NANGARHAR PROVINCE – His thoughts jostled him awake in the hot July night. He had dreamt up a solution to a problem he’d been wrestling with in his mind for months. Capt. Jonathan Springer had searched the Internet for a smart phone application that he could use on his deployment before leaving Fort Campbell, Ky., in early May, but nothing was out there that suited his needs. He pondered the idea of inventing one of his own, but didn’t know how to do it or where to start.
“Since day one, I always believed that smart phones could be utilized by the military for combat purposes,” Springer recalled. “I remember specifically looking for a navigational-type application that would display the Military Grid Reference System, plot waypoints, give me a direction in Mils, etc.,” said Springer. “Sadly, though, I found nothing tailored to what I truly wanted or needed, before getting on the bird to head to Afghanistan.”
“I started the process to legally form my own company, and began trade marking my intellectual property,” he said. “After that process was complete, I bought a couple of books and tried to teach myself how to write Objective-C-based code, but that proved to be more of a time-consuming task than I wanted it to be.”
In August, he reached out to a company in Las Vegas for help, and since then they've been working together nonstop, to ensure his app. would make it into the hands of the user, before he redeploys back to Fort Campbell in the spring. "So far," he said, "everything is on track for that to happen — but not without a cost.
The overall project has cost me about $26,000,” he admitted. “That includes forming my company, trademarking my IP, copyrights, creating a web site to market the app., and paying for the graphic design and the development of the application itself.”
“Basically, the issue was the fact that these smart phones were being untapped by the Army, and I was motivated and determined to change that, even if it cost me my own money out of pocket to do so,” he said.
Throughout the development process, he said he made sure the mobile phone application was built specifically for the war fighter. That meant that it not only had to be functional in the field, but inexpensive as well. With many good global positioning systems costing hundreds of dollars, Springer knew not every Soldier could afford one.
"I knew I was doing the right thing because the bottom line is this: in combat, GPS systems save Soldiers' lives. I can attest to it, and so can many of my other friends and Soldiers I serve with here in TF Bulldog. That's why this app. is so important to me; I designed it specifically with the U.S. servicemember in mind at all times.”
“I'm proud to say that, without a doubt, my app. is just as accurate as some of the most expensive military GPS systems that are being issued to our Soldiers today,” he said. Lt. Col. Joseph Ryan, cmdr, said he has seen the application in action, and is impressed with the work that's gone into the project.
“Jon put his heart and soul into this, and his experience here in the Pech River Valley for the past 9 months, where we shoot a significant amount of artillery and mortars and where the terrain makes navigation challenging, helped him develop it into a product that I think has unique application on the battlefield,” said Ryan. “He’s really gone above and beyond in developing a useful tool that not only works, but that Soldiers will intuitively understand and want to use.”
“It's just about finished at this point. It will be available in mid-Feb., for around the price of a value meal at your nearest fast food restaurant. I'm doing my best to make sure that the price of this app is inexpensive enough so that every Soldier can afford it if they wanted to, because in the end, if this app saves a Soldier's life, then my $26,000 investment has more than paid off,” he said.
PAKTIKA PROVINCE — Afghanistan’s minister of justice and U.S. leaders met with Paktika Prov’s gov., Jan. 20, to review and assess the local prisons, and gain an understanding of the prov. Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward, and Habibullah Ghalib, Afghan minister of justice, visited TF Currahee at FOB Sharana and FOB Rushmore.
Harward, who is responsible for control and oversight of U.S. detention ops, also assists and advises correction ops officials, building capacity and capabilities throughout Afghanistan, and Ghalib, who is responsible for the GoA’s judicial affairs, met with Paktika, Gov. Samim.
“On many of our visits we take the minister of justice and the head of the central prison directorate, to go visit every governor to talk about rule of law, see their prisons, see their courts, see the National Director of Security detention facilities, and see how we can support their rule of law, while we also address the issues caused by insurgents within the prisons,” Harward said.
Harward, Ghalib and the TF Currahee command team met with Samim during a peace shura with the elders of YahYa Khel District, and took the opportunity to hear the concerns of the people. “It was a discussion with the governor about issues the citizens have, and what they need in Paktika,” said Col. Sean Jenkins, TF Currahee cmdr.
Several elders mentioned that the province needs help in regard to the legal system. Paktika has only 10 of 164 authorized prosecutors, one of 74 authorized judges, and 40 of the 99 authorized detention facility personnel. With more than 300 miles of border, Jenkins said this is an important part of the country, and the central govt can help make long-term improvements in that regard.
While visiting the detention facilities across Afghanistan, Harward and Ghalib set a goal to assess not only the security of the structure and the location, but to make the effort to understand how they can help improve the living the conditions for the detainees.
“First we assess basic security so that the Taliban can’t attack the facilities and free the insurgents,” said Harward. “We want to also check the security within the prisons, and decide how we address that.” Then a determination will be made on how living conditions for the detainees within these facilities can be improved.
“We wanted to show them the importance of tactical biometric enrollments through network targeting and prosecution, so that you holistically look at the IED or threat cells operating throughout Paktika Prov.,” said Maj. Scott McLellan, TF Currahee brigade plans officer. “We also wanted to show the way forward for the ANSF and how they can prosecute,” said McLellan. “It was a way to show methods and to encourage a better way and a more efficient way to prosecute.”
KUNAR PROVINCE – Coalition troops and their ANSF partners joined together to conduct ops in the Khas Kunar District, Jan. 21-22. The op began with an insertion of the combined SECFOR near the village of Aret. The purpose was to root out insurgent fighters in order to provide security to the area, and enhance local govt initiatives.
“We've disrupted the enemy’s ability to influence the population and their ability to conduct attacks around Khas Kunar,” said ANA Maj. Agha. “The ANSF continue to demonstrate their effectiveness to the local population, by chasing the enemy from their hiding places, and protecting the innocent people of Aret.”
Seven insurgents were killed during the op.
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Carpenter joined Lt. Col. John Perkins, master of ceremonies for the event in cutting the ribbon across the entrance to the facility, and spoke at the ceremony. “I believe that he would truly appreciate that a facility like this one is available for his fellow Soldiers, in a place where so very few creature comforts are available,” Carpenter said. “I can only hope that you and the many servicemembers who cross the threshold into this building, for years to come, can enjoy a reprieve from the seemingly endless mission that we have here in Afghanistan. Today, remember those who came before you, and those like Ryan, who paid the ultimate price for what we all hold dear.”
The dining facility was under construction during Grady’s tour in Afghanistan, and received the official name a few months back. The theme of the dining facility is Americana, and includes signs reminiscent of the U.S. including “Warrior Bucks” over the coffee station, and “Warrior Way” over the sandwich bar.
The ceremony included a meal of steak and lobster for those in attendance, and those having lunch after the ceremony. It closed with a dedication to all those who have paid the ultimate price. “If everyone would stand, I would like to propose a toast,” Perkins said. “This is to not only Grady but all the servicemembers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. To our fallen comrades.”
This shura was part of an effort by the Ministry of Info and Culture to engage the youth of the nation and encourage them to become active in their govt,” said Lt. Col. Michael Geffroy, officer-in-charge of TF Zaranj. “It was held to teach them about participation in the govt, to encourage volunteerism, and to discourage the use of narcotics. It also let the youth know that they're part of the nation, and that they've an active role to play.”
According to Geffroy, with more than 68% of Afghanistan’s population comprised of young men and women, between the ages of 14 through 30, understanding their needs is vital to the republic’s governance. It's an effort to talk to a large portion of the countries population, the next generation of leaders, and encourage them to educate themselves, and to participate in the govt.
This was the 10th youth shura held to date. The goal of the GoA and RC- SW is to hold youth shuras in all 34 provs. of Afghanistan. “I think today’s meeting was a great success. It's not often that GoA officials get down into Nimruz prov.,” added Geffroy. They were able to hold the shura, hold a number of side meetings while there, and we were able to maximize the amount of time that we spent there.”
Story and photos by Sgt 1st Class Felix Figueroa
KANDAHAR - Capt. Jessica Russell, a finance officer, hadn't seen her brother, Sgt. Josiah Russell, in nearly 7 months. Before then, they'd not seen each other in almost 2 years, due to his Iraq deployment and her assignment as a basic training company cmdr.
In a casual conversation with her battalion command sgt. maj., Command Sgt. Maj. Roy Rocco, regarding her brother, his upcoming reenlistment, and being deployed to the same country, she mentioned wanting to see him and being a part of his momentous occasion, before he redeployed back to Fort Drum. "To be totally honest, I didn't think anything would come out of the whole conversation with the sgt. maj.," said Jessica.
Meanwhile, in northern Afghanistan's Balkh prov., Josiah thought of the possibility of coming down and seeing big sister Jessica, but his busy schedule always dictated otherwise. The 23-year-old sgt. is serving as a member of the Quick Reaction SECFOR at Camp Mike Spann, in Mazar-e-Sharif. When he's not pulling security out on patrols, Josiah serves in the camp's fire dept., and is preparing to redeploy back to the U.S.
"I just came back from a mission when my platoon sgt. approached me and said I had to go see the command sgt. maj. (Philip Chepenik) with my squad leader. I'll admit, I was a bit concerned, and didn't know what to think," said Josiah.
Back in Kandahar, Rocco gathered all of Josiah's info from Jessica, and contacted his old Fort Drum neighbor, Command Sgt. Maj. Philip Chepenik. "Chepenik sent me an e-mail back stating he would work it on his end. A couple of days later Captain Russell contacted me, stating that her brother would be coming down on the 20th to reenlist," said Rocco.
"I was really excited that my brother was coming down, and couldn't wait to see him. The sgts. maj. really came through for us," Jessica said. After meeting with his sgt. maj., Josiah was told to pack his bags and head to Kandahar, where he met his sister and spent the next few hours catching up, and taking photos to send home to their proud mother.
Approx 5 years ago, Jessica, a young Army officer, took Josiah, a local farm-hand, to their local Army recruitment center, and convinced him to join. Once the contract was drawn up, she swore him in. "I was glad to see my sister. I started to think it wasn't going to be possible to see her out here, but here we are, just like before, her swearing me in again. I wouldn't want it any other way," Josiah said.
The Russell's have made the service a family affair. Aside from Jessica and Josiah, they've another brother, Justin, currently serving in the NG. Jessica enlisted him as well. "I'm proud of our service. I feel the military is a great institution, allowing many opportunities to excel. I wouldn't want anything else for my family," Jessica said.
“The purpose of KMTB is to strengthen the 5th IA Div.,” said Staff Sgt. Cedric McKethan, plt. sgt. “We're shaping this training base into our version of Fort Benning, as this will be an infantry training school.”
Participating in a 25-day training cycle, 5th IA Div. is training as part of Tadreeb Al Shamil, Arabic for All Inclusive Training, an Iraqi initiative directing IA bns to train their units to conduct individual and collective training, developing multiple infantry techniques, and battle drills.
Before sunrise, Iraqi soldiers conduct physical training, with guidance from “Gator” Soldiers of Co A. Physical training varies each day, focusing on muscle strength and running endurance. “We instill the importance of physical training to them,” said McKethan. “It’s essential for a military force to have a good physical training program.”
Under the tutelage of USD-N Soldiers, the Iraqis learn to become proficient at maneuvering squad and company-sized elements, conducting patrols through urban and open terrain, and clearing buildings. “At first they didn’t have a solid grasp on how to maneuver,” said Dunleavy. “However, they understood the training and the reasons behind it, and before long they were moving efficiently.”Originally stationed at FOB Warhorse, 1st Bn. moved to KMTB, to better facilitate training of Iraqi forces, he added. “It’s just like teaching our Soldiers, even with the language barrier, which we overcome,” said Dunleavy. “We have leadership skills that we pass on to them.”
At the request of IA leaders, 2nd AAB Soldiers led a platoon exercise, Jan. 18, to train the soldiers how to maneuver around enemy forces concealed in undergrowth. “We're teaching them to operate in a palm grove type environment,” said Dunleavy. “They build the terrain models, and form the plan they want to execute. If it’s good, we let the platoon leaders take charge, and only step in to make on the spot corrections. It’s very much a ‘train-the-trainer’ course,” he added.
In addition to field craft, Iraqi units also learned logistical ops, supplying and supporting their own ops, furthering their self-reliance. “It’s easy to give them supplies, but they need to have those enablers in place to be self-sustaining,” said McKethan.
As U.S. forces provide IA units the tools necessary to provide a secure and stable country, McKethan said that he believes the training will not be in vain. “It’s great to see the strides the Iraqis are making with the training, and that the efforts of the Soldiers are going to a good cause,” said McKethan.