ANP greet Polish soldiers and the Ghazni PRT, May 29, at the Andar District Center. Their police chief, Col. Patang, died fighting insurgents May 22, but the group banded together and the ANP maintained their positions. Afghan Col. Sardar, the dep. chief, replaced him shortly afterward. The Ghazni PRT visited Andar district to discover what the current situation was at the district center, and to speak to the ANP.
GHAZNI PROVINCE - Andar is also in the midst of a hostage crisis, following the kidnapping of 24 university and high school students between 15 and 20 years old, May 21, and murder of 11 of them. The entire province of Ghazni shut down businesses to mourn and protest the murders, May 23.
Hafizullah, counter-terrorist police chief, stands outside the Andar District Center with the Ghazni PRT. He spoke to the PRT about the kidnappings and the recent death of Col. Patang, who was well-known for his leadership abilities, that pulled the ANP together.
Local community leaders and hundreds of spectators turned out for a new school dedication in the town of Pawat, June 2. They celebrated the completion of the new secondary school, a year-long construction project facilitated by the Panjshir PRT.
Even as the completion of the school is celebrated in Parwat, Velasquez looks forward to future projects in the prov. “We've 2 other schools that will be finished in the next month, and 2 more that will be completed by the end of the summer,” Velasquez said. “We've the capacity to build more, but we work with the provincial govt to assure they have the capacity to staff them.”
The next step in educating the population of Panjshir is the Jhenj communication center. “The center opens the opportunity to bring a different type of educational progress to the prov.,” Velasquez said. “They'll have the ability to study on their own, connect to the Internet, and open up new horizons by connecting to the world.”
During the dedication, some concerns were raised about future projects in the prov. Seeing the opportunity to listen to the concerns of the town’s officials, the PRT attended a typical Afghan lunch, where they talked over the concerns for the future.
“We came for a dedication and it evolved into a constructive talk on the future, and what we can do to better plan and complete projects, Velasquez said. “It was a great way for us to learn how to facilitate better relations in the future.”
Deputy Gov. Kabiri address the crowd at the opening of a secondary school.
BAGRAM AIRFIELD - Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti (right), cmdr. of Combined Joint TF-82 and Regional Command - East, receives the Légion d'honneur, (National Order of the Legion of Honor), from French Brig. Gen. Pierre Chavancy, TF Lafayette cmdr., June 1. Gen. Chavancy presented this award to Gen. Scaparrotti on behalf of President Nicolas Sarkozy of France. This is the highest decoration awarded in France. Gen. Scaparrotti received this award for his contribution to RC-East and serving alongside the French military during his leadership here.
CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
BAGRAM AIRFIELD – 71 Servicemembers from 36 different countries take the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony at Bagram Airfield, June 3, 2010. Guests of honor at the event were Amb. Karl Eikenberry; Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, comm. gen. of Combined Joint TF-82; Ms. Dawn Liberi, senior civilian rep of CJTF-82; and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel, command sgt major of CJTF-82. (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Susan Wilt, Combined Joint TF-82 Public Affairs)
Army Spc. Pieter Laubscher and Amb. Eikenberry, shake hands after Laubscher was presented his naturalization certificate. Eikenberry presented the new citizens with their naturalization certificates and spoke at the ceremony.
In a joint op, ANSF and Soldiers with Co B, 3rd Bn, 187th Inf Regt, 3rd BCT, 101st AD, prepare to load into a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to conduct an air assault mission in Shin Tsa village of the Shakilabad district, May 31. During the mission, the combined force captured 5 insurgents, ammo, weapons, explosive-making materials, and some equipment.
Reacting to intel reports of militant forces, the combined assault force searched the village, and detained 2 insurgents on a motorcycle, and confiscated an AK-47, a radio, and multiple chest rack systems.
The units then moved to a neighboring village in pursuit of more suspected insurgents, capturing 3. Afghan forces also found 4 bandoleers of ammo, that included armor piercing rounds, Enfield-style rifles, cell phones, tapes of insurgent propaganda, and an assortment of explosive-making materials.
“I think the mission was a huge success, and in the future I hope to do a lot more air assaults, so we can strike at the heart of where the insurgents operate,” said Asadullah, the Zarghun Shahr National Directorate of Security chief.
Army Capt. Aaron Schwengler, cmdr of Co B, from Bismarck, N.D., agreed, adding that the 5 detainees could yield crucial evidence needed to help secure the district. “The gathered intel on the insurgents’ leadership in the area will drive future ops to disrupt them in the Shakilabad and Jani Khel areas,” said Schwengler.
KUNAR PROVINCE – Soldiers of the B Btry, 3rd Bn, 321st FAR, 18th Fires Bde (Abn), 82nd AD, shoot multiple rounds to register their target, in support of FOB Joyce, Mar. 27.
Story and photos by Sgt. Eunice Alicea Valentin
Bayamon, Puerto Rico, natives, Sgt. Maj. Hector Santiago, finance and human resources ops cell NCO-in-charge and his younger brother, Spc. Alex A.M. Santiago, a finance specialist, both with the 210th RSG, are currently deployed to Iraq with their cousins, Spc. Victor Santiago and Spc. Jimmy Rodriguez, info technology specialists also the 210th RSG, and Ponce, Puerto Rico natives. The 4 Soldiers had a unique opportunity May 13 to communicate back home via satellite and the DVIDS.
"We're small in numbers, but we make lots of noise," Rodriguez said, a common saying by Latinos who, by culture, enjoy getting together any chance they get. All joking aside, the Santiago Family was tasked to carry out an important assignment. The DVIDS hub in Atlanta reaches out to the Soldiers' local media outlets, and vice versa, hoping to get an individual's message back to their hometowns, as a firsthand account of their experiences in Iraq, said Sgt. 1st Class William Smith, broadcast NCO-in-charge with the 196th Mobile PA Det, 13th ESC. The Soldiers conducted interviews in Spanish throughout La Isla de Encanto (the Island of Enchantment), an island in the Caribbean Sea, with an area less than 3,600 square miles and a population of nearly 4 million. 1st Lt. David Spangler, media relations officer with the 196th MPAD, is the liason between DVIDS and the interviewers. "I contact DVIDS and DVIDS contacts the hometowns, so Soldiers can tell their stories firsthand," he said. Ruben Sanchez, a notably boisterous air personality with WKAQ-AM, interviewed the Family live and said the interview with the Soldiers was beautiful. "Rather than our broadcasters retelling the Soldiers' story, we're able to facilitate interviews between Soldiers' and their hometown media," Smith said. Puerto Ricans are known for their confidence and coolness, and these Soldiers are no exception to the rule. Sgt. Maj. Santiago, a 20-year veteran, spoke of camaraderie and professionalism within his unit. He said Puerto Ricans are known for their hard work. Another topic of discussion was the financial and political state of the small island, and its correlation to the advancements of their military careers. Without hesitation, the Soldiers said that the Army offered them the opportunity to advance, and in Rodriguez' case, obtain dual master's degrees in human resources and mgt. In addition, he plans to begin his doctorate in business administration upon his redeployment home. The 3 specialists were thrilled about their experiences in the Army, since they enlisted 2 years ago, and gave a call to action. Each expressed their contentment with their careers in the military, finishing one another's sentences, and bragging about life in the service. "Bueno, it helps that we're Family and we were very close before arriving in Iraq," Alex said. "My message to the youth of Puerto Rico is to join our Family."
By Master Sgt. Duff McFadden
"I've seen the other murals he's painted since then, and he continues to impress me with his willingness to learn," Spc. Gieske said. His latest project was the Rock of the Marne monument located in the center of the TOC compound, representing all the military conflicts the 2HBCT has taken part in. "The rock is a monument which everyone sees every day as they go to work," said Pfc Gildon. "It's something I take pride in. "I just put my head phones on and let my mind go blank as I draw. If I get more worried about screwing something up, then I'm more likely to get nervous and screw something up. So I like to be good and relaxed as I work," he said. Whether he's listening to rock or heavy metal, the Rolling Stones or Slayer, once he begins the painting process, he's very deliberate. "I'll take the initial design and then measure everything out. I'll detail it in a rough sketch using a pencil to make sure it all fits. Once I know it fits, I'll write down the measurements and then go for it.Pfc. Gildon recently re-enlisted for another 6 years, and plans to retire after 20 years of service. Upon his return to the States, he wants to become an EOD Specialist, and upon retirement, looks to become a teacher. A self-professed adrenaline junkie and master scuba diver, Pfc Gildon said "I'll do anything I can to get the adrenaline flowing - whether it's skateboarding, snowboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking, or even paint ball."
Story and photos by Master Sgt. Duff McFadden
