During most routine foot patrols, CF conduct KLEs. Village elders and prominent Afghan locals are encouraged to speak with coalition leaders to discuss issues, and discover what can be done to better the villagers’ lives. For these patrols, coalition Soldiers and Afghan residents had a little assistance.
“The ANA came out to help secure the areas and to speak to the populace,” said Sgt. John Martek, a weapons team leader. Although few locals were available to discuss economic or security matters due to the continuing snow storm, Afghan soldiers found other ways to make a difference. “ANA observed villagers struggling to keep their roofs clear of snow, and climbed up to help them shovel,” said Martek, about the Feb. 12 patrol.
The patrol moved to the village of Jawzi Kalai, and set up security while leaders surveyed the surroundings. “We set up area security to prevent the enemy from having freedom of movement in Kharwar,” said Staff Sgt. Brian Pierce, a squad leader. As snow-shoed Soldiers broke trail back to their COP, local villagers looked on from atop their snow-covered homes, at the relentless efforts of Afghan and U.S. soldiers to accomplish their goal of making Kharwar District more secure.
“In Afghanistan, there's a lot of war going on,” Raham continued. “It's all about education. Most people, they don't have any education; that's why they're always fighting between each other. We try to advise them through the classes, through the different channels for Afghanistan soldiers, that they become educated.”
ANA Lt. Col. Mamand, bde cultural and religious advisor, said that their literacy classes started about a month ago. "A rep of the Afghan DoD responsible for literacy programs all around Afghanistan, visited Logar Prov., and handed out books and notebooks, and that's when the literacy classes began," he said.
"The bde has plans to divide the ANA soldier students into 2 groups for both the literacy, and the cultural and religion-advising programs," said Mamand. ANA leaders want to obtain the supplies and tools needed to teach lessons to both Pashtu and Dari-speaking soldiers, simultaneously in the same classes. “If we had 2 boards so that we can write in 2 different languages like Dari and Pashtu, it's going to be really easy and helpful too,” said Raham. "In addition to the more than 250 ANA soldiers now taking these classes, there are about 200 more soldiers in Muhammad Agah district of Logar interested in taking literacy classes," said Raham.
While ANA officers say they desperately need help with these things, the literacy program does receive support from outside sources. “The literacy program is supported by NGOs, non-govt orgs,” said Mamand. “They provide us with instructors and, hopefully, they provide us notebooks, pens and blackboards - all of the materials we need in the class.”
Like Raham, Mamand is very serious about assisting ANA soldiers along the road to literacy. In fact, he views this help as a humanitarian, Islamic and military obligation. “It's really important for all humans that they can learn and read. That's part of Islam too,” said Mamand. “For example, I'm an educated man, and I have to teach my soldiers and teach my NCOs. The knowledge which I have, I have to share with them, so that they become educated too.”
For the literacy classes, there'll be final one-time exams. "If students pass the exams, then they're promoted to the next higher literacy class. If they don't pass, they stay in the same class," said Raham. "For the cultural advising classes, students will take 2 exams. If they pass their exams, it's the same as with the literacy class," he said. "If not, they stay in the classes and keep learning."
One such student who hopes to earn graduation certificates is ANA Staff Sgt. Jan, an intel soldier. “This class is very helpful for our future - for Afghanistan’s future, because if we can study sometimes, we can have a better Afghanistan, and build a better future for ourselves too,” said Jan, who said he's been an ANA soldier for almost 7 years.
Jan said that he has a message to share with his “Afghan brothers,” whether they work for National Defense Service, ANP, ANA, or are civilians. He advises them to try their best to go to school and learn as much as they can, so they can become doctors or engrs. “Afghanistan right now is in a really good situation,” Jan continued. “Those people that are educated, we need them; the govt needs them; our country needs them. It's really good to have education.”
Story and photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper
HELMAND PROVINCE - "I've got a good group of guys," said Sgt. Jason McIlwain, section chief with F Btry, who was part of the team that fired the first round. The 4-man team also included Cpl. Donald Schaeffer, recorder with Gun 2, Cpl. Kent Smith, gunner with Gun 2, and Lance Cpl. Gavin King, the number 1 man.
The first rounds fired from EFSS in support of combat ops was a M1105 illumination projectile, used to light an area, occupied by snipers attached to Co I, BLT 3/8. Illumination denies any enemy concealment in darkness, and deters nighttime emplacement of IEDs.
"We stood this battery up in March of 2009," said Gunnery Sgt. Jeremey Black, btry gunnery sgt. Black explained that his Marines have refined their skills in the time since. "Once they get the mission on the gunline, they can fire 6 rounds a minute; one about every 10 or 15 seconds."
EFSS is the 3rd leg in a triad of land-based fire support for expeditionary ops, that also includes the lightweight 155mm Howitzer, and high mobility artillery rocket system. The highly-mobile EFSS can be towed by ground vehicles or transported by MV-22 Osprey Tiltrotor Aircraft, and CH-53E Super Stallion Helicopters, allowing expeditionary Marines with a Marine Air Ground TF to quickly establish supporting fires in a variety of situations.
The cmdr. also addressed a variety of topics on the war in Afghanistan, to include an update on the situation in Marjah, security in the Sangin District, what RC-SW has accomplished during the last year, and future allocation of military forces around southern Afghanistan.
Mills talked about how the CF’ steady progress in security, and the impact of the surge, have essentially won the battle for Marjah. “A year ago it was the Taliban capital of Helmand prov., a completely controlled Taliban area,” he said. “That has changed 180 degrees in the past year, and it’s now a small farm town that's vibrant with 5 bazaars (markets), with a great number of customers and business on every day of the week. It’s a great success story by the GoA, and what they've done to stand up a secure environment.”
The general highlighted the importance of Marjah, explaining how during the past year, coalition and Afghan forces have routed the Taliban from the town, which has allowed numerous changes to take place. On recent visits with tribal elders, especially in the Sangin District, which is conservative in nature, Mills said the elders are asking for schools to be built, and want their women to attend.
“This is a rural area, an area in which the Taliban wouldn’t allow women to go to school, and now we’re seeing a growth in the female population, which is very heartening. We estimate over 20,000 young girls are going to school this year within the prov.,” he said.
Due to increased security in the prov., future forces may be allocated to different locations, based on where territory will need to be secured, according to the gen. “If we continue on the path that Gen. Petraeus has laid down, we continue to use that glide slope as we raise the caliber of the Afghan army, as we raise the caliber of the Afghan security police forces, and as we raise the caliber of the Afghan local govts to take over, I think that there's a time in the not too foreseeable future, where we can begin to move our forces away,” said Mills.
C Co cmdr. Capt. Sasha Kuhlow praised Pyeatt’s leadership and affection for his fellow Marines. "His performance and initiative during the unit’s pre-deployment training, made him stand out from his peers, and made him an obvious choice to be a team leader," she said.
"After arriving in his team’s area of op, Pyeatt insisted that, as a team leader, he be the first to go on patrol in the area, so he could tell his Marines what to expect," said Kuhlow. “Cpl. Pyeatt motivated his team in such as way that the first words out of his teammates mouths after hearing that he'd been killed were not ‘oh my God;’ they were not ‘what are we going to do about a team leader?’” said Kuhlow. “Instead, they asked, ‘how soon can I get up there?’”
After prayers, Bible readings, hymns and remarks from Pyeatt’s leadership and friends, 1st Sgt. David Leikwold, C Co 1st sgt., called roll of the assembled co. When he came to Pyeatt’s name, he called it 3 times. Silence lingered until taps played. Friends and fellow Marines and sailors then solemnly filed up to the traditional memorial of helmet, rifle, boots and dog tags, to pay their final respects.
“If you remember nothing else about Cpl. Pyeatt, understand that this was a Marine who stepped up when he was called,” said Kuhlow.
Sgt. Carl Laverty, a plt. sgt., stopped numerous times during the routine security patrol from PB Rahim to Observation Post (OP) Ernie, to interact with Rahim Kalay locals. “It’s a COIN war, so it’s all about the people,” Laverty said. “To win the war, you’ve got to engage with the local population as much as possible.”
“In the area we were in today, we’ve had an IED strike there in the last month,” Laverty said. “It’s very important that we can remove the IEDs. We’ve had a few instances where kids have stood on IEDs going about their day.”
The 27-year-old added that the Taliban ultimately hurt themselves by placing IEDs so close to commonly used areas in Rahim Kalay. Instances where friends and family are maimed or killed by IEDs, only push locals to help the Irish Guard soldiers, as they found out during the patrol.
“One of the local nationals was fed up with the Taliban, and had a brother who stood on an IED, so he was more than willing to let us know where they were,” Laverty said.
“Three months ago, we couldn’t have gone that far into the green zone,” Laverty said. “The local nationals are so happy we’re there, because they can go about farming their fields, knowing that there are no IEDs there.”
Photos by Sgt. Blair Neelands
Iraqi soldiers, began the drills with “glass houses,” outlines of rooms marked off on the ground, before moving to walled rooms and hard-sites, or buildings, as their skills progressed.
“The training is very good for my soldiers,” said Sgt. Maj. Mustafa, senior Iraqi NCO at the event. “If they pay attention to this class and practice on it, it will make them better in their jobs.”
"The GWTC is very important to the IA, because it teaches Iraqi soldiers, while building a foundation to train and sustain the force, after U.S. forces leave," said Gillam," who's seen distinct growth and progression in the Iraqi troops. “They’re motivated to be out here,” he noted. “They like what they’re doing; they like learning, and they want to get better.”
"The Iraqi NCOs within the units are stepping into leadership roles, and taking charge of their squads and platoons more effectively than before," Gillam added.
Watching the Iraqi soldiers within the battalion execute the drills, Mustafa said he has seen the unit’s skills advance through the continued mentorship by his U.S. counterparts. “My soldiers see a new way of training,” he said, noting the knowledge gained from the collective training. “It’s a new experience.” Mustafa mentioned the hands-on aspect of the training, as well as simulations and training aides, which helped to build motivation among his soldiers.
4th AAB Infantrymen Enhance IA Skills, Train on M16 Rifles
The Ghost soldiers continue to teach soldiers from 2nd IA Div. basic marksmanship skills in preparation for Op Lion Leader Forge, a series of training exercises, centered on teaching Iraqi soldiers to train their own units.
“We’re here to train these soldiers, and even though this is the first day of training, the Iraqis we're teaching are stepping up, learning quickly, and attempting to help their fellow soldiers out,” said Cole.
“This is very good training,” said IA Pfc. Ali, an Iraqi infantryman. “The soldiers that are teaching us are very experienced, and are making this class easy for us to understand.”
At the end of the day, the soldiers held competitions with their IA counterparts to test the Iraqis’ speed, accuracy and overall proficiency in assembling and disassembling the M16. “Ghost” troops also used the contests as an opportunity to bond with their IA counterparts.