Combined Joint TF-82 Army Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel, stops to talk to the troops. Capel, along with the cmdr of CJTF-82, Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, visited FOB Ghazni, Nov. 25, to wish the troops a Happy Thanksgiving, and thank them for being the ones to "put boots on the ground."
1st Lt. Ryan Keeter, TF White Eagle joint communications officer, carves meat to be served during Thanksgiving dinner, Nov. 26.
Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO
Thanksgiving at Bagram Air Field
(Photo by Spc. William Henry)
TF Cyclone Chaplain, Lt. Col. Russell Dewell, serves a Thanksgiving Day meal to Capt. Alfred Saguid and others at Dragon dining facility at Bagram Air Field, Nov. 26. Members of the command group of TF Cyclone took time out during their lunch hour to serve meals.
(Photos by Master Sgt. Sarah Webb)
Spc. Hyrum Robb, Civil Military Ops Center, NCO, Ghazni PRT, instructs members of the ANP force, who man the checkpoints and District Center in the district of Qara Bagh, Nov. 17. The course is based on building good relationships with the villagers in their jurisdiction, to enhance public support for police actions, and decrease support for insurgent activities.
GHAZNI PROVINCE – Forty ANP from Qara Bagh district, received civil military and police ops training from members of Ghazni PRT Civil Affairs and the Combined Action Unit (CAU), assigned to FOB Vulcan.
The ANP participated in scenarios designed to familiarize them with the techniques to make them feel more comfortable when interacting with people on the streets.“We discussed ideas for interacting with the villagers,” said Sgt. Jesse Reder, Civil Affairs Team sgt for Ghazni PRT. “We suggested they talk about their families and ask how their children are doing. We want them to be involved in knowing, understanding and providing solutions for problems that the villagers face.” After the scenarios were complete, the CAU conducted training on how to properly perform dismount patrols, using troop leading procedures. Once they were confident with their role, the team headed out to the Bazaar, where the ANP engaged shop owners and villagers in friendly conversation. “You wouldn’t think this would be a new concept to the police, but we observed a bit of disconnect between the ANP and the people, even within eyesight of the district center and the outposts,” Reder said. “Some of the disconnect has to do with tribal differences; some has to do with the ANP’s methods of op. Many of the younger police truly seemed to grasp the concept.” CAUs are ultimately responsible for training and mentoring the ANSF. Pro-active policing techniques, as taught by Civil Affairs, are not traditionally part of CAU’s established program. “The ANP are on the front line of the counterinsurgency fight,” said 1st Lt. David Esra, Qara Bagh/Wagez Police Mentoring Team Chief assigned to FOB Vulcan's Combined Action Unit. “They're the face of the Afghan Govt. The training of the ANP continues to develop them into professional public servants who can provide a legitimate and useful service to the Afghan people. We're attempting to develop an operational police force that is there to protect and serve, instead of solely lying in a foxhole waiting to be shot at. The training provided by the Civil Affairs team was right on the money in steadily steering the ANP in the right direction to ultimately fill that role.” “The instruction today emphasized the fact that the fight for Afghanistan’s sovereignty will not be won by CF,” Reder said. “It'll be won by the people of Afghanistan, the same people these men are sworn to serve and protect.” This newly developed combined training course exemplifies the int'l community’s efforts to bring security to Afghanistan, through partnership with ANSF, to create the conditions for governance, reconstruction and development to flourish.
"We're just trying to familiarize them with the helicopter ops in an actual Army unit," said Chief Warrant Officer Steve Bridges, the sqdrn standardization instructor pilot. "We wanted to show them the equipment we use and the aircraft we fly."
"As an instructor, this is very good," said Bill Harper, a Westar helicopter instructor that trains the IqAF students. "All the things we teach these guys are kind of abstract; this kind of makes it real."
Once these students complete flight school, they'll move to Taji to focus on the particular helicopter each will fly in the IqAF.
"This was a good chance to learn about something new," Ebrahem said. "I like to see things that I don't know about. Part of being a pilot is trying to learn more and more about different aircraft. This is definitely something I would like to come back and see again.”
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Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq
BAGHDAD — A Nov. 18 ribbon-cutting ceremony here in the Int'l Zone marked the opening of a new English language testing facility for Iraqis. The mission of the facility is to provide an improved environment for English language testing, and to allow military and civilian candidates from the GoI to achieve their full performance potential.
Army Staff Sgt. Judith Resendiz, test control officer, said, "This new facility will support Iraqis who need to validate their English proficiency, so they can participate in specialized schooling and pursue opportunities in other English speaking environments, that will help them get the skills they need to help sustain their country."
AF Brig. Gen. Craig Olson, dir. of the Iraq Security Assistance Mission, spoke at the inauguration of the facility. He stressed the important partnership the U.S. and Iraq have, and explained how the facility will aid Iraqis to master their English language skills, so that they can attend schools in the U.S. Staff Lt. Col. Jaleb, IqAF Division 1 director, cut the ribbon with Olson.
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MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
ISF and U.S. advisors searched a building in SW Mosul Nov.29, for an alleged member of AQI. The suspect is believed to be managing finances for AQI-associated terrorists, used to bribe Iraqi authorities and purchase materials to manufacture explosive devices. Following a preliminary investigation at the scene, ISF arrested 3 suspected associates of the alleged AQI member.
During a separate security op conducted Nov. 29 in Muqdadiyah, NE of Baghdad, IP and U.S. advisors searched a building for an individual believed to be associated with senior leaders of AQI. Based on evidence discovered on the premises, IP arrested an individual believed to be working with the suspected AQI associate.