Dear Interested Reader,
"Strong Food" for Panjshir prov. Conference paves way for economic growth, stability in Jalalabad. TFs Cyclone, Wolverine in transfer ceremony. Roadside bomber killed, weaponry seized, and several suspected militants arrested.
Iraq: Troops celebrate Easter at ancient monastery near COB Marez. An important message for families of troops returning home. Q-West Soldiers compete in submission grappling tournament. Running 30 miles on turning 30!
Joanna
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Afghanistan Stories:
CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
‘Strong Food’ for Panjshir
AF Tech Sgt. Jeffery Benjamin, an intel analyst with the Panjshir PRT, carries a 110 lb bag of sugar, almonds mix up 10 flights of stairs, to a storage unit, March 28. The sugar is part of a delivery to Charmaghzak Basic Health Clinic. The PRT uses local ingredients to make a nutritional supplement dubbed, “Strong Food,” to fight malnutrition.
One way to increase distribution according to Elizabeth Smithwick, U.S. Agency for Int'l Development Field Program Officer for Panjshir PRT, is to train women to administer the Strong Food through a program in the works called Strong Women.
Smithwick said the Strong Women program will help distribution in many ways. “One is that it employs women,” said Smithwick. “It will employ 3 women per clinic to mix it, distribute, administer, keep the records and everything else,” Smithwick said. “Hopefully, by doing this, it expands it throughout the prov., all 7 districts.” Another advantage is that it will free up clinic personnel to handle the normal case load of an all-purpose clinic in Afghanistan.Soldiers, Airmen, and civilians from Panjshir PRT drove to the clinic on narrow, winding roads hauling the life-saving ingredients. Once at the clinic, Dr. Abdullah was there to greet them and help offload the supplies. At the Charmaghzak Clinic, Abdullah sometimes sees upward of 400 patients a month. Abdullah said through a translator that the biggest problems he deals with are stomach related illnesses, pneumonia and skin diseases. When asked how many of these cases were related to nutrition, he said, “All of it is affected in some way by nutrition.” Grateful to get the supplies, Abdullah said, “it will help out so much.”AF Tech. Sgt. Carolyn Mcilvaine, who is currently deployed as a medical tech for the PRT, says it is rewarding to see progress. “It’s good to see the improvement as things go on,” said Mcilvaine. “They keep a record of height and weight measurements. You can look back over a period of time and see the kids getting healthier and stronger.”Figures from UNICEF place the average lifespan for an Afghan at 44.5 years old. Info from the UNICEF web site says that 1 in 4 Afghan children doesn’t live past the age of 5, and more than half the children in the country are malnourished.
AF Capt. Michael Calnicean, prepares to load the 110 pound bags.
Dr. Amed Abdullah and helper unload supplies.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Conference paves way for economic growth, stability
Merchants Haji Muhammad and Muhammad Hassoin show their wares during the first East Region Economic Growth and Investment Promotion Conference at the Nangarhar gov's palace in Jalalabad, March 29.
“It’s an occasion to focus on development,” Mohammad Haqjo, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries Chief EO, said during a conference break. “We have a lot of potential here.” This potential includes the country’s agriculture, mining and trade resources, as well as its growing manufacturing base. Haqjo said the conference helped open a dialogue between Afghan govt and business communities on how to cooperate toward achieving their goals. “It’s good to list the challenges you face,” he said.
Maj. Josef Freer, a civil affairs officer with the Civil Military Ops office, TF Mtn Warrior, said creating more jobs and businesses help prevent people from turning to anti-Afghan forces for support. “The only way we’re going to build any stability is through economic growth,” Freer said prior to the conference, noting they expect it to be just the first of many such events to be held in the future.
Officials are seeking part of this expansion through new investment. Lea Swanson, a senior advisor with the Office of Economic Growth, U.S. Agency for Int'l Development, is working with a new program to bring industries to the country.
The program, called Investment Promotion Partnerships, is set to be fully operational by the summer. It offers technical assistance and matching grants to companies looking to invest in the country, and encourages them to partner with Afghan businesses. “We can help them reduce their financial risk,” Swanson said. In turn, partnerships allow Afghans to share a company’s know-how and experience with the population. For example, Swanson notes the Coca-Cola facility in Kabul is a completely Afghan-owned franchise. “It builds the local capacity,” she said. Numerous planned projects and existing aid programs were cited for an audience estimated at 500 people on the first day of the conference, with only a slight drop in attendance the following day. During presentations, officials pointed out the need for businesses to invest their own capital as part of receiving aid, and the need to prove their profitability. The event also featured a vendor’s exhibition area with more than 70 Afghan businesses, banks and associations showing off their potential benefits for customers. Sharafuddin Katawazay, a partner with Afghan Integrated Carpet Manufacturing, said the event was an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with the officials who handle business aid programs. He referred to the event as a “good start.” His company hopes to open a factory in a new industrial park planned in Jalalabad. He said many carpets produced in Afghanistan are shipped to Pakistan for their final cutting, washing and stretching, but then they are labeled as Pakistan rugs. The factory would allow those processes to be done here. “We’re trying to bring those carpets back,” Katawazay said. Officials with Rana Technologies, an info and communications technology company based in Kabul, said there was room for improvement in the conference, but it served its purpose. “I call it a very good beginning,” Rana Technologies Director Abdul Ghafoor said. “Identifying a problem is half of a solution. It has to be followed up.” Afghan economic officials organized the event with assistance provided by the U.S. Dept of State and ISAF.
A man voices his concerns to a half-dozen Afghan govt ministers.
Safia Siddiqi, a Parliamentary rep for Nangarhar prov., examines gemstones on display.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
TFs Cyclone, Wolverine Transfer Ceremony
TF Cyclone cmdr, Army Brig. Gen. Lonnie Culver, speaks during a transfer of authority ceremony, March 31. The incoming unit, TF Wolverine of the Vermont NG’s 86th IBCT (Mtn), took over ops in Parwan, Panjshir, and Bamyan provs from TF Cyclone of the Indiana NG’s 38th ID.
Next to speak was TF Cyclone cmdr, Army Brig. Gen. Lonnie Culver. “To TF Cyclone, this is a great command, and I thank each of you for your dedication, hard work and commitment to all our successes,” said Culver. “All that we’ve accomplished has been a team effort between CJTF-82 and TF Cyclone, in partnership with our Afghan allies.”
Last to speak was TF Wolverine cmdr, Army Col. William Roy, who spoke of the TF’s new mission. “We're very grateful to Gen. Culver and his command for all that they've done in helping us to prepare for this mission. You've set a very high standard for us to follow,” said Roy. “Today we live up to our bde’s historical motto, ‘ready to go’.”
Indiana NG Soldiers with TF Cyclone, Staff Sgt. Michael Arthur, Staff Sgt. David Irving, Spc. Matthew McKinney, and Sgt. Freeman Capps, present the colors.
Service members of TF Cyclone and Wolverine salute.
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American Forces Press Service
Afghan, ISAF Kill Roadside Bomber
KABUL, April 1, 2010 - Afghan and ISAF killed a roadside bomber in Kandahar prov., April 1, military officials reported.
A combined force searched an area near the village of Lowy Karizac after intel info indicated militant activity there. The SECFOR was threatened during the search and killed a militant known for distributing roadside bombs throughout the region.
In an op in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand prov., a combined patrol, April 1, found 14 fragmentation grenades, an RPG round, 3 RPG tail fins, 7 bags of ammonium nitrate and several hundred rounds of ammo. Ammonium nitrate is a fertilizer banned by the Afghan govt because it can be used to make explosives. In Marjah March 31, security combined force detained several suspected militants for further questioning. A joint patrol found 2 anti-tank mines, 10 feet of detonation cord, and various rounds of ammo. An int'l patrol found 6 Russian-made 105 mm artillery rounds, an 82 mm mortar and some ammo in Kabul March 31.
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DoD Imagery
(DoD photo by Senior Airman Nancy Hooks, AF)
AF Senior Airman Edward Roberts, a fly away security team member from the 451st Expeditionary SECFOR Sqdrn, provides ground security for a C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft in Shindand, March 12, 2010. Roberts is assigned to the 49th SECFOR Sqdrn at Holloman AF Base, N.M.
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Iraqi Stories:
USF-I
Troops celebrate Easter at ancient monastery
Soldiers at COB Marez, participate in a Catholic Easter mass at the St. Elijah Monastery, near the base, April 3, 2010. (Army photo by Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika)
COB MAREZ – More than 250 service members and civilians celebrated Easter with a candlelight mass at the oldest Christian monastery in Iraq. "This is the 2nd time we've done this," said Capt. Patrick Van Durme, the bn chaplain with the 1-19th FA Bn, 2nd Bde, 3rd ID.
Van Durme said turnout for the event was large and included civilian workers from around the world, and from the Mosul area, which has the largest Christian population in Iraq.
1st Lt. Geoffrey Whitaker, the garrison chaplain here with the Regimental Fires Sqdrn, 278th ACR, 13th ESC, said he was honored to be part of the services at the 1,700-year-old monastery. "To get to celebrate Easter in the oldest Christian monastery in Iraq is a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Whitaker.Van Durme said the monastery has held great historical relevance throughout the ages. Local traditional suggests the monastery was first built in the year 350 AD and the current structure was probably added 1,000 years later, he said. In 1743, the monks and orphans at the monastery were killed by a Persian leader for refusing to convert to Islam, and Christians in the area have been persecuted since, said Van Durme. "If you go back 50 years, you'll find thousands of Christian families in Mosul. You'll now find maybe 100," Van Durme said. "You have to wonder what its future will be."Whitaker said the chaplains are working with the PRT in Mosul to preserve the monastery, and repair structural damage that has occurred in the years since the U.S. came to Iraq.-30-
Wagon Wheel Newsletter
The Challenges of Redeployment
By Capt. Myron Johnson, 264th Chaplain
COB SPEICHER – Most of us are excited when it's our turn to redeploy. We've watched other units pack up and leave. Soldiers walking out of the PX with 1 or 2 tough boxes in tow, telegraph their imminent departure. When it's finally your turn to redeploy, you become the envy of the COB.
Even though this is an exciting time, and a long time coming, it also presents some challenges. Two significant issues in the redeployment process are change and anxiety. No matter who you are, your rank, or marital status, everyone will face changes in one form or another when they get back home.
One way to keep up with the changes is to maintain good communication with your family. If you don’t like how your spouse is doing something, express it, but don’t try to change it. Work with him/her to see if you can come up with a solution that you both can live with. Observe how things are operating at home before you try to “fix” them.
Some things won’t and can’t be changed. Maya Angelou said, “If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.” Be aware of this and learn to adapt. A good rule of thumb is to wait 4-6 weeks before you make any big changes. This is the average time it takes for the reintegration process.
Another issue we face is anxiety. It's normal to feel anxious when we're getting ready to return. We don’t know what to expect, or what changes have taken place. Some Soldiers face ETS (end of tour service), and PCS (permanent change of station) orders. All of these can add stress to an already stressful situation.
One of the ways to reduce the stress is to plan ahead. Some of the anxiety stems from fear of the unknown. Find constructive things to do that keep you occupied. Leaders often create “busy work” to keep Soldiers occupied for this very reason: it keeps their minds and hands occupied.
A deployment is a very challenging time in a Soldier’s life as well as his/her family’s life. This is a time of change, both on the battlefield and the home front. Learning to adapt to these changes is important in the reintegration process, just as being constructive with your time helps reduce the anxiety that comes with the redeployment.
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Wagon Wheel Newsletter
Q-West Soldiers compete in submission grappling tournament
By Staff Sgt. Matthew Cooley, 15th SB PAO
Spc. Kris Concepcion, a food inspector with 248th Medical Det, and a Sinajana, Guam, native, submits an opponent using a triangle choke at a submission grappling tournament, March 27, in which he won 2nd place.
COB Q-WEST – Q-West Soldiers competed in an open weight class submission grappling tournament at the Morale Welfare and Recreation tent. Sgt. Jason White, inf team leader with B Co, 1st Bn, 64th AR, won first place, which followed rules typical of Jujitsu, or the preliminary round of an Army Combatives tournament.
Each match went 5 minutes, or until one combatant submitted. If no one submitted, the winner with the most points won. Points were awarded for takedowns, ending in a dominate position, and for gaining or improving a dominate position. If the match was tied it went into sudden-death overtime, where the first combatant to score a point won.
White, who had no prior experience in grappling, said that he won primarily through his superior size, strength and stamina. “All of my matches went into overtime. I just couldn’t finish in the first 5 minutes,” White said. The muscular White explained that he wasn’t always as big. “When I first came in the Army I was 180. Now 7 years later, I’m about 210,” White explained.
White said he lifts 6 days a week when possible, but still found the tournament to be exhausting. “If you can go 10 or 15 minutes without throwing up, you’re doing pretty good,” he said.
Concepcion said he started training in Jujitsu shortly before deploying and was worried that he wouldn’t be able to continue training in Iraq. Then Concepcion found 1st Lt. Jason Dunbar, from 40th Trans Co, 15th STB, 15th Sust Bde, and his Jujitsu class.
Dunbar, who organized and refereed the tournament, said that White earned his win, but he was most impressed with Concepcion. “The guy who won 2nd was 150 lbs, but he submitted 3 people bigger than him,” Dunbar said of Concepcion.
Dunbar originally planned for more participation, which would have allowed for separating competitors into weight classes, but many of his best students’ cmdrs recently banned them from practicing martial arts as a safety precaution, he explained.
Concepcion pointed out that there were no injuries at the tournament, and Dunbar claimed that no one had ever been injured in his class.
Sgt. Jason White prepares to throw his opponent.
Sgt. Jason White [top], places his opponent in an uncomfortable position.
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Wagon Wheel Newsletter
30 on 30: Running and Getting Old
By Staff Sgt. Rob Strain
Capt. Joshua Southworth, an operations officer with the 15th Sust Bde, 13th ESC, begins the last 10 miles of a 30-mile run on his 30th birthday, March 28.
COB Q-WEST – “I was never into running,” said Southworth. He got into running as a Military Academy cadet, when he realized that he needed to improve his 2-mile run in order to succeed in the Army. So, he signed up and trained for a marathon, and finished with a time around 4-1/2 hours.
It was during the current deployment that Southworth got back into it and started running more and more, he explained. “I realized that I missed it.” Southworth started reading Christopher McDougall’s “Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super athletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen,” and was inspired to run 30 miles on his 30th birthday, which is something mentioned in the book.
He went from running about 6 miles, and gradually increased until he ran 20 miles on March 21. In order to meet the 30-mile goal by his 30th birthday, he had to bump up 10 miles in one week. Southworth said the key isn’t to think of it as running 30 miles. “I didn’t run 30 miles,” Southworth said. “I ran 10 miles 3 times.”
Starting at 2 a.m., in the rain, Southworth ran the first 10 miles in about 1-1/2 hours. The pace slowed for the next 10 miles, and the last 10 miles were even slower, Southworth explained. “I felt fine for the first 5 of the last 10, but when I hit the turn-around, my pace slowed way down,” Southworth said.
Although Southworth didn’t really train with anyone else, Capt. Thorin Parris, another ops officer helped Southworth plan out his route. “I told him it’d be a great accomplishment,” Parris said.
Southworth said it's something that he might do again next year, adding a mile to make it 31 miles, or he may sign up to run another marathon in an attempt to beat his previous time. In the end, Southworth said it was just something to do on his birthday, since he is now 30 years old and no longer “cool”. “I don’t like the idea of being 30,” Southworth said.
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