FOB LION -- AF Lt. Col. Eric Hommel, center, cmdr of the Panjshir PRT, and other PRT members eat lunch with the Shotul District gov., right, at a local restaurant in the Panjshir prov., Jan. 7. Local restaurant owners are very prosperous due to the stable security within the Panjshir prov.
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Joint Combat Camera Afghanistan
Panjshir PRT Rokha District in Rokha District
(Photos by Sgt. Teddy Wade)FOB LION -- Afghan school principal signs his certificate of completion after attending a basic first aid class conducted by AF Staff Sgt. Abraham Jara, not shown, a medic assigned to the Panjshir PRT, at a high school in the Rokha District of Panjshir prov., Jan. 11.
AF and Army service members assigned to the Panjshir PRT drives around the mountains in the Rokha District of Panjshir prov., Jan. 7.
AF Staff Sgt. Abraham Jara, 25, medic, explains how to remove an object stuck on somebody's throat while Afghan nationals demonstrate during a first aid class at a school in the Rokha District, Jan. 11.
An Afghan store sells colorful female dresses at the bazaar in the Rokha District of Panjshir province, Afghanistan, Jan. 11.
AF Capt. John Stamm, gives out lollipops to Afghan children during a visit. Stamm is a public affairs officer assigned to the Panjshir PRT.
An Afghan kid stands outside a convenient store at the bazaar.
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Special to American Forces Press Service
By Army Sgt. Jon Dougherty
At this early hour, however, a winter chill still hung in the air during this late-Dec. morning, evidenced by the visible breath of the troops, who warmed themselves with gloves, hot coffee, and sea-foam-colored fleece caps pulled low over their heads.
“Intel says there was a cache found nearby containing quite a bit of bomb-making materials, but other than that, there's nothing new,” Johnson began. “We’ll be the first mission down this route in a few weeks.” Johnson went on to provide further details of the mission that would be carried out by crews belonging to the 41st Engr Co, an Army component based at Fort Riley, Kan., and the 5-3 Field Artillery Co, which is based at Fort Lewis, Wash. He discussed the routes, the destinations, and the mission’s goals, which included many of the same objectives these route-clearance troops have been accomplishing regularly during their 6 months. While the primary focus of the 41st’s mission was to clear key routes of IEDs, a large public-relations aspect applied, as well. “At tent city, we’ll hop out and drop off the boxes of clothing to the residents there,” Johnson told his crews, referring to a tented community called Chamtala, where the unit planned to distribute clothing donated by U.S.-based charities. Later, at the end of the route, the crews would rest overnight at an ANP compound, Johnson said. Rolling out: As the column made its way toward the base entrance, Afghan soldiers fanned out across busy asphalt streets to halt traffic so the convoy could proceed unimpeded and remain together. Once clear of the base, the tan-colored column weaved methodically through Jalalabad’s crowded thoroughfares, passing through various market districts clogged with cars, 3-wheeled carts and shoppers. Shortly before 9 a.m., the column of MRAPs eased into Chamtala and ground to a halt, disgorging soldiers and boxes of clothing. Within seconds, the troops were inundated by residents, mostly children, who streamed out of nearby tents and plywood-built shops in a mad dash to greet the soldiers bearing gifts. In a sort of controlled chaos, children of all sizes – and all smiles – clamored for the clothing, and the soldiers distributed the contents of all 3 large boxes in moments. By any measure, the public relations “mission” was a resounding success, evidenced by the satisfied smiles and abundant laughter from the scores of kids who continued to mob the soldiers and compete for their attention. The mission continues: For the remainder of the day, the convoy plodded along its route, stopping occasionally to investigate potential IED finds but, fortunately, coming up empty-handed. “I think public relations missions, in conjunction with the primary mission, are important,” said Army Capt. Reggie Rice, cmdr of the 41st. “If I can hand out candy and school supplies, great, but that stuff lasts only a short time. If I’m handing out a message that convinces the Afghans that my soldiers are here to protect them from IEDs, and allow them to travel the roads safely, that will have lasting sweetness for the people of Afghanistan and my soldiers.” At the police compound: Around 4 p.m., after hours of sitting in cramped MRAPs being jostled and choking on dust, the weary crews pulled into an ANP compound overlooking a small community in Nangahar prov. – not far from Tora Bora, the region believed to have been a temporary sanctuary for al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. The compound was in rocket and mortar range of insurgents, who often launched attacks from a small mountain range to the east, less than half a mile away, said Staff Sgt. Cody Newby, a vehicle truck cmdr. That would be a concern for Johnson and his men, who deployed their MRAPs strategically within the compound to guard against any attack, but it was important to be seen as sharing the responsibility for the defense of the base with the Afghan partners. As crews powered down vehicles and dismounted for a much-needed stretching of legs, many broke out packaged meals along with bottles of electrolyte beverages, water and energy drinks – the latter of which were largely shared with the Afghan police, who quickly gathered to observe the Americans as they set up to spend the night. They were not alone. Local Afghans gathered at the compound’s perimeter, sitting in groups of a dozen or so, while observing the Americans and the Afghan police as they went about their business. As American soldiers walked by, they stared curiously but remained silent. Meanwhile, though temperatures had been very moderate throughout the day – warming up into the mid-60s – a chill once again filled the dusk air as the dazzling yellow-orange sun began to fade below the western horizon. Soldiers, inquisitive about their surroundings, began touring the compound’s administrative buildings and its observation posts. They exchanged some conversation and laughs with their Afghan counterparts, made possible by Afghan interpreters traveling with the crews. By 6 p.m., the sun had set completely and temperatures had fallen well below 30 degrees, as a brilliant full moon began to rise in the night sky, highly visible against a backdrop of billions of stars. Soldiers gathered wood for a small fire they started in an earthen recession away from the convoy’s vehicles. Throughout the night, the Americans and their counterparts intermingled, shared laughs and chai tea – a favorite drink among Afghans – around the flames. By midnight, most had peeled off to catch some sleep, the Afghans fading into their compound, and the Americans either spreading out by the fire, bundling up in sleeping bags or curling up inside their MRAPs. Perhaps dissuaded by the heavy American presence, there were no rocket or mortar attacks overnight, allowing the camp to rest in relative tranquility – a welcome development for the tired, haggard soldiers. Breakfast: The following morning, crews began stirring just before daybreak, going through their rituals of personal hygiene, stowing sleeping bags and cots and seeking nourishment. By sunrise, some had migrated back to the fire pit, where a combination of U.S. soldiers and Afghan police were taking the edge of the early chill by soaking up heat emitted by the crackling flames. One police officer brought a large pot full of chai tea that he then shared with the Americans. Soon after, another brought a stack of warm, steaming flatbread, a staple in the diets of many Afghans. The Americans flocked to the flatbread, each of which resembled a 12-inch pizza crust, devouring it with enthusiasm. With a consistency of breadsticks, the balmy treat had a hint of sweetness and an inner consistency of a pancake. It didn’t take long for the large stack of flatbread to disappear, along with the entire pot of robust, orange-hued tea. Rejuvenated, the American crews prepared to move out next, gathering once more around plt leader Johnson as he briefed the day’s mission to return to FOB Fenti. Not much had changed from the initial brief given the day before; crews were to remain vigilant as they concentrated on clearing the route of IEDs. Before mounting up, the Americans bid their hosts farewell, thanking them for their hospitality and taking with them memories they will no doubt carry for a lifetime. Perhaps equally important, the camaraderie shared may have contributed toward fostering the kind of long-term relationships necessary to build trust, confidence and cooperation essential to keeping Afghanistan free from extremism over the long run. “With public relations efforts that convey a relationship of trust between soldiers and local residents we don’t have to find IEDs to be successful,” Rice said. “In addition, the PR missions can demonstrate that we're providing a hand to get local communities on their feet, and not an oppressive thumb to crush them under.” Allegiances in Afghanistan can be fleeting unless they are continually nurtured and developed, some analysts have observed. But a people hungry for peace and prosperity – and an American and NATO force visibly dedicated to laying the necessary groundwork to achieve such goals – won’t have to be convinced to buy in.DoD Imagery
(DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Dayton Mitchell, AF)
Army Cpl. Robert Garapola, with 2nd Bn, 1st Inf Regt, greets Afghan villagers in Kashk-E Nokhowd, Hutal, Jan. 9, 2010.
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Joint Weapons Search in Josah Kadah
(Navy photos by Chief Petty Officer Michael Heckman)FOB SUMMERALL -- Soldiers of the 2nd Bn, 16th Inf Regt, 4th IBCT, 1st ID, and IA Soldiers discuss plans during a search for criminal suspects and weapons caches, at a location reported by local tribal leaders in Josah Kadah, Jan. 7.
Soldiers of the 2nd Bn travel through the barren flats of western Salah ad-Din, in route to assist and support IA Soldiers.
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U.S. Forces Iraq
Mentors Aid in Optimizing Wounded Warrior Experience
BAGHDAD -- Sgt. Robert Brown receives a plaque from Iraqi Brig. Gen. Rahman, at FOB Sykes, Oct. 12. Rahman told the 6 Soldiers from Operation Proper Exit, "Your names will always be in our memory, not just on these papers. You have shed blood with us; for that we are thankful." (Photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Koladish)
Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Olson sits aboard a UH60 Black Hawk on his way to Camp Korean Village, Iraq, near the Jordian and Syrian borders, Dec. 29. Olson returned to Iraq for the second time since he lost his right leg in Tel a Far in 2003, as part of Operation Proper Exit.
(Left to right) Sgt. 1st Class Mike Schlitz, Sgt. Bill Congleton, 1st Lt. Jim Kirchner, Capt. Sam Brown and Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Olson stand next to MNF-Iraq Command Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Wilson, as they are introduced to a crowd of service members, Dec. 28, at Camp Victory's Al Faw Palace in Baghdad. Each Soldier returned to Iraq as a part of Operation Proper Exit to talk to troops about their injuries and to find closure by visiting the places they were injured. (Photo by Lee Craker)
By Spc. Shantelle Campbell