Ghazni celebrates Nowruz festival to welcome spring Written by 2nd Lt. Laura Childs, Ghazni Texas ADT IV
Maj. Gen. John Campbell, cmdr of Combined Joint TF-101 and RC-East, attends a Nowruz Celebration hosted by Ghazni Gov. Khan, March 22. (Photos by Army Maj. John Davis)
GHAZNI PROVINCE – Held on the astronomical vernal equinox, Nowruz traditionally celebrates new beginnings as Afghans plant trees, make new clothing, gather families together, and forgive past mistakes. Nowruz fell on March 21 this year, and thousands of people throughout the country celebrated.
More than 400 people, including line directors, provincial council members, district sub-govs, elders and local religious leaders, and reps from Combined Joint TF 101 attended the official provincial Nowruz celebration. After a recitation from the Quran, Khan welcomed guests, spoke of the importance of education, and asked the elders and parents to send their children to school.
“Illiteracy is one of the enemies of which we’ve been fighting,” he said. “If we educate our generation, then we divide the enemy and reduce its strength.” Posters displayed on the walls surrounding the gov. carried the same message from an Islamic perspective, “If a person claims that Islam is against mathematics and physics, in fact, that person is the enemy of Islam.”
Musni Azizi, Ghazni’s dir. of ed., also addressed the crowd and said, “The enemy can't be defeated by heavy weapons, but by education.” Azizi reported on the success of Ghazni schools, and said, "6,300 students from Ghazni Prov. are attending universities throughout Afghanistan." He added, "the Ghazni Education Directorate will have 20,000 new students in unsecured areas for this year, increasing the total to 58,000.
Maj. Gen. John Campbell said that the new year promises new horizons. “Nowruz marks the beginning of the year, and stands as hope and new light for Afghanistan,” Campbell said. “It's a celebration of extraordinary blessings, and an opportunity to look forward to the promise of a new day.
“The Afghan people have suffered too long from the oppression of the Taliban,” he continued. “The insurgents will carry out a campaign of terror against the nation, against the people and against the children, to keep them from going to school. The Taliban do not offer a new light. With the Taliban there is no new beginning. The Taliban only offer a dark future for the Afghan people. The support of the gov., the provincial council and the ANSF," he said, “offer hope and renewal for a better future.”
Polish Army Brig. Gen. Andrzej Reudowicz, TF White Eagle cmdr., offered his congratulations and best wishes for the new year. “Please be sure that CF working together with ANSF will continue their efforts to provide a better, peaceful future for you and your families,” said Reudowicz.
Ghazni DAIL Sultan Hussein and several distinguished guests concluded the event by planting trees at the compound.
Hussein distributed more than 28,000 trees to Ghazni farmers in 14 districts within Ghazni Prov. Texas ADT-IV facilitated the purchase of the trees, so the district sub-govs could host tree distribution ceremonies.
According to the Texas Army NG Ghazni ADT-IV, events like this are a positive example of the increasing capacity of governmental officials such as the DAIL and his staff. These tree distributions are also a significant first step in Hussein’s initiative to plant more than 1 million trees in Ghazni Prov., over the next 2 years.
”This event and the 14 events hosted by the District Govs. and the Agriculture Extension Agents truly demonstrate the growing capacity of the Afghan govt., and show great potential for the future of Afghanistan,” said Texas Army NG Ghazni ADT-IV Cmdr. Lt. Col. Brian Stevens.
Maj. Gen. Campbell helping with the planting of a tree.
Maj. Gen. Campbell and Polish army Brig. Gen. Reudowicz, attend a Nowruz celebration hosted by Ghazni Gov. Khan.
More than 400 Afghans attended the Nowruz celebration.
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DVIDS
RC - West to receive first AAF Life Support TechnicianStory and photos by Navy Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Jared Walker
AAF member Sgt. Gulbiddin (center), Life Support Specialist for Herat, speaks to Tech. Sgt. Tim Kelso (left), Aviation Life Support Advisor for the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group (AEAG), Shindand Air Base, and does a spot check on a helmet to make sure the communication system works.
KAIA - Throughout Afghanistan, there is only one Afghan life support team and training center, but that's about to change.
AAF Aviation Life Support Specialist Sgt. Gulbiddin has finished his month-long life support training in Kabul, and will soon engage in ops that directly support the AAF.
Tech. Sgt. Tim Kelso explained how he met Gulbiddin. “In Kabul, I have oversight of the manning to other detachments, and every time I went out I could never find my personnel. Finally, on a trip to Herat, I made up my mind that I was going to find one of my guys.”
Gulbiddin explained that he was on vacation when he was contacted and told an air advisor was looking for him. Kelso found Gulbiddin working at a security gate, and informed him that he’d be working in aviation life support. Kelso explained the specifics of the job, such as how to take care of helmets, survival and communications equipment, all which are essential for air crew members.
“When I found out I was going to be assigned to life support I asked some people about the program, and they were positive about it. After that, I learned I was being sent to Kabul for training,” said Gulbiddin. In Kabul, Gulbiddin was trained by 3 American advisors and fellow Afghans who taught him how to prepare survival kits. During his time learning, he learned his main job as a life-support tech would be to help prevent the loss of life.
Kelso said that he was very impressed by Gulbiddin’s effort and work ethic. “A month ago, he didn’t know much about life support, and he’d never worked with any of the equipment. I worked with him, and I was blown away with how far he has come. It’s absolutely perfect that the Afghans of the shop took him in and made him one of their own.”
With all of the training Gulbiddin received while he in Kabul, he'll now go back to Herat to pass on his knowledge to his fellow Afghans. “I wrote down everything I was taught. I also have verbal and practical lessons too. Once I return to my base, my cmdr. will send me the personnel and I will train them,” said Gulbiddin.
Now that Gulbiddin has been trained in life support policies and procedures, he’ll be the only Afghan between the FOBs, Shindand and Herat. The bases hope to train at least 7 more Afghans as life support techs.
Kelso said now that Gulbiddin is on his way to Herat, he's very impressed and happy with the way the training turned out.
“Words can’t describe what this means to the career field of Afghanistan. Up until now, there were only the members here in the Kabul shop, and now finally some of the detachments can get this training too. I know this is a stepping stone for more Afghans to get this training.”
AAF member Sgt. Gulbiddin puts together a helmet that will be used for AAF life support missions in Afghanistan.
Sgt. Gulbiddin speaks to Tech. Sgt. Tim Kelso about how to properly use life support equipment.
Sgt. Gulbiddin speaks to Tech. Sgt. Tim Kelso, about how to properly use a compass.
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RC-East, Bagram Media Center
ANSF, ISAF begin major operation in Laghman valley LAGHMAN PROVINCE – The ANSF, partnered with U.S. TFs Red Bulls and Phoenix, and French TF La Fayette, began ops in Galuch Valley, March 25.
ANA, ANP, and the U.S. Army’s 2nd BCT, 34th ID, TF Red Bulls, supported by the 10th CAB, TF Phoenix, conducted an air assault into the valley to remove enemy forces. Battle Group Richelieu, TF La Fayette, provided artillery support from Kapisa Prov.
While conducting ops, the forces found multiple weapons caches, including assorted RPGs, mortar rounds, Russian rockets, materials to make homemade explosives, various other ordnance, and communication equipment. While moving through the valley, unit leadership met with village elders to discuss the security situation, and to allow them to give up insurgents still in the area.
The op will assist the GoA in establishing the valley as a new district, giving the Afghan people in the area freedom from the insurgency. Pres. Hamid Karzai approved the creation of the additional district, and hopes that the new district will help improve the security of the area and support the reconstruction effort.
Mohammad Azizi, Laghman Prov. gov., held a press conference March 7, announcing the establishment of a new district located in the valley.
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RC-East, Bagram Media Center
Iowa ADT practices fiscal vigilance on canal project Story and photos by AF Capt. Peter Shinn, 734th ADT
Capt. Pat Birgy, finance officer for the Iowa NG’s 734th ADT, talks through an interpreter to a local resident along the canal that runs through and out of Asadabad, the provincial capital, during a foot patrol along the canal, as Warrant Officer 1 Marty Osmundsen, ADT construction specialist, provides security, March 22.
KUNAR PROVINCE – Leaders of the Iowa NG’s 734th ADT decided to put a canal-cleaning project in the provincial capital of Asadabad on hold, after a foot patrol along the canal showed the project to be unnecessary.
Capt. Pat Birgy manages the Cmdr’s Emergency Response Program (CERP) for the ADT. He explained why the ADT conducted the foot patrol along the Asadabad canal. “This was presented as a time-sensitive, urgent need by certain members of the DAIL,” he said. “However, we still felt we should go out and assess the condition of the canal, and talk to the villagers along the canal, to make sure the project made sense prior to funding it.”
Birgy and more than a dozen other members of the ADT, including the ADT’s hydrologist, Master Sgt. Steve Holding, patrolled on either side of the canal for several kms., March 22. During the patrol, ADT members met and talked with dozens of the Afghans who live alongside the canal.
One of the Afghans with whom Holding spoke was Hayatullah who lives alongside the canal. Haytullah, who like many Afghans goes by only one name, is also a member of the Asadabad Community Development Council. “This canal has been cleaned,” Hayatullah said. “The people who live by the canal have already cleaned it, as we do every year.”
In fact, Holding, Birgy and the other ADT members heard much the same thing from each Afghan they talked to as they patrolled down the canal. “This experience provides further validation of the old intelligence saying, ‘Trust, but verify,’” said Birgy.
In the meantime, the ADT will turn its attention to why members of the provincial DAIL sought funding for the canal-cleaning project to begin with, according to Col. Craig Bargfrede, ADT cmdr. “This is an excellent mentorship opportunity for the DAIL director,” Bargfrede said. “It will give him a chance to identify and fix a process within his org. that obviously didn’t work properly.”
Master Sgt. Steve Holding talks with Hayatullah.
Members of the Iowa NG’s 734th ADT pass an Afghan girl, as they conduct a foot patrol down the Asadabad canal.
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IRAQI STORIES:
1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Division-North
‘Long Knife’ Soldiers bring the heat at Destiny Range
Story and photos by Spc. Terence Ewings
“Black Dragons,” 5th Bn, 82nd FAR, 4th AAB, 1st Cav Div, fire M109A6 Paladins during a certification exercise, March 16, 2011. The “Red Leg” Soldiers fired M109A6 Paladins, launching 155 mm high-explosive rounds, from a firing point at Destiny Range. The firing teams renewed certification on the indirect-fire support weapon, prior to the combined arms live fire exercise conducted with ISF the following day.
COB MAREZ – Armed with mortars and self-propelled field artillery systems, Soldiers of 4th AAB conducted a combined arms live fire exercise to demonstrate the unit’s ability to provide accurate and timely fires, March 17. HHC, 2nd Bn, 7th Cav Regt, and Btry A, 5th Bn, 82nd FAR, both of 4th AAB, 1st Cav. Div., showcased their indirect fire proficiency.
“We’re out here to demonstrate the skills we’ve been practicing the last couple of weeks by putting live rounds downrange,” said 1st Lt. David Kim, mortar platoon leader assigned to HHC. "While there's no need to use the systems to conduct combat missions in northern Iraq, the mortarmen regularly conduct training with 2nd IA Div soldiers to increase their Iraqi partners’ proficiency in operating their 60 mm, 81 mm and 120 mm mortar systems," Kim explained. “We’re training the Iraqis on mortar systems and battle drills to build up their SECFORs,” said Kim.
When Kim and fellow mortarmen stationed at JSS India are not training the IA soldiers, the U.S. Army Soldiers provide mounted patrol assistance to units that travel to and from the remote installation. “We support the brigade in any way we can, and we love that we get the opportunity to come out here and fire rounds and do our job,” said Sgt. Andrew Harris, mortar section sgt assigned to HHC.
“We’re out here demonstrating the counter indirect-fire techniques we use to suppress the enemy,” said Sgt. 1st Class Nikon Escobedo, platoon sgt., assigned to Btry A, 5th Bn. “These weapons we use can cause a lot of collateral damage if not used properly, so it’s important we train regularly on these systems,” said Escobedo. “We love to fire our weapons, but we want to make sure we do things safe and the right way.”
Sgt. Andrew Harris, a mortar section sgt., assigned to HHC, 2nd Bn, watches as a mortarman mounted on an U.S. Army M1064 Self-propelled 120 mm Heavy Mortar Carrier. During the training event, Harris ensured his Soldiers safely fired the mortar systems.
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U.S. Division-North Public Affairs
MTT Soldiers bring training tailored to IA unit's mission
Story and photos by Sgt. Coltin Heller
Staff Sgt. Jimmy Hernandez, training instructor assigned to a Mobile Training Team (MTT), attached to 2nd Bn, 11th FAR, 2nd AAB, 25th ID, assists an Iraqi soldier on clearing a weapon malfunction, as part of unit-tailored training at the Field Engr Regt compound, near Tikrit, March 19, 2011. U.S. Soldiers also trained the jinood, (Arabic for soldiers), on proper intel gathering techniques, in addition to basic rifle marksmanship and range ops during 10 days of training.
COB SPEICHER - "We're here to train the trainer," said Staff Sgt. Jimmy Hernandez, training instructor with the MTT. "This training will make the IA better, furthering their skills, so they can accomplish the mission effectively."
"We teach them proper procedures to gather military intel, to execute intel missions, and prepare them to be aware of threats to Iraq," said Hernandez, who calls Puerto Rico home.
"This training positively changes each aspect of how missions are conducted," said Hernandez. "It allows for the IA soldiers to better fulfill their mission and provide security for themselves."
"The MTT operates independently of Tadreeb al Shamil, (All Inclusive Training), an ongoing Iraqi-directed initiative to modernize IA ground forces," said Maj. Jared Rudacille, MTT chief.
"The training is very adaptive and differs from unit to unit," said Rudacille. "The Iraqi jinood learned quickly, incorporating their own unit tactics, techniques and procedures into the training exercises," added Rudacille.
After the classroom portion of the training, the MTT moved the jinood to the compound range for basic rifle marksmanship and range ops, building a foundation for self-sustaining training.
Iraqi officers and NCOs fired first, and then acted as safeties for their jinood, ensuring the Iraqi firers performed the techniques to standards taught by U.S. Soldiers.
"In between firing iterations, U.S. Soldiers provided "hip pocket" first aid training to the Iraqis, teaching life-saving techniques to the jinood awaiting their turn on the firing line," said Sgt. Thomas Cook, combat medic, MTT, 2nd Bn.
Reviewing skills taught during previous periods of classroom instruction, Cook led the medical refresher training for the jinood. "We went over basic skills we taught them, like how to put on a tourniquet, dress a sucking chest wound, apply pressure dressings and splint fractures," said Cook.
"Another positive outcome of the training was seeing Iraqi NCO's have a larger part in leading the training," said Rudacille. "The officers led the training at first and the NCOs followed, but after the first group of firers, the officers stepped back and let the NCOs have a greater hand in the training, and eventually they were running the lane, just like we would," he said.
An Iraqi soldier fires from the standing position during range training.
Capt. Clem Lochner, deputy team chief assigned to the Mobile TT, demonstrates site adjustments on an AK-47 rifle, during weapons training for Intel, Surveillance and Recon (ISR) Bn.
Several Iraqi jinood acquire a good sight picture with their AK-47 rifles.
Sgt. Thomas Cook provides concurrent medical training to Iraqi soldiers, in between firing iterations.
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U.S. Division-North Public Affairs
Soldiers, airmen hone perishable skills at Besmaya Range Complex
Story and photos by Spc. Andrew Ingram
Capt. Matt Bolton, air liaison officer, 368th Expeditionary Air Support Ops Group, attached to 1st AAB, 1st ID, uses a mirror to signal his location to air assets, before transmitting a request for F16 pilots to provide simulated close air support, during Joint Tactical Air Controller/Joint Forward Observer training, March 18, 2011. Besmaya Range is the only range in Iraq large enough to facilitate the JTAC/JFO training. The IA operates and maintains the Besmaya range under the tutelage of U.S. civilian contractors.
BESMAYA RANGE COMPLEX – Army forward observers and AF air liaison officers partnered with joint tactical air controllers deployed to northern Iraq in support of U.S. Division-North during JTAC/JFO training at Besmaya Range Complex, March 17-18.
During the 2-day training exercise at the range located east of Baghdad, Soldiers and airmen called in close air support scenarios to U.S. AF F16 fighter pilots, deployed with 13th EFS, from Misawa Air Base, Japan. “It's outstanding that we can talk to the birds in the air today,” said Sgt. Michael Peterson, forward observer, Co A, 1st Bn, 14th Inf Regt, assigned to 1st AATF, 1st ID. “Having the F-16 pilots on the radio, and then watching them carry out the attacks, makes it all more realistic.”
"Forward observers, artillery Soldiers who integrate into infantry units, relay target locations to artillery assets," explained Peterson. “Working with air assets broadens our skill set and makes us more well-rounded Soldiers, but even more importantly than that, we have to keep training to stay sharp,” he said. “We have a perishable skill, and if we don’t stay sharp, we lose it.”
Receiving a call for fire from the Soldiers and airmen, the AF pilots carried out close air support attacks on targets approx 2 kms from the observer’s position. "Employing fires using air assets is an important skill for forward observers to learn," said AF Staff Sgt. Nate Corean, joint tactical air controller, Joint Air Control Team, 368th.
“JTACs are basically a liaison between the Army and AF, and we usually make the call for air support; but there aren't very many of us in country right now,” said Corean. “We're making sure the FOs are trained up, because we need as many qualified people on the ground as possible, just in case somebody has to make that call.”
Corean said that he's excited to have had the opportunity to participate in the JTAC/JFO training during his deployment. “I've had a very quiet deployment, which isn’t a bad thing,” he said, “but this is a kinetic job. If we aren’t out there blowing things up, we aren’t happy.”
Soldiers and airmen also expressed gratitude to the IA for allowing U.S. forces to use the Besmaya Range Complex, the only range in Iraq large enough to facilitate the JTAC/JFO training.
“I'm really impressed with the way they ran things out here,” said Capt. Matt Bolton, air liaison officer, 368th EASOG. “The Iraqi range control is very professional, and they put a premium on safety.” Bolton said that he believes joint training will strengthen relations between the Army and AF personnel, ultimately making for a stronger fighting force.
Sgt. Michael Peterson, forward observer, watches a 500-lb bomb hit its mark.
Sgt. Michael Peterson transmits a call for fire, while AF Staff Sgt. Nate Corean supervises.