Mega Shura (meeting) in Jalrez. Combined forces repel large insurgent attack in Nuristan prov., and detain militants in Zabul, Wardak and Paktya provs. NCO Spotlight: Staff Sgt. Tyler Fosheim.
Iraq: Uncle, Nephew serve together at JBB. Engrs. meet, plan way ahead. VBIED cell members captured in Baghdad, Kirkuk.
Joanna
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October 5, 2009
DoD Imagery
Mega Shura Wardak Photo by Sgt. Teddy Wade
Army Maj. Larkin, EO for 4th Bn, 25th FA, 3rd Bde, 10th Mtn Div, meet with local leaders during a Mega Shura meeting at a community center in Jalrez, Wardak prov., Sept. 30.
Lt. Col. Michael Gabel meets with local leaders.
Lt. Col. Gabel meets with local leaders.
A school in Jalrez, in the Wardak prov., is in the final stage of construction, Sept. 30. The school was build with funds by the Afghan Public Protection Program. The AP3 program was designed to increase security, empower local residents and encourage them to play a larger role in protecting their villages, and keeping insurgents out of Wardak Prov.
Afghan students study inside an elementary school in Jalrez.
Afghan children carry bags with flour donated by the U.S. Army Soldiers.
A U.S. Army K-9 military working dog from the 10th Mtn Div out Fort Drum, N.Y., sits at the entrance of a school during a Mega Shura meeting.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
NCO Spotlight: Staff Sgt. Tyler Fosheim
By Pfc. Andrya Hill
Staff Sgt. Tyler Fosheim interviews a local shepherd, Sept. 26, in Marghah in the Paktika prov., eastern Afghanistan.
FOB SALERNO - Paratrooper, Staff Sgt. Tyler Fosheim, considers himself a history buff. He said he uses common sense and the Army’s legacy for insight and inspiration in his NCO duties as a plt sgt for Co D, 3rd Bn, 509th PIR, 4th BCT.
“My great inspiration in life is probably my father and my grandfather. My grandfather was in World War II and a very kind man. Then my dad, he really gave me my love of history, and that’s why I wanted to join the army,” he explained. “I wanted to live history, make a difference, and really find out what it’s like to be in the fight.”
Fosheim tries to instill an appreciation for history and Army values in his Soldiers, and said that it's important to understand what America’s forefathers endured to fully grasp the Army experience. “How can you know about the Army and how can you appreciate the Army if you don’t know the history of it? If you don’t know how hard your grandparents had it, and their grandparents,” he challenged, “you can’t compare the conditions in World War II to what we have now; it’s just impossible. We can’t imagine not having a MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation facility), and only being able to write letters, and living in a fox hole every day for a year. So I just like to impress that upon my Soldiers.”
Spc. Paul Nichols, one of the infantrymen that received a no-go from Fosheim during his EIB testing, said his opinion has changed since Fosheim became the plt sgt. “It’s strange how things work out,” he said. “It’s different now that he's with us. He’s pretty on-the-ball; he knows what he's doing. He likes to spot check people, look for mistakes, and correct them. He expects everyone to know their job and the next job up. But, he's pretty cool. He’ll talk to me about family, and just how it’s going.”
Whether inspecting Soldier’s weapons and gear, teaching them something new, or challenging them with a pop question on Army history, he's constantly involved in their personal and professional development. “He asked me the other day who the youngest president was. I didn’t know,” said Nichols. “It’s Theodore Roosevelt,” he added, smiling.
From patrols, to routine missions, to down time on the FOB, Fosheim can be counted on to be a steadfast leader. Through history, Army values, and a desire to leave a legacy, he strives to be the best NCO possible, for his Soldiers, himself, his wife and 3 daughters. “My daughters, they're everything I have to live for,” he said. “That's why I want to make the world a better place.”
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International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs
ANSF, ISAF Repel Insurgent Attack in Eastern Afghanistan
KABUL — Two joint ISAF and ANSF outposts were attacked in the Nuristan prov. of eastern Afghanistan the morning of Oct. 3.
Nuristani tribal militia launched the attacks from a local mosque and nearby village. CF effectively repelled the attack and inflicted heavy enemy casualties while 8 ISAF and 2 ANSF service members were killed.
"My heart goes out to the families of those we have lost, and to their fellow Soldiers who remained to finish this fight," said Col. Randy George, cmdr of TF Mtn Warrior. "This was a complex attack in a difficult area. Both the U.S. and Afghan soldiers fought bravely together; I'm extremely proud of their professionalism and bravery."
CF' previously announced plans to depart the area as part of a broader realignment to protect larger population centers remain unchanged. The sources of the conflict in the area involve complex tribal, religious and economic dynamics. CF will continue to assist in matching local resources with ANSF to bolster security and partner with local communities on development assistance if requested.
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International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs
Operational Update, Oct. 4: Afghan-ISAF Detains Militants
KABUL — Afghan and ISAF detained multiple suspected militants in a search near Qalat City in Zabul prov, Oct. 3., and in Wardak and Paktya provs during Oct. 4 ops.
In a separate op in Wardak prov's Saydabad District, a joint force conducted a compound search to disrupt Taliban IED attacks against civilians and regional infrastructure, detaining several suspected militants, Oct. 4.
In a third op, a joint force detained suspected militants during a building search in Paktya prov. for Haqqani militants, and a facilitator responsible for coordinating and conducting attacks against Afghan civilians and infrastructure in the Khowst-Gardez Pass area.
The above ops do not reflect any addition to the Oct. 4, news release "ANSF, ISAF repel insurgent attack in Eastern Afghanistan," and are not related to that attack.
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MNF-I
Uncle, Nephew Serve Together, Continue Military Tradition
Story by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry
Indiana NG Soldiers, Lt. Col. Dan Kozlowski and Capt. Rodney Gervais, pose for a photograph at JBB, Aug. 28, 2009. Kozlowski, 38th CAB staff judge advocate, is Gervais' uncle. Gervais is the Co C, 1st Bn, 137th Aviation Regt cmdr, and they're both assigned to TF 38.
JOINT BASE BALAD -- Some NG Soldiers say their units are like an extended family. For 2 Soldiers deployed to Iraq, and in TF 38, it is. "I got off that plane in Iraq and there's my nephew, meeting me at 4 a.m. and saying 'Welcome to Iraq, Uncle Dan,'" said Kozlowski. "I figured it would be nice to meet and welcome him here," said Gervais, on his uncle's morning arrival.
As the co. cmdr he said he didn't always have a peer to chat with, and found the position somewhat lonely. After his uncle arrived, there was a Soldier and family member he could lean on. "It's good to have him here, to take my hat off and have somebody to talk to," said Gervais, a corporate aviation pilot in Indiana.
Even though the Army dictates mission and decides where Soldiers must go to serve their nation, a similar scenario happened 5 years ago. Both Soldiers were in Stabilization Force 15 in 2004 to help Bosnian reconstruction efforts.
Kozlowski agreed with Gervais that it's special to work alongside a family member while thousands of miles away from home. "It's good. It's just like it's always been. Whether doing something in Indy, doing something in Lake County, doing something in Bosnia, doing something in Iraq; he's just always been there, part of the same family," said the loquacious lawyer.
The NG Soldiers come from a family steeped in military service. Kozlowski's father and Gervais' grandfather both served in World War II, and Gervais' father served 2 tours in Vietnam. "His dad is the reason why I joined the Army," said Kozlowski. Kozlowski, whose father died when he was 14, looked up to his brother-in-law and was a big influence on him. "He picked up that role of father or big brother, what have you," said Kozlowski. "His experiences over there in Vietnam are the reason why I joined 30 years ago."
"I've had a wonderful life. Deploying with my nephew twice; what's that all about? That's a blessing," said Kozlowski. "What a way to deploy, ya know?"
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Engineers meet, plan way ahead for Iraq
By Ron Elliott
Gulf Region Div
More than 100 U.S. and Iraqi engrs recently gathered here at Camp Iraqi Heroes to discuss the path forward in security and reconstruction efforts.
BAGHDAD — “While our mission focus remains the same, we have many changes and challenges facing us,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Eyre, cmdr of the Gulf Region Div and senior engr at the Iraqi Ground Force Command Engr Conference. “It's never been more important for us to bring together our engineering forces, to synchronize our efforts and provide the full spectrum of mutually supporting engineering capabilities and services.”
As the reconstruction efforts continue to shift to the GoI, increasing the number and training of Iraqi engrs is essential to design, construct and maintain the country’s infrastructure. According to Eyre, Iraqi engrs initially worked side-by-side with U.S. engrs only with route clearance, but have continued to increase their capabilities and capacity into full-spectrum engr ops to include construction, bridging, bomb disposal and geospatial ops.
“One of the things I've noticed as I travel across Iraq is that every day you're increasing your capacity to provide dependable engr support throughout the country — not only for today’s missions and projects, but for those of the future,” said Eyre. “Your officers, NCOs and Soldiers continue to develop professionally, while maintaining reliable engr support to the IA Divs.”
Participants around the room recognized the vital role engrs have in providing essential services and infrastructure to its citizens, but they also noted that engrs need the resources — manpower, equipment and training — to accomplish their mission. “The security environment has improved in Iraq as a result of the work done not only by the ISF and the CF, but also due to the hard work of engrs,” said Staff Maj. Gen. Abdul Ameer, Iraqi Ground Force Command chief of staff.
“Conferences like this are an opportunity for U.S. and Iraqi engrs to continue to work together as partners and engrs, and to discuss our shared successes and find resolution to our challenges,” said Eyre. “Each of you in this room plays an important role in building strong foundations today for tomorrow — ensuring a stable and self-reliant ISF and a secure, sovereign Iraq,” he concluded.
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MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
ISF capture Baghdad, Kirkuk VBIED cell members
BAGHDAD – ISF captured 2 warranted AQI members responsible for multiple VBIED attacks throughout Baghdad and Kirkuk, Oct 2.
In Mansour, SW Baghdad, the ISF, with U.S. forces advisors, arrested an AQI VBIED facilitator named Khalid Husayn Khalif Mari al-Juwali, also known as Abu Anas, who was planning future VBIED attacks in Baghdad, threatening GoI institutions and security personnel.
In a separate security op, the 3rd Emergency Services Unit, with U.S. forces advisors, arrested Khalid, also known as Hajji Khalid, near Taza Khurmatu, located approx 24 km SW of Kirkuk. Khalid is an associate of AQI-sponsored Kirkuk Prov. VBIED networks, and he's helped plan and carry out indiscriminant attacks throughout the region. The security team found Khalid in the first building they searched. The team also encountered 3 additional suspects who, after questioning, were deemed to be conspirators who presented a threat to the local community. The suspects were found with VBIED associated chemicals, as well as terrorist propaganda.
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