The Afghan-ISAF provided humanitarian supplies to the affected villages after the op. Six trucks delivered warm clothing and food, including staple items such as cooking oil, rice and beans.
Kunduz Gov. Omar praised the accuracy of ISAF air strikes against the insurgents while avoiding civilians. "It's the largest op I've ever seen in Kunduz. You've got the Taliban running all over the place. Overall, I think this op is wonderful," Omar said.Military officials will continue to meet with village elders to ensure the area remains secure after combat ops. "People of Kunduz are very appreciative that ISAF and ANSF are working together to better Afghanistan," Omar said. "Taliban in the area are on the run, and we've shown them that they cannot control the area." In other news from Afghanistan, an Afghan-ISAF force killed an enemy militant and detained several suspects in the southern prov. of Kandahar Nov. 8, while pursuing a senior Taliban cmdr in charge of local and foreign fighters in the area. The combined force targeted a vehicle in the Khakriz district after intel indicated militant activity. The force killed one insurgent, detained several suspects and recovered 9 50-pound containers of homemade explosives, an assault rifle and ammo. A combined force detained several suspected militants in Kandahar prov. after searching buildings known to be used by a Taliban district cmdr responsible for several attacks and linked to senior Taliban leadership in the area. The force targeted the buildings on the east side of Kandahar City after intel indicated militant activity there, searched the buildings without incident and detained the suspects. Elsewhere, a combined force killed several enemy militants and detained a group of suspects in Kandahar prov., Nov. 7 while pursuing a Taliban operative suspected of being responsible for targeting Afghan civilians and providing IEDs and suicide bombers to other militants in the area. The force’s convoy was in transit when enemy militants attempted to hit it with an IED strike. The force immediately located the enemy position and returned fire, killing the enemy militants. A security element with the force pursued and detained the group who were seen leaving the enemy's location. The force searched the enemy position and recovered IED materials, an assault rifle, chest racks and assault-rifle ammo mags. The force targeted a compound on the west side of Qalat City that intel reports identified as a location used by Taliban cmdrs. Since the compound was close to an Afghan police station, the force coordinated with the police chief to accompany and assist with the op. When the police chief called for occupants to exit the compound, the force received hostile fire and returned fire, killing one militant. The force searched the compound and detained the suspects, one of whom surrendered and identified himself as the Taliban bomb coordinator. He was found hiding in a building later discovered to be a Red Cross office on the compound. Further questioning of the Taliban facilitator revealed he's a relative of a local Red Cross employee. In a separate op, another combined force detained several suspected militants in Khowst prov, one of whom was a sought-after Haqqani terrorist leader responsible for the financial and logistical support of militant activities in the area. The force targeted compounds in the Sabari district after intel indicated militant activity there, searched the compounds without incident, and detained 6 suspects, one of whom was identified as the Haqqani suspect.
Army Soldiers from 2nd Bn, 12th Inf Regt, 4th ID, and U.S. Army Forces Command, patrol the Waterpur Valley in Kunar prov., Nov. 3. ISAF service members continue to provide humanitarian relief and security assistance to the prov.'s people and govt.
Sgt. Levi Vernon walks through the rubble of a medical clinic, destroyed by insurgent forces earlier in the year. Vernon is a member of Co C, 2nd Bn.
Pvt. John Macintosh, a native of Canada's Halifax, Nova Scotia, provides security for fellow 2nd Bn Soldiers. Thousands of foreign-born citizens, like Macintosh, serve in the U.S. armed services, and have deployed in support of ongoing American military ops.
Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO
A Friendly Game of Cards
Photos by Sgt. Matthew Moeller
Marine Corps Sgt. Terry Hall watches as ANA soldiers play fis-kut, an Afghan card game similar to spades, at COP Honaker-Miracle, in Kunar prov., Nov. 2. Hall is a member of eMiTT 7-5, and lives side-by-side with the emerging Afghan army, mentoring them into a fighting force capable of protecting its own borders and people.
Marine Corps Sgt. Hall poses for a picture with an ANA soldier.
A U.S. Army UH-57 Kiowa helicopter from the 159th CAB, lands at COP Honaker-Miracle, covering the surrounding area with dust and debris, Nov. 1.
Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO
Afghan Police, Youth Move Forward in Kunar Province
In the village of Dari Khar, several local youth groups held a shura to discuss community service and small project implementation, Nov. 5. CF organized the meeting, in which youth leaders also discussed combining several youth groups into a much larger united group. Insurgents routinely seek to recruit vulnerable males ages 14 to 19 for insurgent activity. The youth shuras will hopefully give young males a positive outlet. One promising proposal will offer incentives, such as sports equipment, in exchange for positive community involvement. A few days later in the Pech District, ANP officers from the Bar Kanday station trained with CF partners on battle maneuvers and drills, Nov. 8. The ANP officers requested the training after learning that ANA soldiers were getting the instruction. CF and the ANP are working together more often, and are both benefiting from the training.
-30-
Special to American Forces Press Service Iraq
By Army 2nd Lt. Sophia Volz
Aguirre spearheads the section, overseeing day-to-day ops, providing guidance to cmdrs, and mentoring soldiers. The section’s 12 soldiers officially are responsible for maintaining all intel and communications security equipment used by the military intel co. assigned to the 4th Special Troops Bn. “Unofficially though, we also fix everything from coffee pots and iPods to satellite dishes,” Aguirre said.
Army Sgt. Jonathan Culpepper, the section’s shop foreman, spent more than 11 months training for his current job. “I’m responsible for all maintenance activities,” he said. “This is probably one of the most mentally challenging military occupational specialties.” Army Spc. Brent Leverette is one of 2 cryptological equipment repair specialists in the section. “I’m responsible for fixing all the communications security equipment for the whole BCT,” he said. This means he also is responsible for fixing equipment at the more than 15 outlying bases in Iraq’s Dhi Qar, Maysan, and Muthanna provs., where “Highlander” soldiers advise and assist ISF. The section’s soldiers also work with civilian field service reps to ensure equipment is fixed or replaced in a timely manner. “If we can’t fix it, we send the equipment to the field service reps.,” Aguirre said. “They usually send us a brand new piece of equipment. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to fix the equipment. We’ve worked for 36 hours straight before. We want to be, and are, the premier electronics maintenance shop in the brigade.”All of a sudden, Soldiers from 2nd Bn, 5th Cav Regt scream at the trainees to recreate the chaos inside in a burning building. "You gotta respect the fire," admitted Spc. Kevin Fregia, a hazardous materials specialist. "Yeah, you're going to be scared, but you gotta have confidence and the knowledge to do what you have to do."
"Some of the things we taught them, like the technical stuff, they weren't too comfortable with," said Cpl. John Curtis, a combat medic. "But after running through some scenarios a few times, they were good." Curtis, the lead instructor for the course, added that even though these Iraqis have been working as firefighters for a few years in some cases, he wanted to focus on their equipment first. "You want to make sure they know how to use it and how it works," he continued. "Then run them through a few scenarios and let them problem solve before we make corrections."
The Iraqis were eager to learn and jumped in at every opportunity to ask questions and display what they've learned in the past. "Actually, being able to see them use their own gear and knowledge, with me just pushing them along the way is a great feeling," said Curtis. "I've seen a lot of improvement today. If you get the tactical and technical aspects down, then you're going to have confidence to go in there and save some lives."
Hussan Hussein and his fellow firefighters agreed that the U.S. Soldiers taught them all something helpful. "I think they were having a lot of fun and learning a lot. They would have stayed all day if they could have," said Fregia.
-30-
MNF-I
Pfc. Travis Hughes (middle) kneels to receive combat spurs during a ceremony at Camp Stryker, Nov. 7. Hughes said he learned of the spur legacy while he was at Fort Knox, Ky., and it felt good to receive a pair.
"It's a way to bring morale up towards the end," said Sqdrn Command Sgt. Maj. James Allen. "We did the NCOs Induction Ceremony mid-way through the tour, and we'll have award ceremonies at the end. It's a constant positive spin for Soldiers to be recognized for what they're doing."Troops knelt on a red and white (the unit's colors) box, as Allen and Sqdrn Cmdr, Lt. Col. Robbie Scarberry, pushed combat spurs down on the heel of their boots. Troop Cmdr, Capt. Thomas Mills, and 1st Sgt. Wanzer Reynolds, gave troopers framed certificates and thanked them for accomplished cavalry trooper traits; cunning skills and defeating the enemy. No one knows exactly when the U.S Cavalry began ceremonies awarding spurs for outstanding performance, but the ritual has now become an enduring practice of pride, honor and accomplishment for troops receiving spurs in Iraq for combat.
Iraqi girls perform a skit for Iraqi officials and Soldiers during a re-opening ceremony at Yassamin School, Nov. 5.
While on a weapons search near Yusifiyah, U.S. and Iraqi Soldiers came across the foundations of 2 ancient buildings between the sand dunes, Nov. 8.
-30-
Joint Combat Camera Center-Iraq
Barber Shop
(Photo by Spc. Samantha Ciaramitaro)
An Iraqi barber keeps working while U.S. Army Spc. Clayton Henderson, 305th PSYOPS Co, asks about Iranian Influence in the local community, during a joint patrol with Iraqi Soldiers in Az Zubayr, Oct. 31.