Story and photos by Army Spc. Albert Kelley
Army Sgt. Travis White, a squad leader with HHC, 2nd Bn, 503rd Inf Regt, TF Rock, instructs an ANP on the correct way to search an enemy casualty, after performing an ambush, April 5. The class was part of the Combined NCOs Training Academy given to ANSF at FOB Joyce . The academy includes courses such as map reading, IED detection, and combat life saver skills.
KUNAR PROVINCE – Twenty ANSF members graduated from the inaugural Combined NCO Training Academy, April 11.
The academy targeted NCOs from the ANP, the ANA, and the ABP, according to Army 1st Lt. Matthew Nihil, the ANSF cell officer-in-charge. “This is the only combined training program of its kind being conducted in the TF Mtn Warrior area of op,” Nihill continued. “Historically, there've been complaints that they don’t desire to work together. By making them train together, we hope they'll be more willing to work together as a team.”
Many ANSF members, including ABP Sgt. Najeebullah, enjoyed learning many of the combat-essential skills. “My favorite course was the combat lifesaver course,” Najeebullah said. “I now feel more confident that I'll be able to properly apply first-aid in combat if somebody gets shot or injured.”
“My favorite class was the drivers training,” said ANP Talib. “Before, I did not know how to drive. Now, if a driver is injured while on mission, I'll be able to take over, or drive a casualty back if necessary.”
An additional benefit of the combined training is the friendships and familiarization created between the ANSF members during their training. “When they first arrived, they would stand in separate groups,” said Army Sgt. Shawn Newberry, a team leader. Now they greet each other with handshakes and hugs.”
One of the graduates will be selected to come back and teach another class called the Mountain class. This class is targeted towards lower enlisted servicemembers, and focuses on small unit tactics, which builds the confidence of both the squad and team leaders, and the trust of the squad members.
With the successful graduation of the inaugural class completed, there're already plans for the next class to begin in May, with additional classes planned for every other month.
Sgt. Jonathan Smiley, the counterintel support team, NCO-in-charge, teaches ANSF members hasty and deliberate ambush techniques, April 5.
ANP practice searching and clearing a room, April 10.
ANP display graduation certificates received at FOB Joyce, April 10.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Laghman villagers use their green thumb LAGHMAN PROVINCE – Members of the Gerday Kats village gather to celebrate the success of a community garden, grown by using drip irrigation techniques that were taught by members of Laghman ADT. Success from this project has encouraged the villagers to share their crop –growing techniques with other villagers.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Water management dept in Laghman takes lead LAGHMAN PROVINCE - The director of the Water Mgt Dept handed out shovels to the Mer Ao’s, the first-line supervisors for the water canals, prior to a canal clean up and maintenance project with CF, April 29. The Mer Ao’s play a lead role in interacting with villages to help with IED concerns, and serve as emergency responders during the flood season.
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IRAQI STORIES:
USF-I
ISF, Iraqi media vow to report truth
Story and photo by Sgt. Mike MacLeod
Brig. Gen. Kenneth Tovo, dep. comm. gen. US Div - Center, talks to Iraqi journalists at a media-credentialing event at Camp Ramadi, April 26, 2010. Journalists asked U.S. and Iraqi cmdrs to share with them as much data as possible, so they can accurately report the news, to include positive news, which has been lacking in media reports.
CAMP RAMADI – Iraqi journalists agreed to help the IA and Police in Anbar get the truth out against the propaganda of terrorists. "Keep in mind that the ISF have to fight with the truth, with warrants, and with rules,” said Brig. Gen. Kenneth Tovo. “The enemy is bound by none of these.”
Staff Lt. Gen. Mufriji, comm. gen. of the Anbar Ops Center and the IA in Anbar, thanked more than a dozen journalists for attending, and pledged to help the media get their story. "If you would like to visit our military units, or have anything we can help you with, please let us know about it," said Mufriji. "I want us to work together to report the truth."
"We made a deal to open the doors between the ISF and the media of Al Anbar, to start real and serious work for the benefit of our prov.," said Basem al Anbari, a broadcast journalist of 15 years who reports for Al Baghdadia TV.
Col. Mark Stammer, cmdr of 1st Bde, 82nd Abn Div (Advise and Assist Bde), hosted the event, and told attendees that it was time for a new beginning. "As important as the work my Paratroopers and the Soldiers who work under the Anbar Ops Command and IP who work for Gen. Baha is … a lot of that goes for naught, if we don't tell an accurate and timely story through various media outlets."
"Preferably the meeting would have happened years ago," Anbari said, though he allowed that only recently could media visit military officials, and not fear retribution from terrorists. "I've met these Iraqi military leaders a few times before," said Anbari. "Due to the improved stability and security, we've been able to come here today. It's like a miracle for me to come and visit the Americans inside their base and meet their leaders."
Anbari told Mufriji that the media is a very strong weapon that the ISF can use against terrorists. "We publish news of the explosions and other bad things, so why you don't send us the good news for us to report against the terrorists?" Anbaro asked Baha.
This stronger relationship between the ISF and Iraqi media will allow the truth about successful security ops and humanitarian missions to be passed to the Iraqi people.
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DVIDS
It's a Bird … It's a Plane … No, It's the Wasp III
Story and photos by Spc. Luisito Brooks
During training on the Wasp III unmanned micro-aerial surveillance system (UMASS), April 21, Spc. Andrew Peters, a scout with HHC, 1st Bn, 38th Inf Regt, 4th Stryker BCT, 2nd ID, assembles an antenna.
CAMP TAJI – In today's warfare, being able to put a set of eyes on the enemy first, without the enemy knowing, greatly increases the success rate of the mission. Soldiers with the 4th Stryker BCT, were the 1st Army Soldiers in Iraq to receive training on the Wasp III, and take it for a test flight April 24 around Camp Taji.
"This system is effective, lightweight and very adaptable," said Staff Sgt. Brian Phillips, a Raven unmanned aerial surveillance master trainer with Co C, 1st Bn. "A single Soldier, at the co. or plt. level can throw the whole system on their back, and carry it into the field." The whole system, including 2 planes weighing 16 ounces each.
This micro-flier has multiple cameras attached that can send live video, day or night, to the controller on the ground several miles away. The amount of time these aerial surveillance systems can stay in the air depends on the pilots and weather condition.
"I think this is a great tool and the training was good, too," said Spc. Andrew Peters, a scout with HHC. "The Wasp is really nice and flies really quiet, which gives us a large advantage over the enemy, and keeps our guys safe."
Spc. Miguel Diaz begins to assemble the pieces of a Wasp III.
Staff Sgt. Joshua White, an infantryman, throws the Wasp III, into the wind.
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DVIDS
Registered Nurse Preps Soldiers to Save Lives Story and photo by Sgt. Ryan Twist
Sgt. Sarah Christenson, a Combat Lifesaver instructor with the 445th Trans Co out of Waterloo, Iowa, 260th CSSB, 15th Sust Bde, 13th ESC, observes Warrant Officer William Wilkins, the officer-in-charge of electronics with the 260th CSSB, as he prepares to give an IV during a CLS Course at Camp Liberty.
CAMP LIBERTY – Every week, Soldiers with the 260th learn lifesaving skills from a truck driver. Sgt. Sarah Christenson, a Combat Lifesaver instructor with the 445th, said she was a registered nurse as a civilian, and a truck driver for the Army, but was certified to teach the CLS Course in October.
Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Haley, the bn contracting officers' rep with the 812th Quartermaster Co., out of Harlingen, Texas, 260th CSSB, was a student of Christenson's and praised her experience. "It helped out a lot, especially in the classroom," he said. "You could see where she had a passion for it, where she really wanted to teach us, as if maybe we were going to save her life one day."
Christenson said she worked hard to ensure she was the best person to teach the 15th Sust. Bde. how to save lives on the battlefield. Her course allows them to certify, refresh and recertify in CLS skills as needed.
Christenson said she has been in the medical field for 12 years, starting at a nursing home. Most of her family works in the medical field as well. "I've been in the medical field since I was 14 years old," she said. "It's easy for me to talk to people about medicine, because it's my passion in life."
Christenson said she enjoys the opportunity to teach Soldiers. She first realized she was making a difference when a Soldier who had taken her class came back and told her that he had used what she taught him.
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DVIDS
16th Engineers Conduct Survey Training Story by 1st Lt. Aaron Testa
Sgt. Daniel Henle, a construction engineering specialist with the 16th Engr Bde, instructs a group of civilians and policemen from the IFP how to run a Total Station, an automated surveying system, April 19, inside the Int'l Zone.
(Army photos by Sgt. Andrew Rasfeld)
BAGHDAD – Accurate surveys, crucial to most engineering projects, provide Iraqi construction, electrical, and mechanical engrs the info they need to work together to effectively rebuild Iraq.
Five highly trained technical engr Soldiers from the 16th Engr Bde, based in Columbus, Ohio, spent the past week training IFP not only how to use key survey equipment, but more importantly, how to work together to make the surveys work for them.
The Soldiers, Staff Sgt. Joshua Singer, Sgt. Andrew Rasfeld, Spc. Justin Rainier, Sgt. Daniel Henle and Pvt. 1st Class Gerald Smith trained 7 degreed engineers from April 19-22, in Baghdad's Int'l Zone.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Annet Hix, construction engineering tech, was responsible for planning and facilitating the training event. According to Hix, the training was meant to provide an overall structure to the students in the beginning of the week using the Army's "tasks, conditions, standards" method, so the students could come away from the training with the ability to train others.
Surveys help provide valuable info about terrain, elevation and the location of utilities with respect to a certain area. This info, if used properly, can be relied upon by different types of engrs working together on construction or infrastructure development projects.
One of the challenges facing the trainers was the different backgrounds the Iraqi students brought with them. "There were a couple civil engrs, a surveyor, an electrical engr and a couple of mechanical engrs," said Hix. Luckily, the students weren't afraid to speak up when they didn't understand something. That gave the trainers an opportunity to explain how the material applies to each of their fields and how they all benefit from working together, using the same accurate surveys.
Perhaps more important than the knowledge that the trainers impart, are the relationships that they build during partnership training. "It was a learning experience for us as well, and the cultural differences don't seem so great after having the opportunity to work one-on-one with them," said Rainier.
"The training was a real success, not only in our goal to help the FP and civilian engrs be more proficient in their work, but also in further building upon the relationship between the U.S. military and our Iraqi counterparts," said Rainier.
Sgt. Daniel Henle (right) and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Annet Hix demonstrate how to properly set up a tripod.
Pfc. Gerald Smith and Spc. Justin Rainier (left) demonstrate how to use a program on the Total Station that allows the user to collect data for a Topographical Survey, which can later be manipulated for use of site management and planning.
Brig. Gen. Raheem, dir. of the IFP and responsible for a workforce of over 45,000, observes Spc. Justin Rainier, a construction engineering specialist from the 16th Engr Bde, training 2 IFP lts to operate a Total Station.
(photos by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Annet Hix)
Sgt. Daniel Henle teaches a group of civilians and policemen from the IFP how to mark a survey stake.
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DVIDS
Airmen Facilitate Relationship Building Between Iraqi Firefighters Story and photo by Senior Airman Mindy Bloem
Members from the 506th Air Expeditionary Group and Iraq Training and Advisory Mission facilitated a maintenance education day between the Prov. of Kirkuk Fire Dept and the IqAF Fire Dept at Kirkuk Regional Air Base. The PKFD members shared their knowledge of how to repair the European-type fire equipment with the IqAF vehicle maintainers.
KIRKUK -- The aim of the training was to get as many fire trucks in service as possible. The IqAF/FD has 4 fire vehicles, and 3 of those vehicles were not working to full capacity prior to the assistance visit.
"Once the U.S. military leaves, these 2 depts are going to have to rely on each other," said Chief Master Sgt. Pete Dickerson, fire chief for the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engr Sqdrn fire dept. "Having the ability of one dept to help another is a huge step in bringing both depts together."
The PKFD mechanics were instrumental in repairing 2 of the IqAF fire trucks, doubling their capability to fight fires. "One vehicle had been out of service for more than 1-1/2 years, and was repaired in the first 2 hours," said Senior Master Sgt. Mark Czmyr, asst fire chief for the 506th ECES/FD. "Another vehicle had serious safety discrepancies that were repaired on the spot. The third had broken parts that can be purchased locally to facilitate its repair."
The training was especially crucial, because the PKFD members shared their knowledge of how to repair the European-type fire equipment with the IqAF vehicle maintainers. "These trucks are very specialized with on-board computers and electronics that require in-residence schooling usually provided by the truck manufacturer," Czmyr said. "If repairs could be made on the spot, the PKFD members made the repairs while IqAF mechanics watched and learned how to make the repairs."
It's very important the 2 depts work together and develop a bond and trust. This event is the beginning of building that trust and developing a knowledge base to keep the fleet of fire trucks in service," said Dickerson.
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FLICKR PHOTOS:
Talk Shop
(Army photo by Staff Sgt. Adelita Mead)
U.S. Soldiers with the 17th Fires Bde speak to an electrician in his store in Old Basrah, April 19, 2010, while assessing security in the area.