Dear Interested Reader,
Three nations, 2 armies discuss border security at FOB Salerno. Day workers and good neighbors at Bagram Airfield. Panjshir PRT joins a gym class. ANP CSI graduates awarded in Bamyan prov.
Iraq: 18th Engr Co sharpen their TALON EOD Robot skills. 36th SB Soldier reflects on 3 tours. NCAA football coaches visit 13th ESC. Suspected AQI leader and assocs. killed in Mosul.
Joanna
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AFGHANISTAN STORIES:
CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Three nations, two armies discuss border security
Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, CJTF-82 cmdr (left); incoming CJTF-101 cmdr, Maj. Gen. John Campbell (center); and Pakistani cmdr, Lt. Gen. Asif (right), discuss border security issues, June 5.
FOB SALERNO – The flags of 3 nations, one Pakistani Army corps, and 2 Army divs were represented in a multi-national border coordination meeting that included senior leaders from RC-E, the Pakistani Army, ANSF and TF Rakkasan. Those that were present, including 2nd Zone ABP Cmdr, Maj. Gen. Mollakhail, met with the 3rd BCT, 101st AD to discuss cross-border coordination between military and border police forces.
TF Rakkasan hosted the meeting because it shares almost 300 miles of border with Pakistan. For the Rakkasans to be successful in their security mission in Paktika, Paktya and Khost Provs, cross-border cooperation is essential, said Army Col. Viet X. Luong, the 3rd BCT cmdr.
To assist in the cooperative security mission, facilities like the newly-constructed Lwara Border Coordination Center, and the improvements to the Ghulam Khan Point of Entry, will set the conditions for increased control of traditional enemy infiltration routes, said Luong.
The Pakistani military also sees the advantage of cooperating with ISAF on the Afghanistan side of the border. Pakistani forces have been increasing their ops against insurgents in North and South Waziristan according to Asif. “Things will be heating up in the next coming months, due to our ops against insurgents. Be prepared to see a lot of insurgent traffic on your side of the border,” he said.
The security mission falls heavily on the shoulders of the ABP, and Mollakhail believes continued cooperation with Pakistan is essential. “I hope that these coordinated missions show what is possible. We have a common enemy. There shouldn’t be any border to defeat terrorists,” Mollakhail said.
Asif agreed, adding the best way to defeat terrorists is through continued meetings and joint planning of cross-border security ops. Both nations have the same goal and are eager to make it happen through the Border Flag Meeting process, he said. “It's not a question of intent. It's one of mechanisms. The objective of a Border Flag Meeting shouldn’t be just to show flags. There's no substitute for face-to-face talks,” Asif said.
Ultimately, such constructive dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the way ahead, and will continue when CJTF-82 transfers authority of RC-E to CJTF-101 later in June, said Scaparrotti. He reaffirmed ISAF’s commitment to a security partnership with Pakistan, thanking them for being a willing partner in regional stability.
“I appreciate the hard work your country is doing. I’m confident the success of this brigade (3rd BCT) will continue. So long as we work together, that’s how we’re successful,” Scaparrotti said.
Pakistani Army cmdr, Lt. Gen. Asif (right), discusses the border security issues. Army Brig. Gen. Stephen Townsend (left) and ABP cmdr, Maj. Gen. Mollakhail (center), look on.
The 3rd BCT cmdr, Col. Viet Luong (far right), addresses senior cmdrs. Pakistani Army cmdr, Lt. Gen. Asif (far left); Maj. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti (left center), and the incoming CJTF-101 cmdr, Maj. Gen. John Campbell (right center), attended the meeting.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Day Workers and Good Neighbors
AF Senior Master Sgt. Lisa Bryant, communications NCO-in-charge of the Joint Network Ops Control Center-A, hands a care package to one of the Bagram Airfield day workers, May 30. Bryant is part of TF Wolverine's effort to sustain and improve the relationship with communities surrounding Bagram Airfield.
BAGRAM AIRFIELD – Local Afghans who come to Bagram Airfield to find day work, without success, were presented quality-of-life packages by BAF servicemembers. “Many of these guys show up daily and can’t get work for a variety of reasons,” said 1st Lt. Joseph Scalzo, a civil affairs officer with the 86th IBCT. “By providing them items to help improve their quality of life, they're more likely to be supportive of the CF mission to help Afghans.”The Afghan day workers are often employed to do construction or other trade work. Doing this work teaches them skills they can use in the future to secure employment, said Scalzo. “With learned skills to acquire jobs, Afghans are less likely to become involved with criminal or Taliban elements.”
AF Master Sgt. Joe Tysinger, a civil engr with the 577th Expeditionary Civil Engr Sqdrn, Base Engr Emergency Force, hands a care package to one of the Bagram Airfield day workers.
Samuel Joao, a civilian contractor and Mozambique resident, who works as a dog handler here, hands out a care package.
CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Panjshir PRT joins a gym class
Army 1st Lt. Mike O’Neil, Army Spc. LeeAnn Kwait and other members of the Panjshir PRT’s civil affairs team join in on a gym class at a local school.
PANJSHIR PROVINCE – It started out as a typical mission for the civil affairs branch of the Panjshir PRT, May 27. They set out to do an assessment of a local school and its ability to support a micro hydroelectric plant to power the new computer facility and library.
Halfway through the mission, they noticed a group of students from the school doing their morning exercises around a volleyball court. The civil affairs team could not resist the opportunity to join in. “We were looking at the micro hydro, and if it could be a future project,” said Spc. LeeAnn Kwait, a civil engr with the Panjshir PRT. “They were doing simple stretching exercises and asked if we could do some push-ups for the kids, and then they all decided to join in,” said Kwait.
“The kids seemed to really enjoy participating. They were smiling and joking, and I was really impressed with the amount of discipline in the class,” said Kwait. “It only lasted about 15 minutes, but everyone seemed to have a good time.”
After the impromptu workout, the team presented the students and teachers with school supplies donated from a school in America. “We gave them some school supplies and some sports equipment like soccer balls, baseballs and Frisbees," said Kwait.
While the assessment went well, the interaction with the kids was just as important to showing the Afghan people that the Panjshir PRT is making an effort to improving the quality of life for the children at the school.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
ANP CSI Graduates Awarded
BAMYAN PROVINCE – Col. Mike Berry, cmdr of the Delaware ETT, assigned to the 86th IBCT, renders a salute to one of the 21 graduates of the ANP’s Crime Scene Investigation program at the ANP Regional Training Center, May 28. The 6-week program is 1 of 2 in Afghanistan, and is considered a vital part in the development of the country. Crime scene investigators write up and organize detailed reports on the activities being carried out at the scene, and the observations made. These reports are then given to the law enforcement agency in charge of investigating the crime. Crime scene investigators may also be asked to testify in court in regards to their findings, and the processing methods that were used at the scene.
A graduate shows his fellow policemen his certificate during a graduation ceremony.
Staff Sgt. Peter Ladensack, a member of the Delaware ETT, renders a solute to a graduate.
The 21 graduates along with their American counterparts pose for a group photo, May 28.
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IRAQI STORIES:
Blackanthem Military News
18th Engineer Co Sharpen Their TALON EOD Robot Skills
By Pfc. Adrian Muehe
Spc. Richard Berryman, a combat engr with 2nd plt, 18th Engr Co, 296th BSB, 3rd Stryker BCT, 2nd ID, pilots the controls of a TALON EOD Robot, while observing live feeds from the 4 cameras mounted on the device during training at FOB Warhorse, May 27. The robot has multiple cameras to provide a comprehensive view of the ground to allow operators to identify and interrogate IEDs easier.
Spc. Richard Berryman walks alongside a TALON EOD Robot, as another driver operates it during a training course. Berryman had just used this device for the first time and was walking alongside to see the differences between how a human and this equipment view an area.
Sgt. Kevin Ames, a team leader for 2nd plt, shows Soldiers of his plt the components of the TALON EOD Robot during a class he gave.
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Blackanthem Military News
36th SB Soldier reflects on three tours
By 36th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs
COB ADDER - Soldiers gain an incredible amount of experience throughout the course of a deployment to Iraq. Some Soldiers, like Staff Sgt. Charles Jackson, here for the beginning, middle and the end of OIF, have gained more than others.
Jackson, an intel analyst with the 36th Sust Bde, 13th ESC, reflected on the many changes he has noticed during his 3 tours in Iraq. Jackson said this deployment was much like his other 2 deployments, serving as an intel analyst to take bits of intel from different sources, to create a big picture of what is happening in Iraq. The situation in Iraq has changed during his deployments, and the number of daily attacks in Iraq has dropped considerably, he said. "The bad guys are a lot more organized now than they were during OIF I, but not necessarily as strong as they were during my 2nd deployment," Jackson said. "That was kind of the height of the insurgency. They have better structure. The ones that are fighting us now are the ones that are going to fight until the end. There are a lot of insurgents, that somewhere along the way, lost interest. The ones that are still fighting after 7 years are trying to see it through."
The sectarian violence really spiked during his 2nd deployment, but some of it's still happening, to a less severe extent, he said. "The average Iraqi is just ready for it all to be over," Jackson said. "They're ready for us to go, and ready for a stable country. The society seems to be a little more empowered, a little more confident now that they're headed in the right direction."
Jackson said during his initial deployment to Iraq his most enduring moment was the convoy from Kuwait to Tikrit which took almost 3 days. "It was a surreal experience," he said. "Here I am in a foreign country, in a combat zone, and we're driving up the highway seeing burned out vehicles, and buses with bullet holes in the sides and windows," Jackson said. Jackson said that one of his most humbling moments also happened during his 1st tour, when he convoyed into the Kurdish controlled area of Iraq, with one of the female officers in his unit. "At one of our stops, the kids gathered around us. I had a female captain that I worked with, and I remember one of the little Iraqi girls looking at her, and she had this look of amazement," Jackson said. "Here is this woman standing here in uniform, and it really hit me that they don't necessarily see a lot of opportunity over here, and here is this little girl looking at a female captain in the Army and I don't know if she's thinking, 'Maybe I could do that one day,' or ‘maybe I can do what I want one day.’ The look on her face; that she was just amazed to see a female authority figure like that. I was kind of shocked and humbled, and it gave me hope for their future."Lt. Col. Craig Schneider, intel officer-in-charge with the 36th Sust. Bde., said that Jackson brings an amazing amount of knowledge and experience to the brigade. "Jackson brought with him skills with the Command Post of the Future system, and working with databases, so he was able to just flow us into that. He's worked in intel plans positions, as well as the administrative side of security, so he has a lot of breadth in the job," Schneider said.
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Blackanthem Military News
NCAA football coaches visit 13th ESC
Story and photos by Spc. Naveed Ali Shah
U.S. Military Academy head football coach Rich Ellerson (right), speaks with Soldiers of the 13th ESC, May 28 at JBB, during the National Collegiate Athletic Assn Coaches Tour 2010, sponsored by the USO and Morale Entertainment. The tour brought coaches from the University of Illinois, the University of Oregon, Harvard University and USMA to visit Soldiers in Europe and the Iraq theater of ops.
Harvard University head football coach Tim Murphy (seated), speaks with Soldiers, who had the chance to get autographs and talk football with the men they watch on the sidelines every Saturday on television.
University of Illinois head football coach Ron Zook speaks with 1st Lt. Sean Devine, a mobility plans officer.
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June 6, 2010
ISF kill suspected AQI leader, two associates in northern Iraq
BAGHDAD - ISF killed a suspected AQI senior leader and 2 criminal assocs during a joint security op, June 5. ISF and U.S. advisors conducted a vehicle interdiction to arrest a suspected senior AQI leader, who is allegedly responsible for incorporating foreigners into AQI and facilitating terrorist ops in southern Mosul.
As the security team approached the vehicle in which the warranted individual was believed to be occupying, the warranted individual and assocs presented a threat to the SECFOR, and acting in self-defense fired and killed 3 individuals, including the wanted AQI leader.
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