BAGRAM AIRFIELD – With less than a month left of their deployment, Soldiers of the Georgia NG’s Distribution Plt, Co E, celebrate another completed convoy. “We’ve run more convoy op missions than anyone else in the 48th, and have been attacked a couple of times,” said Army 1st Lt. Jerry Gardner, the plt leader.
The convoys can often be long, with undeveloped roads, dangerous routes and unpredictable missions. “We once had a 7-day mission that turned into a 24-day mission,” said Sgt. Greg Wallace, the medic for the plt.
“We've averaged at least 2 missions a week,” said Sgt. 1st Class Brian Mauro, plt sgt. “We carry anything and everything.” Since May, the plt has run more than 100 combat missions, covering almost 3,000 miles and 8 provs. The different areas of op have given the plt a unique opportunity to see more of the Afghan countryside than most units, he added. At the start of their combined-action, the ANA had little experience, and were ill-prepared for the movements. “The first fire-fight we got into, they didn’t even shoot back,” said Spc. Dustin Carnes, a gunner for the Distribution Plt.This platoon taught them how to clean their weapons and maintain them on a regular basis, added Carnes. “We used to wait on them for hours before leaving the wire. Now when we show up, they have their trucks fueled and ammo belted; they're ready to go, and so are we.”
“Peace members, you are responsible to solve the problems of the people,” said Haji Allahyar, dep. gov. of Ghazni. “The people trust you. You're the ones who can bring prosperity to your districts. Do not break the people’s hearts. Do as you promised for your districts to help the people. They trust you to make wise decisions.”
Polish Army Brig. Gen. Bronowicz, Cmdr, TF White Eagle, also addressed the council. Speaking in Dari, he expressed his thanks for the honor of participating in the inaugurating session. “It's a very important day for Ghazni prov.,” said Bronowicz. “The provincial council has a very important job representing the people of the prov. I firmly believe that the council will assist the gov’s office in determining the development objectives for the prov. TheTF will do its best to support your efforts.”
“The reopening of the PC marks a significant advancement of our governance efforts in Ghazni,” said Mark Fleming, Dept of State rep for the PRT. “It's reversed the negative drift of the past year, in which many informal institutions have seen their authority weaken. The closure of the PC last year was another symbol of the dysfunctional govt institutions in Ghazni. The reestablishment of the provincial council sends a powerful public message.”Compiled from ISAF Joint Command news releases
A patrol found a cache March 2 containing 55 lbs of wet opium, 100 gallons of liquid morphine, 30 gallons of chemical precursors, 220 lbs of heroin, and 110 lbs of heroin waste products.
In a separate find March 2, a patrol discovered a cache containing 88 lbs of opium gum, 88 lbs of morphine base, 88 lbs of precursor chemicals for opium processing, and various drug-processing equipment. In another op, a patrol found a drug cache containing 4 lbs of amphetamines, a lb of opium, and 5 gallons of acid. "All of these finds were within 4 miles of each other, and point to the success of operating jointly and with the support of the local population," said Navy Capt. Jane Campbell, ISAF Joint Command spokeswoman.In other ops:
-- A SECFOR searched a rural compound and detained 2 suspected insurgents in Helmand prov., March 4, after intel info indicated militant activity. -- An Afghan and int'l team captured a Taliban cmdr during a joint op in Helmand prov., March 3. He's known to have planned and coordinated attacks leading to the deaths of civilians and Afghan forces. Two other suspected insurgents were detained during the op. -- Afghan soldiers on patrol with ISAF in Kabul prov., found a significant weapons cache, March 2. The combined force found 6 machine guns, 30 homemade bombs, and more than 1,000 explosive fuses.Iraqi Stories:
By Sgt. Neil McCabe
By United States Forces - Iraq PAO
American leaders watched as well trained and determined ISF stopped terrorists at every turn from scaring voters, away from polling sites - a force that they'd been involved in training and assisting; a force they were still involved with assisting.
"The security was tight," said Guy DiDomenico, a U.N. field security specialist, while touring a polling site in Mansour. He explained that around 8:30 a.m., polling was slow. However, many more voters arrived between 10 a.m. and noon.
Compared to the 2009 elections, where he was also present, DiDomenico said security improved greatly this year, and that the polling locations appeared much more organized, with more people working at them.
Watching from more than 300 meters away as their ISF counterparts handled the security at the polling sites, U.S. Soldiers said they were impressed by the process. "The ISF did a good job," said Cpl. Andrew Canvasser, an MP with MP Plt, HHC, 4th SBCT, 2nd ID. "The ISF used a show of force to keep order," he said, explaining that both IA and the IP were present at the polling sites. "They did a good job minimizing the threat as much as they could."
Meanwhile, back on FOB Constitution, location of the 6th IA Div Joint Ops Center (JOC), 4th Bde Soldiers and leaders carefully monitored the security situation alongside Iraqi partners. Together, the 2 military forces shared intel about the situation on the ground, coordinated the use of U.S. intel, recon and surveillance equipment, and received updates from the field.
"The JOC was instrumental in ensuring that Iraqi and U.S. forces were synchronized, updated on each others' activities, and allowed us to quickly and effectively maneuver ISR assets at the request of our partners," said Col. John Norris, the bde cmdr. "The JOC has proven to be a valuable tool and an asset that will continue to be used by our ISF partners, long after we have gone."
"I give a lot of credit to the Iraqi people for going out and voting even though there's real danger out there," DiDomenico said. "It's a sight to see people voting."
As the polls closed in the northern area of Baghdad, officials attributed the ISF for higher than anticipated voter turnout as the local population filled polling stations. "Overall, supporting the national elections has solidified for us the IA's ability to conduct security ops and track units on the ground," said 1st Lt. Drew Kitchen, an IA ops coordinator.
If Iraqis filled the polling stations in northern Baghdad, they swelled them in Iraq's Al Anbar prov., where advise-and-assist paratroopers with 1st Bde, 82nd Abn escorted 3 election-site monitoring teams with UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, to polling sites in Ramadi, the Ramadi-Fallujah corridor, and the Hit/Haditha area.
According to the Anbar Ops Command, the ISF had discovered 20 IEDs and removed them in a 30-hour span prior to Election Day. Eight more detonated on Election Day with only 1 minor injury.
U.S. Forces standing by for assistance were never called upon by ISF. However, Capt. Richard Jones, cmdr of Co B, 2nd Bn, 504th PIR, said his company provided security and transportation for the Ramadi and Fallujah area UNAMI teams. His men did exactly what was needed. "They deserve praise," he said. "They worked hard today. They've been working hard this whole deployment, and we're proud of them."
By Spc. Robert Sheets
By Pfc. Erik Anderson
COB ENDEAVOR