Dear Interested Reader,
A chance to determine their own future in Marjah. ANA Soldiers brave dangers to help locals. Preparations continue for new ABP unit. Local Afghan tip leads to large weapons cache.
Iraq: Service members pursue education at Sather Air Base. Successful elections in Basrah. Proud Iraqi women vote in Nasiriyah. Iraqi's advancing at the "Speed of Light."
Joanna
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Afghanistan Stories:
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A Chance to Determine Their Own Future (Photos by 1st Lt. Joe Reney)
MARJAH - Afghanistan VP Karim Khalili, Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, comm. gen., ISAF, and Gov. Gulab Mangal, Helmand provincial gov., walk down the district center of Marjah, March 1. The Marjah district center was recently cleared by ANSF and U.S. Marines.
Karl Eikenberry, U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, and Gov. Mangal, talk to local residents in the district center of Marjah, Feb. 28.
Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, comm. gen., MEB-A, and ANA Gen. Majaidin, toss candy to local Afghan children on the other side of a canal as they walk down the district center of Marjah, Mar. 1.
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AF Tech. Sgt. Willmont Griffin debates with a classmate in his speech class, March 9, at Sather Air Base.
AF Tech. Sgt. Willmont Griffin raises his hand to respond to a discussion in his debate class.
Staff Sgt. Keyona Davis distributes administrative documents to one of her Soldiers in the Iron Oasis Dining Facility, March 8.
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Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq
Iraqi Elections in Basra Photos by Spc. Samantha Ciaramitaro
Army 1st Lt. Jeffery Nickerson from 1-377 FAR, 17th Fires Bde, 1st ID stops during a joint patrol with Iraq soldiers, to joke around with the local children in Basra, March 5, 2010. The joint patrol was conducted to assess the local populations thought on the national Iraq elections.
Iraqi soldier proudly displays his right index finger, a symbol of his participation in the March 4 special elections in Basra, March 5, 2010. The special elections where held for Iraq's SECFOR, and some medical workers, so the people in those fields can secure the country on elections day.
An Iraqi soldier displays his purple inked index finger, showing that he had the freedom to vote.
Army Staff Sgt. Randy Matz attached to 1-377 FAR, hands a box of school supplies to a parent, during a joint patrol.
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Proud Iraqi Women Vote in Nasiriyah
NASIRIYAH - Female voters display their purple finger tips after casting ballots at an elementary school in Nasiriyah, March 7. By law, women must fill 25% -- 82 out of the 325 -- parliamentary seats. The heavy purple dye reduces attempts of double-voting fraud. No election day violence occurred in Nasiriyah, Iraq's 4th largest city bisected by the Euphrates River in the southern prov. of Dhi Qar. Iraqi SECFOR were responsible for all security.
Female voters show pride in voting.
Female voter in a wheelchair, determined to have her vote count.
Female voter proud to show purple finger.
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U.S. AF Central, Baghdad Media Outreach Team
Iraqi's Advancing at the Speed of Light (Photos by Master Sgt. Patricia Bunting)
CAMP TAJI - AF Staff Sgt. Gary Graf, 821st Expeditionary Training Sqdrn cable and antenna maintenance instructor, sits next to a cable teaching aide he created for his class at Camp Taji, Feb. 13. During this 42-day course the Iraqi military students learn about theories, splicing cable and the overall capabilities that fiber optics can bring in advancements.
Staff Sgt. Graf demonstrates to some of his students how to carefully cut open a cable and separate the different wires.
Staff Sgt. Graf gathers his students around a table to closely teach them some of the aspects of fiber optics.
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