Dear Interested Reader,
Medical aid comes to Bouldac villagers. Marines enhance markmanship skills at PB Koshtay. Op Kokcha underway in Takhar prov. First Afghan family to return to Now Zad helps with micro grants. Ghazni PRT supports ANP traffic training program.
Iraq: 203 FA conducts a peace mission in Laylan prov. Sharing a meal with the Kurdish Regional Guard in Laylan. Electrical project progressing well in Dhi Qar prov. Comedians come to Camp Liberty's Iron Oasis.
Joanna
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AFGHANISTAN STORIES:
DVIDS
ISAF Gives Medical Aid to Bouldac Villagers 
Story by Lance Cpl. Megan Sindelar
Marines and sailors with I Marine HQ Group, I MEF, work with British, Danish and members of the ANA to conduct a village medical outreach (VMO), June 16. A total of 81 locals were able to receive medical aid.
BOULDAC – Marines and medical officers from I Marine HQ Group and 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Bn, I MEF (FWD), a British plt, a Danish liaison training team, a squad from the ANA and an ANA medic traveled to Bouldac, a village near Camp Leatherneck. The VMO site was set up at a centralized location of the village compounds. A large tent was set up for the outreach patients and solar-netting was put up over the waiting area. The medical team, with the ANA medic taking the lead, helped 45 patients at the centralized site. Meanwhile, a female engagement team (FET) escorted I MEF female medical staff to each compound within the Bouldac village. The FET was needed to escort the medics because the females have strict religious views that keep them within their compounds. Bringing the female doctors to the compounds made the villagers more comfortable and the medical staff was able to treat 36 patients within their homes, during the day. Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik Belty, a corpsman with Preventive Medical Det, I Marine HQ Group, said he enjoyed this outreach because he was able to treat patients. He taught each patient different hygiene techniques, and before leaving the medical tent they were all given a bag of hygiene items. Belty also said that some of the villagers who came for treatment had long-term issues that could only be treated with temporary medication. The men and children have very little access to health care, but as the females rarely leave their compounds, most of them have never seen a doctor.1st Lt. Sean McCullough, plt cmdr of Grave 2, Bravo Btry, 3rd LAAD, I MHG (FWD), said his Marines worked well with the British, Danish and the ANA security teams that were on the site. “The Marines did a great job,” said McCullough. “We couldn’t have had a better security element, and still be welcoming to the villagers.”
Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik Belty, a hospital medic, checks the stethoscopes before the start of the village medical outreach.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Belty demonstrates to the locals how to effectively use toothbrushes. Villagers were each given a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and lotion.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik Belty checks the vitals of a local.
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DVIDS
3/1 Marines Enhance Marksmanship Skills 
Story by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Fasci
Sgt Mark Peters, a squad leader with Lima Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Marine Regt, makes corrections to sights on his rifle during an opportunity to fire on the range at Patrol Base Koshtay, Helmand prov., June 16. Keeping their sites at the proper zero allows Marines to be ready to engage an enemy at all times.
GARMSIR DISTRICT – Under the co. cmdr’s guidance, all Marines with Lima Co. are required to ‘zero’ their weapons, adjusting and perfecting their combat ‘optics,’ while using proper sight alignment and sight picture. “Every Marine is a rifleman. If we're going to say that and continue to preach it, then we need to back it up,” said Gunnery Sgt. Patrick Fay, co. gunnery sgt for Lima Co. “Marksmanship is what's going to help us win the war. These guys aren’t sticking around too long for us to fire, so whether you shoot 1 round or 1,000 rounds, it may be only that first shot that you fired that’s the most important one.”
“As generic as it does sound, being in the pits at the range is probably one of the most conducive training objectives that the Marine Corps has available to relate to a combat firefight situation,” said Sgt. Mark Peters, a squad leader with Lima Co. “When we were just down south recently in a compound, and rounds were whizzing over our head, I said, ‘Hey we’re at the rifle range boys, we’re in the pits.’”“We try to keep it simple at Lima Co.,” said Fay. “If you can’t fire your weapon system properly, what are you doing on a battlefield? You need to put the right tool for the right job.”
2nd Lt. Alexander Meyer, a forward observer, sights in to fire on the range. Other Marines critique his fundamentals during the evolution to help correct any problems and form him into a better overall marksman.
Sgt. Mark Peters, a squad leader, makes corrections to sights on his rifle.
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IJC Public Affairs Advisory Team- RC-North
Operation Kokcha Underway in Takhar Province
(Photo by Lt. Col. Mohammad Jalal Naim)
(Photo by Lt. Col. Mohammad Jalal Naim)
TAKHAR PROVINCE - ANA Maj. Gen. Murad, Cmdr, meets with govt officials and village elders, June 6, during Op Kokcha, a 9-day mission that entailed searching more than 100 villages along the border of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to capture drug smugglers and Taliban members.
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DVIDS
First Afghan to Return, Helps Create Future Businesses
(Marine Corps photos by Sgt. Shawn Coolman) 
FOB CAFFERETTA - Cpl. Chris Rodriguez, 22, civil affairs NCO for CA Team 1, 11th Marine Regt, RCT 2, plays with Mitra, the daughter of Khwaja Sabor, a nurse with the de-miners, (Afghan IED and mine clearers), during a visit to Mohammed Younus home in Now Zad, June 14. Younus, and his family, were reportedly the 1st family to return to Now Zad in early January, after nearly 4 years of fighting in the area. The CA Marines want Younus to become a 3rd party micro grant liaison between the Marines and Afghans who are interested in applying for a micro grant. Younus would be responsible for preparing the Afghans applications prior to being submitted. The micro grant program grants money to Now Zad residents who are interested in opening up their own business, but lack the necessary money to do so. There's a potential for up to $2500 grants for those who qualify.
Mohammed Younus, and one of his daughters, sit and talk to civil affairs Marines during a visit to his home.
Mohammed Younus, (left) sits with Navid (top right), a linguist with 1st Bn, and Lance Cpl. Dustin Brians, 24, a civil affairs Marine.
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RC-East in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Ghazni PRT supports ANP traffic training program
Afghans, who are students in the traffic training program, carry chairs purchased by the Ghazni PRT, June 16, in Ghazni City. Other supplies included a 32" flat panel television, printer, notebooks, driver’s manuals and a digital camera. The equipment will allow Afghan drivers to possess a driver’s license once the training is completed. The training is administered by the ANP. (AF photos by Tech Sgt. J.T. May III)
GHAZNI PROVINCE - “This was the traffic police chief’s idea; we’re just supporting him,” said Army Maj. Jonathan Price, Ghazni PRT civil affairs team chief.
The Dir. of the Ghazni Traffic Police Dept, Ghulam Rasekh, created the proposal, and because his request was under $5,000, the PRT was able to treat it as a Bulk Cmdr’s Emergency Response Program, which renders faster results than a larger-scale project.
“Bulk CERP Projects are small-scale, small-cost projects, usually under $5000, that offer immediate assistance to the local population,” Price said. “We like conducting Bulk CERP because they're quick, usually take less than 30 days, and help connect the Afghan people with the govt.”
Afghans have to be 18 years old to get a driver’s license, and they have to pass a written exam, a driving test, and pass the medical portion of the class for sight and hearing. Since Afghanistan has an adult literacy rate of 28%, according to the UN Children’s Funds org., students can take a verbal test in place of the written exam.
The goal is to graduate 200 people in 15 days, he said. The class teaches int'l rules of the road, traffic signals, overcoming blind spots, how to approach multiple vehicles on a curved road, and even what to do when approaching CF in a convoy. With the new equipment, the ANP will train new drivers more efficiently.
Army Master Sgt. Frederic Smith, Ghazni PRT civil affairs NCO-in-charge, offloads supplies used to assist students in the traffic training program.
Ghulam Rasekh pauses after thanking Ghazni PRT for the supplies to assist the traffic school students.
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IRAQI STORIES:
Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq
2-3 FA conducts a peace mission
(Army Photo by Spc. Charles Smith)
LAYLAN - Army Spc. Kris Hostetler, assigned to 1st Bn, 30th Inf Regt, 2nd Bde, 3rd ID, shows a group of Iraqi kids how to give high-fives in the village of Azadi, June 15. Hosteler's unit were conducting a peace mission.
A group of Iraqi kids greet the Soldiers as they enter the village in Kirkuk.
Iraqi kids from the village Hezir open and separate gifts from U.S. Soldiers.
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Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq
Kurdish Regional Guard
(Navy Photos by Petty Officer 1st Class Dave Hites)
LAYLAN - Soldiers assigned to 3rd plt, Bravo Btry, 2nd Bn 3rd FAR, 1st Bde, 1st AR Div share a meal courtesy of the Kurdish Regional Guard in Laylan, Kirkuk, June 9. The plt is conducting training for the troops. U.S. forces are acting in an "advise and assist" capacity in preparation for a planned troop withdrawal from the region.
U.S. Soldiers share a meal with the Kurdish Regional Guard.
Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas Gilveli and 1st Sgt. Bobby Bennett Jr., assigned to Bravo Btry, work on setting up a mock traffic control point for Kurdish Regional Guard training in Kirkuk, June 10.
U.S. Soldiers discuss training Iraqi Kurdish Regional Guard troops.
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Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq
Kaffa'at, Dhi Qat Electrical Project
(Navy photos by Petty Officer 1st Class Lynn Friant)
DHI QAR PROVINCE - Army Staff Sgt. Kenny Sargent of the 3-29 Bravo Btry, 3rd Bde, 4th ID, speaks with local Iraqis, June 13. To ensure Kaffa'at Electrical project is progressing, U.S. soldiers on the PRTs go on recon missions to assess each phase of the project.
U.S. Soldiers speak with local Iraqis.
Army 2nd Lt. Dustin Kuhlman speaks with local Iraqis.
U.S. Soldiers speak with local Iraqis.
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DVIDS
Comedians Come to Iron Oasis, Entertain USD-C Soldiers
(Photos by Spc. Daniel Schneider)
BAGHDAD - Soldiers of USD-Center laugh during the 2010 Lone Wolf Entertainment Comedy Tour show held at the Camp Liberty Iron Oasis dining facility, June 16. This show was the last stop on an Iraq tour for comedians Susan Freeman, Jack Warren and Lorenzo Thornton.
Soldiers from 1st AR Div roar in laughter.
Soldiers laugh at a joke delivered by comedian Susan Freeman. The show allowed Soldiers to relax and eat dinner, while getting in some laughs and entertainment.
Comedian Lorenzo Thornton delivers a joke. Following his comedy routine, he praised Soldiers, and announced how proud and thankful he was of their service.
Comedian Jack Warren delivers a joke.
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USF-I
ISF arrest suspected AQI terrorist, one criminal associate
BAGHDAD - ISF arrested a suspected AQI member and a criminal assoc., during 2 separate joint security ops, conducted in northern Iraq, June 18. Approx 68kms SE of Kirkuk, ISF and U.S. advisors searched a building for a suspected AQI member, allegedly responsible for the terrorist org's security.
During another op in Tikrit, ISF and U.S. advisors searched several 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 a criminal assoc.
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flickr
School Song
(Army photo by Spc. Nashaunda Tilghman)
A student performs a song for Army Capt. Kristen Brockman and Sgt. Magaly Santillan, 1411 Civil Affairs Co, during the ribbon cutting ceremony of Al Yaman Al Saeed Girls' School in Mussayibb, May 10, 2010.
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