Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Joe Armas
CAMP KUNDUZ –- They started from scratch. Arriving at Camp Kunduz in mid-May, soldiers from TF Guns had their work cut out for them. The soldiers were tasked to convert an area of ops (AO) that was suited for a small plt-sized element, into one in which a bn-sized element could thrive in.
“We anticipated austere conditions prior to getting out here, and austere conditions are exactly what we found,” said Lt. Col. Jeff White, cmdr., TF Guns. Despite the challenging conditions and lack of amenities, TF Guns hit the ground running. The TF assumed responsibility for its combat mission almost immediately after touching ground, providing ground elements with air weapon teams, air medical evacuation, and air assault capabilities."The command placed key emphasis," White said, "on establishing sound relationships and a high level of trust and confidence with the ground forces, recognizing that supporting those forces is TF Guns’ primary objective. The demand for that support is constant in Kunduz. Day and night, 7 days a week, TF Guns’ aircraft take to the skies, providing air assets wherever needed. "Moreover, building up the AO, and sustaining combat ops simultaneously has proven to be quite the balancing act," added White.The bde cmdr., Col. John Novalis, credits the TF’s motivated soldiers and engaged leadership with taking initiative, and going above and beyond their normal duties. "The hard work is paying off, as improvements in force protection and living conditions are becoming more evident each and every day," added White.Furthermore, troopers from the TF can also be found flying over the skies of RC- South.Guns’ element in the south is currently attached to the 159th CAB, 101st AD. White touched on what Guns’ element in the south has accomplished so far.“Our team in the south is primarily supporting special ops forces (SOF), and has already executed a considerable amount of successful combat missions to this point,” said White.
“The soldiers from TF Guns attacked their difficult mission from the beginning, with a positive attitude, passion and discipline that has exceeded my expectations,” said Novalis.
Pfc. Adelano Oni, an AH-64D Apache helicopter aircraft armament and electrical repairer, assigned to Co D, TF Guns, cleans and inspects the lower receiver of a 30 mm gun, which is part of the Apache’s area weapons system, during a scheduled 12-month inspection, July 31.
Pfc. Adelano Oni loads 30 mm rounds into the Apache aircraft’s area weapons system, Aug. 1.
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DVIDS
TF Guns' Trooper Works Hard to Achieve the American Dream
Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Joe Armas
One UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to the 1st ACB, 1st Cav Div, graces a landing zone, as another Black Hawk prepares to touch down in the background, Aug. 1, at Camp Kunduz.
Sooner, rather than later, Ouyang achieved academic success in school, and established new friendships. After a short stint in college, Ouyang decided to join the Army. Not too long after enlisting, Ouyang began the naturalization process; a process that can be complicated at times, as he would soon find out.
After initially filing all of the required paperwork, Ouyang’s case had somehow been dropped from the system, and he was forced to start all over again. More paperwork and numerous phone calls followed, and with help from his leadership, Ouyang was able to reinitiate and expedite the naturalization process.Shortly after deploying to Afghanistan, a country that ironically borders his native land of China, Ouyang found out that his perseverance had paid off. He would indeed become an American citizen.Ouyang then made his way to Camp Phoenix near Kabul, and was sworn in as an American citizen on what many consider to be the most patriotic of all holidays, Independence Day.Describing his emotions following the ceremony, Ouyang said that he felt a sense of accomplishment more than anything else. “It [naturalization] was my goal for a long time,” added Ouyang.“He was so excited to finally become an American citizen,” said 2nd Lt. Samson Adeyemi, Ouyang’s officer-in-charge. Adeyemi was born in Nigeria, and like his subordinate, managed to make his way to the U.S., and become an American citizen.Ouyang, talking about what made the culmination of his journey possible, mentioned his parents back in Tenn., and the hardships they had to endure; a fact that he said he'll never forget. “They worked hard because they wanted me to be successful in life,” said Ouyang.Likewise, hard worker is a term Ouyang’s leadership uses to describe him. “He goes out of his way to accomplish any mission,” said Cpl. Moises Ramos, a unit supply specialist, assigned to HC, TF Guns.Adeyemi added, “Ouyang takes initiative and does his job without anyone telling him to do so.” The stern work ethic and penchant for taking initiative has paid off for the young trooper, as he was one of the few soldiers in the bde., to be selected for a battlefield promotion, Aug 1.Finally, the story of Spc. Ridong Ouyang is one that plays out on a daily basis across the U.S. Army. It’s a story about how a soldier manages to overcome adversity, and achieve his or her goals in life.-30-
Marine Mechanic Realizes Role in Camp Bastion
CAMP LEATHERNECK - Recently, one of the sqdn’s CH-53E Super Stallions returned from the peril of the dusty Afghan oblivion, having taken enemy small-arms fire. One of the rounds entered the underside of the aircraft and went through a steel rail used to attach cargo to the hull of the helicopter.
“Seeing that gave me a sense of greater purpose,” Knudsen said, sweat beading on his forehead. “They were standing directly underneath it when they shot. If they’re that close, it shows how dangerous it is out there.”The dust at Camp Bastion is oftentimes so thick, earth and sky become nearly indecipherable. With a graceful whirl of large blades, HMH-464’s Super Stallions frequently depart the security of the sqdn’s hangar and disappear into the sandy expanse, to provide a broad range of support for the Marine infantrym, their NATO coalition, and Afghan partners on the ground. Utilizing the largest helicopter in the American arsenal, the sqdn. supports the fight in Afghanistan with heavy-lift capabilities, resupplies, and troop insertion and extraction.Knudsen said that when he first arrived, he would stare at the vastness in front of him, and it wouldn’t seem real. “In every photo I had ever seen of Afghanistan, there were mountains,” Knudsen said. “All I saw here was dirt.” One morning, Knudsen walked out onto the flight line when the dust had settled just enough, and he was able to see the jagged outline of a mountain on the horizon. “That’s when it hit me that the enemy was out there, and we had guys out there going after them,” he said. Knudsen has smoothed out the steel surrounding the helicopter’s wound. His next task is to cut a piece of metal proportionate to the size of the hole, rivet it to the rest of the railing and sand it down – returning it to an unblemished piece of steel.As he spoke of his duties with quiet intensity, Knudsen briefly allowed his mind to drift back to his loved ones back home. “I’m excited to deploy, but naturally I miss my wife and kid,” the soft-spoken Marine said of his wife, Britney, and his 11-month-old son, Kyler. “When I’m tired from a long day, I go home and call my wife, and I can sleep pretty good.”
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DVIDS
Air Support Begins with Ordnance Marines at Kandahar Airfield
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD - Thousands of Marines, Afghan and coalition troops rely on 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) for close air support. At Kandahar Airfield, that responsibility is carried on the wings of Marine Attack Sqdn. 513’s AV-8B Harriers.
Hundreds of Marines work 24 hours a day at the Harrier sqdn., to ensure an attack jet is ready whenever it’s needed. But, the ordnance, the bombs and bullets that make a Marine Corps Harrier a force to be feared, comes from a handful of Marines just down the road from the attack sqdn’s hangar. Cpl. Philip Truitt, a munitions supervisor with MALS-40, surveys the bombs just assembled by his team of Marines. A group of GBU-54s, 500-lbs apiece, stand lined in a row, ready to be used in the fight.MALS-40, a unit which only fully exists on deployment, is a unique amalgamation of Marine Corps aviation logistics assets. Marines from sqdns. across the Marine Corps, serve under the MALS-40 banner in Afghanistan. With this geographic mix of Marines comes a mix in backgrounds, and MALS-40 troops come to Afghanistan with both fixed- and rotary-wing experience.“In our military occupational specialty, it’s not so much of an issue, because we all get the same basic training,” explained GnrySgt. Lesonly Stanley, the MALS-40 ordnance chief. “The goal is having the correctly qualified people to complete the mission.”Some Marines even find themselves developing a new skill set while deployed. “I’m learning stuff I’ve never learned before,” said LCpl. Nathaniel Wiley, a MALS-40 ordnance systems tech, deployed from MALS-13 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. “It’s being an all-around ordnanceman, instead of focusing on one job, which to me is better.”The sqdn’s aviation ordnance Marines assemble munitions, maintain equipment necessary to utilize the munitions, and track distribution and use. MGnrySgt. Scott Blair, the MALS-40 ordnance officer for Kandahar, lists objectives such as coordinating safety areas, and ensuring the safe and timely transportation of munitions, as challenges the ordnance Marines must overcome on a daily basis.“If we don’t do everything right, that missile doesn’t work as advertised,” explained Stanley. The Marines double-, triple- and even quadruple-check their work, before sending munitions to the sqdns., who will employ them. This includes VMA-513, as well as Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Sqdn 252, which uses flares for battlefield illumination missions.Blair began his Marine Corps career as a field radio operator, providing communications for infantry units. As someone who has personally benefitted from close-air support, Blair said that he knows firsthand what the presence of a bomb-carrying Harrier can do for the morale of a Marine under fire. “There are some people out here trying to hurt us, and now we’re supporting the means to protect everybody,” he added.Though the Marines do not often see the results of their efforts, they're aware of the effect it has on the ground troops. As the sqdn. approaches the midway point of its yearlong deployment, a new detachment of MALS-40 Marines prepares to change out with the current ordnance system techs.GnrySgt. Shawn DiMauro, who will soon replace Stanley as the MALS-40 ordnance chief, said that she expects the level of support the sqdn. provides to stay consistent, even with the change in personnel.“Basically do what they’ve been doing,” said DiMauro of her goal as the ordnance chief. “That means doing our job proficiently and working together – as the ordnance family, the Marine family, the deployed family.”MALS-40 Marines assembly GBU-54 bombs at Kandahar Airfield, July 30.
Cpl. Benjamin Corke, a MALS-40 aviation ordnance systems tech, inspects a group of GBU-54 bombs.
Cpl. Joshua Carmack, a MALS-40 munitions team member, inspects the internal components of one of the bomb bodies.
Cpl. Zachary Painter, left, and Sgt. Michael Saltalamacchia, both MALS-40 aircraft gun systems techs, assemble a 25mm GAU-12/U Gatling gun.
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RC-East, Bagram Media Center
The SECFOR was conducting a security search for a Taliban facilitator, when they were attacked by multiple insurgents. The SECFOR returned fire and killed 2 insurgents. During the search, one of the insurgents attempted to use a child as a human shield. The force was able to safeguard the child.
Following the engagement, numerous suspected insurgents were also detained for further questioning. The force confiscated multiple blasting caps used for roadside bombs, grenades, AK-47 assault rifles, and chest racks. The original target of the search was a Taliban facilitator who constructs roadside bombs, prepares attacks, coordinates insurgent movements, and provides direct support to insurgent ops. In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan: SouthKANDAHAR PROVINCE -- During a security op in Panjwa’i District, a combined Afghan and coalition SECFOR detained several suspected insurgents, while searching for a Taliban facilitator, yesterday. The facilitator is responsible for receiving and distributing supplies for insurgents in Panjwa’i District. HELMAND PROVINCE -- In Lashkar Gah District, a combined Afghan and coalition patrol detained several insurgents during an op targeting an insurgent leader, Aug. 6. The targeted leader is responsible for multiple attacks against ANSF and coalition members. EastPAKTIYA PROVINCE -- A combined Afghan and coalition SECFOR killed numerous Taliban insurgents, during a security search for a Taliban leader in Zurmat District, yesterday. The leader directs key facilitators, plans attacks, coordinates ops, and has been implicated in a July 5 attack, resulting in the deaths of 3 U.S. Soldiers. While searching for the leader, the SECFOR observed several insurgents leaving the local area. The insurgents, who earlier in the day forced their way into the home of a local resident, fired at the SECFOR using machine guns and AK-47 assault rifles. The force returned fire, killing the insurgents. The SECFOR confiscated an RPG launcher, and other grenades, along with the previously mentioned small arms. ----- During a security op in Zurmat District, a combined Afghan and coalition SECFOR detained several suspected Haqqani Network insurgents, yesterday. The target of this op was a Haqqani leader who coordinates roadside bomb attacks, and provides support to Haqqani fighters.Story and photo by Pvt. Andrew Slovensky
"This is one chapter in my life I will never forget.""Being overseas in a combat zone with your family isn't always a plus," said Roslyn. Her family's safety was a concern during the deployment. When indirect fire hit COB Basra, it endangered not just her, but her husband and son as well. Her priority was her family's safety. "We have to make sure we're all still intact at the end of that incoming," she said.
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