By Army Spc. Elisebet Freeburg
Over the last 9 months, these convoys have moved building and electrical materials needed to expand numerous FOBs, including Lagman, Spin Boldak, Tarin Kowt, Frontenac and Wolverine. The 286th CSSB also convoyed water and food to FOB Dwyer in Helmand prov. when the Marines began ops there. “We’re making sure that stuff is out there where the warfighters are,” Dunn said. While 286th CSSB soldiers prepare to return to Maine, they’ve begun a new undertaking to help the 2nd ID’s 5th Stryker Bde protect population centers. As the Stryker bde moves to new locations closer to Afghan cities and towns, the 286th CSSB will convoy their equipment and supplies to the new localities.
A U.S. military cargo truck rolls through Kandahar City, while carrying lumber for FOB expansion.
A U.S. military cargo truck passes an empty convoy of trucks and MRAP vehicles on a mission to FOB Leatherneck.
-30-
Special to American Forces Press Service
By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dwight Henderson
Marine Corps Maj. Matt Ciancarelli and a Pashtu interpreter talk to local residents during a patrol through the town and fields of Amir Agha.
-30-
“I think the enemy is targeting people on purpose,” General Fuller said. “These are the same orgs who send suicide bombers into mosques to blow up themselves.”
“People must organize their actions against enemy activities. To defeat this common enemy requires a partnership between the ANSF and the citizens,” said Col. Waqaf Shah, ANA 203rd Corps Religious and Cultural Office Chief. “We must pave the way for a safer future for our children, and protect innocent lives from these threats.”WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2009 – Afghan and ISAF detained several suspected militants, including a bomb cell leader and Taliban cmdr, in ops in Afghanistan over the past 3 days, military officials reported.
Also Dec. 7, an Afghan and ISAF in Khost province detained a suspected Haqqani terrorist network bombing cell leader, and several other militants after searching a compound near Kuzah Kala village in Terayzai district, where intel sources reported the cell leader to be located. The combined force searched the compound without incident and detained several militants, including the cell leader. The force also recovered assault rifles, hand grenades and bomb-making materials.
In another op, an Afghan and ISAF killed several enemy militants and wounded another in northern Paktika prov., while pursuing a Taliban cmdr. The militant cmdr is believed to be responsible for weapons trafficking, kidnapping Afghan civilians and planning several bomb attacks in the area. The combined SECFOR targeted a compound near Tawdobay Kalay village in Sar Hawza district where intel reported militant activity. The combined force received hostile fire and returned fire. A security element searched the enemy fighting position and recovered several assault rifles and chest racks loaded with ammo mags. Another combined force detained a few suspected militants in Zabul prov., while pursuing a Taliban cmdr responsible for several small-arms and bomb attacks in the area. The force searched a compound near Nowkhiz village in Qalat district where intel sources reported militant activity and detained the militants without incident. In ops Dec. 6, ISAF carried out an air strike and killed a group of enemy militants in Laghman prov., that placed homemade bombs along a road near Hakimabad village in Arlingar district. After the air strike, Afghan and ISAF cleared the site, found the homemade bombs and destroyed them. The combined force targeted a compound near Rigwai Sofla village in the Panjawi district where reliable intel sources said the Taliban cmdr was located. The force searched the compound without incident and detained 2 militants, including the Taliban cmdr. In Ghanzi province, another combined force searched a compound near Mian Kheyl village in Wali Mohammad Shaheed district without incident, and detained a suspected militant.-30-
By Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq
"We were tasked with identifying schools in the Radwaniyah area that needed remodeling or additions, and al-Wissam was one that needed significant remodeling," said Capt. Thomas Mills, with the 150th.
Once U.S. forces located the schools identified for remodeling, the bidding process began with local contractors. "We're helping them put money back into their economy, and building rapport with the locals," said Spc. Jason Sizemore, a civil affairs specialist with the 1472nd Civil Affairs Co, attached to the 150th ARS.
Throughout the school's progress, the Soldiers continually evaluated the local contractor's work to ensure project standards were being met. The contractor received payments in increments as his work progressed. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mills conducted his final walk-through of the school to ensure that the project had been completed. "We give them work, check up on them and make sure everything goes according to paperwork," said Sizemore.
Reps from the Iraqi Ministry of Education, politicians from the Nahia counsel, 2 local shaykhs and IA officials said they were very appreciative of U.S. forces playing a vital role in rebuilding the infrastructure of schools. The officials felt that the new school would deny insurgents material for propaganda, said Mills; combating the insurgents argument to local residents that U.S. forces don't provide for basic services. "The contractor went above and beyond," said Mills. "He built a cage around the generator out of his own pocket and outside of the contract."
-30-
By Spc. Daniel Schneider
Projects like this offer immediate assistance to the Iraqi people, and provide water for drinking, cleaning and cooking. Blanchard concluded that this could prevent the desperation that leads to hostility.
-30-
MNF-I
COB ADDER — For the Soldiers with TF Pathfinder, helping the next generation of Iraqis obtain a basic education is a critical part of their mission. In order to leave a safe, stable nation when American Soldiers depart, Iraq must develop the social infrastructure required to sustain the progress made.
Prior to deployment, U.S. Soldiers train to perform conventional military tasks, whether serving as riflemen, tankers, or cooks. When they leave for deployments, they depart confident in their abilities. The Soldiers of TF Pathfinder took their training one step further, adding a range of Civil Affairs and project mgt skills to their pre-deployment preparations.
Since arriving here, they've adapted to a new role. They now provide military support to civil capacity ops, combining their movement and security expertise with a broader understanding of economic and social development as part of the Army's 1st Advisory and Assistance Bde.
An important component of the advise and assist mission is supporting civil capacity. In southern Iraq, this means working alongside the U.S. State Dept's PRTs, assisting efforts that range from providing clean drinking water to repairing damaged hospitals.
Among these many efforts, educating the children of Iraq is an important facet. "We've made great progress in this country," said Lt. Col. Michael Eastman, cmdr of TF Pathfinder. "Sustaining those gains beyond an American presence here requires that the next generation of Iraqi leaders have access to a basic education."
More than simply delivering school books and supplies, their efforts include improving and expanding the existing infrastructure by renovating damaged buildings, building new schools in remote locations, providing electrical access, and equipping them with supplies and furniture.
In the province of Al Muthanna alone, the Soldiers of "Able" Co, an inf unit assigned to the TF, provided project oversight and security for the construction of 2 new 4-room schools, 1 school renovation, and 3 corresponding electrical extensions. By adding electricity to the schools, they created a learning environment safe from the elements and capable of bringing increasing exposure to outside info.
Based on this initial success, the assigned Army Civil Affairs team assumed responsibility for an additional 3 schools and the corresponding electrical extension projects. "We see it as an investment in Iraq's next generation, and pivotal to long term sustained national growth," said Capt. Michael Martin, "A" Co, 1st Bn, 77th AR Regt attached to TF Pathfinder, when asked to describe how his Soldiers view the progress they've made with the province's education system.
Staff Sgt. Danillo Martinez added, "Positively affecting the life of one child is what makes it all worth it."