Dear Interested Reader,
Combined forces working in partnership in Kunduz. Communications keep Paktika PRT talking. Kunar Assistance Team helps refocus law enforcement. 1/8 hosts Key Leader Engagement at FOB Musa Qal'eh. Kunar agriculture officials prep for farmer meetings.
Iraq: Mother and son celebrate promotion on Camp Adder. Basra recognizes Hispanic heritage month. Safe Haven for supply convoys at COB Adder.
Joanna
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AFGHANISTAN STORIES:
DVIDS
ANP Working With Soldiers in Partnership
Story by Pfc. Cynthia Teears Van Cleve
Pfc. Mack Harris, the radio, telephone operator for 1st Plt, Charlie Co, 1st Bn, 87th Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 10th Mtn Div, collects data from a local security guard, for the Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment, Sept. 25.
KUNDUZ – The ANP and members of the ISAF in Kunduz work together regularly, turning a mentorship into a partnership, while successfully securing the city. There are 4 ANP precincts in the city, and there's a different ISAF unit assigned to each one. This helps the ANP form a relationship of respect and understanding the ISAF members, and teaches both groups how to work together.“We have the same target,” said Abdul Majid, the chief, Precinct 1, ANP of Kunduz. “We want to work with the Americans. Last year the police force didn't have much of the required SECFOR equipment," Majid said. This year however, they've more equipment and training, and ISAF are fighting with them.“This year we feel strong because the mentors are here,” Majid said. “Last year the Taliban were here and we were weak.” This relationship, which started as a mentorship, has successfully become more of a partnership, with the ANP stepping up and taking the lead.“When we first went out with the ANP on patrol, they were a little bit more relaxed,” said Pfc. Brian Dina, a gunner of the weapons squad. “Now they’re more cognizant of their surroundings. They’re more aware of what they have to do. They kind of copied us a little bit more.”Having members of ISAF there to support the ANP efforts encourages them to continue and not get discouraged. “The Americans are very helpful because they can come with us and fight,” Majid said. “Actually they behave very good together. They're not mentors, they're friends, partners, and on any op they're ready to help." Precinct 1 has had a few setbacks, but is continuing to keep their area safe and secure for the people of the city. "The reason I say that they're friends is because the day that I lost 2 of my best men, they were sad with us and felt bad for me and my men,” Majid explained.Some units have had more success than others in getting the ANP to understand their role in security, and what it takes to maintain that security. “They’ve been working pretty good,” said Pvt. Alexander Reyes, an infantryman. “They’re doing morning patrols and night patrols.”The relationship between the ANP and the Soldiers is good, and even though they don't always understand each other’s language, they still communicate. "The language barrier is there, but it isn’t," Dina said. "I’ve noticed a big change. It’s actually pretty peaceful. It’s not what I thought it’d be. They do a good job from what I see. I enjoy the culture because it’s different, so I try to learn. With the gestures, we kind of get what they're saying. From what I can tell, they like us and we like them.”"Most of the negative activity is outside the city," said Dina. "Actually, Kunduz city is pretty peaceful." In the city there are projects where ANP and members of ISAF work together to help local orgs. One of the projects being developed is to organize the building and funding for a new greenhouse, for the local university. According to, Naqib Ashurie, the interpreter for 1st Plt, the university wants a greenhouse built that is approx 10 meters long and 4 meters wide. "We’re not going to build the greenhouse just for flowers," said Abdul Qudus, the dean of the Higher Education of Kunduz. "It will be multipurpose, for some trees too. Our students really need a greenhouse to learn from our teachers. Right now we're studying things theoretically, but not practically.” With this greenhouse, students will be able to put what they've learned theoretically, to practical use. This will give the students a better idea of what it takes to grow plants for food, as well. As city projects like this, work and flourish, it’s a sure sign that the partnership between the ANP and ISAF is making the region more safe and secure.
(left to right) First Lt. Steve Solaja, the plt leader; Sfc. Doug Covell, the plt sgt; Zabi, the chief’s driver; Naqib Ashurie, an interpreter for 1st Plt; Abdul Malek, the communications officer; Abdul Majid, the chief, 1st Precinct in Kunduz, AUP.
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DVIDS
Communications Keep Paktika PRT Talking Photos by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester
PAKTIKA PROVINCE - Navy Reserve Petty Officer 2nd Class Juanda Arline, a communications tech for the Paktika PRT, performs communications security maintenance on a radio in a MRAP vehicle, prior to an Oct. 6 mission. Arline is part of a team of roughly 130 service members and interagency partners throughout Paktika Prov., whose mission is to help legitimize the GoA through development, governance and agricultural initiatives. She is deployed from Naval Ops Support Center Moreno Valley Calif., where she is an ops support tech.
Navy Reserve Chief Petty Officer Rhonda Harms, a communications dept head for the Paktika PRT, performs quality control checks on hand-held radios, prior to a mission. She is deployed from the Naval Ops Support Center Austin, where she is the ops/info technology dept chief.
Paktika PRT member Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class James Strand, an electronic communications tech, adjusts the elevation of a PRT tactical ops center antenna, to ensure all communications equipment is mission ready for his teammates, Oct. 7. Strand is deployed from Naval Station Sasebo Japan, U.S. Naval Supply Safeguard, where he's a radio room electronics maintenance tech.
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DVIDS
Kunar Assistance Team to Help Refocus Law Enforcement
Story by Staff Sgt. Gary A. Witte
Lt. Col. David Goetze listens to officers during a Sept. 25 visit to Dag ANP checkpoint. Goetze commands the Kunar SECFOR Assistance Team, TF Bastogne. The team plans to help the provincial police focus their efforts on community law enforcement.
KUNAR PROVINCE – The bunkers, sandbags and razor wire, common to any police checkpoint attest to the daily challenges law enforcement faces here. Yet the latest effort by ISAF aims to refocus the Afghan police mission back toward the public.“Afghan police officers are already motivated, but what my team will do is help focus their training and ops, to be more community oriented,” Goetze said. “This will help the police gain the trust and respect of the people they're sworn to protect.” Goetze and his team are partnered with the Kunar Prov. police chief, with the goal of improving the ANP system. This task is seen as not only beneficial to Afghan civilians, but also a way of starving insurgent forces of manpower."If a stable police force can be provided, it will keep a lot of Afghan males from joining the insurgency," Goetze said. Members of his team are each assigned to a different aspect of the provincial police, ranging from logistics to intel, in order to help improve each section from the top.Sgt. 1st Class James Tembrock, the NCO of the team, said that one of the challenges they face, is clarifying the various techniques taught to Afghan officers by previous advisory teams, and then going beyond those standards.During a recent meeting with officers from various police checkpoints in the Watapur District, Goetze emphasized the need to concentrate on community policing, rather than heavier armament. “The Army should be fighting the bad guys, but the police should be establishing law and order,” he told the officers.Goetze, who is now located at FOB Fiaz with the provincial police HQ, previously led a counterinsurgency course at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., for 2 years. “I’ve taught all this stuff,” he said. “Now I’m putting it into action.”
From left, Capt. Thomas Whitfield, Lt. Col. David Goetze, and Capt. Robert Reynolds, meet with Afghan police officers, and the Watapur District sub-gov.
Sgt. 1st Class James Tembrock shakes hands with an Afghan police officer, during a visit at the Watapur District Center.
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DVIDS
1/8 Hosts Key Leader Engagement at FOB Musa Qal’eh
Story by Lance Cpl. Joshua Hines
ANA Capt. Abdul Wahab enjoys a lighter moment with Maj. Justin Ansel, bn EO of 1st Bn, 8th Marine Regt, RCT 2, during a key leader engagement dinner, aboard FOB Musa Qal’eh, Oct. 3.
MUSA QAL’EH – The event began as leaders from both sides greeted each other, and took their places at the dining table. Prior to the meal, Musa Qal’eh District Gov. Naimatullah took part in the promotion ceremony of Maj. Scott Stephan, bn ops officer, by pinning on a gold oak leaf to his collar, an honor usually reserved for Marines.“The Key Leaders Engagement (KLE) is a bn-driven event meant to bring the key leaders within Musa Qal’eh together to let them know that we're here to support them, and together we’re going to make sure Musa Qal’eh is secure,” said 1st Lt. Aaron Johnson, the supply officer with HC, 1st Bn., 8th Marines.In attendance were District Governor Naimatullah, Commander Koka, District chief of police; Lt. Col. Abdul Rahman, national directorate of security and the commanders within their ranks.“Our goal is to create a better relationship between the GoA and CF, which makes the KLE important,” said Sgt. Maj. Steve Rice, bn sgt maj. “It takes time to build up trust and understanding, not only between 2 people, but 2 orgs., and the KLE allows us to gain that trust and understanding.”Over the course of dinner both sides discussed current issues, along with possible future goals. “The hope for the dinner is that both parties walk away happy and satisfied that all of our mutual goals are being obtained and achieved,” said Rice.The District Gov. brought the evening to a close, giving his best regards and wishing that all in attendance be successful in their ventures. With more key leader engagements to come, 1st Bn., 8th Marines, has high hopes for their future in Musa Qal’eh.
Lt. Col. Dan Canfield, bn cmdr, shakes hands with Gov. Naimatullah.
Lt. Col. Canfield talks with Gov. Naimatullah over a traditional Afghan meal.
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DVIDS
Kunar Agriculture Officials Prep for Farmer Meetings
Story by Capt. Peter Shinn
Staff Sgt. Eric Pugh, Forestry Specialist for the Iowa NG's 734th ADT, shares a smile with the agricultural extension agents, who serve the Marawara District. Pugh demonstrated proper pruning techniques during the ADT's "train-the trainer" seminar at the Gov's Compound in Asadabad, Oct. 3. The seminar helped prepare the veterinarians and agricultural extension agents to conduct a series of educational meetings for farmers and livestock producers in Marawara in late October 2010.
KUNAR PROVINCE – Maj. Loren Adams, the ADT’s veterinary officer, organized and led the training seminar for Marawara agricultural officials and veterinarians. According to Adams, the idea to “train-the-trainer” developed as the ADT assessed just how much agricultural and veterinary expertise existed in Kunar prov.“We’re finding that there are already highly educated and competent agricultural experts, who have a lot of knowledge they can share with their fellow Afghans, and they want to do it,” Adams said. “We’ve also found that the Afghan model for educational meetings is strictly lecture-based, yet we’ve heard that approach isn’t one Afghan farmers really enjoy.”Adams, a practicing large animal veterinarian, pointed out that Afghan farmers aren’t alone in finding one-way lectures unappealing. “In my practice in Iowa, I’ve had a lot more success holding interactive meetings with livestock producers, where we can talk one-on-one, and they can ask me questions,” Adams said. “We wanted to model that kind of meeting for the Marawara veterinarians and agricultural extension folks.”Not all that works well in America works in Afghanistan, a fact Adams readily acknowledged. But, the training seminar made a believer of Mahamadullah, the agricultural extension mgr. for Marawara District.“I got info about livestock and agriculture, and how to interact with farmers in my district, plus a lot of additional info that strengthened my knowledge,” Mahamadullah said. “We benefited from the experience of our instructors. This was a positive conference that will help bring agricultural development to Marawara District.”Adams added that "the larger goal is for Afghan farmers and livestock producers, to increasingly view their servicing veterinarians and agricultural extension agents, as valuable resources. Only then," Adams emphasized, "will more effective agricultural and veterinary techniques make their way into the Afghan mainstream."“Improving agriculture here has got to be about Afghans helping Afghans,” Adams said. “There are Afghans here who know how to do it better. We just have to give them the tools they need to get that knowledge to the people who need it.”
Maj. Loren Adams reviews veterinary educational handouts with Afghan veterinarians, who serve the Marawara District of Kunar Prov.
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IRAQI STORIES:
Blackanthem Military News
Mother and son celebrate promotion on Camp Adder
By Capt. Efrem Gibson
Command Sgt. Maj. Rue Mayweather promotes her son Kenieth to the rank of captain, Oct. 7 on Camp Adder. This is the first time the mother and son team have been deployed together, and they've managed to spend time together on several occasions, despite the constant demands of a deployed environment. Rue works at a critical thinking cell of USF-Iraq, and Kenieth is an Apache pilot, assigned to the eCAB, 1st ID.
TALLIL – “I'm happy and glad it’s done.” That's how Kenieth Mayweather described his promotion. His mother, Sgt. Maj. Rue Mayweather, was there to share the special moment. She performed the ceremonial “pinning,” and the first salute to her son as a captain.
“I’ve been to every one of his promotions,” said Rue. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” Rue has always been proud of her son. “Kenieth always expressed a desire to excel,” she said. “I'm happy for him today, like I was when he first enlisted in the Army, and also commissioned as an officer.”
Kenieth is an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter pilot and battle captain for the 1st Attack Recon Bn, 1st Aviation Regt. This is the first time Kenieth and Rue have been deployed together, but Kenieth’s promotion is not the first event in Iraq they've shared together.
Rue traveled from Baghdad to surprise her son with a visit for Mother’s Day earlier this year. “I feel blessed to have been a part of every special event for him in his career,” said Rue. To celebrate the promotion, Kenieth and Rue will try one of the restaurants on the base. “There’s no Olive Garden here, so I guess this will do,” said Kenieth.
This deployment will most likely be the only time they serve together in the same location. Rue plans to complete her deployment early next year, and then retire after 30 years of service. “I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do,” Rue said, reflecting on her career. “My son can take over from here.” Kenieth is looking forward to his future assignment as a platoon leader for Charlie Co., 1-1 ARB.
Command Sgt. Maj. Rue Mayweather salutes her son Kenieth after promoting him to the rank of captain.
Mother and son share an embrace after Rue promoted Kenieth to the rank of captain.
Mother and son pose for a photo after Rue promoted Kenieth.
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NewsBlaze
Basra Recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month
Story and photos by Spc. Raymond Quintanilla
Lt. Col. Enrique De La Paz, a staff officer with the 1st ID, speaks during the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at the USD-South Resiliency Campus. "I never had any challenges; I had opportunities," said De La Paz, a native of Mexico City who immigrated to the U.S. in 1972.
BASRA - Service members and DoD civilians in Basra, celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with music, cultural dances and dinner.
Lt. Col. Enrique De La Paz was the guest speaker for the celebration. Shortly after his 17th birthday, De La Paz, his brother and sisters left Mexico and headed to Los Angeles to be with his mother. It was his first experience on an aircraft.
De La Paz spoke momentarily about his experience arriving in America, and recalled one particular conversation with his Mother. "I never thought I would work until I graduated from the university," De La Paz said. When he said he was enjoying school, she said he had to enjoy working. When the young De La Paz responded that his father would not make him go to work, she simply asked if he wanted to go back to Mexico.
Thus a new life began; De La Paz found work, went to college, and started a family. De La Paz met his wife, Diane Beatty, in Nevada, and are now the parents of 6 children and 7 grandchildren with one more on the way.
"We've a very close relationship," De La Paz said. "I've been privileged to be married for 32 years. There are only 2 things that can make me cry: my wife, family, and love of my country."
Although he speaks proudly of his ethnic background, and feels he comes from a rich culture, De La Paz continues to praise being an American, and ties the mixes of cultures as part of what makes America great. "I take the best of what my culture brings, which is love of family, love of country, and to work hard and excel in everything you do," De La Paz said, "and that goes hand-in-hand with what our American heritage is, which intertwines many cultures, making a stronger country."
Hispanic Americans like De La Paz have distinguished themselves throughout the Army's history. In the Korean War, an all-Hispanic Regular Army regt, the 65th Inf Regt known as the Borinqueneers, defeated a Chinese army div. in a 3-day battle.
In Vietnam, Roy Benavidez saved the lives of 8 men, while surrounded by a bn of N. Vietnamese soldiers, and was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor.
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, recognizing the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the U.S., including those 200,000 serving in the military. Today, Hispanic Americans continue to proudly serve the Army, making up about 12% of the service.
Sgt. 1st Class George Lloyd, the NCO-in-charge of the 162nd Army Surgical Medical Corps, and Spc. Amila Ortiz, a promotions clerk for the 1st ID, perform a salsa dance. The pair also performed a dance called bachata, as part of the night's entertainment.
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NewsBlaze
Safe Haven for Supply Convoys at COB Adder
Story and photos by Sgt. Jessica Rohr
Soldiers with 1st Plt, 328th Engr Support Co, 36th Engr Bde, tell the crane operator what they need him to do in order to place the T-wall, as they build Safe Haven, an overflow parking lot for entry control point 5, at COB Adder.
NASIRIYAH - "Prior to building the overflow lot, the base saw significant congestion when convoys would arrive and try to get through the vehicle inspection point," said Lt. Col. Samuel Wallis, ops officer with the 224th Sust. Bde., 103rd ESC. "Convoys were backed up on to MSR Tampa, and sometimes several kms down the road. It could take 4 hours or more for some vehicles to make it off of Tampa, to the inspection lanes. During that time they were vulnerable to possible enemy attack, and posed a safety hazard to other vehicles on the MSR."
"Due to the drawdown of U.S. forces, 2 nearby convoy support bases closed, and the traffic was re-routed to COB Adder, causing a significant increase in truck volume," according to Wallis.
The 224th Sust. Bde. created the Safe Haven, with prioritized staging lanes prior to entering the control point. This was done at the request of Brig. Gen. Randal Dragon, the dep. comm. gen. for support, with the 1st ID. Safe Haven gives trucks a secure waiting area off of MSR Tampa, keeping vehicles and the base out of harm's way.
Many hours of man power were needed for this project to become reality. Prior to the start of the project, nothing but a cluttered lot was next to the security control point. The brigade researched contracting the project to a civilian company, but the cost was going to be over $450,000. With the lion's share of the work done by the 328th ESC, 36th Engr Bde, and the use of reclaimed barriers from the closed bases, the project was completed for a total of $18,600.
The engrs worked 18-hour days, moving approx 6,380 cubic meters of earth, and laying out 700 cubic meters of Getch (a clay-based soil that cements rocks together), and 2,000 cubic meters of gravel to complete the project.
Soldiers with the 328th dig a drainage ditch alongside the road, using an excavator at what is now an overflow parking lot.
The first convoy of the night rolls into Safe Haven, as Ugandan security guards patrol the lanes.
A security guard guides a truck in to the searching lane for inspection.
Dan Kazle, a security guard from Uganda, checks the undercarriage of a truck during an inspection.
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