Operation Steel Rain Disrupts Haqqanis in Khowst
KHOWST PROVINCE -- The Haqqani network is a criminal org., with links to the Taliban and al-Qaida, and believed to be based across the nearby Afghan-Pakistan border. "During the mission, joint forces had to cover a vast area in a short amount of time," said Capt. Daniel Leard, Able Co, 1st Bn. cmdr., and Penn. native. The cooperation between the 3 different forces - U.S., ANA and ABP, allowed the joint force to synchronize their efforts to make the most effective use of their time.
"The op involved several moving parts as CF moved through the area to eliminate insurgents from villages, materials involved in the making of IEDs and illegal weapons," said Staff Sgt. Oscar Lorenzano, plt. sgt. “We went out and let the bad guys know we were here,” the Calif. native said. “A lot of people were very inviting and told us to come back.”"In addition to finding any munitions in the area, another aspect of the mission was to deny insurgents the use of border routes into Afghanistan, and to clear cache sites," said Leard.
“There’s a great deal of cross-border activity out in Tirzaye,” said Lt. Col. Jesse Pearson, 1st Bn., 26th Inf. Regt. cmdr., and Ill. native. “A lot of people come across the border, not just insurgents.” In order to reduce the risk of civilian casualties, Pearson emphasized the importance of working closely with the local population. “It’s important for us to get out there and spend time with the local village leaders and elders and make sure we understand the dynamics inside the villages and find out where the insurgents are finding refuge in the area,” Pearson added. "Due to the remote and mountainous terrain, several of the villages visited had not seen a U.S. or ANSF presence in quite some time," Lorenzano said. To ease the introduction of the military to the local population, ANSF forces led several shuras, or community meetings, designed to meet the villagers and let them know their govt was there for them and wanted to help.In addition to the ANSF-led shuras, the Tirzaye district Sub-Gov. Badshah led shuras for the people of Landar and Kadam villages, providing him the opportunity to hear their concerns and issues. "It was a unique opportunity to connect the govt to the people, to foster a better working relationship," Pearson said."One benefit of Op Steel Rain was Afghan forces being incorporated into the fight and being allowed to take the lead," Lorenzano said. ANSF forces were eager to take charge during the clearance and searching of homes, with U.S. forces acting as security and giving guidance when necessary."
“We saw an outstanding performance by the ANA and ABP,” Leard said. “They really did most of the work.” Pfc. Wade James, a rifleman for 2nd Plt., and a native of N.C., said that he noticed a marked change in the current abilities of the ANSF forces, compared to when the 2 units initially partnered up 10 months ago.
When his company first started partnering with the Afghan soldiers, James said, "the ANA soldiers weren’t very thorough when it came to clearing a house. During Steel Rain, however, the ANSF soldiers demonstrated a capability and thoroughness that showed significant improvement. They did very well,” James said. “I was just there to point out things to be cautious of.”“Our close partnership with the ANSF forces reinforced that ideal and ethic among them that we're standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them, fighting the enemy, reinforcing them, and giving them the assets and resources they need to be successful,” Pearson said.Sgt. Tyler Brummond, a squad leader with the 1st Bn, and a native of Wash., pulls security near a village in Tirzaye district. (Army photos by 2nd Lt. James Hodges)
Members of Viper Co set up a tactical satellite antenna used for long-range communications.
Lt. Col. Jesse Pearson, the bn. cmdr. of 1st Bn, and a native of Ill, speaks with village elders.
Afghan Border Patrol (ABP) soldiers search a villager trying to cross a checkpoint.
A Friendly Battle Between Forces in Kabul
KABUL – With the temps reaching a high of 82 degrees, crowds of Afghan locals packed the stands of HQ ISAF. The ANA and ISAF men’s soccer team battled it out with a grueling game of soccer [football], while Afghan locals danced and cheered for both teams.
Sixteen year old Hamid waved his country’s flag through the air with a great deal of pride as he watched the ISAF and ANA teams play together. Before the start of the game, Hamid tied his Afghan flag to a long wooden pole he found near his father’s bazaar stand. “This was my 4th time watching the ISAF team play my team,” said Hamid. “It feels good to see everyone working and playing together; it’s good for me and my country.”The ISAF soccer team knew going into this game that it would be tough to beat this skilled, highly trained ANA soccer team, but they continued to fight. “We knew they would be really good,” said Josh Temblador, a State Dept political officer, and native of N.Y. “They're young, in great shape, and well trained.”The 90 minute game was fast paced from beginning to end, with the ISAF team keeping with the fundamentals of the game. “This was a good game,” said Ali Wasir, mid fielder for ANA. “I enjoy each time we play the ISAF team, but this time it was different for me. They played us harder this time, more technical.”Despite the 5-0 loss for the ISAF team, the real mission was accomplished. “Today’s battle was one of building new friendships and strengthening relationships through a friendly game of soccer,” said British Army Capt. Keith Barber, ISAF’s soccer coach, and native of Northeast England. “We all came out and we all had fun together. “More games are scheduled to follow between the two forces. Games like this do not happen without the support of dedicated ISAF Morale and Welfare Activities staff members. “I would like to thank Schigo [Jorg Schigowski] and Steveo [Stephen Weaver] for their part in organizing this match,” said Barber. “This includes buying new football strips [uniform], new goal nets, and going all out to the extent of mowing the grass, and painting the lines on the pitch.”The ANA players and Afghan locals were very grateful that ISAF welcomed them with opened arms. “The ISAF team is great to play against,” said Haji Mohammad, ANA team captain. “I like that we get to play together on ISAF. I look forward to the next time I get to play against them.”At the end of the soccer game Col. Curtis Winstead, ISAF Base Support Group cmdr., presented players from both teams with ISAF t-shirts, and certificates of appreciation to commemorate the friendly battle between the two forces.A young Afghan boy waves a flag in the stands of the bleachers.
Coalition soldiers and soldiers of the ANA shake hands on the soccer field.
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DVIDS
Corps’ Largest Aircraft Depends on Small Team of Marines
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD -- The “K” in KC-130J Hercules signifies the Marine Corps aircraft’s ability to refuel other planes in midair. Refueling attack jets like the AV-8B Harrier while flying, increases tactical options for cmdrs. on the ground.
“In the case of the Harrier, we can provide them with the ability to stay in the air for nearly twice as long,” explained Staff Sgt. Frederick Wiseman, a KC-130J Hercules crewmaster, and native of Ky. “That means twice as much time to provide recon or close-air support for ground forces operating in the Helmand River valley.”
Cpl. Cody Deck a crewmaster with the 252nd, and a native of Okla., ensures that passengers and cargo are ready for take-off. Crewmasters are tasked with tending to cargo and passengers, and being the eyes and ears of the pilots conducting aerial resupply and refuel.
Sgt. Jon Lofthouse, a crewmaster with the 252nd, checks the ops of the KC-130J Hercules before flight. Lofthouse, from N.Y.C., is tasked with loading and unloading cargo and passengers, and being the eyes and ears of the pilots conducting aerial resupply and refuel.
Story photos by Pfc. Sean Dennison
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD -- Flying more than 10,000 feet above Afghanistan, Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier attack jets operate at levels outside the range of virtually any weapon in insurgent hands. At those altitudes, however, pilots face a different set of challenges: freezing temps and air too thin to breathe. Ensuring pilots are able to safely and confidently command aircraft in the sky comes from the support of a handful of Marines on the ground.
Marine Attack Sqdn 513’s (ALSS) div. has 2 different sets of Marines – those who ready the pilot’s flight equipment, and those who ready the Harrier itself, should a pilot need to eject. “In the div., as a whole, we guarantee that the pilot has proper equipment to fly and get in the jet. We also provide safe means of ejecting if needed,” explained Sgt. Steven Vladiff, 513th aviation safety equipment mechanic, and Ohio native.The role of the ALSS Marines is almost exclusively preventive. Because these Marines do their jobs, the jet’s cockpit is at a comfortable temp; the pilot has fresh oxygen to breathe, and he knows his safety equipment will work. “We allow the pilot to operate at altitudes above 10,000 feet, and keep him in a comfortable position,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Del Valle, the 513th ejection seat shop staff NCO-in-charge, and N.J. native. “If he’s too cold to think, he’s not going to be able to support the troops on the ground.”The Marine Corps relies on the short take-off, vertical landing AV-8B Harrier to provide close-air support for coalition troops in Helmand and Nimruz provs. Using guided bomb systems and other precision weapons, Harrier pilots are able to effectively quell insurgent fighting positions, vehicles and hideouts.In addition to ensuring that pilots are physically able to fight, the ALSS Marines also support the Harrier squadron by providing instruments for survival. The sqdn’s flight equipment techs provide pilots with tools to save their own lives if need be. The palette of survival tools includes flares, knives, parachutes, water and a radio. "The radio allows the pilot to talk to a search and rescue team," explained Cpl. Ryan Ledbetter, flight equipment tech with the sqdn., and an Ill. native. The gear is designed to allow a pilot to survive until help arrives.
“We deal with keeping pilots alive,” said GySgt. Christopher Gendron, the Harrier sqdn’s ALSS division chief, a native of N.J. “There's no backup system for us. Our stuff has to work the first time, every time.”
“Especially in a combat zone, you have to make sure everything is on key,” added Cpl. Riley Peel, a 513th flight equipment tech., and Ga. native. “It’s a different mindset out here, but with us, it’s always about saving lives.”Cpl. Joseph Aguon, a 513th ejection seat mechanic and a Guam native, closes the hatch on an AV-8B Harrier at Kandahar Airfield. Ejection seat mechanics support the squadron's ALSS div.
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ISAF Joint Command
South
HELMAND PROVINCE — A combined Afghan and coalition SecFor killed 2 insurgents during an op in search of a Taliban leader in Kajaki district. The leader is responsible for moving explosives and narcotics throughout the region. The SecFor confiscated multiple weapons and detained 5 additional suspected insurgents during the op.
----- A combined Afghan and coalition SecFor detained multiple suspected insurgents, during an op in search of a Taliban leader in Kajaki district. The leader conducts attacks against Afghan forces, and assists other Taliban leaders in executing direct fire and roadside bomb attacks throughout the area.
KANDAHAR PROVINCE -- In Ghorak district, a combined Afghan and coalition SecFor detained multiple suspected insurgents during a security op in search of a Taliban leader. The leader is directly involved with the planning and execution of attacks against Afghan forces. EastWARDAK PROVINCE -- In Chak-e Wardak district, a combined Afghan and coalition SecFor killed an insurgent during an op in search of a Taliban leader. The leader is responsible for the financial and logistical support of fighters in the region. Multiple suspected insurgents were detained. NANGARHAR PROVINCE -- A combined Afghan and coalition SecFor captured a Taliban facilitator and multiple other suspected insurgents in the Bati Kot district. The facilitator conducted attacks targeting Afghan forces, and served as a liaison between local fighters and senior Taliban leadership.PAKTIYA PROVINCE -- In Zurmat district, a combined Afghan and coalition SecFor detained 2 suspected insurgents, during an op in search of a Taliban leader. The leader constructs and stores roadside bombs and other weapons, and manages insurgent fighters, during attacks against Afghan forces in Zurmat and Gardez districts. Multiple weapons, to include AK-47 assault rifles, pistols and grenades, were confiscated.Soldiers from the 640th trained Iraqi personnel to not only operate and maintain the fuel vehicles, but also to conduct training for other Iraqis on operating and maintaining the HEMTTs. Staff Sgt. Rory Huerta is the NCO-in-charge of the training program. He explained the purpose of the training, and summarized what the 640th Soldiers are teaching the Iraqis in this course.
"They'll be receiving 4 to 6 of these HEMTTs, brand new," he said. "We need to make sure that they understand how to not just drive them, but conduct preventive maintenance and services on the vehicles, as well as fuel their vehicles and aircraft."
The training was an 80-hour block that was condensed to 40 hours. As the training progressed further, 640th Soldiers taught Iraqi personnel instructional techniques for training other Iraqi troops on the HEMTTs. Capt. Ali, the senior Iraqi officer in the class, was impressed with the training and its usefulness for Iraqi personnel. "The class is providing very good info for us," Ali said. "This experience will be good for the warrant officers, and the fueling specialists that I've worked with for 25 years."
The 640th is a California N.G. unit based in 4 cities in Southern California: Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Torrance and El Cajon. The bn's mission for the last 7 months has been to provide aviation ops support for the 40th CAB at a number of bases throughout Iraq. That support included repairing helicopters, providing security and fuel for the brigade, as well as supporting tactical communications at Camp Taji and 2 locations in northern Iraq.
The Iraqi personnel trained by A Co. will assume responsibility for services that American Soldiers provided while in theater. They'll take over the support of ops at the Taji Airfield, as well as the full base ops.
Lt. Col. Lou Carmona, bn. cmdr. of the 640th ASB, delivered a speech during the graduation ceremony at the conclusion of the training. He emphasized his pride in the outstanding manner in which A Co. accomplished its mission, as well as the importance of the training for the ISF.
"At the end of the day, my Soldiers were able to connect with the Iraqis," Carmona later said. "This equipment is an important capability for the IA - it represents the ability to project aviation into parts of the country, where little or no infrastructure exists."
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