National Guard Soldiers Patrol Qarabagh

2 July 07
By Sgt. Jim Wilt
CJTF-82 PAO.

QARABAGH, Afghanistan - “Get down! Get down! Get down!,” yelled Air Force Master Sgt. Jason Davis, an explosive ordnance disposal technician, seconds before shrapnel started raining down on the Soldiers and bouncing off their Humvee.

A day earlier, if not for the warning of a local farmer, the Soldiers’ truck would have struck the double-stacked antitank mine.

The warning enabled the Soldiers to stop before they hit the mine and safely dispose of it, possibly saving their lives and the lives of farmers and children working in the area. Soldiers from Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Brigade, Kentucky National Guard, were conducting a mounted presence patrol in a village outside of Qarabagh when they were warned about mines in the area, June 14.

“[God is] watching over us,” said Spc. Greg A. Race, an artilleryman with Battery A.

Unfortunately for the convoy coming to destroy the mines, they didn’t receive the same warning before they hit a mine on the same road less than a kilometer from the halted patrol. The troopers credit the farmer with keeping a bad situation from getting worse.

“Most likely we would have hit that one and they would have hit the other one when they came in to get us,” said Race, a native of Piner, Ky. It also shows the impact the troopers are having in an area where people have been scared into silence by the Taliban. “A farmer stopping and telling you there is something in the road shows we’re having an effect on the area,” Race said.

The Guardsmen have been patrolling in the area since they arrived in March. Their squad leader, Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Linneman, said they had patrolled the same road just days earlier. The artillery unit, which is acting as military policemen, has been conducting mounted patrols because “more people see you out and about in the area,” Race said.

Most of the Soldiers in the unit prefer a mounted patrol despite the dangers of mines and improvised explosive devices. “The armor [on the trucks] works,” said Spc. Steven M. LaFever, a track mechanic and native of Louisville, Ky. Race also sees several advantages to having vehicles during patrols such as having armor, crew-served weapons, and the ability to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time. “We cover more ground,” he said. “We see a lot more faces.”

Though the men of Battery A have vehicles, they don’t always use them. They are not afraid to get out of the armor and put a little wear on their boots. During their mounted patrols they stop to talk with the people, investigate suspicious activity and check on reconstruction projects in the area.

“I pray every time I go out. I pray every night when I lie down,” Race said. Whether mounted or dismounted, Race sees risk. “I’m a big believer [that] if it’s your time, it’s your time,” he said. “I’ve been like that forever.”

Photo - Sgt. Paul L. Wilkerson, a forward observer with Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Regiment, Kentucky National Guard, pulls security at a school in Mushkay, Afghanistan, June 15. The unit stopped there during a mounted patrol in the Ghazni province. Wilkerson is a native of Lexington, Ky. Photo by Sgt. Jim Wilt.

Afghan police chief earns Soldier’s respect

2 Jul 07
By Sgt. Jim Wilt
CJTF-82 PAO.

QARABAGH, Afghanistan - It is often said respect is earned not given. In the Army, it is one of the seven Army Values. Respect between fellow Soldiers is a critical part of military operations.

For one Soldier in Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Brigade, Kentucky National Guard, the respect he has for his Afghan National Police counterpart has blossomed into near brotherhood.

"We’re just like brothers," said Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Linneman, a squad leader in Bty. A, 2nd Bn., 138th FAB. "The only difference between us is the language."

Linneman, who arrived in Afghanistan in March, quickly became friends with the Qarabagh District Police Chief, Col. Abdul Shokor. The friendship is built on mutual respect. Respect between the two and respect between the men who follow them. Both Linneman, a Florence, Ky. native, and Shokor, a resident of Kabul, have more than their respect in common.

"They’re like two peas in a pod," said Army Sgt. Paul Wilkerson, a forward observer in Bat. A. Both men are leaders, both are 51 years old and both fight against the Taliban. "Taliban sabat," is a common phrase heard between the two. The phrase means "Taliban tomorrow."

["The ANP] get disappointed if we don’t find them," Linneman said. The troopers of Bat. A work hand in hand with the ANP, Linneman said. "I love taking them out on patrol with us," he said. Linneman said he believes in working beside them, not in front of or behind them.

"[Shokor] is pretty gutsy," Wilkerson said. "He gets out with us and dismounts with us." Who is in charge of the men is a non-issue between them, Linneman said. They both are. "What ever chief says goes. What ever I say goes," he said.

Linneman has good reason to share the decision making process. He understands there are aspects of Afghanistan that he can never grasp as well as Shokor. "This is [Shokor’s] backyard," Linneman said.

Linneman’s respect for Shokor is partially based on Shokor’s war fighting experience which is reflected in the five scars on his body from bullets and shrapnel. Shokor said when he was younger he woke up one day to tanks in his town. Shortly after, he started fighting the Soviet Union in Khandahar province as a mujahedeen in a war that would leave the Russians defeated and the country of Afghanistan fractured.

Shokor said he began to fight because he didn’t believe in the ideas the Russians had for the country. After the defeat of the Russians, Shokor soon found himself fighting the Taliban. Today, he is still fighting the Taliban but now at the side of U.S.-led coalition forces.

"It is our country, we should work for the country," the police chief said. "As a police chief, it is my job to provide security for civilians." Shokor’s need to help the people of his district and his men is evident to the Soldiers who work under him. "He seems like a pretty respectable guy. He takes care of his men," Wilkerson said. "He does what he can to help the people in his district," he added.

Shokor spends most of his time at the district center. He said he sees his wife and eight children for only two days every two to three weeks, the rest of the time he is here.

The respect Linneman and his men show Shokor is mirrored in the respect the squad leader receives from the "chief" and his men. When the Afghan policemen are looking for Linneman, they want to know where the "commandant" or "grandfather" is. "Grandfather" isn’t a shot at the skinny, grey-haired staff sergeant’s age. It is a term of respect. It means Linneman is a good man.

The Soldiers and policemen the two lead have also formed their own bonds between themselves. Despite a language barrier, jokes and friendship pass between the men. In the evenings, food is exchanged between the two groups and a friendly game of volleyball is played.

While the two leaders may consider themselves brothers, the two groups of men, one from Kentucky, the other from various parts of Afghanistan, form one big family.

Photo - Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Linneman, a squad leader in Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Regiment, Kentucky National Guard, talks with Qarabagh District Police Chief, Col. Abdul Shokor during a joint U.S. and Afghan formation at the Qarabagh District Center in Ghazni province, Afghanistan. Photo by Sgt. Jim Wilt.

Changing lives one mission at a time

24 Jun 07
By Air Force Staff Sgt. Craig Seals
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The C-130 is one of many different types of aircraft stationed here, but could easily be called one of the most versatile.

The members of the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron put that versatility to the test every day. The three primary missions of the C-130s here are airdrop, air-land and aeromedical evacuation.

"Our airdrop missions can be anything from dropping pamphlets to the locals to humanitarian drops such as water, blankets, food and firewood in the winter, ammunition and troop re-supplies," said Senior Airman Patrick Keefe, 774th EAS loadmaster. "Air-land missions consist of troop movements or hauling cargo."

The multitude of missions doesn't limit the aircrew to only one mission type per flight though. Most of the time, their missions are any combination of the three. An aeromedical evacuation mission might be coupled with 15 Soldiers needing to get to a forward operating base while making a stop somewhere else to drop off a palette of supplies.

It's this type of versatility that makes the C-130 one of the most valuable aircraft in the theater. But not all of these missions are as easy as they seem.

"Each mission has a different type of danger, which means that each of us have to be on our A-game each and every day," said Air Force Capt.

John Malley, 774th EAS pilot. "It also depends on where we are going. If we know an area is hot, we know that there is that much more possibility we could get engaged."

Danger aside, the crews have a special sense of pride knowing the supplies and service they bring to the fight.

"I'm proud to be an American and happy to fight the good fight," said Malley. "We're [going to] win this thing and it's only a matter of time.

I'm hoping that every airdrop, air-land and aeromedical evacuation mission contributes positively to our efforts here in Afghanistan."

However, that sense of pride is evident in more than just the C-130 crews.

"With hauling cargo and personnel all over this country, I have been able to see the improvements this country has made," said Keefe. "The people have a feeling of importance now, which was evident in a recent election when they voted a woman in as minister of education. Things like this never would have happened under the Taliban."

Seeing a change for the better in the local people and the faces of the servicemembers they transport puts things in perspective for the crew.

"The most fulfilling part of my job is knowing that we're helping get wounded Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines out of harm's way and getting them to locations where they can get the medical attention they need," said Malley. "And getting those troops on the frontlines what they need when they need it, that's worth it."

Photo - Senior Airman Patrick Keefe (far right), 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron loadmaster, directs a forklift carrying passenger luggage into the cargo area of a C-130 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Keefe is deployed from Wyoming's Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Craig Seals.

Battle Company Makes Presence Known

18-Jun-07
By Army Sgt. Brandon Aird
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Public Affairs.

KORENGAL VALLEY, Afghanistan — The paratroopers were keen for the mission despite their rough conditions. The difference between a tan line and dirty skin has long since passed. Bites from sand fleas and mosquitoes just add to the problem. Electricity, toilets and running water (a 45 minute patrol away) are long forgotten conveniences.

The paratroopers are Sky soldiers from Battle Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.

For the last month, 2nd Platoon and a platoon from the Afghan National Army have been operating out of Firebase Phoenix — the southern most firebase in the Korengal Valley, which is located in Afghanistan’s Kunar province.

The living conditions for the soldiers are the least of their problems. The Korengal Valley is a support area for Taliban extremists.

“The towns here are neutral at best,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Mathew Piosa, 2nd Platoon leader, “In the last eight days we’ve had five (enemy) contacts.”

Within days of interviewing, Piosa his platoon had two more enemy engagements- one being a coordinated ambush.

“We take steps to prevent the enemy from having the upper hand,” explained Piosa.

Even with precautions soldiers still get hurt. During a night patrol, June 5, Army Pfc. Timothy Vimoto was killed during an ambush by insurgents.

The platoon has not allowed the loss to deter them and they continue to conduct reconnaissance, counter improvised explosive device and security patrols daily.

When the platoon isn’t out on patrols they pass their time by improving individual soldier skills to improve their combat capability.

“We’ve had classes on all the weapons out here (on site) and today were training on the LLDR (Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder),” said Army Pfc. Sterling Dunn, 2nd Platoon.

Even though the LLDR is used for indirect fire support, it is also being used to scan for enemy personnel, said Piosa.

Battle Company is working to improve the situation for 2nd Platoon by getting a generator to Firebase Phoenix.

For now, 2nd Platoon is going to have to make due with what they have, said Army Pfc. Matthew Moreno, a paratrooper in 2nd Platoon.

Second Platoon plans to stay in the area to help the Afghan people for the next 15 months until they are relieved by coalition forces or the ANA.

Photo - U.S. Army Pfc. Mathew Moreno, 2nd Platoon, Battle Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), looks through a Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder at Firebase Phoenix in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, June 10, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Brandon Aird.

Engineers Conduct Officer Professional Development, in Theater Operations

By Army 1st Lt. Kenya V. Saenz
Task Force Pacemaker Public Affairs Office.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Combat Engineer officers conducted a professional development exercise to enhance their knowledge of Afghanistan’s and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s histories.

The Fort Lewis, Wash., based 864th Engineers got a chance to see some of the current Afghan Engineer District projects, as well as the overall mission of the Corps of Engineers.

“Our mission is to conduct construction and engineering operations in Afghanistan to facilitate the establishment of a secure and stable environment, while promoting reconstitution and infrastructure development,” said Army Col. William E. Bulen, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Afghanistan Engineer District, in his briefing to the officers.

The officers went to Kabul to study and reflect on the first Afghan-Anglo war during the 1840s. Army Lt. Col. Mark Deschenes, commander of Task Force Pacemaker, analyzed the battle in Bala Hissar, which according to Wikipedia was the site of some of the bloodiest fighting between Afghan and British forces, demonstrating its significance to Afghanistan and its relative parallels to today’s struggle. The Pacemakers also visited the Bala Hissar site to further analyze the fortress’ structural engineering and the events of the war.

“Taking into consideration the length of deployments today, we spend more time deployed than at home station,” said Deschenes. “It is critical to execute officer professional development; it’s an opportunity to grow as leaders and to empower subordinates as they step up and take charge.”

Photo - Kristi L. Acuff, quality control engineer for the Afghan Engineer distrtict, briefs soldiers about the quality assurance of a project from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Photo by 1st Lt. Kenya V. Saenz.

Leaders, Wounded Warriors Celebrate Army Birthday at WRAMC

13-Jun-07
by Bernard S. Little
Army News Service.

WASHINGTON - Walter Reed Army Medical Center joined installations and commands worldwide this week in celebrating the Army's 232nd birthday with a cake-cutting ceremony Tuesday in the hospital's Heaton Pavilion.

Acting Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, acting U.S. Army Surgeon Gen. Maj. Gen. Gale Pollock and Sgt. Maj. Of the Army Kenneth O. Preston attended the celebration honoring those who answered the "Call to Duty - Boots on the Ground - Army Strong," this year's Army birthday theme.

Maj. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, commanding general of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command and WRAMC, said medics have been a part of the Army for almost its entire existence, pointing out that about a month after the Continental Congress established an Army to defend the colonies, a medical service was created for care for the 20,000-member Continental Army.

"We've had our boots on the ground as Soldiers almost since our inception as a defender of America's freedoms," Maj. Gen. Schoomaker said. "It's also fitting to celebrate at the place where our first mission is to put warriors back on their feet to return to the fighting force and resume their lives."

Walter Reed has treated nearly 6,000 patients from Operation Iraqi Freedom since the war began. More than 2,000 of those troops were injured in battle. Walter Reed has also treated nearly 550 patients from Operation Enduring Freedom, and more than 180 of those troops were injured in battle.

Maj. Gen. Schoomaker spoke of attending the funeral last year of Cpl. Angelo Vaccaro, a medic killed while serving with the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan. "Only days after a major enemy encounter, during which he performed courageously saving many lives, Soldiers from his unit once again came under major enemy fire suffering several casualties." Cpl. Vaccaro volunteered to evacuate the injured while the battle continued, and was killed by enemy fire.

"His sacrifice and call to duty will not be forgotten," Maj. Gen. Schoomaker said of Cpl. Vaccaro.

Walter Reed's Warrior Transition Brigade headquarters will be named after Cpl. Vaccaro later this year.

SMA Preston agreed that birthdays provide a special time to reflect. "As we reflect back on the Army's history we see our nation's history. There are 178 streamers on the Army flag. Each one represents critical events in the history of our Army, nation and world. These critical events represent sacrifices by Soldiers. They not only sacrificed themselves, but they were there to save the day," he said.

The SMA spoke of Sgt. Maj. Brent Jorgensen, who was injured in Iraq but recovered and redeployed. He was injured again when the vehicle he was riding in was hit by two rocket-propelled grenades. Then a first sergeant, he suffered a severe head injury, wounded right knee and left leg amputation at the knee. His driver was killed.

During Sgt. Maj. Jorgensen's recovery, he was selected for promotion to sergeant major and to attend the Sergeants Major Academy. "Two weeks ago, I handed him his diploma as he walked across the stage. He was the first-ever amputee to attend the academy and graduate. He will soon be the sergeant major for the Army's Wounded Warrior Program and report to Walter Reed in July.

"These are incredible stories of the spirit of the American Soldier and a testament to the efforts of Army health-care professionals," SMA Preston said.

Sec. Geren said much as changed since the Army's birth on June 14, 1775, including technology, uniforms and medicine. "But one thing has not changed - the centerpiece of the Army and our nation's defense - the Soldier."

Photo - Installations and commands worldwide are celebrating the Army's 232nd birthday this week. Shown here is the sword presented to Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston to cut a cake at a ceremony at the U.S. Senate June 12. Photo by Staff Sgt. Christina M. O'Connell.

ANA aviators partner with U.S. counterparts

9-Jun-07
By Sgt. 1st Class Krishna M. Gamble
82nd Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Two Afghan National Army Air Corps Mi-17 “Hip” helicopters pilots, a crew chief and a flight engineer accompanied Chinook crews from Company B, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade on a recent re-supply mission to observe how the Army executes combat missions June 5.

ANA Air Corps Maj. Bakhtullah and ANA 1st Lt. Ahsanullah flew with Chief Warrant Officers Wade Boynton and James Woolley and crews as they delivered mail and supplies to various locations between Bagram Airfield and the Pech River Valley of Northern Afghanistan.

“We’re taking them out to look at how we train our pilots,” said Boynton, standardization instructor pilot

“We are very pleased and honored to be here and [to be] trained by the 82nd [CAB],” said Bakhtullah, who has been a pilot for more than 25 years.

The ANA Air Corps visit with the 82nd CAB marked the next phase of building an aviation partnership that began with the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Drum, N.Y. ANA Brig. Gen. Mohammed Barat and members of his staff met with 10th Mt. CAB commander Army Col. Michael Rose to find ways U.S. and Afghan aviators can work together in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

“This is a big milestone for the ANA Air Corps,” said Air Force Maj. Jim Garvey, intelligence officer and embedded mentor for the Air Corps Advisory Group accompanying the Afghan aviators. “To see the Army aviators in action is very, very helpful and an excellent tool for the ANA Air Corps to benchmark.”

In addition to the flight, the ANA Air Corps servicemembers participated in working groups on aviation safety, standards, tactical operations and intelligence.

“Safety and maintenance are the two most important aspects to consider [before] flying operations missions,” said Army Maj. Christopher Downey, 82nd CAB operations officer. “Preparation on the ground makes the mission successful in the air.”

“I explained to them the concept of composite risk management – thinking of everything that could go wrong, from the enemy, the terrain, the aircraft, weather, personnel; how bad it would be and ways to control or stop it,” said Army Staff Sgt. Jason Estaphan, 82nd CAB safety NCO.

“[There are] a lot of differences in this training [than what we had received.] [There was no] attention to safety for the helicopter pilots or crew members,” Bakhtullah said. “Now we see how they [U.S. aviators] pay a lot of attention to safety for aircraft and crew.”

“They are great pilots who have been flying a long time,” Garvey said. “They are eager to learn and because of this training by the U.S. Army, the ANA Air Corps will grow by leaps and bounds.”

With just a little over a year in operation, the ANA Air Corps is still being built. In April 2006, the arrival of an 18-person team to Bagram marked the first assignment of Afghan aviators in more than 15 years. Many of the pilots and crew members served here previously but left during Afghanistan’s civil war in the 1990s.

“In the two days we have learned a lot and will take back to Kabul and train the others,” Bakhtullah said. “But this is not the end of training. There are many pilots in Kabul and the best for them to be trained is here. The Coalition forces have helped us in many situations and now they are helping us again with our training and our systems.”

Photo - CH-47 Chinook crew chief, Spc. Eddy Rivera, from Company B, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Combat Brigade briefs Afghan National Army Air Corps members prior to boarding the aircraft. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Krishna M. Gamble.

Khowst PRT Winning the Fight in Afghanistan

May 30, 2007
BY Pfc. Micah E. Clare
4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - Less than 10 miles from training camps that produced many of the 9/11 hijackers, a team of coalition servicemembers are working together to make sure the area once home to Osama Bin Laden's terrorist organization becomes an environment that will deny such people a support base ever again.

But for this joint service team spearheading the fight against terrorism in Eastern Afghanistan's, Khowst province doesn't involve executing tactical military operations but in providing reconstruction assistance.

The Khowst Provincial Reconstruction Team, based in Forward Operating Base Chapman near Khowst City, serves as the main effort in rebuilding Khowst province by distributing humanitarian aid, mentoring local government officials, planning for construction projects and providing security for important events, said Navy Cmdr. Dave Adams, commander of the Khowst PRT.

"We're a reconstruction organization with a military arm," Cmdr. Adams said. PRTs were established in Afghanistan when it was realized in 2003 that units needed to focus on winning the security fight, and a separate military organization was required to head up the badly needed reconstruction efforts. The Navy and Air Force answered the call and stepped up to assist, explained Cmdr. Adams, a submarine officer of 21 years who volunteered for this command.

A team of military advisors, United States Agency for International Development and Department of State officials, joined together as a PRT; a board of directors working to synchronize their efforts and resources. The Khowst PRT has brought assistance to the province in the past few years by sending its Army Civil Affairs teams to live in local communities to send back updates on area needs. Many construction projects such as irrigation systems, diversion dams, wells, schools, and roads have been set into motion by the PRT in this way, Cmdr. Adams said.

"These projects serve not only to improve the quality of life for the residents, but also to put shovels in the people's hands, providing them with jobs," he said. A big part in bringing these quality of life improvements to Khowst is the necessity for security, he said. This is where the PRT security force comes in, typically provided by the Army National Guard.

"Good security is vital for the PRT's mission to be successful," said 2nd Lt. Cory Marr, platoon leader for 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, Arizona National Guard, who provides security and maneuver support to the Khowst PRT. The security is beginning to take care of itself, he said. The overall security in Khowst has improved greatly, which is the result of locals seeing the many improvements that have come in the past year, the fruit of their efforts in securing a safe environment. This has allowed the PRT to extend its reach, he explained.

"There's no place we're afraid to go," 2nd Lt. Marr said. "We work with the Afghan National Security Forces and get plenty of intelligence from the locals. For instance, we stop at police checkpoints as we enter an area, and they update us on the local situation. We always have a good understanding of the areas we're going into." "In some of the more remote places we go, the locals have become extremely helpful to us," said Spc. Doug Schletz, an infantryman in 2nd Plt. "They used to look at us like we were aliens, but recently they've seen what we're here to do for them, like seeing us helping the ANSF provide security for many of their events."

This increased security is so successful, international reconstruction agencies and foreign investors that have in the past shieded away from helping Afghanistan due to safety concerns are being drawn back, Cmdr. Adams said. Recently, a delegation from the United Arab Emirates arrived in Khowst City to visit projects they have invested in, such as the city university and main mosque. Cmdr. Adams was able to confidently assure the delegates that any future projects built by their country would be safe in Khowst.

"Security here is stronger than ever," he said to UAE representatives during a meeting at the provincial governor's compound in Khowst. "The Taliban no longer have a foothold here. The ANSF can protect anything built here by the U.S. or the UAE." This is a big step forward in winning the fight in Afghanistan, the commander said. "We're helping the Afghans create something for themselves that the Taliban couldn't: a safe environment, a growing economy and an increasing standard of living," he said.

"This is a terrific mission we can all be proud of," he said. "By helping the Afghans permanently cast off the tyranny the enemy brought to them and to us, we're providing hope to them and their children, and for us and our children."

Photo - A convoy from the Khowst Provincial Reconstruction Team visits a district center in the Spera district of Khowst province, Afghanistan to assess the area's security situation. Photo by Pfc. Micah E. Clare.

C-17 employs 'screamer' in combat airdrop

24-May-2007
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs Office.

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFPN) - A C-17 Globemaster III deployed to Southwest Asia conducted the first C-17 combat airdrop May 24 using the Joint Precision Airdrop System with a screamer. Screamers are steerable GPS-guided container delivery system bundles.

The mission was also unique because it conducted airdrops in two locations using two types of delivery systems. The drops delivered food, water and ammunition to U.S. forces in two remote locations in Afghanistan. The crew first delivered about 21,000 pounds of supplies using 14 of the JPADS steerable screamer chutes. It then resupplied a different group of ground forces with more than 8,000 pounds of supplies using six Improved Container Delivery System bundles.

The benefit of the C-17 is that it can carry about 40 container delivery system bundles and drop at multiple locations during a single sortie, said Lt. Col. Paul Eberhart, the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron commander.

JPADS has been operational on C-130 Hercules and C-17s in theater for about eight months. Until now, C-17s only used the JPADS mission software to support drops using the ICDS.

The JPADS mission software computes a release point based on a four-dimensional forecast wind model and the actual wind data relayed to the aircraft. The data is then sent via wireless transfer to GPS receivers located on the top of each CDS bundle. Each bundle has GPS-guided autonomous actuators mounted at the top that steer the chute while it drops at 100 mph to a point above the drop zone. A larger parachute then deploys to slow the descent rate, allowing for a soft touchdown of the bundle directly over the drop zone.

Officials said using steerable chutes allows guaranteed accuracy for ground forces while keeping the aircraft at high altitudes and away from ground threats.

"This type of airdrop demonstrates the versatility of the C-17 aerial delivery system," said Lt. Col. Fred Boehm, an 816th EAS operations officer.

When the eight-member crew from the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., was notified about the drop, it began planning the mission, said C-17 loadmaster Tech. Sgt. Gary Kleinfeldt.

"This isn't a mission planned by one unit. We worked closely with planners at the combined air operations center's air mobility division, joint airdrop inspectors at the 774th EAS, and parachute riggers at the 11th Quartermaster Detachment at Bagram Air Base," said Maj. Kevin Peterson, the aircraft commander. "It was a total joint effort to make these drops happen."

"The system was amazing to watch," said Staff Sgt. Derek Howard, the crew's evaluator loadmaster. "When the bundles departed the aircraft and the chutes deployed, you could instantly see them turning in what appeared to be a formation as the guidance system began steering the bundle directly over the drop zone."

"This capability was first used by C-130s in theater," said Colonel Eberhart.

The 816th EAS has been using the JPADS software with ICDS for some time. But the mission May 24 was the first combat airdrop using screamer chutes, expanding C-17 employment capabilities to include the use of true precision vertical resupply.

Photo - Staff Sgt. Derek Howard watches six container delivery system supply bundles as they parachute from a C-17 Globemaster III to the ground over Afghanistan May 24. The C-17 employed the Joint Precision Airdrop System in combination with the Improved Container Delivery System to increase accuracy of airdrops. The ICDS airdrops provide resupply to forward operating locations in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Sergeant Howard is from the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Gary Kleinfeldt).

Bush, Scheffer Discuss NATO Issues in Texas Meeting

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service.

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2007 – NATO operations in Afghanistan, transformation of the alliance and missile defense in Europe topped the agenda as President Bush met with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Crawford, Texas, today.

Bush called Scheffer a strong advocate for fighting terror, spreading freedom, helping the oppressed and modernizing NATO. The two men held a joint news conference at the Bush ranch.

Afghanistan dominated the discussions. NATO forces are helping provide security to a nation of 25 million. Afghanistan was a haven for al Qaeda, and Taliban terrorists want to regain control. Bush thanked the secretary-general for ensuring that NATO commanders have the forces they need to defeat the Taliban extremists.

“I pledged to the secretary-general, we'll work with our NATO allies to convince them that they must share more of the burden and must all share the risks in meeting our goal,” the president said.

Scheffer stressed the moral aspect of the operations in Afghanistan.

“Afghanistan is still one of the front lines in our fight against terrorism,” he said. “And it is my strong conviction that that front line should not become a fault line.”

Some have criticized NATO for excessive civilian casualties resulting from its operations. “I know and you know that at any price NATO forces and coalition forces will try to avoid civilian casualties,” Scheffer said. “We'll do that, and we'll look very seriously into that.”

“But let me tell you one thing,” he continued. “We are not in the same moral category as our opponents, as the Taliban in Afghanistan. We don't behead people, we don't burn schools, we don't kill teachers, we don't plant roadside bombs, we don't send in suicide bombers. And if we talk about innocent Afghan civilians, yes, dramatically the result of our military actions could be that civilians -- innocent civilians -- are killed. But look at the number of Afghan civilians killed by the Taliban and by our opposing forces. In brief, we are not in the same moral category there, and that's, I think, a very important mission.”

Bush said Afghanistan requires more than simple military force. He and the secretary-general discussed a long-term comprehensive strategy to help strengthen Afghanistan's democratic institutions and to help create economic opportunities that will help the country survive and thrive.

NATO has grown well beyond its roots as a Cold War institution, Bush said. The alliance needs to continue to change to handle the security threats of the 21st century. “We talked about the need to have more special operations forces and strategic airlift capabilities,” he said.

Bush and Scheffer spoke about NATO enlargement and looked ahead to the 2008 NATO Summit in Bucharest.

“I pledged to the secretary-general that I'll work with nations that are interested in becoming a part of NATO over the next year to make sure they meet the requirements necessary for a country to be accepted into NATO,” he said.

Bush said that many nations in NATO recognize the ballistic missile threat from rogue states. “I appreciate the fact that the secretary-general agrees that U.S. missile defense plans complement NATO efforts to keep all nations safe from attack,” he said. Bush also said he will use the NATO forum to continue to reach out to Russia.

Teamwork brings humanitarian aid to Paruns

21 May 2007
By Army Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

PARUNS, Afghanistan - Servicemembers of Operation Ice Axe conducted a medical engagement in the remote Paruni village of Mondi May 4-5.

Operation Ice Axe included units from the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team; Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment; U.S. Special Forces Soldiers and the Asadabad PRT.

“Our mission here in Nuristan is to extend the reach of Coalition forces,” said Army Maj. Thomas B. Gukeisen, 1-32 Inf. Regt. executive officer.

“We’re establishing a provincial development council for the first time in Nuristan with assistance from the Nuristan PRT,” Gukeisen said.

The medical engagement is seen as part of a larger effort to gain popular support and to assist Tamim Nouristani, governor of Nuristan province.

Gukeisen said the engagement treated approximately 300 people the first day, to include 75 women and children.

“Our mission here is to give medical assistance to the women and children and win the hearts and minds of the local people,” said Spc. Ashley Brown, a medic based out of Camp Blessing.

Scores of Paruni people stood patiently in line to get medical care as their children played with the toys from the Humanitarian Aid packages that were handed out at the site.

“They were really appreciative,” said a U.S. interpreter originally from Kandahar who called herself Farita. “They really needed a lot of help. All the people I spoke to want us to come back. They’re really looking forward to having Coalition forces here.”

Supplies were delivered using Containerized Delivery System drops. Two such drops were conducted during Operation Ice Axe.

“We did a drop the other day that ended up in the mountains,” said Sgt. 1st Class John P. Rome, mortar platoon sergeant and one of six pathfinder-qualified individuals in the battalion.

Rome and 2nd Platoon Charlie Company, 1-32 Inf., led the community-wide effort to recover the lost pallets of HA supplies.

“The interesting thing about it is all the towns and all the locals came forward with donkeys and horses and it was a community effort to come together to recover the CDS,” Gukeisen said.

The pallets dropped from the C-130 were difficult to find in the heavily-wooded mountains at 8,000 feet above sea level where oxygen is thin. Fatigue slowed down the entire process. The amount of effort taken to get the packages to their intended destination was considerable, but the teamwork between the local community, the Soldiers of 1-32 Inf. Regt. and the Air Force made the mission a success.

Photo: Navy Lt. Cmdr. William C. Ashby, physicians assistant and medical officer for Nuristan PRT, treats a local Afghan May 4 in the Mondi village during the medical engagement.

Airmen mentor Afghan depot personnel

16 May 2007
By Staff Sgt. Carlos Diaz
U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan (AFPN) -- Airmen stationed here supporting Operation Enduring Freedom are taking the time to mentor Afghan national army soldiers at the Central Maintenance Depot in Kabul.

Serving a one-year deployment, the Air Force mentors are embedded training team members supporting the Central Maintenance Depot's mission -- providing a storage place for the ANA's military supplies that is key for their sustainment level.

The depot is paramount to the ANA's ability to provide combat power, and when the Air Force team arrived, the compound was in austere, run-down conditions.

"This place was in dire need of basic, essential supplies," said Staff Sgt. Falsen Cambre, a weapons embedded training team mentor. "The buildings had no plumbing, electricity or windows. We began supplying them with the basics needed to accomplish the mission."

Some of the depot's 140-year-old buildings house large machines that manufacture vehicle and weapon parts.

"We've given the buildings a 100-year upgrade," said Maj. Jim Wood, a facilities mentor. "We've repaired walls, both structurally and cosmetically, added windows, doors, roofing and electrical capabilities."

The massive facelift did not go unnoticed.

"I'm so impressed how the (embedded training team) always pays attention to cleanliness and order," said ANA Col. Mohammad Usman, the deputy commander at the Central Maintenance Depot.

With time, patience and effort, the mentors have established and fostered a good working relationship with their ANA counterparts.

"They are very friendly and I've enjoyed our effective relationship," Colonel Usman said. "They have increased my leadership experience."

Helping to implement new safety practices was Senior Master Sgt. Bill Cole.

"Our team often stresses safety," the embedded training team member said. "Safety is, without a doubt, our No. 1 priority."

All manufacturing machines are cleaned and maintained to remain in proper working order. The team also designed a slogan, "People first, mission ready" to drive the safety message home. A large board was created to display this message and other important themes and proven safety practices.

"I'm impressed by this concept," said Lt. Col. Mohammad Asif, the machine shop chief. "A safe environment will provide the workers with the opportunity to produce good work."

"We're making a significant difference here," Major Wood said. "Several projects have enhanced the depot's ability to perform its important mission."

After constant use, weapons tend to break down. When that happens, they go to the depot for repair and maintenance. Once repaired, they must be tested for effectiveness.

This was when Major Wood and Sergeant Cambre's ingenuity was called to order. After reading through Air Force instructions, they synchronized their ideas to build a test firing range.

"This allows (the ANA) to test the weapons in a safe environment," Sergeant Cambre said. "This was a great team accomplishment and I'm happy they have a good firing range."

Whether it's a new firing range, buildings or supplies, the Airmen mentors left a mark on their ANA brethren's commitment to duty.

"I like being a part of the order established in our country and military," Colonel Usman said.

Photo: Staff Sgt. Falsen Cambre talks with Afghan national army weapon repair soldiers about logistical issues at the central maintenance depot in Kabul, Afghanistan. Airmen are mentoring ANA soldiers by establishing a process that helps improve the ANA's logistical capabilities. Sergeant Cambre is an embedded training team member assigned to Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan. U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cecilio M. Ricardo Jr.

Hard work creates progress in border provinces

May 16, 2007
By Army Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

PARUNS, Afghanistan – Travel far enough into Afghanistan and you’ll find independent-minded people, confident in their attitudes and behaviors. Tribesmen here brandish Rocket Propelled Grenades and Kalashnikov rifles unlike the unarmed Afghans in the more urban areas.

The Korengal Outpost in the border Province of Kunar, has been a contentious region between these independent-minded people and Coalition forces and therefore serves as part of Afghanistan’s front lines against enemy insurgents.

The elder tribesmen from the Korengal Valley met for peace talks with Coalition leaders and Nuristan Gov. Tamim Nouristani at his compound in the Paruns Valley May 3.

“The Korengal Valley [elders, whose home] is enemy central for Kunar Province, where we’ve been doing most our fighting for the last 14 months now, have decided they want a third party outside of Kunar Province to talk their problems down,” said Army Capt. David W. Mayfield, Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander of 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment. “They trust Governor Nouristani to be that third-party element to help them solve that problem.”

Nouristani’s family is from Nuristan, but he was educated in the U.S. and owns a pizza restaurant chain there, Mayfield said.

“It’s going pretty good. Nuristan is pretty lucky having Governor Nouristani,” Mayfield said. “He came back to Afghanistan several years ago, was appointed as governor of Nuristan Province and he’s been working diligently ever since.”

Negotiations are going well in part because of the great amounts of hard work being done by Coalition troops on the ground that leaves the enemy with little alternative but to come to the negotiating table.

“We’ve been shot at 50 to 100 times. But our platoon has been really lucky,” said Army Spc. John K. Anderson, 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1-32 Inf. Rgt, from Flat Rock, Ala. “We haven’t had any kind of casualties besides our platoon sergeant (Sfc. Lopez) who got some shrapnel from a bullet jacket, but he’s fine now.”

“I’ve been in the army for three years. This is my first time to Afghanistan, first time getting deployed. I’ve been here since [last] March,” Anderson said.

When not on the front lines standing guard at the Korengal Outpost or out on foot patrols all around Kunar Province, Anderson and his platoon are hiking the mountains of Afghanistan retrieving lost Humanitarian Assistance drop packages or pulling security for a medical engagement.

“There for a while, we pulled security for the engineers then we started doing missions out of it which was a lot of walking. When you look at it on a map it doesn’t look like that much, maybe a ‘click’ (kilometer) or two. But look at your range and it’s straight up and straight down,” Anderson said.

Forward Operating Base Fenty is Afghanistan’s eastern gate. From there, Soldiers and a handful of sailors and airmen travel to the provincial reconstruction teams and other FOBs. Travel to the PRTs and FOBs is done by armored convoy or helicopter.

Anderson and his unit worked side-by-side with the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police to provide security for the peace summit at the governor’s compound.

“It’s been a long day of work,” said Navy Cmdr. Samuel Paparo, commander of the Nuristan PRT after returning from peace talks with Nouristani and the Korengal Valley elders.

“Suicide bombing is on the rise in Afghanistan, but that doesn’t necessarily mean things aren’t going well. Just because one bad thing is happening doesn’t mean things aren’t going well,” Paparo said.

“I think the reconstruction helps convince them that their needs are going to be met best by the legitimate Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,” Paparo said.

The Coalition’s plan to reconcile with tribal elders in these remote provinces is making progress.

“The influence of the government through the coalition is spreading farther and further East and farther and further North for this [area of operations],” Paparo said. “This demonstrates progress.”

“The Korengali elders are here to speak with the governor and they’re here to see the dividends that peace provides. That’s progress. We’ve moved from Naray to Kamdesh and we have a permanent outpost in Kamdesh where they’re making an outreach and implementing reconstruction. That’s progress,” Paparo said. “We have gone from Asadabad to Camp Blessing in Nangalam. We haven’t been in Nangalam before. That is progress. We hope to have a PRT and a FOB right here in Paruns and that is progress. And there’s a PRT and a maneuver element in Kala Gush in western Nuristan where it hasn’t been before – and that’s progress.”

It is the intention of the TF Spartan commanders to move the Nuristan PRT to the Province’s capital in Paruns.

“I’m in constant preparation for it and I prefer that it happen sooner rather than later,” Paparo said. “I want to be here as soon as I can because I realize the sooner the PRT is here co-located with the seat of government the sooner it will be more effective and the more effective it will be in our very important work,” Paparo said.

Photo: The ANP and an American Soldier coordinate security in the governor’s compound before the peace talks May 3.

Former Infantryman Finds Calling in Civil Affairs

15 May 2007
By Army Pfc. Micah E. Clare
4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affair.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GHAZNI, Afghanistan — It was clear to Army Sgt. Drew Pylant as his convoy pulled up to the district center, framed against the snow-capped mountains of eastern Afghanistan, that he wasn’t fighting in the same kind of war that his father and grandfather fought in.

On an icy February morning in Ghazni Province, many years ago, he pulled up his neck gaiter to try and fight off the penetrating cold as he sat behind his M-249 squad automatic weapon. Even though he spent years running and training with this same weapon, he doubted his skills with it would come in use that day, or ever, because his mission had changed.

Delivering humanitarian aid had taken its place.

Pylant, a resident of Amarillo, Texas, grew up hearing stories from his father and grandfather about their war experiences.

“My grandfather was in the Navy and would tell me about the Marines he went out with, who came back white-faced and scared,” Pylant said.

Pylant joined the Army as an infantryman in 1996 and spent three years in the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, where he earned his expert infantry badge and several achievement awards.

Feeling like he wanted to do something else, he went back home and picked up a civilian job that still put his combat skills to work.

When war broke out in the Southwest Asia, he realized what it had been he had searched for during his infantry days: people really getting a chance to serve their country during war. Then one day, five years after he left the military, he was asked to put on his uniform again for a burial detail for a hometown hero.

Pylant was compelled to join the military in a time of war, just as his grandfather and father had, respectively, in World War II and Korea.

Mindful of his career at home, Pylant decided to join Army Civil Affairs, one of the few options available that would get him to a place where he still might be able to put his military-oriented skills to good use.

A year later, as his convoy had come to a stop at the Ab-Adab district center, he was challenged to call on another set of skills he had picked up through the military: dealing with the local nationals waiting to receive supplies. This was the first time Pylant had seen the receiving end of his job.

“They’re all really excited about these goods,” Pylant said as he directed several paratroopers to pull off the blue tarp.

“Let’s go, start unloading,” Pylant ordered and motioned to the locals and Afghan national police officers standing by.

The locals worked quickly to unload, and quickly had the heavy boxes taken off of the first truck, figuring out a way to move the several hundred bags of food. Minutes later, they were tossing bags of flour and beans from one person to another, covering themselves in the white powder with each catch.

“It’s a good feeling to see these people get what they desperately need,” Pylant said.

Photo: U.S. Army Sgt. Drew Pylant, 413th Civil Affairs, assists in unloading bags of clothes and blankets at the Ab-Adab District Center during a recent humanitarian aid mission in Ghazni Province. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Micah E. Clare.

U.S. Soldiers Continue to Gain Trust of Afghan People

By Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 8, 2007 – By living among the people of Afghanistan and gaining their trust and respect, U.S. troops are winning in the eastern part of the country, a U.S. commander there said today.

“We’ve defeated the enemy every time we’ve met him over the last 16 months,” said Army Col. John Nicholson during a news conference from Afghanistan. “We feel genuinely appreciated by the Afghan people.”

The 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, commander said that although his troops have been in the war-torn country for 16 months, their morale is high because they feel gratified by what they do and know they are making a difference for the people and government there.

The Army announced Jan. 25 that the division, based at Fort Drum, N.Y., was to extend 120 days past its yearlong deployment to Afghanistan. The fact that his troops have spent 16 months on the ground is an advantage, Nicholson said.

“In many cases, our soldiers have more experience than the enemy fighters they are facing,” he said. “As a result we are defeating them soundly every time they show themselves.”

Although the unit’s extension in Afghanistan was unexpected, Nicholson said he believes his troops “were the right ones to extend” to accomplish that mission.

In a shift of methodology from past efforts, soldiers today are living and working among the rural-based population of Afghanistan to create tighter personal connections, Nicholson said. In some cases, the platoon-sized elements are living in mountain villages at 8,000 or 10,000 feet elevation that are only accessible by air in order to develop relationships with the people.

“When we move in (to an area), the enemy moves out,” he said.

Although this initially leads to an increase in fighting and potential increases in casualties, the fighting declines as the enemy sees the U.S. troops are unwilling to back down.

Nicholson’s troops are working to build capacity within the Afghan government and security forces.

“Our objective is to get the Afghan people to believe that their own government offers the best hope for the future and to buy into the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as their choice for the future to provide for their families,” he said.

The colonel said his troops are fighting an enemy broadly defined as anyone who opposes the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. “That would be terrorists, insurgents, drug lords, criminals and anyone who would benefit from instability on the part of this government to gain personal profit,” he said.

Basic counterinsurgency efforts in the country first aim to separate the enemy from the people and then to positively affect the population.

While “kinetic operations,” such as killing the enemy or forcing them to flee, are options, changing people’s minds about the government would be even more successful, Nicholson said. “Because that builds a momentum of its own and helps these people to reconcile after many, many years of civil war,” he said.

Once the enemy is driven out or reconciled with the government, the population’s number one need is a sense of security from the government, Nicholson said.

“They need to know that if the government is here, the government is going to stay or going to secure them from the enemy,” he said. “Otherwise they will be punished by the enemy for cooperating with us.”

Such punishment could range from robberies to mutilation or even death, he said.

Once the people feel secure, they will then feel free to express their needs for things like food, good health, electricity, roads and jobs. This will result in a permanent transformation of the environment in tangible and intangible ways, Nicholson said.

The life expectancy for Afghans is less than 43 years. One in every five children will die before reaching the age of 5. Eighty percent of the population is illiterate, and 60 percent are unemployed. And, as Nicholson put it, “the public health situation is worse than a country with an AIDS epidemic.”

Even though the country has some very bleak statistics, Afghans are still pressing on, he said. “In spite of all of this, they have a deep faith in God,” he said. “We are daily impressed with the way they can persevere through this hardship.”

“Eighty to 90 percent (of the population) see this opportunity with international communities being here as the best way to turn fortunes around and have a better future for their children,” Nicholson said.

After 30 years of war, Afghans have “seen into the abyss,” Nicholson said.

“They have seen it as bad as it can get, and they don’t want to go back,” he said. “They are genuinely appreciative of us being here.”

Spartan Sappers Secure Area of Operation

By Spc. Jon H. Arguello
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, May 8, 2007 — Most people spend the last few moments of their work day cleaning up their desk and organizing their materials in preparation for the next day with one foot out the door. One company of dedicated engineers in Nangarhar Province, however, is working well after its expected punch-out date. The engineers are even exposing themselves to danger in a manner that exemplifies the Army’s values and all the while keeping their composure.

Due to the mission at hand, the soldiers of Alpha Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, Task Force Spartan are patrolling and ensuring their new area of operations remains as secure as possible until they are relieved by the paratroopers of the 173rd Brigade Combat Team.

“We are ensuring the enemy isn’t putting (improvised explosive devices) out there for our replacements to get hit with,” said Army Sgt. David Underwood, a native of Charleston, S.C. “If we stop, that gives the enemy the opportunity to emplace IEDs that will pose a danger to the unit coming in. We are all soldiers, and we are fighting the same fight. Just because we’re not in the same unit doesn’t mean I won’t work to protect them.”

These sappers may be within weeks of redeployment but that doesn’t keep them from doing the heavy lifting the area needs to ensure a safe integration for the incoming Paratroopers.

“Every now and then everyone talks about how we are short on time, but the reality is, it’s more of a joke for us right now,” said Army 1st Lt. Tyler Sweat, from Clinton, N.J. “People are like ‘hey we’re close to going home,’ but people know each there is so much to get done and so many things with a potential for people to get hurt. So we are more focused on getting the job done and coming back. And whenever they tell us we can go, we’re gonna go.”

That heavy lifting includes combat patrols, constant interaction with the villagers of Khogyani, an area with a poppy driven economy, and responding to unexploded ordnance. This was the case during one of the engineers’ recent patrols. The unit was completing a mission when they received a report regarding some unexploded ordnance.

“We were on a combat patrol through the villages of Singani and Khanvu,” Sweat recalled. “About halfway through, we got a report that there were munitions in one of the Afghan National Police (ANP) official’s fields. We changed missions and moved to link up with the people who reported the explosives.”

The platoon leader moved to the village containing the reported hazard, met with the individuals who reported the ordnance and then made his way to the suspected location.

“We usually establish a hundred-meter stand-off from civilian traffic and have Afghan National Army (ANA) or Afghan National Police check them,” Sweat said.

On this particular day a car would speed through the cordon and threaten the young platoon leader as well as his squad leader.

“For whatever reason, the vehicle broke the cordon and continued to accelerate,” Sweat said.

As the car approached the inner cordon, the soldiers attempted to get the driver’s attention with lights and hand signals. But the vehicle slowed down only to accelerate once more, at which point the battle-tested soldiers raised their rifles and prepared to engage the vehicle.

“We tried to get their attention,” Sweat said. “When the vehicle didn’t slow down, we raised our weapons to the ready to show intent, but the car still didn’t slow down. At that point I made the call and fired a warning shot.”

The car finally skidded to a stop just over 10 meters from the barrels of the soldiers’ weapons.

Once the car stopped, the driver was questioned by ANA soldiers. The driver said he didn’t see the checkpoint and was released; but the composure of the lieutenant and squad leader who stood beside him averted a possible tragedy.

“The ANA determined the man was confused about what was going on,” said Sweat. “He had a child and two women in the car. It could have been an international incident.”

Although Sweat played off his role in avoiding a bad situation, it seems clear he and his soldiers’ experience came through during the incident. Experience, however, doesn’t explain the tremendous efforts of the engineers so close to the end of their deployment. Every one of these sappers knows exactly why he is still working hard.

“At this point you really don’t want anything to happen,” said Army Sgt. Christopher Egan, squad leader and a native of Flemington, N.J. “We’re here, and we’re committed to what we’re doing. If we stop now we are short changing the mission and the guys who are coming to replace us. Even though it sucks, if we don’t we’re just setting up the 173rd to get hit when they get here, and we’re not going to do that.”

Photo: An Afghan man describes unexploded ordnance to Army 1st Lt. Tyler Sweat, an Alpha Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion platoon leader, through an interpreter, May 3, 2007. After responding to the report, the experienced engineers avoided what could have been a tragedy as a vehicle broke the cordon and sped towards the soldiers. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jon H. Arguello.

Vanguard engineers pave way for victory ‘from the sky’

8 May 2007
Story by Army Spc. Jon H. Arguello

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FENTY, Afghanistan – Just weeks before Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division hand over control of their area of operations to the 173rd Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), engineers from 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion are working hard to ensure the 173rd’s “Sky Soldiers” have decent accommodations, and more importantly, the facilities needed to continue clearing the way for a secure Afghanistan.

The hardened “Sappers” of 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 3rd BSTB are working diligently, working to “set up their fellow Soldiers for success,” said Army Staff Sgt. Michael Garrett, a native of Milltown, Ill. and mayor of the Coalition forward operating base at Khogyani.

“Even though we’ve been here for over a year, there’s still a lot of work to be done here, in and outside of the FOB,” he said. “Getting rid of the Taliban is the most important thing that needs to be done, there’s no question about that. What we are doing is making it easier for them to do that here by making them a stable base for them to go out and do their job. They don’t need to be worrying about whether or not the water is going to work.”

The facilitation of the fight is a concept the commander of Alpha Company stands behind.

“This camp was originally set up to support about twenty people and we obviously have a lot more than that here right now,” said Army Capt. Perry Stiemke, from Philadelphia. “So we are expanding to house more people and that includes changes in infrastructure, mainly electrical and plumbing.”

Some of the projects around the base include upgraded security points, the addition of six washers and dryers, a morale and welfare facility with computers and phones, a volleyball court, and a 20,000-gallon fuel point.

The small base’s expansion has also benefited the local population. Construction and base development brought an influx of jobs and business to the area.

“It’s definitely improving the local economy,” said Stiemke. “The more legitimate money we fuse into the economy the easier it is to move away from illegal narcotics and the better for people when eradication efforts start.”

Although the reason for the engineers’ work is clear, the motivation behind their dedication to the mission only weeks from redeployment is impressive.

“The purpose of all these improvements and expansions is to set up the (173rd Airborne Brigade) up for success but also to allow them to immediately start combat operations as opposed to worrying about construction,” Stiemke said. “They don’t have to worry about getting the fire base up – we’re doing that for them.”

“I’ve been fighting over a year,” said Garrett. “I get gratification knowing that the guys from the 173rd are going to be able to concentrate on their fighting. Every little thing helps the fight so we all share the attitude that we need to get this base up and running, because the Taliban deserve everything the 173rd can give them.”

Garrett gave most of the credit for the hard work to the Soldiers who work for him.

“They really have a good attitude,” he said. “They are working until the very last day to accomplish the mission. They’ve done an awesome job.”

Photo: Army Sgt. David Underwood, a combat engineer with Alpha Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, removes a perimeter of concertina wire to create a clearing for air re-supply April 29. (Photo by Spc. Jon H. Arguello).

Airmen, Soldiers Mentor Afghan Medical Instructors

10 April 2007
By Staff Sgt. Carlos Diaz
U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan – A team of five highly-skilled Air Force and Army medics mentor Afghan National Army instructors at the combat medic school in Kabul.

Their mission is to guide the ANA instructors into leading the combat medic course, which was recently extended to eight weeks. As instructors, they serve as mentors and help promote the growth and professionalism of the ANA’s road to self-sufficiency.

“The ANA has never had medics in the field,” said Army Master Sgt. Jeffrey Ryle, combat medic course instructor. “So, after further discussions with the ANATEC (Afghan National Army Training and Education Command), a combat medic course was implemented.”

The course teaches basic emergency medical technician information, anatomy and physiology theory, airway management and patient assessment, just to name a few.

Initially, the course was six weeks, but after further evaluation, it was determined that two more weeks needed to be added to the curriculum.

“We just didn’t have enough time to get them trained during the original timeframe,” Ryle said. “This extra training is necessary to enhance those basic medical skills even more.”

Inside of a lecture classroom in the basement of the combat medic school, Sen. Airman Phillip Bordé teaches a note-taking class to a roomful of students.

“I noticed a need for the students to have good note-taking abilities,” said Bordé, who’s deployed from the 42nd Medical Operations Squadron in Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. “This class should also improve their study skills.” the EMT with two years of outpatient clinic experience said.

Soon after the class ended, Master Sgt. Sherri Tarun, a medical mentor, addressed the students. “After these eight weeks, you’ll be disciplined combat medics ready for war,” she said.

Once the students graduate, they receive sustainment training in the field, Tarun, who’s deployed from the 375th Aeromedical Squadron in Scott AFB, Ill., added.

“It’s great for the students to see us working with the ANA instructors side by side,” Sergeant Tarun said.

One of the ANA instructors is a four-year member of the medical corps. He enjoys working with his American counterparts.

“We’ve learned so much from the American instructors,” ANA Master Sgt. Mohammad Sohaib said. “They’ve guided and helped us in teaching the students. That help allows us to produce the best leaders from this course.”

Sohaib said the students receive classroom lecture during the morning hours and in the afternoon perform hands-on-training in the field.

In the afternoon, the students walked several cement steps toward a rocky knoll. Scattered rocks dominated the hill’s walking path while tall trees dotted the rest of the site.

The students were separated into five groups.

Bordé approached his group, removed his desert camouflage uniform top and wrapped a blood pressure meter around his arm.

The students then took turns with the meter to monitor their systolic blood pressure and stethoscope to hear each other’s pulses.

In another group, Army Master Sgt. Craig Abrom, NCOIC of the combat medic course, took advantage of — what he calls — “opportunity training.”

“I enjoy this type of training because I can quiz and ask questions,” the 22-year Soldier said. “It reinforces what the students have just learned.”

Abrom enforces communication within the students’ learning. He asked the shy students questions so they can become more vocal and comfortable with the material.

“I really enjoy working with these young soldiers, “he said. “I get a kick out of seeing the light bulb come up above their heads. We’re really making a difference with them.”

Two of those students were Mohammad Haleem and Mohammad Sadiq. Their first name wasn’t the only thing they shared.

“We really like the course,” they said. “The medical teachings are well done, and we enjoy learning from the ANA and American instructors, too.”

ANA student Sadiq seemed to grasp the course material. “This course makes sense to me, and I understand it well,” he confidently said.

Abrom noted the students’ gradual improvement and progression.

“The quality of the medics’ knowledge has vastly improved,” he said.

Detainee Denies Running Al Qaeda Training Camps in Afghanistan

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2007 – An alleged terrorist being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, denied U.S. government accusations that he managed al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan or facilitated a failed terrorist attack on Los Angeles in 1999, according to a transcript released today from his March 27 tribunal hearing.

The detainee, Abu Zubaydah, told the tribunal through an interpreter that he didn’t support Osama bin Laden’s philosophy of targeting innocent civilians as part of waging jihad, or holy war. He was captured during a raid at a safe house in Pakistan on March 28, 2002.

The tribunal was held to determine if Zubaydah, 36, could be designated as an enemy combatant.

A U.S. government witness, Ahmed Ressam, who is also being held at Guantanamo, told officials at the hearing that Zubaydah was a staunch bin Laden supporter, had run at least two terrorist training camps for al Qaeda in Afghanistan and had also helped him, Ressam, gain access into the U.S. to conduct terrorism before the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States.

Ressam was arrested after crossing the U.S.-Canadian border at Port Angeles, Wash., Dec. 14, 1999. A Los Angeles federal court found him guilty on several counts of terrorism and other felony charges on April 6, 2001. Federal prosecutors alleged Ressam’s car contained bomb-making materials and that the Algerian was planning to bomb New Year’s celebrations in the United States.

Ressam, who told U.S. officials that he’d planned to place a bomb at Los Angeles International Airport, stated that he studied for the mission in April 1998 at a terrorist training camp near Khwost, Afghanistan, a facility that Zubaydah had overseen.

A Federal Bureau of Investigation source said Zubaydah, who was born in Saudi Arabia, had traveled to Saudi Arabia in 1996 and delivered $600,000 to al Qaeda kingpin Osama bin Laden.

Zubaydah told officials at the tribunal that he never visited bin Laden at that time or had transported money to the al Qaeda chieftain.

“I only met him in the year 2000,” Zubaydah said. “I’m not his (bin Laden’s) partner and I’m not a member of al Qaeda.”

Regarding Ressam’s accusations, Zubaydah acknowledged he had assisted in the obtaining of passports, but “not fake ones.” He did not dispatch Ressam to perform mayhem in the United States, he said.

“I wanted five real Canadian (only) passports to be used for personal matters, not terrorist-related activities,” Zubaydah said.

The government said Zubaydah had expressed his desire to wage holy war on the United States through some entries in his personal diary, in which the detainee stated he would instigate racial riots and set off timed explosives targeting gas stations, fuel trucks and forests. Zubaydah responded that his writings “were strictly hypothetical – they were not plans that I intended to execute against non-military targets in America or anywhere else.”

Zubaydah also told tribunal officials that he’d never visited or managed the Khalden training camp in Afghanistan that was cited by Ressam. Instead, Zubaydah said he’d worked out of Pakistan to help facilitate logistics for people en route to the camp.

“But, I knew nothing about the details of the actual training at the (Khalden) camp,” Zubaydah said, noting that he “was not the head of the training camp.”

Zubaydah also told the tribunal that he didn’t support al Qaeda’s philosophy of conducting total war against enemies of Islam, including the killing of civilians.

“I disagreed with the al Qaeda philosophy of targeting innocent civilians like those at the World Trade Center,” Zubaydah asserted.

“I never believed in killing civilians,” he added.

ISAF team trains ANA humanitarian de-miners

17 April 2007
By Air Force Staff Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson
American Forces Network – Afghanistan

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – ISAF soldiers empowered Afghans with taking care of their own security by training humanitarian de-mining teams here.

“This training is a step forward to making a safer Afghanistan,” said Army Capt. Chris Nuckols, 207th Regional Security Assistance Command embedded tactical team. “The work we are doing here today will make for a safer tomorrow.”

Members of the Afghan National Army spent April 12-14 learning two levels of de-mining. Taking the de-miners course and de-miners pre-deployment course the ANA members were learning de-mining to international standards. This training made them qualified to conduct de-mining operations anywhere in the world.

“After these ANA members complete this training they will be able to clear land for buildings or farming,” said Australian Maj. Alex Thomson, Royal Australian Engineer officer in charge of the Operation Enduring Freedom mine action center. “Being trained will help them be ready to serve their community.”

In the past, the de-mining course graduated individual Afghan humanitarian de-miners. Even if those de-miners cleared a field they would still have to wait for someone else trained to international standards to come behind them to clear a field. This new course will graduate highly skilled teams so they can clear the fields without help.

“We can now help our own people ourselves,” said ANA Sgt. Said Arif, ANA humanitarian de-miner. “The classroom instructors have been enjoyable and helping me to be able to serve my country.”

When the class graduates, the ANA will have three new de-mining teams of 12-14 members capable of clearing 1,500 to 2,000 square meters of fields per day. Not only will the ANA members be able to clear mines they will also be able to clear unexploded ordnance.

“Seeing the Afghan people empowered to help themselves is something we take pride in,” Nuckols said. “They love our assistance and we enjoy helping them help themselves.”

The new ANA humanitarian de-miners are expected to graduate April 23.

Photo: Members of the Afghan National Army go through a field training exercise during the De-mining Pre-deployment Course here April 12. The first teams of Afghan Humanitarian De-miners are scheduled to graduate April 23. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson).