Dear Interested Reader,
Kandigal Villagers to build retaining wall. Shura introduces Ghazni-Gardez Road project. ANA learn basic PA skills in Kunar/Paktya provs. Khost PRT transfers authority at FOB Chapman. CASF brings care to Camp Bastion.
Iraq: 278th AR Cav Regt takes command at COB Taji. Ribbon cutting for road opening in Radwaniyah prov. School assessment in Basra. Visit to a local IP station in Al Rimmah. Tenn. NG prepare for night mission.
Joanna
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Afghanistan Stories:
CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Afghan villagers come together to build retaining wall
Elders and children came together to build a retaining wall in the village of Kandigal, March 10. After conducting several shuras, village elders and local govt officials contracted and hired 22 villagers that were employed for 30 days while working on the project.
KONAR PROVINCE - Nearby in the Shalay Valley, Afghan Army soldiers discovered a large ammo cache while leading a patrol with CF, March 7. The cache contained 800 loose 7.62mm rounds, 30 loose .38 caliber pistol rounds, and 610 loose 7.62mm long rifle rounds.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Shura introduces Ghazni-Gardez Road project
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
ANA learn basic public affairs skills
KUNAR PROVINCE – An ANA soldier learns the basics of news writing and photo editing techniques, March 4. The ANA soldiers will write articles and publish photos they take in field, in an effort to earn the public trust.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
U.S. Public Affairs Personnel Train Afghan Soldiers
CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Khost PRT Transfers Authority
The new members of the Khost PRT stand in formation during a Transfer of Authority ceremony at FOB Chapman, March 14. During the ceremony, Navy Cmdr John Pestovic handed over the Khost PRT guidon, marking the assumption of command for U.S. Navy Cmdr Willie Billingslea. (Photos by AF Staff Sgt. Stephen Otero)
KHOST PROVINCE – “Our resolve is unwavering, and we remain steadfast in our mission to work with the people of Khost to support your leaders’ efforts in governance and development,” said event guest speaker Jimmy Story, Dept of State and senior civilian rep for the provs. Billingslea leads the joint-interagency team of about 100 personnel, who assist their Afghan partners along the 5 lines of effort throughout the 12 districts of Khost. Billingslea said that the tour would be nine months. “We need to take advantage of the time that we have,” Billingslea said. “I promise that Team Khost will work hard and continue the legacy that John Pestovic and the Khostriders have left us.”
Navy Cmdr. Willie Billingslea, the new Khost PRT cmdr, initiates a round of applause for outgoing PRT members.
CASF Brings Care to Service Members
(Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Franklin Mercado)
CAMP BASTION - Lance Cpl. Matthew Work, a machine gunner with India Co, 3rd Bn, 6th Marine Regt, RCT 7, MEB-A, listens to music from his CD player while at the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility, Feb. 21. The CASF has treated more than 100 service members since it started taking patients, Jan. 18. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Franklin E. Mercado)
The 451st CASF’s ambulance is staged outside the CASF, ready to be used to transport service members from the Role III Hospital.
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American Forces Press Service
Forces Detain Suspects, Find Drugs, Weapons
(Compiled from ISAF Joint Command news releases)
March 17, 2010 - Afghan and ISAF detained several suspected insurgents and seized illegal drugs and enemy weapon stockpiles in recent ops, military officials reported.
In Helmand's Nad-e Ali district March 17, an ISAF patrol found a weapons cache containing more than 10 lbs of homemade explosives, an 81 mm mortar round, 2 60 mm mortar rounds, 3 60 mm tail fins, 6 RPG motors, a 105 mm artillery round, 6 RPG cones, pressure-plate devices, command-pull switches and other bomb-making materials. In Kandahar March 16, a combined force captured a Taliban bombing cell leader believed to be responsible for directing roadside-bomb emplacement and coordinating supply issues. Two other insurgents also were captured.
In another op, in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar prov., March 16, a combined Afghan-international patrol called for air support after it came under a sustained and intense attack by a large group of insurgents using assault rifles, RPGs and heavy machine guns. ISAF aircraft dropped precision-guided bombs on the positively identified insurgent positions. Damage assessments indicated all of the insurgents were killed.Afghan-ISAF in the Terayzai district of Khost prov., detained several suspected militants, March 16. Also March 16, a combined force in the Zormat district of Paktia prov. captured a Taliban sub-cmdr responsible for instructing other militants on building and emplacing roadside bombs, and how to conduct bomb-damage assessments. Combined Afghan-ISAF patrols discovered 2 significant drug caches in the Bakwah district of Farah prov., March 16. The first cache contained 37 lbs of morphine, more than a half-ton of opium, 220 lbs of soda ash, 66 gallons of ammonium hydroxide, 50 bottles of hydrogen chloride, multiple bags of processed heroin, and narcotics-processing equipment. The 2nd cache, discovered 2 hours later and about a half-mile away by a separate patrol, contained 10 55-gallon drums of liquid opium, 50 bags of a cutting agent, a large pile of heroin and opium on the ground, pressure cookers with opium cooking inside, scales and narcotics-processing equipment. The drugs and equipment were destroyed on site.
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DoD Imagery
(DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez, AF)
Marines with 2nd Plt, Lima Co, 3rd Bn, 6th Marine Regt conduct a dismounted patrol in Badula Qulp, Helmand prov., March 3, 2010. The Marines are participating in Op Helmand Spider.
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DoD Imagery
(DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Francisco Govea II, AF)
Army Staff Sgt. Bobby Flores, Bear Troop, 8th Sqdrn, 1st Cav Regt, conducts culvert denial ops along Highway 4 in Kandahar prov., March 11.
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Iraqi Stories:
Blackanthem Military News
278th Armored Cavalry Regiment takes command
By 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Public Affairs
Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Jennings, the senior enlisted adviser for the 278th ACR, 13th ESC, and Col. Jeffrey Holmes, cmdr of the 278th, case the bde colors during a transfer of authority ceremony, March 12 at COB Taji. The 278th ACR out of Knoxville, Tenn., replaced the 155th HBCT, 13th ESC out of Tupelo, Miss.
Command Sgt. Maj. Glen Davis, the senior enlisted adviser with the 155th HBCT, 13th ESC, and Col. William Glasgow, the cmdr of the 155th case the bde's colors, signifying the end of their deployment.
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Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq
Ribbon Cutting for Road Opening
(Army photos Spc. Bryan Rankin)
BAGHDAD - Sheiks from the Radwaniyah prov., and members of CF attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for a road opening in Baghdad, March 15, 2010. The road was built with assistance from the Army, and will give the locals of the area greater ease of travel.
Lt. Col. Kirk Dorr, 18th Abn Corp., 3rd ID, meets with a local sheik after a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Sheiks from the Radwaniyah prov., wait to greet those attending a ribbon cutting ceremony.
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Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq
School Assessment
(Photos by Staff Sgt. Adelita Mead)
(Photos by Staff Sgt. Adelita Mead)
BASRA - Army 1st. Lt. Jeffrey Nickerson from 1st Plt, Bravo Btry, 1-377 FAR, 17th Fires Bde, 1st ID, pulls security for State Dept officials to the Basra Oil Institute in Basra, March 11. The officials are with the PRT out of COB Basra.
U.S. State Department officials Dan Toma and Walt Koenig visit the Basra Oil Institute in Basra, Iraq, March 11. The officials are with the Provincial Reconstruction Team out of Contingency Operating Base Basra.
1st. Lt. Jeffrey Nickerson escorts State Dept officials. The officials assessed the vocational school.
Iraqi students prepare for a test during classes at the Basra Oil Institute.
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Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq
Visit to a local IP station in Al Rimmah(Photos by Petty Officer 2nd Class Rufus Hucks)
AL RIMMAH - Josh Miller, Law Enforcement Professional, listens to the concerns of a local IP station lt during a visit by the 114th MP Co to Al Rimmah, March 14. The co. makes frequent visits to IP stations throughout Mosul in order to build trust with local policemen.
A gate leading into the ancient city of Ninevah overlooks an IP station during a visit by the 114th MP.
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DVIDS
Tenn. NG Prepare for Night Mission
COB Q-WEST - Pvt. Stacy Parks and Spc. Tyler Nelson, troopers in Crusader Troop, 1st Sqdrn, 278th Armored Cav Regt, of the Tenn. Army NG, stop for a quick photo op while preparing for their night mission to COB Speicher.
Soldiers of Alpha Co, 2nd Bn, 198th Combined Arms and the troopers of Crusader Troop, 1st Squadron, 278th Armored Cav Regt, gather for a quick brief from Staff Sgt. Dustin Dunn, a plt sgt from Crusader Troop, prior to their departure for a convoy patrol mission to a pump house on the Tigris River.
1st Lt. Rodney Brock, a plt leader in Crusader Troop walks through the gates of a pump house located on the Tigris River in Ninawa prov., and is greeted by Iraqi soldiers in charge of its security.
Soldiers of Alpha Co, 2nd Bn, and the troopers of Crusader Troop, discuss their convoy mission.
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