Marines with Lima Co, 3rd Bn, 4th Marine Regt, prepare Christmas dinner at an COP in Now Zad, Dec. 25. The Marines made the most of this holiday season, generating their own holiday cheer away from loved ones.
Lance Cpl. Benjamin Knight, a rifleman, carries water back to his living area.
Lance Cpl. Cody Collis, a rifleman, does his laundry. Collis added detergent and water to an oil drum to wash his clothing, and innovated a spin-cycle by rolling the drum repeatedly.
An Afghan child is treated for a blister on his backside by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jimmy Diaz, a corpsman with Lima Co.
Marines prepare Christmas dinner.
Capt. Andrew Terrell, comm. officer of Lima Co., talks to his Marines.
Christmas was just another day on the job for Lance Cpl. Andrew Klaasen, 25, a rifleman. Klassen spent his Christmas alongside his comm. officer, Capt. Andrew Terrell, visiting several COPs throughout Now Zad, Dec. 25.
(Photos by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Hall)
Lt. Gen. Caldwell IV, second from right, and Command Sgt. Maj Larry Turner, right, NATO Training Mission-A. Caldwell visited Camp Alamo to serve Christmas Day lunch to service members, DOD employees and Afghans.
Lt. Gen. Caldwell IV, right, shares lunch with CF at Camp Alamo.
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Photos by Sgt. Brian Tuthill
NAWA -- Marines patrol near a road littered with multiple IEDs Dec. 21, near COP "ManBearPig," located in Nawa district's NW and most hostile area. Marines, Afghan civilians, and Taliban insurgents no longer use the road due to the hazardous explosives.
Sgt. Mike Osburn, 25, squad leader, 1st Plt, Bravo Co, 1st Bn, 3rd Marine Regt, speaks with an Afghan citizen as an ANA soldier translates, as they try to identify where the sound of gunfire was heard during at patrol Dec. 21 near COP "ManBearPig." Marines hear Taliban insurgents firing at them from a distance on a daily basis, as they conduct security patrols in the area.
An ANA soldier yells his signature phrase, "Very, very good, sir!" as Cpl. Jantzen McClellan, 21, a mortarman assigned, and other ANA soldiers laugh. Marines and ANA soldiers live and patrol side-by-side at the remote COP.
Marines use shovels to attempt to dig out an MRAP vehicle in the rain, Dec. 19, after it sunk into the soft mud flats near COP "ManBearPig." The MRAP was freed with the help of a recovery vehicle. Marines say thick, deep mud like this is typical in the arid farming area.
2nd Lt. Victor Barnes, Jr., 27, plt cmdr, discusses plans with ANA soldiers assigned with his Marines. The ANA soldiers mainly speak Pashtu, Nawa's primary language, giving Marines an advantage while patrolling.
Marines inscribed "Welcome to the Wild West" and "Enemy that way" with arrows pointing west on a support beam of the raised guard tower. The guard tower also has bullet holes in the wood where Taliban insurgents have attacked the remote outpost.
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DVIDS
Marines Sacrifice Holidays to Fight for Country
Cpl. Aaron Bennet, a heavy equipment operator from 2nd Combat Engr Bn places barbed wire around a newly constructed COP in Helmand prov., Dec. 18. A total of 2 COPs were constructed as a part of their mission. The COPs were placed in specific areas were Marines have encountered many roadside bombs, to prevent insurgents from placing more IEDs.
HELMAND PROVINCE – This year 2nd CEB are spread all over southern Afghanistan working hard building COPs, searching for IEDs, and providing route clearance. However, for many Marines of 2nd CEB it was not a dreaded sacrifice, and instead embraced the duty with pride for family and Corps. "I didn't join the Marine Corps during a time of war not to fight," said Cpl. Aaron Bennet, a heavy equipment operator, for 2nd CEB. "For all those Marines who have died, it was time to do my part."
"Especially in the infantry, you never go do anything without a plan, without a rehearsal. The hardest part is getting ready. It's the same with teaching... if you go in there and try to wing it, they're going to eat you alive," Wilkinson said. "Also, having been an NCO, and standing up in front of people, talking to people, you feel comfortable doing that. It's really intimidating when you walk into a classroom. Also, you have to learn to work with people."With his education, Wilkinson could commission as an officer. He prefers the hands on environment being an NCO offers, saying that it's the same thing he likes about teaching.
"I like being a squad leader; I like being a team leader; I like being an NCO," Wilkinson said. "It's good duty. You get a lot more hands on, and I think that's why I like teaching. It's really hands on; you get to know their emotions; what they're thinking, and what they're feeling."Wilkinson, who seems compelled to serve his country and community, said the rewards of being in the military are immeasurable, and he wishes others could share in the experience.
"Less than 1% of the U.S. population is in the military, and I think that's a terrible thing, because this is worth doing," Wilkinson said.As a Soldier, Wilkinson says that he does not worry about politics, just the mission. "We don't get to choose what wars we fight, or what duties we pull. I've guarded refugees in Albania, stopped genocide in Kosovo; I'm here in Iraq now. I didn't get to choose any of that. However, I know there're people whose lives are better, because I was on a street with a gun and I didn't back down. Whatever else happens the rest of my life, I know I changed the world, and 99% of our population is never going to experience that."
By Spc. Shantelle Campbell
The Iraqi officers, representing three distinguished organizations, earned Army certificates and kudos from the 591st Military Police Company, 151st Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade instructors and the 49th's commander, Brig. Gen. Donald Currier. The officers completed a series of training scenarios that included classroom and field work in evidence collection.
"We focused on crime scene processing,” said Staff Sgt. Ismael Leon, a class instructor. “We gave them scenarios and tools and let them do their thing." The first day set the tone for this unique training. The Iraqi participants engaged in a question-and-answer session with a prestigious Iraqi judge, who provided invaluable suggestions on what adjudicators like to see in criminal cases.
"That was really impressive; that doesn't happen a lot when a judge speaks to detectives," said Capt. Violeta Sifuentes, 591st co cmdr. "There was really good back-and-forth communication. The judge talked about forensics and crime scenes, things that are important to a case, things judges like to see. The goal is to have them become proficient in the collection of evidence," Sifuentes said. "Properly collecting and handling evidence can lead to the conviction of suspects in a criminal case."
"Things like getting fingerprints, that's a big thing as far as evidence," added Leon. "Fingerprints make it easier to solve cases. It's really important in getting cases solved." Leon showed the students how to properly "book" suspects, including how to get suspects to place their fingerprints onto sheets of paper. "It looked easy at first, but then when they tried it, they found it wasn't as easy as it seems," said Leon.
"What we wanted the most was to get them to understand they have to work as a team," added Sifuentes. "They also have to learn there're different techniques of collecting evidence. There's also officer safety that they need to keep in mind."
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Paul Ijames, project engr for the Mazraa School and several other schools in Anbar providence, has been overseeing a variety of essential service projects in Iraq over the past 18 months. “I’ve been involved with many things, but school projects like this are right at the top of the list, since they provide many children access to an education they would otherwise not have been able to get,” said Ijames. “We’re making a difference in people’s lives.”
According to Ijames, one of reasons this project was so exceptional was due to the pride the Iraqi workers continued to display throughout the construction of the school. “It’s their children, nephews and nieces, and other kids residing in that neighborhood who will be going to school there,” he said. “They now have a good environment in which they can learn.”
The new 6-classroom school, which replaces an old 2-room house, will accommodate up to 300 students and teachers. The school complex also includes administrative offices, a playground, guard house, backup generator, a security wall around the entire school property, and a supply of necessary school furnishings.
Local leaders, residents as well as the children are excited about the completion of the new school. Hamed, a 7-year-old boy, and his friend, who both will be students at the new school, stood at the entrance and said with a big smile, “This will be my school; thank you for giving me a new school.”
“You can see it in the smiles of the local residents who are diligently working every day to provide a brighter future for their children and grandchildren,” Ijames said. “They know that the key to success is hard work and education. Just like in the U.S., their schools are the heart of their community – a place for hope.”
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