Navy Imam Meets Sangin's Religious Leaders
FOB JACKSON, Helmand province -- A U.S. Navy chaplain met with leaders of Sangin District, to discuss faith in a manner unique to his status. Lt. Asif Balbale spent time with the deputy district gov., the leading mullah, an ANA religious advisor, local elders from the district of Sangin, and U.S. Navy chaplains from RCT 8.
“The purpose of that visit was to talk to them about their daily lives,” Balbale said. “It was also for them to be able to see the diversity we have in the U.S. Armed Forces. Just for them to see an Imam in the U.S. Armed Forces is a shock value for them. They'd never imagined that it's even possible.”Mullahs and Imams, Muslim religious leaders, in Sangin are considered to be key influencers of the population. These leaders have grown in importance, after years of war removed the permanent govt, and military officials that would normally share power in the tribal and religious based society.U.S. service members are dissuaded from discussing religion with local Afghans, especially if they're not Muslim. This leaves a whole range of issues and communication that will go unspoken. Saturday’s visit was meant as a way to introduce the chaplain, and to begin a religion based dialogue.Balbale’s youthful features made the gathering skeptical at first. The audience consisted of older Pashtun men, whose tribal beliefs value the experience of age more than the formal education Balbale possesses. The meeting consisted of a meal and private conversation amongst the military, political and religious leaders. The elders began the meeting by questioning Balbale on his knowledge of the Quran. He responded in Urdu, a language Balbale learned while living in India, and cited passages from the Islamic holy book.Questions then took on a more inquisitive nature after the initial skepticism wore off. A flurry of dialogue proceeded. “Is your wife Muslim?” asked the leading mullah and Islamic religious leader of the district. “How do Christians get married in the U.S.?” inquired a local elder.“When a Muslim commits a crime in America, do they get special treatment?” asked the local district chief of police.Balbale answered the questions in rapid order, but with a relaxed demeanor that put the participants at ease. His message was simple; Muslims should unite in their brotherhood and avoid violence towards one another.“I’m glad that they asked those questions, because we certainly respect the diversity in our nation. That's why people like me have immigrated to the U.S.,” said Balbale. “They were pleasantly surprised. Among the Muslims there's a sense of brotherhood no matter where you come from.“This country has been through many wars, and unfortunately there hasn’t been a steady influx of info into this country. So, they're not aware of Muslims living in the U.S. being able to peacefully live side by side with different faith communities,” said Balbale.Balbale will return to the U.S. in 2 days after little more than a month in Afghanistan. He chose this month for his trip to celebrate Ramadan through religious outreach engagements across Helmand prov. Sangin was the last stop for him.
Navy Lt. Asif Balbale, a Muslim chaplain and an Imam, prepares for a meal at the district gov’s compound in Sangin.
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DVIDS
Washington Marine Trades Desert Uniform for Scrubs
Most Marines who visit the unit’s supply lot will find a smiling face greeting them as they enter the lot’s office tent. Her position comes with a laundry list of responsibilities that she more than willingly accepts and executes with enthusiasm, but Diaz said her favorite part is being able to help all the friendly faces she meets.
“I always love helping people,” said the Seattle Seahawks fan. “This is my first deployment. Meeting all these new people and seeing them leave satisfied is my favorite part of the deployment.”Nearly 2,000 supply orders have been successfully processed under her charge. That’s thousands of items and millions of dollars worth of essential gear she’s helped provide to her unit in the 7-month deployment.
“It’s been a good experience, and it was definitely worth it,” explained Diaz with a grin. “I was able to accomplish a lot out here, and I think I set it up for the next guy to easily come in, and know where everything is at.”
The job comes with a lot of responsibility according to 2nd Lt. John Suschak, the former Logistics officer, who is also headed home. The Ohio native said it’s a lot for one person to handle, but Diaz did a great job.“She did an outstanding job at always keeping accountability of everything, and getting everything the sections ordered to them in a timely fashion,” said Suschak. “With a bn-sized unit of more than 600 Marines, she’s been running that lot all by herself, and has done a great job.”“This deployment gave me time to really think about what I wanted to do with my life,” explained Diaz. She also said that everything she has learned as a Marine will help her pursue the career in nursing she dreams of, and she hopes to be able to prepare for college upon returning back to the U.S. “It’s always been a dream of mine to try my hand at nursing,” said Diaz. “I also had a desire growing up to join the military, and there was no question I wanted to join the Marines. The experience has taught me a lot, and I know it’s going to help me in the future.”Helicopters on scene continued their observation of the weapons system, and prevented anybody on the ground from moving to the site. The helicopter crew marked the site with smoke, and an Attack Co plt. successfully secured the weapon.
The cmdr. of 1st Bn, Lt. Col. Kenneth Mintz, said that Afghan civilians living in the area actually warned CF of a pending large-scale attack, and left the area. He also said that insurgents had once considered Nalgham a safe haven, and used the village as a planning base for their ops.FOB ZANGABAD – With a pair of OH-58D, Kiowa Warrior scout helicopters flying above the outer perimeter of FOB Sperwan Ghar, members of Co C, 3rd Bn, 21st Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 25th ID, paid their final respects to one of their own in a memorial service, Aug. 28.
Pfc. Brandon S. Mullins, 21, was killed Aug. 25 when his MRAP, All-terrain Vehicle struck an IED, and rolled over. With an attack jet roaring overhead, Lt. Col. Stephen Miller, 3rd Bn., Gimlet bn. cmdr. said, “It never seems to fail that those that we lose are the very best among us. Everyone will remember Brandon’s impatience with those he thought weren’t moving fast enough, and his brute strength and force he would employ to get things done."“We'll move forward to respect Brandon’s memory. We must continue to honorably help the Afghan people who desire a better life. Brandon died trying to help accomplish this mission, and we must complete it,” Miller added.Co. Cmdr., Capt. Sean Allred, thanked Mullins’ family for “the exemplary man you raised.”He added, “We offer our deepest condolences. He was a man worthy of admiration, and we know that we can't fill the void created by his loss. It's with a heavy heart that we've gathered in this attempt to honor and remember his sacrifice.” Mullins’ squad leader, Staff Sgt. Matthew Mills, took his turn next to reflect on the loss of his Soldier. “I can honestly say I’ve never met anyone like Mullins,” Mills said. Spc. Deroderick Jackson stepped up to the podium to pay tribute to Mullins. He told of the way Mullins was the first person from their platoon and squad that he met, after stepping off the jetliner in Alaska. “He was just a big help to me. Every time he saw I had a hard time, he made me smile and told me to get it together,” Jackson related. “On a mission with the ANA, I was real tired, and they were going real fast, and Mullins said, ‘You got this, brother!’”The final tribute by one of Brandon Mullins’ brothers-in-arms was from Pfc. Adam Baldridge. He emphasized the fact that he was honored and proud to serve with him right from their first day at Creature Co. when they both were assigned to one of the co’s weapons squads. The somber ceremony came to a close with the final roll call by 1st Sgt. Robert Fontenot.
Fontenot called out the names of 3 soldiers from within the company formation, including Pfc. Mullins. All of those called answered, except for Mullins. Fontenot called his name 3 times and all 3 times – silence. Fontenot executed an about face, and an honor guard of 7 riflemen fired a 21-gun salute. Seamlessly, “Taps” played from an unseen bugler. With “Amazing Grace” played on bagpipes, the leadership of Lt. Col. Mullins and Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Brown, marched up to the altar and rendered salutes, each retrieving bn coins from their pockets, and placing them at the base of Mullins’ weapon. Brown gently placed a hand on Mullins’ helmet, before returning to the position of attention, and again rendering their final salute.A set of desert tan boots sat below an M4 carbine weapon, pointing down. An advanced combat helmet sat atop the weapon’s butt stock, with a set of dog tags dangling from the pistol grip; the day’s fading sunlight glinting off the metal. Pfc. Mullins may be gone, but his memory is forever honored in the Gimlet history.
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DVIDS
CAMP MIKE SPANN – Partner with Afghan forces, provide auxiliary security, and build support for a legitimate govt, a trident strategy being used by Army Soldiers with the 170th IBCT. Soldiers have been training the ANP since they arrived early this year, and conducting security ops are a focus for many armies. But, linking these conventional efforts together are Army advisers and mentors imparting a legal philosophy onto their Afghan counterparts – rule of law.
“You can call it a focus on traditional justice,” said Maj. Justin Evison, a Michigan native, now the 170th IBCT bde. judge advocate. The bde’s rule of law effort is focused on 2 northern Afghan districts: Imam Sahib, Kunduz prov., and Qeysar, Faryab prov. "Bde. leaders chose the districts, because soldiers have recently cleared them of insurgent activity, and the Afghan govt already has justice systems in place," Evison said. The brigade's advisers work with a district justice official, called a hoqooq, to resolve civil disputes over property, water, finances and family issues. "This civil court competes with the Taliban’s swift and often harsh version of justice," said Capt. Gregory Estevez, the brigade’s rule of law adviser, assigned to 1st Bn, 84th FAR in Qeysar District. “The bottom line is, no one is above the law,” he said.Estevez, a N.H., native, said that his mission is to assess the existing legal system in the district, and provide feedback to the system’s leaders. “The main thing is, this is their govt. I'm here for recommendations, support and guidance if they need it,” he said.Some civil disputes are solved by village elders in meetings called shuras. "This means that not all civil disputes and family disagreements will be handled under the purview of the Afghan govt, a fact the advisers accept," Estevez said. “It’s their culture. It’s their norm as a society. In their country they've the shuras, and in America we don’t have that. You have to respect that,” he said.However, recognition of the govt’s judicial system is on the rise in Qeysar. People in villages more than 20 kms away from the district capitol, told him they’ve traveled to the district courthouse to settle disputes. "Others have filed complaints with the ANP," he said.U.S. soldiers advising Afghan govt officials on rule of law is not a new strategy for most of the country, but it's new in the North. The 170th IBCT is only the 2nd brigade-sized Army unit to operate in the region. The brigade’s approach is unique compared to other legal program, which focus on training Afghan justice officials in a classroom. "In Qeysar and Imam Sahib, U.S. Army personnel are working directly with Afghan officials to resolve disputes, tracking each case from start to finish," Evison said. With his brigade now halfway through its 12-month deployment, Estevez said that his goal is to gather more info about Qeysar’s legal officials to give his replacement a head start. “It’s a marathon. It won’t be fixed over night,” he said, “so all I can do is try and set the next guy up for success.”Evison compared the program to a crank start engine. “Initially we might provide some artificial support. But, if you can get that system spinning, you can step back and let go,” he said. “Hopefully that engine will take off, and it will run on its own. Then you can withdraw that artificial support, and let that project fly.”-30-
ISAF Joint Command
ISAF Joint Command Operational Update, Sept. 9, 2011
KUNDUZ PROVINCE -- An Afghan and coalition combined SecFor detained multiple suspected insurgents, while searching for a Taliban leader in Aliabad district, yesterday. The leader facilitates the distribution of weapons for Taliban insurgents within the district.
South KANDAHAR PROVINCE -- In Kandahar district, a combined Afghan and coalition SecFor detained a Taliban facilitator and several of his assocs., during an op, yesterday. The facilitator assisted the Taliban in roadside bomb attacks throughout the area. HELMAND PROVINCE -- A combined Afghan and coalition SecFor detained numerous suspected insurgents, while searching for a senior Taliban leader in the Nahr-e Saraj district, yesterday. EastWARDAK PROVINCE – A combined Afghan and coalition SecFor killed 2 insurgents, detained numerous suspected insurgents, and seized multiple weapons while searching for a Taliban leader in Sayyidabad Abad district, yesterday. The leader is responsible for planning attacks in the district, and providing logistical supplies to fellow leaders. The patrol seized a machine gun, grenades, and ammo.
KHOST PROVINCE -- In Sabari district, a combined Afghan and coalition SecFor detained multiple suspected insurgents, while searching for a Haqqani Network leader, yesterday. The leader coordinates the movement of mines, mortars, RPGs, and roadside bomb-making materials in the region. In addition, the SecFor seized several RPGs, a fragmentation grenade, and AK-47 assault rifles during the op.
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