Dear Interested Reader,
Civil Affairs Soldiers bring diverse skills to Laghman PRT. Heavy Weapons Range at FOB Altimur. Soldiers visit Charikar market in Parwan. Marines help farmers leave poppies behind in Helmand.
Iraq: CSI training hones IP officer skills at FOB Warhorse. IFP graduate specialized course at Camp Dublin. Baghdad River Patrol adds 40 graduates.
Joanna
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AFGHANISTAN STORIES:
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Civil Affairs Soldiers Bring Diverse Skills to Laghman PRT
Story by Capt. Tristan Hinderliter
Army 1st Lt. David Moore, Laghman PRT civil affairs officer, listens as a young man reads from an ISAF newspaper, during a good neighbor visit to the village of Nawlam, Sept. 6. The PRT distributed newspapers to villagers, helping the population stay informed of local news and events.
FOB MEHTAR LAM – The Laghman PRT’s civil affairs element includes a social worker, police officer, trauma nurse, and an expert on public health policy – an array of backgrounds suited for the diverse mission."Like most civil affairs personnel, Laghman’s CA team is made up entirely of Reservists, which makes them uniquely suited for a PRT," said AF Lt. Col. Christopher Possehl, Laghman PRT cmdr. “Our civil affairs team has been an excellent force multiplier for us,” he said. “They bring unique skill sets to the team, and we're able to leverage their civilian expertise and talents, and apply them to our civilian-military mission.” In addition to overseeing projects and mentoring provincial line directors, other key CA functions include hosting shuras, coordinating with non-governmental orgs., and managing linguists. The team also regularly conducts “Good Neighbor” visits to nearby villages. “Since this society is so personality and relationship-driven, we try to develop and maintain good relationships with the elders and maliks [tribal leaders] in villages near the FOB,” Moore said. “Once we develop a rapport with them, they're more likely to stop people from attacking the FOB, contact the ANP if they know of an attack, or just let us know if there're people moving through their village they don’t recognize.”Army Maj. Carlos Martinez, the Laghman PRT ops officer and a Civil Affairs-branched Foreign Area Officer by trade, said CA is critical to keeping the PRT connected to the population. “The reason I think they’re important is because civil affairs is the one entity that ties the civilian population to the cmdr,” Martinez said. “They're our cultural experts and our liaison with the population; they facilitate the perspective we need as a reconstruction team, and that's critical to our mission.” Still engaged in CA activities, Martinez sometimes accompanies CA personnel on Good Neighbor visits, and has met with the provincial gov., and religious affairs line dir., on behalf of the PRT cmdr. “It’s been a rewarding experience getting to know the gov.,” Martinez said. Having recently returned from his mid-tour leave in Mexico, he brought the gov. a gift as a sign of their friendship; an enormous sombrero in Afghanistan’s national colors.
A village elder approaches to meet with Laghman PRT members, during a good neighbor visit to the village of Bazkheyl, Sept. 15.
Maj. Carlos Martinez enjoys chai with villagers, during a good neighbor visit to the village of Bazkheyl Sept. 15.
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Heavy Weapons Range at FOB Altimur
Army Photos by Sgt. Sean Casey
LOGAR PROVINCE - A round can be seen leaving the 30mm cannon of a Czech made BVP2 Infantry Combat Vehicle, Sept. 30, at FOB Altimur.
U.S. and Czech soldiers pose for a photo with their respective flags.
U.S. Army and Czech soldiers talk at the Heavy Weapons Range.
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Soldiers Visit Charikar Market
U.S. Army photos by Spc. Kristina Gupton
PARWAN PROVINCE - An afghan vendor in the Charikar market sells various spices at his booth, Charikar, Sept. 28. Members of the Civil Military Support Team (CMST), and the Republic of Korea PRT visit Charikar to do a walk through of the market.
Army Col. Edward Vaughn, team leader with Human Terrain Team, 86th IBCT (Mtn) TF Wolverine, shares family pictures with Col. Saleem Khan Jail, Cmdr of the ANP in Ghorban District, Charikar.
Spc. Robin Veazey, a medic with HHC, 86th IBCT, browses through a variety of scarf's at a vendors booth.
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Marines Help Farmers Leave Poppies Behind
Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston
An Afghan farmer wheels a load of fertilizer to his truck, during the fall seed distribution program, Sept. 20. Marines and sailors with 2nd Bn, 9th Marine Regt, began the distribution of carrot, cauliflower, potato, wheat, corn, radish, onion and cotton seeds, as well as fertilizer to Afghan farmers, providing them with an alternative to poppy.
HELMAND PROVINCE - Afghanistan’s poppy industry is a double-edged sword. The UN blames it for supplying 90% of the world’s opium black market, and the Taliban takes a large chunk of the profits. Since some Afghans’ livelihood depends on the trade, it’s a problem that forces hard-charging Marines to tread lightly.Marines and sailors with 2nd Bn may have the solution. Hopefully, the distributed seeds will provide an alternate source of income for some, and a brighter future for all of the Afghan people.Before the event kicked off, local farmers lined the Marine Corps base gates, eagerly waiting their turn. “It’s not a charity,” said Lance Cpl. Bryan Kim, a civil affairs specialist. “They have to register with their local govt before they're approved.”"Once they’re approved, the govt adds them to a list and sends it to the seed distribution points," Kim explained. The distribution personnel check IDs against the list, only providing seeds to those who've registered. Once the process began, local Afghans took charge of the event by fingerprinting, photographing, and escorting each farmer to ensure no one was receiving more than his allotted entitlements.“It’s great seeing the locals run the program with minimal help,” said Hanif Hassad, a farmer from Helmand prov. “These are the types of things we need to help us stop growing poppy. We thank the Marines for keeping us safe while we get our seeds.”According to the U.S. Agency for Int'l Development, distribution projects like this one have had an astounding impact on stopping poppy production. The projects open up a new market, using the agricultural industry to serve as a foundation for legitimate economic growth.Still, some poppy farmers have trouble leaving the trade. “It’s a tough decision for someone that is used to growing poppy, and possibly making more money from it,” said Capt. Stanton Lee, civil affairs team leader. “But, the program is here. We’re providing people with a direct alternative to opium.” After 9 hours of distribution, people kept coming. The crowd at the distribution point grew as the seed pile shrunk. Somewhere in Helmand prov., a spade broke fresh earth, and an old poppy farmer stooped to sow a new seed for himself and his country.
A local Afghan official fingerprints an Afghan farmer.
Local Afghan farmers wait for trucks after receiving their allotted seed and fertilizer.
A Marine searches local farmers before letting them enter a base for the fall seed distribution program.
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ANP Opens New Substation in Spin Boldak
Photo by Staff Sgt. Lasonya Morales
Photo by Staff Sgt. Lasonya Morales
SPIN BOLDAK - Sadullah Khan, with the Afghan Border Patrol, participates in the ribbon cutting ceremony, signifying the opening of the new ANP substation, Sept. 21. U.S. officials, the ANP, and the ABP take turns cutting the ribbon, and placing each piece on a tray to symbolize the joint effort between Afghan forces and CF, which made it possible to open the police station.
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IRAQI STORIES:
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CSI Training Hones Iraqi Police Officer Skills