Dear Interested Reader,
Orphan boy treated at FOB Sharana. ANP officers graduate training course in Sharana. Series of shuras help in Marjah. Successful ops in Kandahar and Helmand provs.
Iraq: "Vipers" provide critical air traffic services in USD-N. JSS Carver transferred to ISF. Suspected AQI terrorists and criminal assocs. arrested in 3 separate ops.
Joanna
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AFGHANISTAN STORIES:
RC-East in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Orphan boy helped by ANSF, coalition forces
ANSF and Soldiers with Co A, 3rd Bn, 187th Inf Regt help an injured boy.
The combined Afghan and U.S. forces knew the boy needed medical care and brought him into FOB Sharana, where medics helped clean him up and provided care for his wounds, said Powers.
“It's good to help the children of the area. They're the future of Afghanistan,” said ANA 1st Lt. Latif Khan, who partners with A Co., 3-187. The combined forces provided the boy with a fresh pair of socks, a new pair of shoes, and a stuffed animal, added Khan.
“It was nice to see … some of the other guys showing compassion for the boy,” said Powers. “Even the Sub-Gov., Ali Mohammed, pitched in to help the boy, doing what he could to help those of the Yahya Khel District.”At this time the Sub-Gov. is taking care of the orphan until more permanent arrangements can be made, said Powers.
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RC-East in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
ANP officers graduate training course in Sharana
The Paktika ANP graduated 102 officers from the Provincial Training Sustainment Site and Directed Police District Development, at the Paktika Police Provincial HQ in Sharana, Paktika Prov., June 10.
Students spend 8 weeks in this course in order to graduate as fully-trained police officers. The courses teach hand-to-hand combat, rifle marksmanship, standards and discipline, drill and ceremony, and basic police techniques, added Richardson.
Afghan Border Patrolman, 1st Sgt. Rakman, the head instructor for the course, was proud to watch the class graduate. “These are the perfect students; they have learned everything that a good police officer should know,” he said. “They know what to do and how to help the public. They know their Afghan Constitution.”
Army Lt. Col. David Fivecoat, cmdr of 3rd Bn, 187th Inf Regt, emphasized that the policemen’s hard work and training got them through the course, and that they're now joining an elite group of Afghans, chosen to protect the people of Paktika Prov. “The Soldiers of TF Iron Rakkasan look forward to fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with you to make the people of Paktika safe,” Fivecoat said during his ceremony speech. Paktika Provincial Gov. Samim attended the graduation ceremony, and personally honored the top 5 graduates.-30-
ISAF Public Affairs Office
Series of Shuras Held in Marjah
Story and photos by Lance Cpl. James Clark
Haji Zahir, the regional district gov. of Marjah speaks during an elder shura, held at the govt center in Marjah, June 6.. The elder shura marked the 3rd since Afghan and CF arrived in the city, and marked a key step to holding routine meetings.
FOB MARJAH – Shuras, the Afghan equivalent of a town hall meeting, serve as a forum where the concerns of the city residents can be discussed, and proposals deliberated upon. Prior to beginning the meeting, Haji Zahir, presided over a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the end of reconstruction efforts at the govt center, and symbolized a formal presence of the GoA in Marjah.“The ceremony officially marked the govt center’s refurbishment, after it was repainted, had new doors and windows installed, and had interior restructuring done,” said Capt. Anthony Zinni, comm. officer for Weapons Co, 1st Bn, 6th Marine Regt. “Having all the block leaders there, see the GoA slowly establishing itself, presents the perception of the govt improving on what it has, and a sense of status that comes with legitimacy.”After the ribbon-cutting ceremony and a customary moment of prayer, the members gathered under the crowded solar shade, sharing a small space away from the sun. Compared to the last shura, when 60 elders attended, roughly 200 men were present, the majority of whom were village elders, mullahs, the religious figureheads of community, or block leaders.
“When we first started holding the shuras, the main concern was civilian casualties,” said Zinni. “The last one was focused on accountability of block leaders. This one was aimed at establishing the structure and workings of an elder shura as a governing body.
Reps from Afghan SECFOR, the regional gov., and elders at the shura discussed several different topics, the foremost being how to establish a governing body of elders to work as a council for the city. “We’re trying to get them to buy into the idea of the council, because it’s a form of empowerment,” Zinni said. “They can vote, speak up, and in doing so, make changes. The elders are on the ledge, wondering if they should take a leap of faith, and put their trust in the GoA or not. They’re going to support the guy who can oust the other. In a lot of ways the Taliban have burnt bridges since they’ve been here.”Other key points were the recruitment of local men into the ANP, and the need for the various tribes and villages that comprise the city, to present a unified front against the Taliban.“The people of Marjah like the idea of having locals police their own city, as they’re not too trusting of outsiders,” said Zinni. “The fact that there'll be Marjah residents being police officers in their city, gives them a sense of ownership over their community.”
One of the final points of discussion was on tribal support, as smaller tribes and villages are at the highest risk of being targeted by the Taliban. The idea of going out of one’s way for someone not from their village, or specific tribe, can be controversial among many Afghans, but the elders at the shura appeared hopeful that their communities would lend assistance.“A lot of villages that are farther away are isolated and are at risk of reprisal from the Taliban if they cooperate with us,” said Zinni. “The Taliban aren’t targeting areas that are unified, because the larger tribes are fighting back. Some of the larger tribes have been encouraged to unify with the smaller ones for security. It’s possible in Marjah, which is a melting pot of different tribes and ethnicities.” “If they had their way the Taliban would be gone, but they can’t,” said Zinni. “They’re afraid, and at the end of the day are unsure who their neighbors will side with: the government or the Taliban?”
A young boy plays with a stuffed animal he received from a Marine.
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ISAF Public Affairs Office
Afghan-ISAF Ops in Southern Afghanistan
KANDAHAR PROVINCE - Afghan-ISAF captured a Taliban sub-cmdr responsible for coordinating attacks, and the movement of IED material, and detained several suspected insurgents, June 16. The SECFOR searched a remote building north of Morghan Kechah in the Daman district. No shots were fired in this op.civilians.
HELMAND PROVINCE - An ISAF patrol discovered large quantities of drugs in Garm Ser district, June 15. The force found 450 kilograms of opium, hidden under a false floor in a truck, after the driver tried to avoid a vehicle checkpoint. The driver and a passenger were detained.
In a separate action, the same unit seized a kilogram of amphetamines on a farm tractor, and detained several individuals who tested positive for using the drug. The narcotics trade funds and supports the insurgency, and constitutes a direct threat to Afghanistan.-30-
IRAQI STORIES:
Backanthem Millitary News
Vipers provide critical air traffic services in USD-N
By Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone Marshall, Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts
Specialist Barry West (seated), air traffic controller, F Co, 3rd Bn, 25th GSAB, TF Hammerhead, performs ground control functions, while Sgt. Klarke Castellanos (standing), air traffic controller and training NCO-in-charge, provides local control of a departing fixed-wing aircraft at COB Speicher, near Tikrit, Jan. 10.
(Photos by Staff Sgt. Mike Alberts)
COB SPEICHER - The importance of aviation ops in the current contemporary operating environment in Iraq, can't be overstated, with hundreds of movements of troops, supplies and equipment daily. These critical aviation ops demand a watchful and experienced air traffic services (ATS) team to manage the air space in and around USD-North.The Soldiers of F Co, "Vipers," provide the necessary over-watch for the high density airspace. The company is also responsible for ATS ops at FOB Warhorse and COB Q- West."It's a lot of traffic, particularly at COB Speicher, which rivals the 8th largest airport in the U.S., Charlotte-Douglas Int'l, and that airport doesn't handle UAVs," said Lt. Col. Gregory Baker, cmdr, 3-25th GSAB.Capt Matthew Basil, cmdr, F Co., 3-25th GSAB, discussed the scope of his unit's responsibilities as demands increase. "Here at COB Speicher, we're running 2 facilities. We've got the tower and the Army Radar Approach Control (ARAC). On average, the tower is handling about 500 movements a day, while the ARAC is handling around 150 movements a day. Just the density of aircraft movements, (we're looking at 24 hours a day), is probably the biggest challenge about Speicher."Capt Basil also spoke about the other ominous challenge his ATS Soldiers face on a daily basis - weather. Weather has traditionally been a significant challenge with aviation ops as pilots, crews and ATS must contend with the unpredictable changes in weather patterns. On 12 April, TF Marne Comm. Gen., Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo, was hosting a cmdr's conference at COB Speicher. Bde cmdrs, senior leaders, and others were arriving throughout the day in weather so bad that the only way to get aircraft in safely was with controllers guiding aircraft in for landing. It was a significant accomplishment, and one that was later formally recognized by Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo himself.Another task the unit is responsible for is ensuring all 4 of their ATS facilities are following the same procedures and guidelines. Chief Warrant Officer II Mark Stubbs, standardization officer and plt leader, oversees the implementation of these policies.
Sgt Vanessa Chester, ARAC NCO, and Spc. Tai Barbee, ARAC specialist, both with F Co, communicate with incoming aircraft, March 12.
Spc Cale Walker, air traffic controller, assists providing local control of a departing fixed-wing aircraft, Jan. 10.
(left to right) Sgt Lacey Schaefer, Sgt. Klarke Castellanos and Spc. Barry West, air traffic controllers, perform various air traffic services from flight data and ground functions to local control of various aircraft, Jan. 10.
USF-I
U.S. forces transfer JSS Carver to Iraqi Army
BAGHDAD - Soldiers of 4th Bn, 31st Inf Regt, 2nd BCT, 10th Mtn Div, transferred JSS Carver to members of the ISF, June 11.
JSS Carver is the 8th JSS to be transferred to the ISF in 2nd BCT's operational environment. The Soldiers of 4-31 have worked with 45/11 IA over the past 8 months, conducting partnered training, patrols, and humanitarian assistance missions in the Mada'in district.
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USF-I
June 17, 2010
ISF arrest suspected AQI terrorist, criminal associate
BAGHDAD - ISF arrested a suspected AQI) member and a criminal assoc., during a joint security op., conducted in northern Iraq, June 17. Approx 37kms NW of Baghdad, ISF and U.S. advisors searched a building for the suspected AQI member allegedly linked to senior AQI leadership.
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June 17, 2010
One suspected AQI terrorist, criminal associates arrested
BAGHDAD - ISF arrested a suspected AQI member and 3 criminal assocs., during 2 separate joint security ops., conducted June 17.
In west Mosul, ISF and U.S. advisors searched a building for a suspected AQI member, allegedly linked to acquiring vehicles and weapons used to carry out assassinations in the northern-Iraqi city. It's believed that he also has close ties to senior AQI leadership. Info and evidence gathered at the scene led Iraqi forces to identify and arrest 1 criminal assoc. of the warranted individual.
During another op in west Baghdad, ISF and U.S. advisors searched 2 buildings for a suspected AQI member, allegedly responsible for VBIED attacks. Info and evidence gathered at the scene led Iraqi forces to identify and arrest the warranted individual and 2 criminal assocs.
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flickr
Brush Stroke
Paintings of Arabian horses, Iraqi farmers and brides covered the walls of the COB Kalsu dining facility conference room, during an Art Fair presented by Iraqi artists of Babil prov., in southern Iraq, June 2, 2010. U.S. Soldiers took advantage of this opportunity to purchase affordable and unique paintings to take back home.
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