Dear Interested Reader,
Forces conduct civil assistance mission in Paktia prov. Laghman PRT completes Transfer of Authority; also a FOB Morales-Frazier in Kaisa prov. Communication seminar at FOB Thunder.
Iraq: Combined forces to improve life in Amal Shabi. Checkpoints hinder insurgent activities in Kirkuk. AQI pursued in Diyala prov. Intel class at FOB Warrior.
Joanna
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Afghanistan Stories:
CJTF 82 Public Affairs, Bagram Media Center
Afghan and CF troops conduct civil assistance mission
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CJTF 82 Public Affairs, Bagram Media Center
Laghman PRT completes transfer of authority
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Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO
Kapisa Transfer of Authority Ceremony (Photos by Staff Sgt. Donald Reeves)
KAPISA PROVINCE - TF Cyclone Cmdr, Army Brig. Gen. Lonnie Culver, presented a plaque to outgoing PRT cmdr, AF Lt. Col. Thomas Goulter, during the transfer of authority ceremony at FOB Morales-Frazier, March 8. In addition to presenting a plaque, Culver used the opportunity to highlight Women's Int'l Day, noting the work that the PRTs have done to help bring women's equality to the area. "Here in Afghanistan we have seen employment opportunities expand, and women such as Gov. Sarobi of Bamyan excel in the political arena. I commend you for your efforts to bring prosperity to Kapisa, but especially for the support to the women in your prov.," Goulter said.
French, Afghan and U.S. service members were on hand to observe the transfer of authority. All 3 nations work closely together to improve the quality of life for Afghans in the prov.
French army Brig. Gen. Marcel Druart, passes the guidon to incoming Kapisa PRT cmdr AF Lt. Col. Joseph Paguiligan. The PRTs are made up of military and civilian specialists whose mission is to improve security, extend authority of the Afghan central govt, and facilitate reconstruction.
Kapisa PRT EO, Army Lt. Col. Gile Grayson, stands next to the guidon bearer.
French army Brig. Gen. Marcel Druart and U.S. Army TF Cyclone Cmdr Brig. Gen. Lonnie Culver, salute during a transfer of authority ceremony. The French army oversees the Kapisa area and works closely with the U.S. military and the Afghan govt, to provide security and improve the life of local Afghans. Culver said that the PRTs "have provided support to the French efforts in stability and reconstruction, and are making a difference."
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Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO
Communication – The key to success
Iraqi Stories:
DVIDS
Kirkuk Combined Security Force to Improve Quality of Life
Story by Pfc. Jessica Luhrs
TF Marne Soldiers with Alpha Co, 1st Bn, 30th Inf, 2nd BCT, 3rd ID out of Fort Stewart, Ga., and the Combined SECFOR patrol the village of Amal Shabi near Kirkuk, where a rapidly growing population has caused a problem for the village with sewage and trash.
KIRKUK -- In the village of Amal Shabi, the growing population has caused the schools to overflow; sewage in the village is now out of control, and the villagers need more water, according to the leadership and principals. To begin making plans for improving the quality of life for the people, the Kirkuk Combined SECFOR (CSF), made up of TF Marne Soldiers, Pesh Murga, IA and IP, met with the leadership, March 18. During the meeting 1st Lt. Doug Wolfe, a plt leader with Alpha Co., and Lt. Hashem, a CSF plt leader, met with the leadership of the area to talk about their concerns. The main issues that were addressed, were the conditions of the schools, lack of clean water and the overflow of sewage. One of the projects the CSF is lining up is the renovation of the schools in the area. "We want to help you provide a good quality education to the children, because they are the future," said Wolfe. The CSF and the leadership agreed the best way to do this is to combine the schools, then work to rebuild and expand them.Another concern that has recently become an issue, because of the rapidly growing population of the area of over 1,000 families, is the water tower that is not big enough to support the village, according to the village Mukhtar. The main concern voiced by the citizens was the overflow of sewage and trash in the area. "My children and I are sick all the time because of this problem, and I know we are not the only family like this," said one of the principals, who live right next to the overflowing sewage. To help fix this issue the TF Marne Soldiers and CSF plan to first get the area cleaned, then assist the town in establishing a Dept of Public Works. These projects will help bridge the gap between what the village now has, and what they need to become safe and prosperous in the future, said to Wolfe.
TF Marne Soldiers with the Kirkuk CSF, meet with the leadership of Amal Shabi, to discuss the growing population and its effect on the schools, sewage and water.
An Iraqi girl watches from her gate, as TF Marne Soldiers, and the CSF patrol the village to look at the problems caused by a rapidly growing population.
Leadership of Amal Shabi stand along with Kirkuk CSF outside one of the area schools. This school is one of the many projects of the CSF.
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DVIDS
Checkpoints Hinder Insurgent Activities
Story by Pfc. Jessica Luhrs
A Kirkuk ESU soldier that is a searcher at a checkpoint outside of Kirkuk, searches a local national's car for any contraband, March 16. The checkpoint that opened in January played a key role in security for the city during the elections, and the soldiers have promised it will continue to.
KIRKUK -- Just south of FOB Warrior, is a joint checkpoint known to the TF Marne Soldiers and Kirkuk ESU soldiers that occupy it, simply as "the castle."
Soldiers of Charlie Co, 1st Bn, 30th Inf, 2nd BCT, 3rd ID out of Fort Stewart, Ga., along with the ESU were the first to occupy this checkpoint, after it opened in Jan. 2010."We don't run into many problems at the castle with the citizens of Kirkuk," said Pvt. Casey Yates, a tanker with Charlie Co. "Most of the people that travel this road live in the area and understand that these checkpoints are for their safety."However, all the Soldiers and ESU attribute the lack of issues in the area to fear. The insurgents know we'll catch them as soon as they try to get into the city, said one ESU soldier as he searched a car, so why even try to get past us."There's still a threat out there; if there wasn't, we wouldn't be here" said Olvera, plt leader, who tells his Soldiers this every day, to keep them focused.
Soldiers of Charlie Co, 1st Bn, 30th Inf, 2nd BCT, 3rd ID out of Fort Stewart, Ga., along with the ESU were the first to occupy this checkpoint, after it opened in Jan. 2010."We don't run into many problems at the castle with the citizens of Kirkuk," said Pvt. Casey Yates, a tanker with Charlie Co. "Most of the people that travel this road live in the area and understand that these checkpoints are for their safety."However, all the Soldiers and ESU attribute the lack of issues in the area to fear. The insurgents know we'll catch them as soon as they try to get into the city, said one ESU soldier as he searched a car, so why even try to get past us."There's still a threat out there; if there wasn't, we wouldn't be here" said Olvera, plt leader, who tells his Soldiers this every day, to keep them focused.
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USF-I
Iraqi Police pursue AQI in Diyala Province, arrest two suspects
BAGHDAD - IP arrested 2 suspected terrorists March 20, during a joint security op conducted in northern Iraq to capture a suspected member of the AQI terrorist group operating in Diyala Prov.
Preliminary questioning results and evidence collected during the op led IP to arrest 2 suspected criminal assocs. of the warranted individual.
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DVIDS
Iraqi Intel Class
Story by Staff Sgt. Christina Turnipseed
Iraqi Lt. Col. Sefoog of the Iraqi Training and Advising Mission (ITAM) teaches students from different security groups an overview of the intel cycle.
KIRKUK -- The ITAM sponsored classes at the 1st BCT, 1st AR Div (Ready First) in the Kirkuk Combined Coordination Center (KCC) on FOB Warrior, March 18. One of the classes offered taught members of the IP, the National Infor and Investigation Agency, the Dir. Gen. of Intel and Security, and members from the Northern Oil Corp. Police how to navigate through the Iraqi Intel Network, which serves the same purpose as the DoD's Secret Internet Protocol Router Network, designed to keep sensitive info flow secure, according to Mr. Kristopher Berceli, a civilian Army DoD employee and NIIA advisor. "It's what you would call their classified and secure network," said Berceli."I think it opens their [Iraq security] eyes to a need for further understanding of the intel field," said Mr. Charles Meyer, civilian intel advisor who has worked with intel companies for 14 years. The ITAM MTT plans to travel to several locations teaching ISF the basics of the intel business. "This is the first of the MTT [Mobile Training Team]," said McGinnis. "We expect to go to every prov."
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