Dear Interested Reader,
The 101st Abn keep Afghans safe in Khost prov. Kandahar ops reflect complexity, subtlety. Translator aims to better himself, his country. Vermont NG prepare for supply mission.
Iraq: TF Wing's "Hunter" provides 'eyes and ears' on the battlefield. AQI targeted in northern Iraq. AQI's financial/extortion networks disrupted in Mosul. SOF remain through drawdown.
Joanna
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Afghanistan Stories:
CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
The 101st Abn Div Keep Afghans safe in Khost Province
Army Spc. Adam Whitmire, an intel specialist for C Troop, 1st Sqdrn, 33rd Cav Regt, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn Div, records the serial numbers on cell phones in Mandozai district, March 22. Soldiers from C Troop and ANA confiscated the cell phones along with contraband, after responding to an unexploded IED.
At the end of a patrol in Bar Khan Kheyl village, Soldiers from C Troop’s 3rd Plt and ANA halted in the Taniwal village. Locals had seen 2 men in a vehicle deposit 2 boxes alongside the road before speeding away. Concerned, citizens alerted the ANP. While waiting for EOD, 3rd plt sgt, Sgt. 1st Class Braden Sickles, walked past a red car with 4 men in it, and saw something suspicious between one of the men and the door. “I caught a glint of medal out of the corner of my eye and it was a weapon,” he said.
"The man Sickles saw was carrying an AK-47 assault rifle illegally and, the Soldiers also found 3 more AK-47 rifles concealed in the men’s clothing," said 3rd Plt leader, 1st Lt. David Benning. Also found were 5 mags with ammo, 4 cell phones and 2 bottles of alcohol, which is illegal in Afghanistan, and often imbibed by Anti- Afghan Forces before attacks, Sickles said.
The day after the men were apprehended, C Troop learned that eyewitnesses connected 3 of the 4 detainees to a March 21 drive-by shooting incident, said Spc. Adam Whitmire, an intel specialist for C Troop.
Incidents like the one on March 22 are common for Soldiers of C Troop, who regularly conduct patrols in the Mandozai, Sahi Kot and Qalandar districts of Khost prov. “You train your guys to have attention to detail and stay alert, and this is just one example of the training showing itself in positive action,” said Capt. Brandon Hathorne, C Troop cmdr.
ANA Soldiers patrol near the village of Kusheh, March 24. The troops have been partnering with C Troop to help bring stability to their area of ops.
Spc. Adam G. Whitmire, an intel specialist, and 1st Lt. David Benning, plt leader for 3rd Plt, carry on a conversation with the residents of Kusheh village.
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American Forces Press Service
Kandahar Ops Reflect Complexity, Subtlety
By Jim Garamone
CAMP EGGERS, March 29, 2010 - Coalition and ASF are building on successful ops in Helmand prov., to launch similar ops in Kandahar city and prov. Kandahar is the 2nd-largest city in Afghanistan and the spiritual home of the Taliban.
An official describing the enemy said roughly 3/4 of Taliban fighters fight in or near their birthplaces. This means there is a very small cadre that comes from outside the area. "What we've got is a homegrown problem," the official said. It's a complex problem, he said, exacerbated by ties of tribe and family. Problems in the country are caused by the lack of military capacity and governance capacity, he said. "More than anything else, it's the lack of capacity of this govt to deal with the problems it faces. It's our biggest challenge," he said. "In the end, the Afghan people will decide that there is enough capacity, and it's their perceptions that we're working on right now." The counterinsurgency strategy stresses protecting the population. "We can't shoot our way out of this," he said. If CF kill 2 Taliban fighters, they might have created another 10 insurgents, because each of these people has brothers, sons, fathers and extended families who might seek revenge. "In our strategy there is a bet, and that bet is that we, the coalition, can only get the Afghans to a certain place, and at some point they're going to have to deliver on the governance piece," he said. "The bet is that if we create the conditions; if we partner, if we bridge, if we create the space; they can deliver." Partnership is key to success, and CF are partnering with ANA units and ANP in the field as they conduct ops. The Afghan National Civil Order Police worked with Marines in the op in Marjah, and came out with excellent reports, said officials. Officials understand that even with the surge into the country, there will not be enough troops to impose peace, nor will there be enough units to partner with every Afghan unit. The idea is to "rob the oxygen" from the insurgency in key areas and create the conditions for the govt to succeed. Marjah isn't over yet, but it's going in the right direction, the official said. Bazaars are open, families are returning, and there are signs that the Taliban are having problems. Small numbers of Taliban are actually starting to come in. "They're frustrated," the official noted. "They saw the CF really emphasize communication in Marjah." Shaping ops already have begun in Kandahar, officials said, and Afghan officials are briefing Afghan President Hamid Karzai on the op. "He has to lead this fight," the official said. "He's very good when you get him out of the palace, and he has great effect as a tribal leader." Part of the strategy is to "shura our way to success," he said. Afghan govt officials must hold shuras, meetings of influential community leaders, with groups throughout Kandahar and its approaches, he said. The people have to ask for the op, just as they did in Helmand. The success in Helmand has encouraged Afghans, and officials hope this transfers to Kandahar. "The key is we have to be done by Ramadan," the official said. "We have to be in the 'hold and build' phase when that starts in mid-Aug."
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Translator aims to better himself, his country
Afghan native Mujeeb Saify works as an interpreter for the 2nd Bn, 77th FAR, TF Steel, at FOB Kalagush. Saify plans to study diplomacy and political science at an American university before returning to help Afghanistan.
NURISTAN PROVINCE – When Mujeeb Saify became an interpreter, he spoke Urdu, Pashtu, Dari, Panjabi and English. This, however, was just a starting point for the Afghan native. While working with ISAF for the past 3 years, he used his spare time to take classes in Arabic.When he was not translating or learning Arabic, he started hosting a weekly radio broadcast called “Shedding Light on the Civil War in Afghanistan.” The show, which he writes, became so well-known that the Taliban offered 1 million Afghanis for his capture and death.
The threats against Saify did not stop him from speaking his mind. He wrote a paper on the importance of true democracy for Afghanistan. Then he applied for a scholarship to Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., with the support of a number of faculty members there. If accepted, he may start classes as early as this summer.
“I like languages and I like education,” he said. “I’m always learning something.”After 2 years, interpreters working on behalf of the U.S. military have a chance to get a special immigration visa, he said, adding that many translators want to go to America to enjoy many freedoms, including partying or dancing, which have been forbidden by the Taliban in the past. Saify plans to study diplomacy and political science, with both eyes on earning a doctorate. He wants to bring his family with him to America, but plans to later return to his home country and possibly enter politics. “My goal is to serve Afghanistan,” he said.Army Maj. George Hammar IV, EO for 2nd Bn, said Saify is one of the most proficient, mature translators they have. “Everyone knows him,” Hammar said. “Sometimes we call him the Paul Harvey, (a famous news anchor), of Afghanistan because he tells the rest of the story.” Saify, whose family fled Afghanistan when the Taliban were in power, is prominent enough that the military, for his safety, no longer takes him on missions outside the base. Instead, he translates for Afghan officials who come to Kalagush to meet with U.S. personnel. Saify said he has seen many improvements in the country since he returned, including infrastructure, health care and security. However, he worries what will happen to his country if ISAF troops pull out, noting the possibility they would merely have to return later to fight terrorism. “People have a lot of hopes now,” he said. “The hopes of the Afghan people are not completed yet.” Democracy is not a term Saify uses lightly. In fact, he warned that corruption is the major issue officials have to deal with, as its existence erodes the govt’s credibility. “There're still a lot of things we have to work on,” he said. After 3 years of work as a translator, officials have already approved his green card. He has stacks of books in his room – many dealing with history and language – as well as an Afghanistan flag hanging over his bed. He is reminded of how different American culture is through the movies he watches, yet remains enthusiastic about the prospect of going there and fulfilling his educational dreams. “I just want to have my books on me, and go to college in a free environment,” Saify said.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Vermont NG Soldiers prepare for supply mission
PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Army NG soldiers from Vermont, 186th BSB, TF Avalanche, prepare for a convoy op, and a gunner prepares his seat sling before departure to COP Zormat from FOB Lightning near Gardez district, March 29. The mission was to deliver supplies and mail from Gardez.
Vermont NG prepare for a convoy op with a pre-combat inspection.
Preparing for a convoy op with a pre-combat inspection.
Spc. Christopher Baker shows a pacifier that his 2-year-old son placed in his pocket just before he left for Afghanistan. Baker carries it as a good luck charm.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Parwan council meets new leadership
PARWAN PROVINCE – Navy Cmdr. Kyle Higgins, Parwan PRT cmdr, talks to the Parwan Provincial Council during a meeting in Charikar, March 28. The meeting was an opportunity for members of the Parwan Provincial Council to meet the new leadership from the Parwan PRT. Topics discussed during the meeting were a new law giving the provincial council more power and authority, improvements in the provincial development plan and women’s issues.
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Blackanthem Military News
TF Wing's Hunter provides 'eyes and ears' on the battlefield
By Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts
A Hunter, 23'-long, Unmanned Aircraft System is launched from COB Speicher, near Tikrit, March 14. The Hunter is maintained and operated by a team of aviation Soldiers with Troop F, 2nd Sqdrn, 6th Cav Regt, TF Diamond Head, and approx 30 Northrop Grumman Corporation civilian contractors. Among other advantages, the Hunter provides Soldiers with state-of-the-art recon, surveillance, target acquisition and communications relay capabilities in USD-North.
Capt. Brian Hunt, is the command officer tasked to manage and orchestrate Hunter ops in USD-N. "Our mission is to be division's 'eyes and ears on the battlefield,'" said Capt. Hunt. "In terms of value-added, the Hunter has better capabilities than traditional ISR," explained Capt. Hunt. "Its recon continuity and persistence is unmatched by most manned aircraft. It's not easily visible to the enemy. It can stay on station longer, and it can provide live video feed to ground units eliminating the challenge of them trying to decipher garbled radio transmissions from a pilot. It also allows secure communication from aircraft or command, and control to other aircraft and ground force cmdrs in situations where traditional communication devices would be out of range."Shelby "Nick" Nicholson, an NGC Hunter team maintenance mgr, former Marine and 18-year veteran of the Hunter program has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan several times. Bruce Grant is the NGC Hunter team site mgr, and Army veteran with more than 14 years of Hunter experience. Both men take pride in the mission and their continued service to Soldiers. "I may not be in the military anymore, but Capt. Hunt and his group make all of us feel part of the Army team, and we truly are part of that team," said Nicholson.
"Anytime you can say that you helped even one American or one Iraqi by locating an IED, or positively identifying an insurgent placing an IED, and get it off the road, that's satisfying," he said. Nicholson's and Grant's commitment to their supported units and the exceptional work of all of the NGC contractors hasn't gone unnoticed by those they support.
"The Hunter group is a superb org. doing an extremely professional job," said Maj. Bryant.
Chief Warrant Officer Greg Spalding, operates a Hunter from the mission control center.
A Hunter approaches for landing.
Robert Whites, external pilot, Northrop Grumman Corporation (pictured right), lands a Hunter
Ground crew contractors of Northrop Grumman Corp., quickly move to recover and transport a Hunter from a runway at COB Speicher, March 14.
April 1, 2010
ISF target AQI network, arrest ten suspects
BAGHDAD - ISF arrested 10 suspected terrorists April 1, during 2 joint security ops conducted in northern Iraq, targeting AQI members.
In a rural area located approx 54 kms SW of Kirkuk, IP and U.S. advisors searched 2 residential buildings for a suspected AQI member who allegedly provides financing to the terrorist group, and provides vehicles for its members to use. Preliminary questioning and examining the evidence at the scene led IP to arrest 2 suspected criminal assocs of the wanted AQI member.
During a separate security op conducted in different locations in and around Mosul, IA and U.S. advisors searched several buildings for a suspected AQI member believed to extort money from oil transporters and contractors to fund the terrorist group.
Building searches were conducted concurrently by joint security teams in eastern Mosul, western Mosul, and in a rural area located approx 56 kms SE of Mosul.
Preliminary questioning results and evidence collected during the op led IA soldiers to arrest 8 criminal assocs of the wanted individual.
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USF-I
ISF disrupt AQI’s financial, extortion networks
BAGHDAD – Several recent joint Iraqi-U.S. security ops have resulted in the deaths or arrests of at least 6 suspected senior AQI leaders, who greatly contributed to funding the terrorist group by their involvement in a highly-organized extortion and assassination ring, based in the northern-Iraq city of Mosul, April 1.
The 6 captured or killed suspected AQI leaders included the overall AQI emir of northern Iraq, the economic security emir, the minister of oil, the deputy minister of oil, the Mosul oil extortion emir, and the wali of Mosul. Without these individuals in the AQI network, it's expected that AQI’s ability to operate and restructure will be severely hindered.
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American Forces Press Service
SOF in Iraq to Remain through Drawdown
By John J. Kruzel
SOF in Iraq will remain at current levels even as the number of American troops is nearly halved over the next 5 months, the top special ops cmdr said April 1.
As the 98,000-strong force in Iraq is reduced to 50,000 by Aug. 31, in accordance with a U.S.-Iraqi agreement, roughly 4,500 SOF will maintain a presence, military officials said.
"The SOF are not experiencing a drawdown in Iraq," said Navy Adm. Eric Olson, cmdr of U.S. Special Ops Command. "All indications, including my conversations with Gen. Petraeus and Gen. Odierno," he said, "is that the SOF will be sustained at about their current level." While revealing no specific details about ongoing ops, Olson provided a rare glimpse at a component of the military that typically operates in near-total secrecy. His public remarks came at an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and Int'l Studies, a policy think-tank based here. In addition to direct combat and counterterrorism, SOF -- among them Army Green Berets, Navy SEALs, AF special ops personnel and Marine operators -- conduct an array of indirect missions. These include psychological ops and the training and support of paramilitary forces to help achieve U.S. aims, such as when SOF partnered with the Northern Alliance to undermine the Taliban in Afghanistan, before the American invasion began in earnest in 2001. "The U.S. Special Ops Command deliberately leans forward to ensure that proper resources and tools are being applied in these regions. We call it 'being ahead of the sound of guns,'" said Olson, the 1st Navy SEAL to ascend to a 4-star officer rank. "As proud as we are of our ability to respond quickly to gunfire when it occurs," he continued, "we are at least as proud of our ability to prevent that sound ultimately from occurring in places that are at risk." As of last week, he said, SOF were engaged in 79 countries globally, including 6 "at-risk" countries where danger is probable, if not imminent. The number of forces engaged around the world was about 12,000 -- about 10,000 of which were assigned to U.S. Central Command, an area of ops that includes Afghanistan, Iraq and the greater Middle East. Driving the eclipse is the 30,000-troop surge Pres. Obama announced for Afghanistan in Dec., roughly half of which is in place, and with 18,000 of the additional forces expected to be in Afghanistan by late spring, as troop levels in Iraq continue to drop. Currently, 87,000 American and 44,000 allied forces are in Afghanistan, a defense official said. The average age of special ops servicemembers is 30, Olson added, and 70% of the force is married. About half of the force, he said, joined since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
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