The task wasn't easy for the Marines. The ratio between Marines and the men they mentored was 50 to 1. The team would stay up late after training to plan where each Marine and interpreter would be at the following day. "It was very challenging," said Brown. "We had to plan which company was going to do what, and which Marine and interpreter would be best for that mission. Sometimes I had one Marine for 3 companies, and sometimes I had one Marine per co." Their days were long, filled with frustration and challenges, but were equally rewarding. The largest challenge the Marines faced was the language barrier. Armed with 5 interpreters who had never spoken to Americans before, the mentoring team had to clean up their English. The Marines did their best to maintain composure, amidst the frustrations of negligent discharges, soldiers who would go on unauthorized absence, and no sense of time. A large amount of their success is invested in personal relationships with the Afghans. "We give our heart and soul to this job, and they can see it. We were never the limiting factor, and the soldiers sensed that," said Brown.Maj. Yasin, an Afghan soldier with 22 years of military experience, appreciates the mentors' patience, and said that the respect is mutual. Although he would like to see more Marines on the team, Yasin said he is grateful for the mentors. Fellow Afghan officer, Maj. Alkozay, is content with the training and mentoring. He is receptive to his trainers, and hopes his soldiers are successful on the battlefield.The bn will soon be evaluated on their performance. Once the soldiers are certified, they'll join RCT 2, and be partnered with Marine combat units.
Troops Detain Militants, Find Weapons
(An ISAF Joint Command News Release)
GHAZNI PROVINCE - Afghan-ASAF pursuing a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator, detained 2 suspected militants, April 14.
April 13, an ANA patrol in the Muqer district, found a homemade bomb consisting of 2 RPGs, a 72 mm artillery shell, and homemade explosives.
PAKTIA PROVINCE - Orgun district April 13, a combined force detained a few suspected militants for further questioning, after a search prompted by intel info.
KABUL PROVINCE - Afghan forces in Bagrami district found 34 RPGs, April 13.
HELMAND PROVINCE - In Nad-e Ali district, April 13, an Afghan civilian turned in a homemade bomb containing more than 10-lbs of explosives to members of the ISAF.
PAKTIKA PROVINCE - In Zarghun Shahr district April 13, an Afghan patrol found a bomb made from 4 100 mm artillery rounds. An ISAF EOD team destroyed it.
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IRAQI STORIES:
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The design of the mudhif reflects local traditions. For instance, there're always an odd number of reed pillars in the mudhif, allowing the host of a meeting to sit along one side wall with an equal number of guests to his right and left. This ensures that the tribal shaykh remains at the center of decision-making when conducting business, and reinforces his position of prestige in the area.
Building on this traditional form of construction, Soldiers with TF Pathfinder embarked on a program to incorporate local building materials and techniques, into present-day construction projects. In a military-sponsored training program entitled "The Modernization of the Traditional Marsh Arab Mudhif," local builders used readily available, and generally free, raw materials, along with ancient building techniques to construct a model adobe house in Chubayish City.
The use of inexpensive marsh reeds, whether as mats or support columns, a soil foundation, and modern adobe bricks, are the basic elements needed to build the houses, promoting sustainability, and allowing locals to replicate the buildings without much expenditures on construction materials."The concept and design of the house are intended to showcase the cultural significance of the mudhifs and reed huts, that have been used in the area since recorded history, bearing in mind the climate of the area," explained Maj. Eric Russell, an Army engr and ops officer for TF Pathfinder. "Each of the houses has a modern service module that includes a bathroom and a kitchen."
There is a tremendous need for housing projects in the Marshlands to accommodate returning refugees, as well as the growing population of villages and cities in and around the marshes.A new govt system is in place with the tender shoots of democracy beginning to emerge from this desert-dwelling nation. Like this mudhif, an ancient structure rebuilt to reflect modernization, the people of Iraq are embracing a new time and place in the world.
An IFP carries boxes of books for distribution to Baghdad’s Fursan Primary School, during a delivery conducted by the ISF and B Troop, 5th Sqdrn, 7th Cav Regt, April 11, 2010.
With the atmosphere of a “bring-your-child-to-work-day,” Soldiers found the situation reversed, and sat with Iraqi school kids, and rehearsed vocabulary. Their whole-hearted attempts caused laughter amongst the children.
"I feel like this is an important mission," said Spc. James Shapiro, of B Troop. "As this is my first deployment, I was expecting a lot more firefights, but stuff like this is important. It not only shows the Iraqi kids that we care about them and their future, but it also helps give them an education."Soldiers and ISF members alike carried in the Arabic Scholastic books to each headmaster's office. Members of the school thanked the ISF and U.S. Soldiers profusely, for providing the books. For the scouts of the sqdrn, this was a scenario that required both security and friendly behavior."All my guys are professionals, and they're trained," said Hudson. "That's my focal point. When we go out – let's say for a book drop – our discipline level is so high that we can hold our weapons down. You don't always have to be in an offensive position, but we're always watching our sectors. You can greet and smile, but you are always on guard." Hudson, who's been on 4 deployments, 3 to Iraq, pinpointed the changes he has seen in the nation. "I think this transition from combat to assisting ops is important, because this country will finally stabilize, and there'll be less violent actions against one another," said Shapiro. "If we can help stabilize the nation, younger generations will have a better life."For a brief moment in a once war-torn country, a glimpse of the future brought nothing but smiles to Iraqi youth."It was heartwarming to see the kids' smiles," said Shapiro. "I get a feeling of accomplishment out of these missions. When I can go and see a result like that, I know that this deployment was worth it to me."An Iraqi girl looks out a window from the Arbed Primary School in Baghdad.
The 66th MP, attached to the 3rd Stryker BCT, 2nd ID, is fostering the desire the IP have to get out and mingle with the population. "The underlying premise of the class is to get these guys out there, and be the main independent SECFOR at the community level," said 1st Lt. Alicia Mienko, 3rd plt leader. "The IA has done a great job of securing Iraq; now it's time for the police to take over, and transition from combat ops to stability ops."
As the IP walk through the markets, they talk to anyone with a question or concern. During this time, the IP were able to resolve a conflict between 2 merchants, and make friends with local children. "The other day at the market I saw a sgt pick up a small child, and while he was holding him, I could tell it was something the people weren't used to," said Spc. Ryan Greenzwieg, a driver for 3rd Plt. "That made the child happy, and the expression on the parents' faces showed they were glad to see him taking interest."Sgt. Carey Atkins, a UH-60 Black Hawk crew chief assigned to Co C, 3rd Bn, 238th Aviation Regt, waves an Iraqi Dept of Border Enforcement litter team up to load a mock casualty, during recent MEDEVAC training. The DBE is advised by Border Transition Team Phoenix, attached to 4th BCT, 1st AR Div.
JSS CHILAT – In a war zone, the ability to quickly transport injured personnel for treatment is critical for all, but especially for those serving at remote forts along the Iran-Iraq border in northern Maysan prov.
Moore, a veteran of multiple combat tours, emphasized the importance of remaining calm during emergency situations. One of the main training objectives was to familiarize Iraqi DBE Soldiers with both hot and cold helicopter loading procedures, so that the first time they're exposed to working under a hot rotor system, is not in a combat situation.
This training opportunity also gave the DBE a chance to learn verbal commands and hand-and-arm signals. This training is very important because normal communication is not possible under a turning rotor system. The UH-60 Black Hawk MEDEVAC procedures are much the same as the procedures for the IqAF's UH-1 helicopter."The aviation crew assisted them on how to set up landing zones, guide the helicopters in, and how to load patients, but the Iraqi's lead the training," said Staff Sgt. Kevin Ferrell, a flight medic with the unit. The team said that the best part of the training was the fact that 2 Iraqi medics, recent graduates of the MoD Medical Train-the-Trainer Course in Taji, were training their own Soldiers with minimal help from U.S. forces.