TF Fury Paratroopers discuss planning with counterparts. PRT engrs check projects in Khost. Logar farmers receive veterinary care for livestock. ANP prepare for medical outreach.
Iraq: IA delivers US-donated school supplies. Troops furnish new high school in Ninewah prov. Iraqi water workers honored at luncheon. New road culverts improve mobility in Kirkuk prov.
TF Fury Paratroopers meet Afghan Counterparts
By Sgt. Stephen Decatur
Capt. Jacob White, cmdr of Co A discusses planning with Maj. Ahmen, ANA EO, and Afghan Capt. Zalmay at FOB Bullard, Zabul prov.
KANDAHAR - Paratroopers of the 4th BCT (TF Fury), 82nd Abn Div are living on the same bases
with their Afghan counterparts, and working side by side during combat ops. The Paratroopers are tasked with advising and mentoring the ANSF to become self-sufficient in fighting, and eventually defeating the Taliban.
To avoid the pitfalls of culture shock, one of the first things combat advisors have to do is get to know their new neighbors. "The Afghan army is a national army," said ANA Maj. Ahmin, EO. "We have Soldiers from different tribes, who speak different languages, all serving together. Every Soldier is a volunteer and all of them love their country."
Ahmin is a lifelong Soldier, and in his 28 years of military service he has been wounded 5 times, and served in every region of the country. Ahmin eventually rose to the rank of col. and at one time commanded a regt, but when he joined the reestablished ANA after the fall of the Taliban he had to start over from the rank of capt. "I love my country," Ahmin said. "Rank doesnt matter to me. I just want to be in the army." Ahmin is convinced that the same patriotism he remembers from his youth is alive and well in his Soldiers today.
When Capt. Zalmay graduated high school in 1986, he enrolled in the military academy in Kabul and has been a Soldier ever since, fighting with the ANA until the collapse of the govt in 1992, and later joining the mujehadeen to fight against the Taliban. Zalmay hates the Taliban fervently. He says that the people also hate the Taliban, who go into the villages once a month to threaten them with decapitation if they don't cooperate.
Afghan Soldier's hopes and dreams would sound familiar to Americans. Faizullah is engaged to be married and wants to raise a family. Because he never finished school, it's very important to him that his children will be able to have an education, Faizulluh said. Like Faizullah, education is also very important to Zalmay, who is a father of 2 and a widower. He wants one of his sons to be a doctor and the other to be an engr he said.
"They're just like we are," said Capt. Jacob White, cmdr of Co A, 1st Bn, 508th PIR, 4th BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. "They want a safe environment to raise their family and a steady job."
Peoples' attitudes in Afghanistan are greatly influenced not only by Islam, but also by a code called pushtunwali. Hospitality, solidarity and courage are some of the most import virtues in Afghan society. "If we show an interest in their culture we'll gain their respect," said Lt. Col. David Oclander, cmdr of 1-508th PIR. "This is a culture that is all about respect."
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Lindsay is a plt sgt with Co A. Lindsay, who has 17 years of experience in the Army, said he was impressed by how respectful Afghans are of their elders. "So many young people think they can do it better," Lindsay said. "Here, they listen to their elders and place their trust in them."
Every ANA unit has a cultural officer who educates the Soldiers about respecting the civilian population and respecting other cultures, Ahmin said. The cultural officer also helps Afghan Soldiers learn how to read and write, because illiteracy is so prevalent in the country. Part of
his job as EO is also to educate Soldiers and explain why their foreign allies are there to help, Ahmin said.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
PRT engineers check projects in Khost
By AF Staff Sgt. Stephen Otero
KHOST PROVINCE - Khost PRT engrs walk with Afghan contractors to survey the 25 km road project in Speyra, Nov. 1. The road is being built to connect the local populace to their district center.
Afghan road construction contractors develop new sections of road in Speyra. ISAF engrs from the Khost PRT stopped by to provide guidance and check on the progress of the project.
Afghan road construction contractors speak with ISAF engrs from the Khost PRT about new road construction taking place in Speyra district in Khost prov.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Logar citizens receive veterinary care for livestock for first time in Baraki Barak
By Army Sgt. Jaime De Leon
A young farmer tries to control his cow while waiting to see a vet, Oct. 25, at the Baraki Barak District Center.
LOGAR PROVINCE - Local vets of Baraki Barak teamed up with the district’s sub-gov., Lodin, U.S. Army and Czech Republic soldiers to provide much needed veterinary aid.
Farmers of all ages attended the veterinarian clinic. Small children toddled along holding ropes tied to the necks of goats big enough to look them in the eyes, while gray bearded men dragged anxious cattle to be vaccinated and examined. The animals were led one at a time to Afghan veterinarians waiting under canopies set up in the grassy common area at the district center.
The large procession of animals included cows, goats, mules and donkeys. “We helped 492 animals and over 200 villagers,” said Army Staff Sgt. Dwaine Hood, Fire Support NCO for Able Troop. Although 3-71 CAV and Czech soldiers from the Logar PRT provided security and helped direct traffic, the vets were all Afghan and the medications for the animals were bought on the local economy, Hood said. “Farming and livestock are a huge deal in this area,” said Hood. “Many people’s whole livelihood is based around their livestock.”
The treatment of the animals was intended to benefit the farmers and their livestock. But most importantly, the VetCap introduced them to their own local vets, who'll be responsible for the medical upkeep of their livestock in the future. “It shows we care for the local populace and the hard work they do,” said Hood. Although this event was the first of its kind Able Troop hopes it won’t be the last. “Our plan is to help as many as we can before the harsh winter,” said Hood.
A veterinarian explains to a young farmer why he's about to vaccinate his cow.
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Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO
ANP Prepare for Medical Outreach in Their Village
Photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Webb
Army Spc. Seth Stout, SECFOR member of Ghazni PRT, provides security for the female search team during a village medical outreach program mission, Oct. 31. The PRT conducted the VMOP with the assistance of the ANP. The VMO was held at an ANP outpost inside the village of Slemanji.
Navy HM3 (FMF) Arvin Aguinaldo, Ghazni PRT corpsman, assigned to Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center San Diego, shows a member of the ANP how to pass an American football, Oct. 31.
Army Lt. Col. Kenneth Primus, PRT dep. cmdr, conducts a key leader engagement regarding locations for a village medical outreach program mission.
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MNF-Iraq
IA delivers US-donated school supplies
By Staff Sgt. Jason Douglas
An Iraqi school teacher helps distribute school supplies to Iraqi children at the Jadeeda Primary School near Hawijah in the Kirkuk prov., Oct. 28. The supplies were provided by families of Soldiers from 1/8th Cav., 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div.
KIRKUK — According to 1st Lt. Sean Spencer, civil projects officer with 1/8th Cav., this school was selected during a previous visit to the village. "We visited with the village mukhtar, and decided the children needed it," Spencer said. More importantly, Spencer said, this was also an opportunity for the students and teachers to see the IA and IP getting involved with their community, and showing that they were there for them.
Ahmed Deab, the village mukhtar, said the supplies were great, and that it helps to encourage the students to study more, and builds upon the relationship they have with the IA. "We have a good relationship with the IA in the area," Deab said. "The IA come to the village whenever something happens or there is a problem."
The school headmaster, Motar Kalaf, says the supplies are a welcome addition to his school, and believes the supplies will also help motivate his students to learn. "We've received a lot of supplies from the Iraqi education office, but this delivery will also help encourage the students to learn," Kalaf said.
During the visit, Deab and Kalaf also relayed some issues they had with their school. The 2 men both indicated that one of the school's structures was failing; there's a lack of consistent electrical power, and the road leading to the school was in need of repair. They'd also like to have a secondary school built, since the Jadeeda Primary School only teaches up to grade 6. "The school is old and we'd like to have a secondary school because the older children have to go to Hawijah to attend secondary school," Deab said.
As far as the road, Kalaf explained that the teachers traveled from Kirkuk city, some distance away. When weather was particularly bad it made travel on the road difficult, often keeping teachers from making the trip to the village.
According to Spencer, these issues and others were already in the process of being addressed. "Many of the buildings are dilapidated," Spencer said. Additions to the school were also part of that consideration, since the school currently seats 150 students, 55 more than it was built for. "We've considered nominating the school for a reconstruction project."
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MNF-I
US, Iraqi troops furnish new high school
By Spc. Sharla Lewis
MOSUL — U.S. and ISF delivered 400 new desks and chairs to the Qosh High School in northern Ninewah prov., Oct. 31. The furniture delivery was the culmination of the school's opening, and the final project for Btry B, 2nd Bn, 82nd FAR, 3rd HBCT, 1st Cav Div.
"The ministry of education built them a new high school, but was unable to furnish it with desks and chairs so we were able to fill in that gap," said Capt. Joseph Himpelmann, cmdr of Btry B. "The whole process came together today from our relationship with local leaders to meet an urgent and compelling need in the community," Himpelmann said.
As the bell rang for recess between classes, teenage boys spilled into the freshly painted halls of the high school. They were eager to help unload the furniture from the truck parked on the street outside the school.
Over the course of their deployment, Btry. B not only provided furniture to local schools, but has also organized trash clean-up, sewage projects, opened soccer fields and recreational parks, creating sustainable, lasting services for Iraqis throughout Ninewah prov.
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MNF-I
Iraqi water workers honored at luncheon
By Sgt. Matthew Cooley
Col. Larry Phelps, the 15th Sust Bde cmdr, gives a coin to pump foreman Abdullah Ahmed from the Qayyarah pump house during a luncheon in the pump house workers' honor, in the dining facility of COL Q-West, Nov. 3.
COL Q-WEST — Col. Larry Phelps presented a plaque to the workers, and said that it was a small "thank you." U.S. Soldiers and the Iraqi workers got to know each other speaking through an interpreter. "Our goal is to bring water to Q-West," pump foreman Abdullah Ahmed said.
According to Capt. John Sutterfield, public works dir., the Qayyarah pump house recently averaged 800,000 gallons of water pumped daily. He also explained that the Directorate of Public Works oversees major repairs using contractors, while the workers at the luncheon take care of day-to-day ops and maintenance.
"No pump house – no Q-West. That's the truth," Phelps said, summarizing the importance of the workers' jobs. Some of the workers said that they were grateful to be invited to the luncheon. "When someone does a good job, you invite them to eat bread with you," Subaa Khamees, an asst mgr for an Iraqi engineering co., said.
"We really appreciate you guys, and hope you come down to the pump house," Naif Dhahy, the pump house mgr. told Phelps.
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MNF-I
Project improves mobility in Iraqi village
Story by Pfc. Justin Naylor
FOB WARRIOR — Driving from one end of Bidawa village in Kirkuk prov. to the other used to be a challenge, but thanks to the addition of 2 new road culverts, the trip is now much easier. After nearly 70 days of construction, these new road culverts are ready for use.
The concrete culverts span over a 50-meter waterbed, linking one side of the road to another. Water flows easier now underneath the culverts between irrigation canals that have increased water flow to local farmers’ crops. "Building these 2 road culverts will greatly increase the transportation infrastructure of the village," said 2nd Lt. Jonathan Lent, a civil military ops officer with 4th Sqdrn, 9th Cav Regt, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav Div.
Not only will these culverts increase the flow of traffic in the village, but it will also increase the flow of water between the 2 irrigation canals that the villages use for crop irrigation, Lent explained. "The village of Bidawa was recently rebuilt after being demolished under the former regime," said Lent.
"Many of the residents have yet to return," said Capt. Brennan Mullaney, cmdr of Troop Bravo, 4-9 Cav. "The project was geared at encouraging the original residents to return to their homes. Right now there're approx 800 people in Bidawa," Mullaney said. According to Mullaney, this project supports all of them, and if all the former residents move back, it will be supporting about 2,400 people.
"Hiring the local villagers helps to build the local economy and increase employment," explained Lent. "In addition, workers from the area will take greater pride in their work." The Iraqi contractor, a resident of the village, offered to do additional free work on the culverts, that wasn't covered under the contract to make the culverts even better, said Lent. “It's important to support local communities in 2 respects,” said Lent. “One, by hiring local workers, and 2, by providing small communities with projects that support them.”
This is one of 2 projects completed recently; the other being a water pump house that was constructed in Laylan. "The residents appeared to be pleased with the work, and were happy that their small village was receiving assistance," said Mullaney.
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MNF-I
Share a Laugh
(Photo by Sgt. Jon Soles)
Staff Sgt. William Andrews shares a laugh with an SoI security member at an SoI checkpoint near Mahmudiyah, Oct. 31.
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MNF-I
Pit Stop
(Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Steven King, Joint Combat Camera Center-Iraq)
Army Pfc. Patrick Camp, left, and Spc. Thomas Garrard, truck drivers attached to the 3rd ID, share a few laughs, as they wait to convoy M1 Abrams tanks through the night from COB Speicher to FOB Taji, Nov. 3.
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MNF-I
Baby Buddy
(Photo by Senior Airman Michael Wykes, Joint Combat Camera Center-Iraq)
Army Sgt. Amy Emde, 30th HBCT, holds a little girl, as the girl's mother receives clothing from Iraq's 5-2 NP Bde and the 5-2 IFP Training Team, in one of the poorest areas of Baghdad, Nov. 1.
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