country a better place," said Hassan. "As long as we keep pushing technology such as this solar-powered filtration system, I believe we'll continue to accomplish our goals in rebuilding Iraq."
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Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
Clothing and Toys Collected for Children of Female Prison Inmates
BAGHDAD – Hundreds of children in Iraq’s prison system received new clothes, shoes and toys Sept. 3, thanks to the efforts of some caring U.S. military personnel, citizens and orgs in the U.S.
U.S. Navy Master at Arms Chief Hector Villanueva, lead advisor for Tribal Affairs, Multi-national Security Transition Command-Iraq, and U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Anita Francis, with Law and Order TF have been collecting clothing, shoes and toys to distribute to these children who stay with their mothers in Iraq’s prisons. “Many times, when you have a woman convicted of a crime and put into prison, there are young children who must be taken care of,” said Villanueva. “The fathers often don’t have the ability to take care of them, so the Iraqi prison system allows the children to stay with their moms in prison.”
These children are in need of clothes and other basic necessities, and this is where the collection efforts come in to help. The Major Stuart Adam Wolfer Institute out of New York, along with the Hylant Group from Dublin, Ohio and the Credit Suisse Group, PJ Arthurs, out of Chicago, Illinois were the largest donors of these much needed supplies.
It's efforts like this that build a continued trust and bond with the Iraqi people, Villanueva said. “This isn't an Army program or a govt program. This is the work of individual soldiers and sailors who care about the Iraqi people and wanted to make a personal difference.”
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Multi-National Corps-Iraq PAO
ISF arrest 4 suspected terrorists, capture cell leaders
TIKRIT - Sept. 4, Soldiers with the 7th ERB arrested 3 suspected terrorists in the Salah ad-Din prov., with warrants issued by the Central Interrogation Court of Iraq. The men are suspected of operating and leading terrorist cells within Salah ad-Din, and conducting IED attacks against ISF.
During a separate mission in the Ninawa prov., soldiers with the 5th ERB arrested a suspected terrorist with a warrant issued by a court in Irbil. The individual was arrested for alleged attacks on ISF and U.S. forces.
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Multi-National Corps-Iraq PAO
Commandos arrest terror cell commander
TIKRIT - Iraqi Commandos with U.S. forces advisors, detained a suspected terrorist cmdr while serving a warrant, Sept. 5.
Najim Al Ujayli is wanted for allegedly commanding terrorist cells operating in and around the Tikrit area. Al Ujayli was a general in Saddam Hussein's prominent Hammurabi Armored Div of the Republican Guard. Since the fall of Hussein's regime, Al Ujayli is suspected of being a key facilitator in various aspects of terrorist activities, including financial and logistical support, and higher level facilitation of terrorist activity.
Commandos with the Golden Bde entered the suspected cell leader's residence, arrested Al Ujayli, and searched the residence without incident.
"Tonight's op was conducted in a professional manner and continues to build upon the great abilities of the Iraqi Soldiers" said Army Lt. Col. Mitchell Franks, cmdr of Special Ops TF - North. "The detention of Al Ujayli will deal a significant blow to terrorist activities in not only the Salah al-Din prov., but throughout the northern part of Iraq as well," Franks added.
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MNF-I
Assessing Needs
Army Master Sgt. Aaron Miller, assigned to the 1314th Civil Affairs Co, 17th Fires Bde, meets with Sheik Hasan Batat to promote stability and assess the needs of the local population in Karmat Ali, Aug. 31.
(Photo by Spc. Samantha Ciaramitaro)
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MNF-I
Bajwan Boys
A local child sits on the curb with his friends during a combined presence patrol with IP and U.S. Soldiers from 1st Bn, 8th Cav, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav Div, in Bajwan, Sept. 5. (Photo by Spc. Canaan Radcliffe)
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