Fallon Visits Bayji Oil Refinery

25 Jun 07
Sgt. Joshua R. Ford
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.

BAYJI, Iraq - Adm. William Fallon, commander of U.S. Central Command, met with Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, 25th Infantry Division commander, and other Iraqi and coalition leaders, June 11, 2007, at the Bayji Oil Refinery to discuss the future of the refinery.

Fallon expressed his concern with getting the Bayji Oil Refinery running at its maximum potential, which included proposed methods for the protection of the oil pipelines that run to other cities and neighboring countries.

During the meeting, a representative from the Army Corps of Engineers introduced a $16 million plan to re-design traffic flow throughout the refinery, making tankers and fuel trucks less vulnerable to insurgents extorting resources.

The plan also includes surveillance and lighting equipment in heavy traffic areas to increase security in the refinery.

The discussions went beyond the Bayji Oil Refinery’s problems and shifted to fixing other refineries in Iraq to maximize fuel efficiency in other provinces throughout the country.

The refinery in Haditha seemed to be one of Fallon’s main concerns. He wanted to know what the Ministry of Oil and the Bayji Oil Refinery could do to help the Anbar province see some of the same positive changes that Salah ad Din has seen with the Bayji Oil Refinery.

Bayji Oil Refinery representatives said that money is not the primary issue when it comes to repairing some of the problems at the oil refineries in Iraq. Contracting is the issue. It is hard for the Ministry of Oil to find contractors who will work on the different problems each refinery is experiencing.

Since the paratroopers with 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, have been working with the Bayji Oil Refinery, they have seen decreased prices of black market fuel throughout Salah ad Din province, a gas station inspection plan that makes sure various gas stations are accounting for the fuel they receive, and better fuel availability to the local population.

“We’ve done some polling throughout the area, and people of Iraq are actually getting drastically increased amounts of fuel now compared to what they were getting, say, four or five months ago,” said Capt. Kwenton Kuhlman, overseer of the Bayji Oil Refinery and Company B commander, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.

“I think (Fallon) left with a positive assessment that those things (discussed) are possible and that we are working towards the way ahead on those issues,” said Kuhlman.

Photo - Adm. William Fallon, commander of U.S. Central Command, is greeted by Iraqi leaders, June 11, 2007, upon his arrival to the Bayji oil refinery in Bayji, Iraq.

Basrah Railroad Station Vital to a Growing Region and Economy

This post is still available. I've had to move to combine all my blogs. This post may be found at Rosemary's Thoughts. Thank you for your patience.

Reconstruction Advisory Team working with Iraqis in Baghdad

Thursday, 14 June 2007
By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Timmons
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs.

BAGHDAD - When President George W. Bush ordered troops to “surge” into Baghdad he was not just sending Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, he was also sending little-known teams of reconstruction experts as well.

One of those teams operates out of Forward Operating Base Falcon with the 4th “Dragon” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, in the southwestern Rashid District of the Iraqi capital.

These small teams, known as Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Teams, are made up of workers from the U.S. military, State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Timothy Zuniga-Brown, who heads the EPRT in the Dragon Brigade, said his team serves as advisors to the Iraqis.

“We are a small team that works at the brigade and regimental levels,” said the Carson City, Nev., native. “This gives us better visibility and better understanding of what the Iraqi government can do to bring peace and stability to their own country.”

The team, comprised of seven people with technical expertise in various areas such as governance, security and economics, has been on the ground for almost two months.

“It is premature to see noticeable changes,” Zuniga-Brown said. “But we have seen changes for the better.” He said the district council holding its own meetings and the Doura Market revival are two examples of Iraqi growth in the area.

In December 2006 there were three shops open in the Doura Market, while today there are more than 250. More than $100 million has spent so far on rebuilding projects throughout the Rashid District, which the team is responsible for.

While the work was started by the military, Zuniga-Brown said the civilian teams would eventually help the Iraqi government stand on its own.

“Brigades have lots of knowledge and understanding at this level, but their main task is to fight and help the Iraqis win this war on the military side,” he said. “But, it’s clear in this conflict, especially when dealing with counterinsurgency, a lot of components are civilian – the Iraqis sending supplies to their own people, listening to their own people and putting together the requirements for a civil society to be stitched back together.”

The military was there to help address the security problems, but they needed help addressing their other problems, as well, Zuniga-Brown added.

“We are in an advisory role, a helping role,” he said. “Bottom line – the Iraqis need to do it themselves and they understand it.”

Photo - Lt. Col. Joeseph Birchmeier (standing) commander 4-1 Brigade Special Troops Battalion, gives a briefing on the ongoing service projects in the Rashid District of Baghdad.

OPERATION: THANKS FOR FREEDOM!

Fourth of July Card Drive for Troops

This will appear on top until June 9, 2007. If you have already read this and sent your cards in, skip down to read the most recent posts. Thank you.

Let's show our troops we love and support them! Starting NOW, I will be collecting cards to send to troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you wish to participate, please send light-hearted, silly, cheerful, and encouraging cards to this address:

Mrs. Kat Orr
Operation: Thanks for Freedom!
P.O. Box 1660
Loganville, GA 30052

You may also send a e-mail of support to the following email address LoveFromHome@gmail.com. Any e-mail received to this e-mail account will be printed and mailed, together with the cards.

The cards can be handmade or store-bought... for that matter, they don't even have to be cards; a hand -written letter is just as wonderful! Let's all band together and overwhelm our heroes with support! This is a great project for Scout troops, churches, or other organizations to get involved with! *PLEASE DO NOT SEAL THE ENVELOPES*

ALL CARDS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2007.

Thank you so much for supporting our troops!

If you have any questions about this campaign, please e-mail me at LoveFromHome@gmail.com. Also, you might wish join my Yahoo Group, groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveFromHome in order to receive updates about the progress of this and other card drives.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not a "dating service" of any type. Please do not send suggestive or otherwise inappropriate cards or pictures. I will be reading and screening every Card received to ensure that the above guidelines are adhered to (please DO NOT seal the envelope)! Any card deemed inappropriate will not be sent! Remember: This is strictly to let the troops know that we love them, we are proud of them and that we HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN them!

**IMPORTANT NOTE 2: This card drive is an individual effort and not done in conjunction with or on behalf of any organizations or groups.

This is for those of us back home who want desparately desire to let our troops know that we have not forgotten, and we remember them and their families. I thank you so very much for my freedom and for protecting my Liberty. God bless you.

Australian Military Fills Role Vital to War on Terror

4-Jun-07
By Senior Airman Clark Staehle
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Most tasks wouldn’t happen without teamwork, and the same holds true for the Global War on Terrorism. Many countries comprise the Coalition forces that augment the U.S. military’s presence in Southwest Asia, including the Australian military.

Here, the Royal Australian Air Force contributes planes and personnel, which are used to support other RAAF and Coalition operations in throughout the area of responsibility.

“I command a Royal Australian Air Force RAAF C-130 Hercules detachment of about 155 personnel that provides intra-theater airlift and sustainment support in the Middle East, with three transport aircraft, ground crew and other support elements,” said Wing Commander Rob Williams, Task Group 633.4 commander.

The RAAF has more than just planes and pilots here though. There are several Australian servicemembers who provide support from the Combined Air Operations Center. There, they provide intelligence for other Australian assets in the AOR.

“(We) provide air asset support to ensure that the Australian whole-of-government effort to rehabilitate Iraq and stabilize Afghanistan is successful,” said Leading Aircraftsman Mark Sweeney, Task Group 633.4 A2 Intelligence clerk.

The RAAF also has personnel there whose job it is to plan, publish and coordinate the detachment’s missions here. This includes ensuring any cargo its planes may be carrying arrives to its destination on time.

“(I help support GWOT) by ensuring that every available inch and pound of RAAF C-130 pallet space is allocated and arrives in the right place at the right time, carrying Australian or Coalition freight or (passengers),” said Squadron Leader Buzz Lawson, Task Group 633.4 A3-A5 C-130 air operations and planning.

Additionally, the Australian government also provides support for GWOT in other ways. They also have an overwatch battle group, which patrols provinces in Iraq. The country also works hand in hand with Dutch personnel in Afghanistan. Like the U.S. military, the RAAF also operates a version of the plane the U.S. Navy uses here, the P-3 Orion, which helps support Coalition intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

“In addition to the C-130 detachment, we also have a RAAF AP-3C Orion detachment of about 170 personnel that conducts maritime patrol operations, with two aircraft and associated command and support elements from a separate base in the Middle East,” Wing Commander Williams said. “The RAAF also has a number of staff embedded within Coalition headquarters throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.”

The relatively small detachment of RAAF servicemembers provides vital support needed to the rest of its forces throughout Southwest Asia.

“Our role here with the C-130s keeps all of this functioning,” said Squadron Leader Shane Peacey, a Task Group 633.4 C-130 pilot. “Although a small force, we Australians can pack a significant punch.”

Wing Commander Williams agreed that the RAAF provide essential services to the Coalition forces throughout the AOR.

“It provides Australian Defense Force personnel an opportunity to strengthen and continue the long history of cooperation between Australian and the U.S. and other coalition nations,” he said.

Photo - Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Leader Buzz Lawson, Task Grouop 633.4 A3-A5 C-130 Air Operations and Planning, works out flying schedules using a map of the area of responsibility. Photo by Senior Airman Clark Staehle.

Pace Says Iraqis Must Step Up to Governance Challenge

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service.

WASHINGTON, May 28, 2007 – The Iraqi government needs to step forward to make progress in governance and revitalize the economy, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today during appearances on various morning television talk shows.

Marine Gen. Peter Pace also used the television appearances to thank servicemembers and their families on Memorial Day.

“It is very difficult to talk about numbers of those who have died in combat, but the fact of the matter is that freedom is not free,” Pace said on NBC’s Today. “We must protect our freedoms at home and abroad, and the men and women in uniform today understand how important their service is. This is not an easy fight, but they understand its value and importance to our nation.”

On CBS This Morning, Pace said that American servicemembers serving in Iraq understand they are buying time for the Iraqi government to set its house in order. “It is time for the Iraqi government to stand up to lead, to pull their people together, to make it so we can do what we would like us to do and they would like us to do: Come home,” Pace said.

The Iraqi security forces are increasing and the readiness rates are going up. “But their leadership is going to have to show that they can pull together a unity government and lead their people,” he said.

The general wants the Iraqi government to emulate the Sunni sheikhs of Al Anbar province. A year ago, the outlook in the province was bleak, he said. But tribal leaders and sheikhs saw the carnage that al Qaeda in Iraq was inflicting on the country and they joined with coalition forces and Iraqi security forces to drive the terrorists from the region.

“The example has been set in al Anbar by Sunni sheikhs who last year were fighting against us and their own government,” Pace said. “It’s a great example for the central government in Iraq to pull people together.”

The enemy in the war on terror is a bloodthirsty one with a 100-year plan. The general said that coalition forces found an al Qaeda torture chamber in Diyala province and freed 41 Iraqis.

“We are up against a very ruthless enemy and this nation is going to have to defend itself for as long as it takes,” he said.

Pace said he sees the enemy increasing attacks over the next few months as Americans debate the war and the surge. In part, they will increase attacks to affect the debate inside the United States. Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq, and Army Gen. David Petraeus, Multinational Force Iraq commander, will issue an assessment in September as to the way forward.

“We will see the enemy in July and August try to increase our casualties,” Pace said. “That said, there has been progress.”

Planning goes forward across the spectrum for future operations in Iraq.

“You would expect us to be looking forward and planning ways to ramp up or ramp down depending on the situation on the ground,” Pace said.

He said the assessment in September will inform leaders on the next steps in the country. “We’re looking at an entire spectrum of ‘next steps’ to either reinforce success or make changes that may be necessary,” he said.

The chairman said that when he visits troops, he often gets asked if the American people still support them.

“Americans do understand the sacrifices that have been made over 232 years to let us live free,” Pace said. “They are reaching out in very special ways today to the men and women in uniform. I was in Charlotte, N.C., yesterday for the NASCAR race. (There were) 180,000 fans at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway who were on their feet cheering and screaming for the troops that were there.

“I think America has found a special way regardless of their feelings about the war to reach out and say thank you to those serving today,” Pace said.

On Memorial Day, Pace, a Vietnam combat veteran, said he has “some names in my head that I’ve carried for almost 40 years. They are very special to me, I think all of us who have served in combat have names like that. They remind of the sacrifice that’s required for the nation to live free. They remind me of my very special responsibilities to those who are serving today to ensure as best I can, that we have as little sacrifice as possible, but as much as required to keep us free.”

With Honor

New Medal of Honor Museum honors selfless service to country, comrades.
By Jack Jacobs
Military analyst
MSNBC
Updated: 9:02 p.m. PT May 20, 2007.

This Wednesday, May 23, Brian Williams will host NBC’s "Nightly News" from Charleston, South Carolina, and moored nearby is the USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier. Brian is a member of the Board of Directors of the Medal of Honor Foundation, and the occasion is the grand opening of the new Medal of Honor Museum aboard the Yorktown.

The Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award, was the brainchild of Abraham Lincoln, who sought to recognize exceptional bravery during the Civil War. At the time, the only battlefield distinction was the Purple Heart, awarded in those days for meritorious service, not as it is today, for wounds received in combat.

Since then, about 3,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded. In more recent times, since World War I, most have been posthumous, and there has been no living recipient for any conflict since Vietnam. Today, there are only 110 living recipients, and many of them will be on the Yorktown on Wednesday for the grand opening of the Medal of Honor Museum in South Carolina.

Among them are the oldest living recipient, John Finn, who will be 98 this July and was decorated for action on Pearl Harbor Day. He enlisted in the Navy in 1926 and can transfix the most jaded audience with first-person descriptions of life in America before World War I and tales of his participation in American naval operations in China a decade before the Second World War.

The museum is the principal repository for artifacts relating to the Medal of Honor, but the real thrust of the place is not just the display of things but also the perpetuation of the concept of selfless service to country and comrades. There is an emotion generated there that can be duplicated nowhere else, and one reason is the actions of people. Try these:
Jack Lucas
Jack Lucas was a bit bigger than other kids his age and spent some time at a military prep school. So, when World War II began, he successfully lied about his age and enlisted in the Marines Corps when he was 13 years old. He was so good in boot camp that he was made an instructor, at 14. Not content to serve in the States while his buddies were in combat, he got himself aboard a ship bound for the South Pacific. Landing on Iwo Jima, Lucas saved his fellow Marines by throwing himself on two hand grenades. He miraculously survived devastating injuries, and when he received the Medal [of Honor] from President Harry Truman, Lucas was the youngest recipient since the Civil War.

George Sakato
In danger of being sent to an internment camp like other Japanese-American families, George Sakato moved to Arizona and tried to enlist after Pearl Harbor, but he was rejected as an undesirable alien. In 1943, the government wised up and allowed Sakato and thousands of other patriotic Americans of Japanese descent to fight, and he became a member of the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team. In eastern France, in difficult, mountainous terrain, he singlehandedly attacked a German strong point and then, only a 22-year-old private, led his squad through ferocious enemy fire to capture dozens of German soldiers.

Jim Stockdale
After being shot down and injured over North Vietnam, Jim Stockdale was a prisoner for eight long years, and for three of those years he was in solitary confinement. By any standard, the treatment he received was criminal and inhumane: beaten, tortured, strangled until he was nearly asphyxiated. He was brought to the brink of death and resuscitated, time and time again, year after year.

But he never gave any more than his name, rank and service number.

He had told his fellow prisoners that they were honor-bound to resist, and he led by example. Rather than let himself be used by the North Vietnamese in a propaganda film, Stockdale beat his own face to a bloody pulp and cut himself with a dull razor so that he could not be presented on film.

They threw him in solitary again, and he feared that he would ultimately break under the torture and cooperate. So he shattered the window of his cell and slit his wrists with the glass. He was found before he bled to death, but the torture stopped because the guards realized that Stockdale would rather die with honor than serve their purposes.

Clarence Sasser
In 1967, Clarence Sasser was a medic in the Mekong River delta of Vietnam. Under continuous and intense enemy fire, and without regard to his own safety, he crawled from soldier to soldier to aid the injured. He ignored his own many painful shrapnel and bullet wounds to save others and did not cease his assistance until loss of blood made him incapable of continuing.

The behavior of these gallant people was extraordinary, but the basic underpinnings of it are not. American service members are imbued with a code that transcends background, race and every other demographic distinction: don’t surrender if you can fight, never cooperate with your captors, accomplish the mission at all cost, love your comrades.

And so it’s not surprising that every recipient of the Medal of Honor will tell you that he wears it not for himself but for those who can’t: all the men and women who sacrificed so that we can live in freedom. It’s something worth remembering each time we have a chance to help our neighbors and instead turn the other way.

Joint Task Force Showers Orphans With Supplies and Smiles

African babies, patients receive clothing, crutches, companionship.

By Petty Officer 1st Class Mary Popejoy
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs.

DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti, May 17, 2007 — An Army general and personnel from Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa visited a local baby orphanage and hospital in Djibouti City, May 5, 2007, to donate 28 boxes of baby clothes and hospital equipment.

At the orphanage, Army Brig. Gen. Keith Thurgood, 337th Theater Support Command deputy commanding general, and the other military personnel held, fed and played with the 50 babies who live there.

The babies enjoy the attention, the nurses appreciate the help, and the HOA personnel enjoy being able to provide some tender loving care to even the littlest people of Djibouti.

“This is a great opportunity for us to take a break from our daily commitments and give a little bit of ourselves to the babies of the orphanage, whether it’s feeding, holding or simply making the little ones smile,” said CJTF-HOA Command Chief Master Sgt. John Harris.

And it’s the smiles on their small faces that keep Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Rivera proud to be a part of this mission.

“These children are great and they really enjoy it when we come by and spend some time with them,” he said. “They may not be able to tell us how grateful they are, but the smiles on their faces say it for them.”

According to Army Brig. Gen. Sanford Holman, CJTF-HOA deputy commander, the future impact of this small gesture could be enormous.

“The future of Djibouti is right in my arms,” he said. “How well we take care of Djibouti and its neighbors today will determine the future of this area.

“In 10-20 years, this gesture and the ones to follow will be remembered and they will know the U.S. cares about what happens to them,” said Holman.

And even though 10-20 years is a long way off, the caregivers at the orphanage are grateful today for the outpouring of generosity the U.S. military continues to show the orphanage.

“We are very thankful to the U.S. military for the amount of clothes they brought with them today,” said Delphine Cey, French nurse at the orphanage. “With so many children, we go through a lot of clothes, so it’s better to have too many clothes than not enough.”

Donating clothes to the orphanage wasn’t the only good deed of the day, the military members also donated some much-needed supplies to a local hospital. Some of the items donated were walkers, crutches and chair commodes.

“These items will help sustain their hospital and give patients exactly what they need to get back on their feet after an illness or injury,” said Army Master Sgt. Ethan Hughes, 377 Theater Security Cooperation’s Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Center.

According to Army Lt. Col. Paul VanBreemen, Bravo Company, 489th Civil Affairs, the best part about doing good deeds is the message it sends to the community at large.

“Today we made a positive impact on the baby orphanage and hospital, but our gesture will soon spread throughout this community reminding the Djiboutians that as a military force we are doing positive things for this area,” he said. “Every donation we do, big or small, is one step closer to helping Africans help Africa.”

Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa is a unit of United States Central Command. The organization conducts operations and training to assist partner nations to combat terrorism in order to establish a secure environment and enable regional stability. More than 1,800 people from each branch of the U.S. military, civilian employees, Coalition forces and partner nations make up the CJTF-HOA organization. The area of responsibility for CJTF-HOA includes the countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

Photo Caption: U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Rivera, Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, has his hands full during a visit to a Djiboutian orphanage, May 5, 2007. Several military members brought boxes of clothing and medical equipment to the orphans. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Carrie Bernard.

Admiral Fallon Tours U.S. Army Central Facilities in Kuwait

17 May 2007
By Sgt. Thomas L. Day
Desert Voice Staff Writer.

KUWAIT - Adm. William Fallon, in his first visit to U.S. compounds in Kuwait as the new commander for U.S. Central Command, toured the Camp Buehring Training Village Sunday and met with commanders who oversee training of most U.S. forces prior to entering Iraq.

Fallon was met at Camp Buehring by Lt. Gen. R. Steven Whitcomb, the Third Army/USARCENT commanding general – Fallon’s top Army officer. Whitcomb and his assistant commander, Maj. Gen. Dennis Hardy, escorted the 42-year Navy officer through a simulated urban combat course, first aid training with a deploying unit, and the humvee Egress Assistance Trainer (HEAT) before flying to Third Army/USARCENT headquarters at Camp Arifjan.

The CENTCOM commander was direct when speaking with Soldiers deploying to Iraq. “You are the last of the big plus ups,” he told the troops. Fallon told the Soldiers that he would be relying on their work to “stabilize” some of the hottest regions of Iraq.

Troops train at Camp Buehring for 10 to 15 days before crossing into Iraq. The training is geared toward building upon training already completed at their duty station. The urban combat training facilities, which also include a video-screen simulator where Soldiers are tested on targeting in a virtual environment, prepare troops for the “complexities” of the Iraq theater, Hardy explained.

Fallon also got to see a demonstration of new counter-improvised explosive device technology at the Camp Buehring Training Village. His tour of the village spanned about an hour before flying to Camp Arifjan. There, Third Army/USARCENT had a display of new up-armored vehicles, which Fallon toured before joining Hardy and his wife, Mary Fallon, for religious services with troops.

Photo: U.S. Central Command commander Adm. William J. Fallon (right) greets Pfc. Christopher Webber, heavy equipment operator, 96th Transportation Company, May 14, during a visit to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Houston F. White, Jr.)

Bush Asks for Time, Resources to Allow Success

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 10, 2007 – The new security plan for Baghdad needs a chance to succeed, and troops serving in Iraq deserve the resources they need to make sure it does, President Bush said at the Pentagon today.

Bush spoke to reporters following a two-hour meeting with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other defense and military leaders.

The president said he considers it ironic that the Senate unanimously approved Army Gen. David H. Petraeus to serve as commander of Multinational Force Iraq after hearing details of his security plan but isn’t showing a willingness to give that plan a chance to work.

Even before the troop surge is fully implemented to step up security in Baghdad, Bush said, some in Congress are asking when the drawdown can begin.

He noted that three additional U.S. brigades included in the surge have taken up positions and begun operations alongside three additional Iraqi brigades. A fourth U.S. brigade just arrived in Baghdad, and a fifth brigade is slated to arrive in mid-June.

“So it’s going to be another month before all the additional troops that General Petraeus has requested are on the ground and carrying out their missions in Iraq,” Bush said.

Initial indications are that this effort is working, the president said, with coalition troops and Iraqi security forces working side by side to reduce sectarian violence. “With increased presence, there’s increased confidence, and with increased confidence becomes increased information -- information that forces can use to go after extremists to bring down sectarian violence that plagued the capital city,” he said.

Sectarian murders have dropped significantly, he said, although terrorists and insurgents appear to be ratcheting up high-profile attacks. “As we have surged our forces, al Qaeda is responding with their own surge,” Bush said.

He called these attacks “part of a calculated campaign” to shake Iraqi confidence and American will.

Compounding this, Bush said, is that troops are now operating in parts of Iraq where terrorists and militias previously had sanctuary. “As they continue to do so, our commanders have made clear that our troops will face more fighting and increased risks in the weeks and months ahead,” the president said.

Bush praised the U.S. troops serving in harm’s way in Iraq and said they need the resources and flexibility to do the job that’s been asked of them.

He urged quick passage of a new emergency war-spending bill to ensure they’re fully funded and equipped.

The president vetoed a previous $93.4 billion bill because it stipulated that U.S. combat troops be out of Iraq by Aug. 31, 2008. Bush said he rejects establishing a deadline for troop withdrawals and also opposed non-war-related costs included in the bill.

The president insisted that decisions about troop numbers must be based by conditions on the ground, “not based on politics or the latest opinion polls.”

He urged patience to allow time for the Iraq security plan to work and to give Petraeus an opportunity to assess its progress. Petraeus is expected to report his findings to Bush, Pentagon leaders and Congress in September.

“My attitude is, General Petraeus’ plan ought to be given a chance to work, and we need to give the troops under his command the resources they need to prevail,” the president said.

Bush acknowledged that it’s fair to debate issues concerning Iraq, but insisted it’s unfair to put troops in the middle of that debate by holding their funding hostage.

“Whatever your beliefs may be, let’s make sure the troops get funded. Don’t hamstring people in the field,” he said. “Time’s running out because the longer we wait (to get an approved funding bill), the more strain we’re going to put on the military.”

The consequences of failing in Iraq would be devastating not just to Iraq and the region, but also to the United States, he said

It would send a dangerous signal to terrorists, enabling them to increase their influence around the world. Even more concerning, Bush said, is that it would embolden al Qaeda to launch another deadly attack against the United States.

That recognition changes the stakes and the importance of the debate taking place in Washington about the war, Bush said.

Debating only about how fast to withdraw troops doesn’t get to the heart of the issue, he said. “The debate ought to be what do we need to do to make sure that we not only don’t fail, but succeed,” he said. “It’s vital we succeed.”

Iraqi Police Graduates Key to the Future

3 April 2007
By Pfc. Nathaniel Smith
4th BCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs.

BAGHDAD - Recruits of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division graduated from training at Forward Operating Base Falcon, March 28. This is the first group of “shurta,” Arabic for police, to come onto a U.S. forward operating base and receive complete, 24-hour-a-day training by a National Police Training Team.

Capt. Scott Hubbard, the operations officer of 3-6 NPTT from Vassar, Mich., said the initial focus of the team was not to train.

“Immediately when we took this mission on, we noticed the biggest problem was that they (Iraqi National Police) were not trained,” Hubbard said. “Training is not what we thought we would do, but we had to put a huge band-aid on the situation so they would not endanger themselves or the coalition forces they are working with.

“Our job is to teach them to teach themselves.”

Hubbard said that after noticing the initial deficiencies, the team came up with a two-week training program that would empower the police to perform their primary mission of protecting the neighborhoods.

The training program includes weapons marksmanship, drill and ceremony, physical training and ethics classes. Once the recruits execute those tasks to standard they move on to team exercises such as precision room clearing and conducting raids.

The trainers, who prepared for their deployment at Fort Riley, Kan., all have some form of experience training U.S. Soldiers, from reserve drill sergeants to instructors in advanced individual training. Likewise, many of the recruits have prior experience in the Iraqi army.

Abd Al-Ameer Kadum, a graduate from the class who also served in the Iraqi army since the Iran-Iraq War, said he appreciated the training.

“During this time that we spent here on this (base), we got good training,” the Baghdad native said. “They care about us a lot. We want to say thanks for our American brothers.”

Hubbard said instructing the recruits was made easier due to the fact that they embraced a key element in training: discipline. Discipline is embraced by the Iraqi people, the operations officer said. This cultural attitude motivated the shurta to do their best in training.

“The men were excited and very proud to get formalized training like this,” he said.

One of the key points Hubbard said he wanted the new police officers to take away from their training cycle is how to treat the Iraqi people.

“The way they treat them as policemen will decide whether (local residents) go against the Iraqi government or if they come on board,” he said. “These people are here to protect them and they need to understand that.”

Hubbard said that police staying involved with their local community is vital to the success of their mission.

“They need to embrace their community, and start doing the right thing from this day forward,” he said. “I believe that they’re ready to do that. They understand this is the key to victory.”

Photo: Staff Sgt. Andrew Palmer, a trainer with the 3rd Battalion, 6th Brigade National Police Training Team from Charlotte, N.C., makes adjustments to a recruit’s prone firing position during pre-marksmanship instruction in Baghdad, March 24. In addition to marksmanship, recruits also trained on drill and ceremony, ethics, and physical fitness. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Nathaniel Smith, 4th IBCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs).

RCP Interviews Gen. Caldwell

This is a copy of the interview/report from Iraq by Real Clear Politics. It was posted by Blake Dvorak. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Have a great day.

Yesterday I took part in the Defense Department's Roundtable, a weekly event that allows members of the new media to talk directly with defense officials. Wednesday's spokesman was Major Gen. William Caldwell, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Effects in Iraq. Printed below are some interesting parts of the discussion.

RCP: I was wondering if you could shed any light on when you are going to start getting worried about a lack of funds.

Gen. Caldwell: You know, it's interesting you asked that question. I just walked out of a press conference that we do -- we started to do at least one a week over here. That question was not even asked, and I really had anticipated that probably being a primary question.

It's interesting. I link up with you all, and you all -- right away, that's the one thing that -- (laughter) -- and I'll tell you, if you watch the debate back in the United States, you know, I'm an Army guy. My chief of staff, you know, taking off my Joint hat, the chief of staff of the Army back there has stated that, he's been very clear on when that's going to start having an impact on the United States Army. And that's relatively soon, according to him. And I think he has always been a very straightforward caller, like no-nonsense kind of guy. So I would put a lot of credence into whatever he said back there.

Again, I don't know because I'm not back there. But I can tell you from over here, it's going to have an immediate impact in the sense that the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq element that we have is charged with building, equipping, helping to develop the Iraqi security forces, and that is going to have an impact on them. Now to what degree? You know, we can get into a lot more specifics, but they are already starting to feel the effects of not having this funding.

Again now, from the U.S. combat forces on the ground, it has not had an impact on us. We still have what we need to conduct our operations. But MNSTC-I, which is charged with, the Title X responsibilities associated in very simplistic form with the Iraqi security forces -- it does have an impact today and will only get more pronounced with time.

Victoria Coates: Just to follow up on that quickly, the idea of the Iraqi Security Force bearing the immediate brunt of the funding lack -- I was wondering if you could talk a little bit more about their performance over the last two months, and how integral they've been to the Baghdad security operation, and how effective you think you can be if their readiness starts to deteriorate.

Gen. Caldwell: I've been here almost a year now. And I can tell you that from a year ago when I first got here to now, and I'm out, you know, every week someplace, having the ability to get out and go around the country -- that, you know, they continue to get better all the time.

From better equipment, more capable leadership and the quality of their young soldiers as they develop the professionalism inside their force, it's going to still take time, but is beginning to take hold. Obviously, they're not going to be anywhere near the capabilities and the professionalism of our force any time soon, but they're moving forward, which is the important thing, and they are getting better all the time.

Obviously, we count on them very much. As part of this Fard al-Qanun, they brought into the city about 4,500 extra troops, nine battalions, with some headquarters, but they brought in nine additional infantry battalions. And again, when I go back a year ago, the idea of even trying to move one Iraqi battalion was unheard of. About six months ago, if we attempted to move Iraqi army battalions, it was a significant challenge and we were not always successful; and when we did move them, it was very painful and it was unsustainable.

Today they've moved nine battalions into the city, as they said they would. They got them there. They've come in at varying levels of overall strength, some very good, some needing additional troops brought in to bring it up to strength. But they've moved all nine, and they're already starting to work the plans on how they would do the rotation out of those nine and bring nine more in. I mean, that is just an incredible step forward, to have developed that capability over the last year from non-existent last year this time to today they've moved nine in and they're going so far as now talking about rotating those nine in and out, which is just an incredible step forward for them to have that planning, discussions, mapping it out and then going and executing it.

Obviously, we would like to see the Iraqi security forces continue to grow and develop. There's plans on the shelf, as you know, to kick it up. You know, the prime minister has some initiatives out there that he's going to grow the size of the Iraqi security forces, and that's all been funded and planned for, and everybody's moving out on that.

But at the current moment, because of this lack of funding, MNSTC-I is unable to continue at the pace they were in the developmental process of the Iraqi security forces. And, you know, obviously we're looking at that real closely and it is starting to have some -- an impact today and will only, you know, have more of an impact over time.

RCP: I read a story in The New York Times that Ayatollah al-Sistani has come out rejecting, the sort of re-Ba'athification of the government. And this has been interpreted a number of ways. One is that this is a severe setback in the political sphere. I was wondering if you were able to talk at all about that element.

Gen. Caldwell: I can. We read the same over-the-source reporting that Sistani had supposedly said that. But the method and the means by which it was done is not really consistent with how we have seen it done in the past. It was done a little differently, which -- I don't know what that quite means. But it could mean that perhaps it wasn't quite as interpreted or transmitted as accurately if it was in fact from him as it normally is. Because they've got -- he actually has a very set process he uses when he puts messages out that you can track back and say, yeah, that probably is actually from him.

And I say that like we're experts. We're not. But even the government of Iraq officials that I've engaged with and asked have a little bit of a question about what may or may not have been said. And I think everybody's just seeking a little further clarification at this point because how it was done was not normally how it's done.

RCP: So it's unclear whether Sistani actually has [denounced re-Baathification]?

Gen. Caldwell: That's correct. We're not -- and I say "we" -- many members of the government of Iraq, too, because we obviously went to them first and said, "Do you think this is accurate?" And they'll be the first to tell you, well, that's not normally how it's done, and so I would question perhaps if it is accurate and we probably need to seek clarification.

RCP: Thank you very much, General.

Nondestructive testing keeps Bagram aircraft flying

31 March 2007
By Staff Sgt. Kevin Tomko
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNEWS) -- They endure wide swings in temperature and dusty conditions, and they are constantly pushed to their limits. They are the F-15E Strike Eagles stationed here.

But they are machines--expensive machines that require teams of experts to keep them in top running condition.

One of those teams is the nondestructive inspection or team, part of the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron.

Nondestructive inspection, or NDI, is a program the Air Force uses to ensure the durability of structural parts and components of aircraft without destroying the part and, in some cases, without removing the part from the aircraft. This team uses sophisticated equipment to find discrepancies in critical areas of the aircraft.

In combat zones such as Bagram Airfield, the tools and techniques of NDI may be the same as at a home base, but the team works at an increased tempo.

Staff Sgt. Corey Whitman, non-commissioned officer in charge of NDI, said the NDI team uses processes such as eddy current, ultrasound, and X-rays to test the components of the aircraft. They also test lubricants.

Eddy current is a process that uses electrical current to detect abnormalities in the material such as cracks or damage from heat. Ultrasound and X-rays are also used for finding cracks depending on the type of material inspected. If the part to be tested cannot be removed from the aircraft, it is done on the aircraft.

"For the most part we deal with cracks and oil analysis," Sergeant Whitman said. "We have different types of inspections. We have phase inspections and those that are ordered by the crew chief."

Phase inspections are scheduled inspections and preventive maintenance accomplished when the aircraft accumulates a certain number of flying hours.

As for the F-15s at Bagram, there have been no major trouble areas and the aircraft have been performing quite well according to the NDI team.

"Really, just about every place on the aircraft is vulnerable to some type of failure," said Senior Airman Kevin Louie, a journeyman technician for NDI. "Some are more critical than others. But I can't say that we have any major trouble areas with our F-15s."

He said as far as the type of work is concerned, everything he is doing here is the same as he does at home. The only differences are the size of facilities and the environment. "We are trying to make this a better lab. The work we do here has never been done here before."

Sergeant Whitman said he knows the importance of his work and the necessity of keeping the aircraft in the air and doing it safely. "I know I'm here for a good reason, and I'm playing a part in something that's bigger than me."

Photo: Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Pilgreen of the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron nondestructive inspection team inspects an aircraft part using an ultraviolet light and a special dye to detect flaws. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kevin Tomko).

Joint Police Force Works Toward a More Secure Iraq

By Sgt. Marcus Butler
4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne),
25th Infantry Division

ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq, March 31, 2007 — The future security of Iraq starts at the ground level with the Iraqi security forces. In order to prepare the Iraqis for this responsibility, soldiers in transition teams have been working around the clock all over Iraq.

Soldiers of the 127th Military Police Company are ready for this challenge.

Based out of Forward Operating Base Kalsu, the headquarters for the 127th has platoons throughout the battle space for the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division.

One platoon in particular, 3rd Platoon "Wolf Pack" is operating in Iskandaryiah, Iraq, home to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. The Wolf Pack arrived at Forward Operating Base Iskan approximately four months ago fully knowing their mission.

"Our mission as a police transition team is to make sure the (Iraqi police) are fully trained and qualified to take on the mission of securing their country and keeping the citizens safe," said Staff Sgt. Johnny Colon, squad leader and native of Guayama, Puerto Rico.

This mission is of the highest priority not only to the Iraqi police who are training but also for the civilians they are training to protect.

"In our area of operation, the important thing is that more of the local population is beginning to trust the IPs," said 1st Lt. Nathan Diaz, platoon leader for the Wolf Pack. "The people are happy to see the IPs going through their villages and towns patrolling the area as well as a large increase of information being given to the IPs to help combat the insurgents in the local areas."

"In the short time that we have been here, the human intelligence has grown dramatically," said Diaz. "We are getting more and more tips on events that could harm Iraqi security forces and coalition forces in the local neighborhoods."

The relationship between the police and the civilians is the not the only one that matters. Soldiers of Wolf Pack worked daily with the IPs of the local area helping them to become more proficient in their job and building bonds in the process.

These bonds will lead to lasting impressions for both the IPs and soldiers.

"Moving from unit to unit, you have to start from scratch building trust with the people that you are working with. We have different personnel that work with the leadership of the IPs to help in specific areas," said Sgt. 1st Class Michael King, platoon sergeant for the Wolf Pack.

"Whether that area involves investigations, accountability of weapons, or training; we have built a strong relationship with all of the stations that fall within our AO."

Progression of the IPs is sometimes compared to the police forces in United States, but that is inequitable, noted King.

"One of the things when looking at progress of the IPs is you can not look at them as law enforcement in the United States for the simple fact the threat in Iraq is much greater," said King. "That causes unique challenges for the IPs. I have noticed an increase in professionalism as well as proactive efforts."
These soldiers will not only grow from the experience of working with IPs but also working with the Paratroopers of 1st Battalion, 501st PIR.

"It has been a very unique experience for me working with paratroopers for the first time. I have made life-long bonds with many of them and I know that I can count on them no matter what," said Colon.

"The paratroopers of 1-501st PIR welcomed us in with open arms. Whenever we needed something to happen there was never any issue with getting it done," said King.

The soldiers of Wolf Pack and the IPs will be better for this experience, noted Diaz.

"Our soldiers will take with them a lasting positive impression on what they have learned during their time here and I know our IP counterparts will feel the same," he added.

Photo: Sgt. Christopher Benjamin, 3rd Platoon, 127th Military Police Company, watches as Iraqi policemen handle the flow of traffic at a checkpoint south of Baghdad, March 22. Benjamin, a native of Tampa, Fla. is visiting the checkpoint as part of his platoon's mission as a police transition team. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Marcus Butler.

Navy’s First Riverine Squadron Deploys

13 March 2007
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice John K. Hamilton
Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 1, based at Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Little Creek deployed March 8 after a year of intense training with Marine forces.

The deployment marks the first for a riverine squadron since the Vietnam War.

More than 100 riverine Sailors deployed to the Middle East to integrate with Marines from the II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) to conduct maritime security operations (MSO) along rivers and other inland waterways: denying the use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack; a haven for insurgent activities; or the illegal transportation of weapons, people or material in Iraq.

“The combat skills training at Camp Lejune (N.C.) with the Marine Corps and firefight introductions training took us from ‘blue water Sailors’ -- open water Navy -- to become an expeditionary force,” said Cmdr. William Guarini, commanding officer of RIVRON 1.

“Our goal is to help the Marines and other units we’ll be working with to facilitate stability in the area,” said, Lt.j.g. Joshua Sprubeck, team officer for RIVRON 1.

Full of the mixed emotions that come with a deployment, members of the squadron feel they are ready to get underway.

“I’m kind of excited and kind of scared, but I’m ready to get over there and do my job,” said Intelligence Specialist 1st Class (SS) Michael Cherry.

Sprubeck echoed Cherry’s sentiments.

“We're feeling a little bit of excitement, a little bit of fear of the unknown but we're chomping at the bit to go. All the guys are ready to roll,” said Sprubeck.

RIVRON 1 received specialized training in a number of areas including cultural and language skills presented in realistic combat scenarios, and small unit riverine craft training -- all to help prepare them for the challenges they may face in the field.

“The training that we’ve received has been awesome,” said Chief Quartermaster (SW) Mike Gaspar, command career counselor for RIVRON 1. “There were a lot of young men that came here new to this kind of thing. They came here with open minds and did really well with the training that prepared us well for the mission."

Three riverine squadrons under one riverine group commander serve as a ready force for the Joint Force Maritime Component commander. Each squadron consists of specially designed craft configured to operate in a hostile environment. Water craft will have multiple crews for near continuous operations and lift capacity for a small tactical unit.

“These Sailors are ready to go,” said Guarini. “They are motivated to be here, they are excited, and they give me energy just seeing their enthusiasm.”

The Navy’s riverine force is part of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC), a global force provider of adaptive force packages of expeditionary capabilities to joint warfighting commanders. NECC serves as a single functional command to centrally manage the current and future readiness, resources, manning, training, and equipping of the Navy Expeditionary Force.

Photo: Sailors assigned to Riverine Squadron One (RIVRON-1) participate in a combat evolution, during a unit level training exercise. RIVRON-1 is part of the newly formed Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). NECC integrates all warfighting requirements for expeditionary combat and combat support elements. This transformation allows for standardized training, manning and equipping of Sailors who will participate in the global war on terrorism as part of the joint force. It also results in more capable, responsive and effective expeditionary Sailors. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mandy McLaurin (RELEASED).

45th Medical Company: Working With Corps’ to Save Lives

13 March 2007
By Sgt. Anthony Guas
Marine Aircraft Group 29

AL ASAD, Iraq — Marines know that in a combat zone corpsmen can save their lives, but in Iraq the Navy is not the only branch saving Marines. Soldiers are also putting themselves in harms way to help others.

The soldiers of the 45th Medical Company, a joint asset to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, provide aerial medical evacuation and transportation of medical personnel, blood and equipment.

“We’re an Army Aero-Medical unit fully integrated into the Marine Air Ground Task Force,” said Army Maj. Robert A. Kneeland, the 45th Medical Company commanding officer. “Because of the innovative efforts of Marine aviation here in Iraq, it has really evolved beyond simply joint operations. Army (Medical Evacuation) has become inter-operable and to some degree even inter-dependent with Marine aviation in (Multi-National Forces-West).”

The 45th Medical Company is the fifth medical evacuation company since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom to be deployed in support of the Marine Expeditionary Force, according to Kneeland.

“The Marines treat us just like one of their own squadrons, support us to the fullest extent possible, and synchronize our operations with the other aviation supporting MNF-W,” said Kneeland. “The relationship has steadily built over time. It is a great and unique relationship and we feel truly blessed to be part of the team.”

The Germany-based company, known as “Bavarian DustOff”, is split into three main platoons; the headquarters platoon, flight platoon and the maintenance platoon.

The headquarters handles the operations of the company and the aircraft refueling.

“Flight operations controls everything from the flight logs to the missions and is manned 24-7,” said Army 1st Sgt. John Waldbaum, the 45th Medical Company first sergeant. “Our fuel section is also manned 24-7.”

The members of the flight platoon are broken into crews containing two pilots, a crew chief and flight medic. Three crews are on duty for 72 hours; the first crew is on call, the second is used for transfer between hospitals and the third acts as a back-up. The crews rotate after each day and are relieved by another shift of three crews after the 72 hours.

“In this unit, everything is built around the flight medic, in a sense, he’s like the aircraft’s primary weapons system” said Waldbaum. “The crew chief owns the airplane; the medic owns the mission and specially-trained pilots are charged to get that medic as quickly and safely as possible to the point of injury to save lives.”

In the Army, the medical field is huge, but being a flight medic is a specialty that only a few get to experience, according to Army Sgt. Michael M. Dreiling, a flight medic for the 45th Medical Company.

“Some of us work in the hospitals or a clinic, and then there are very few select of us who fly around in the helicopter,” explained Dreiling. “It is an unbelievably rewarding job. When I was stationed at Al Qaim, it was the first time that I had a leader of any sort shake my hand for the work I have done for a (service member).”

Although a flight medic’s primary mission is the responsibility of the patient, they must also be an extra pair of eyes on the aircraft.

“Flying to and from (a mission), we are right at the window, so we are responsible from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock to view other aircraft, obstacles, enemy fire below and everything. We are not just medics, we are the eyes too. There are eight eyes on the aircraft and we have two of them.”

The other set of eyes are the ones that ensure everything is mechanically stable on the helicopter. Any maintenance issue on the helicopter is the sole responsibility of the crew chief, according to Army Sgt. Matthew Grove, a UH-60 Blackhawk crew chief with the 45th Medical Company.

“A Blackhawk crew chief maintains the bird and ensures the inspections are good and takes care of any unscheduled maintenance,” said Grove. “If something breaks while in flight, we have to make sure it gets reported.”

While in flight, the crew chief is the expert on the helicopter’s capabilities.

“I think (flying with the helicopter) is critical because (the crew chief) has the hands-on experience,” said Grove. “There are a lot of times where the pilot will ask questions, so you are the go-to-guy for the status of the bird. They know the aircraft, but each bird’s strengths and weaknesses, that’s where the crew chief comes in. They have to trust you, that is why you have to stay on top of your game.”

Just like the medic is an extra pair of eyes in a flight, the crew chief becomes a helping hand to the medic.

“When we get casualties, we are an extra set of hands, helping the medic,” said Grove. “He is like the doctor and we are the nurses. We do as much as we can because that’s our money right there, if we don’t save those guys, that’s unacceptable.”

When the crew receives a call for a medical evacuation, it only takes them 7 to 10 minutes to get in the air, according to Army Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Fay, a medical evacuation pilot for the 45th Medical Company.

“When we get the call, one of the pilots and the medic will go and get the (information),” said Fay. “The medic will ask any kind of questions he needs to know as far as litter and priority. The other pilot and the crew chief will get out and (prepare the helicopter). Then we start the aircraft, put the grid in the GPS and head right for it. We can be there and back in 30-40 minutes tops.”

Although the flight platoon is on the frontlines, the maintenance platoon is the group behind the scenes, ensuring that the helicopters are ready to fly.

“The maintenance platoon has 20-30 people available,” said Grove. “We always rely on those guys to help us.”

The company’s aviation unit maintenance platoon consists of Blackhawk helicopter repairmen, avionics technicians, structural mechanics, powerplant mechanics, technical supply personnel, and various other skill sets specializing on the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter.

The company currently has helicopters spread throughout the Al Anbar Province. Since October, the company has flown more than 700 supporting MNF-W combat operations.

“Success is hard to rate sometimes, but if you could I would give us an A plus,” said Dreiling. “We haven’t lost anybody or any aircraft and our mission reaction time is unbelievable. Every crew that I have been on (has taken off) under 10 minutes.”

Photo: U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Andy Druilhet, a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot, checks the tail rotor before taking off on a training flight, Feb. 28, 2007. The 45th Medical Company provides medical evacuation for all personnel in Iraq. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Anthony Guas.

PRT turns best practice into Afghan community favorite

12 March 2007
By Capt. Joe Campbell
Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team

PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (AFNEWS) -- A best practice program developed by the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team has become a community favorite here. The program provides construction materials to Afghan locals to complete or repair their own projects.

Initially started as a way to encourage villagers to take a more active role in community development, the free bags of ready-to-mix cement plan has expanded to include gabions -- wire cages designed to hold rocks or other riprap material to form foundations or erosion control structures.

"Villagers pick up bags of cement from the PRT themselves, do the work themselves, then our engineers inspect the work to ensure the cement was used properly," said Army Reserve Capt. Nick Ashbaugh, Panjshir PRT Civil Affairs team leader.

The 49th and 50th do-it-yourself projects were undertaken recently after cement projects in the Khenj and Dara districts were approved.

Villagers from Safachi received 150 bags of cement to repair a mosque while Bari Ali citizens were given 100 bags of cement to fix a canal wall for their micro-hydro power plant.

"We always keep cement on hand to support these types of projects," said Captain Ashbaugh. "We've given out more than 6,500 bags of cement since May 2006."

Not all projects are approved. Each request meets a stringent review process by the requesting village's provincial council members and then the need is verified by PRT members before a project is supported.

"The success of the cement program led us to add gabions to our do-it-yourself efforts and we expect this addition to be met with enthusiasm throughout Panjshir," said Air Force Lt. Col. Neal Kringel, Panjshir PRT commander.

The program allows locals to accomplish projects benefiting their villages and it is a cost-effective way for the PRT to make a difference in more reconstruction projects while maximizing taxpayer dollars.

"Captain Ashbaugh has negotiated the delivered price of good-quality cement from our supplier to $5 per bag, so a 150-bag project costs a mere $750," said Colonel Kringel. "More importantly, it fosters partnership, sweat equity and fast-track."

Photo: Afghanistan villagers in the Khenj district watch as bags of ready-to-mix cement are unloaded in Panjshir Province, Afghanistan. The cement was used to repair a retaining wall that protects a mosque. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Chris White).

Patrols doubled, attacks reduced--ISF, MNF presence provide stability

Feb. 17, 2007.
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
By Master Sgt. Dave Larsen
1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Security patrols doubled over the past week and the effects of violence in Baghdad was reduced as Iraqi security forces and the Multi-National Division – Baghdad implement Operation Fardh Al-Qanoon, (translated, it means “enforcing the law”), MND-B senior officials noted this week.

“Nearly 20,000 security patrols were conducted this week,” said MND-B spokesperson Lt. Col. Scott R. Bleichwehl. “Since the operation started, there has been a reduction in the number of attacks across the Iraqi capital.”

At a Pentagon press briefing conducted via satellite, Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil, Jr., also pointed to the relative calm across Baghdad Feb. 16.

“Heading over here (to the press briefing), we’ve only had 19 attacks against our forces,” Fil told the assembled media members. “None of them were effective.”

Bleichwehl said Iraqi police and national police patrols accounted for more than 11,000 of the total patrols mounted from Feb. 10-16.

“We are out in the communities, conducting our clearing operations and meeting with local residents across the city to improve the security situation here,” Bleichwehl said. “The Iraqis are playing a huge role in the day-to-day security operations.”

During the week of Feb. 10-16, 51 operations, at company-level or higher, were conducted in and around the Iraqi capital. Twenty-four of the company-level operations were jointly conducted with Iraqi security and coalition forces working together. More than 600 joint patrols were executed throughout the city.

The increase in operations netted 15 weapons caches during the week, with the largest coming south of Baghdad during Operation Algeria II.

During that operation, conducted Feb. 11, four separate caches were discovered and three dozen insurgent suspects were detained.

The 2nd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, a supporting Military Transition Team, air support from 4th Squadron, 227th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion and paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division all combined to locate four IEDs and one vehicle-borne improvised explosive device during the joint operation. The 36 suspects were also detained for further questioning.

In all, the operation involved more than 400 Iraqi Army troops aimed at helping Iraqi forces establish security in the northern portion of Babil province.

Another major security operation in eastern Baghdad kicked off this week, as Iraqi security forces and MND-B troops continue clearing operations in Adhamiyah. Dubbed Operation Arrowhead Strike VI, the ongoing operation began Feb. 14. Thus far, Bleichwehl said the operation has netted three weapons caches and detained five suspects, further emphasizing the fact that there will be no safe havens for extremists organizations in the Iraqi capital.

Interview with Capt. Traversa

I had the honor of interviewing one of our Air Force Captains by the name of Douglas Traversa.
He is currently stationed somewhere in Afghanistan. This interview was arranged for me
through SGT Eric Jensen at CENTCOM. I would like to thank him very kindly not only for this interview, but for all the work he and the others do behind scenes that never receive any recognition. Let us begin.

Rosemary: Thank you for agreeing to this interview Capt. Traversa. I pray everything is going well. Speaking of going well, what are the temperatures there? What is the difference in the temperature between summer and winter?

Capt. Traversa: The summers here in Kabul are nowhere near as hot as in the south, or in Iraq. Highs are usually in the upper nineties, but we rarely hit triple digits. The winter has been exceptionally cold, and we’ve had snow cover since Christmas. The last few weeks it has rarely gotten above 32 degrees, and many nights have been in single digits.

R: Which do you prefer?

CT: I prefer winter by far. I love cold weather and even the bitter cold here is preferable to summer, which just sucks the life out of me.

R: Tell us a little about your family and the effect this is having on them.

CT: My wife of 22 years, Jancy, is my best friend, and we miss each other very much. However, she is holding up well, but we are both ready for this to be over. My oldest son, Taylor, just graduated from college in December, and my daughter Elise will graduate in May. My youngest son Ryan just turned 16 and got his driver’s license. I think my absence is hardest on Ryan, since he’s still living at home. He played football for the first time, and I missed the entire season. My parents live near us, so they have been helping out a lot. They send an e-mail everyday, and are very supportive.

R: Is there anything you would like people to do to support the troops? Is there anything you would like? Books? Music? Etc?

CT: There is not anything I need. I have been buying anime (Japanese animation) DVDs for myself, and that’s about all I would anticipate purchasing for myself for the remainder of my time here. But I don’t need anyone sending me any, as I can buy them easily through the internet. The guys here always like to get new DVD releases, and we have a library of them that we share. That’s probably the single most desired item here.

R: Do you take advantage of the web and e-mail? If so, what is your weblog address?

CT: E-mail and the internet are incredibly valuable in making the deployment more bearable. I have a blog at Traversa.typepad.com called “Afghanistan Without a Clue.” I’ve had lots of fun blogging and have met many great people on line.

R: Have you learned anything in Afghanistan about yourself? What?

CT: Although I was very content with my life and I knew I was living a great life compared to most people in the world, being here has been pretty amazing. People here who are considered well-to-do live in tiny houses without bathrooms, sinks, or many other things we take for granted. It has helped me to put things in perspective, and I think when I get home I will be much less concerned about minor annoyances.

R: What do you miss the most, beside your family?

CT: No question that after my family, I miss my dogs. We have five, and I love them dearly. We aren’t allowed to have pets over here, and that hurts.

R: Now I would like to ask you to explain to the American people when and why you joined the Air Force. Are you satisfied with your job, or do you regret your decision?

CT: I was a teacher for four years, got tired of being poor, looked around, and decided the Air Force was a good option. My father was an Air Force officer, so I knew what I was getting into. I don’t regret joining at all. It’s been a great job, and right now it’s also been quite an adventure.

R: When are you ‘tentatively’ scheduled to come home?

CT: May or June 2007.

R: Do you understand that there are very many Americans who support you? Well, there are! Do you read the papers? Do you watch TV News? Where do you get your outside news?

CT: We have been getting wonderful support from all sorts of folks back home. We know many, many people care about us, and it means a lot to us. We get the Stars and Stripes newspaper for free over here, and get all the major news shows on TV. We also get news from the internet, and I never miss The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

Job
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R: If it is possible, could you share with us generally what you do?

CT: My fellow Airmen and I stationed at Camp Phoenix and Camp Eggers are called ETTs, derived from “Embedded Training Team,” which means we are embedded with the Afghan National Army (ANA). Our job is to “mentor” our ANA counterparts, in an effort to rebuild the ANA and make it self-sufficient. Unfortunately, there is no textbook, no regulation, no course we can attend, on how exactly we are supposed to do this. As you may imagine, this makes our jobs challenging, exciting, and frustrating, all mixed together with a large serving of the unknown.

Even though “mentoring” is poorly defined, we do have a plan of attack. I work with fourteen other Airmen at the Central Movement Agency (CMA), the only transportation unit for the ANA. Our job is to make sure CMA can run convoys throughout the country and maintain their vehicles properly. We oversee the maintenance shops, and train the ANA on proper maintenance procedures and record keeping. We also oversee convoy operations, and train drivers until we can get the ANA to start their own training. Finally, we have just started transporting cargo flown into the Kabul International Airport. Maj Apple (my boss) and I work with the Commander and his staff, trying to teach everything from the importance of wearing the uniform properly to trusting NCOs with more responsibilities. The most basic principles of our military are strange new concepts here.

The challenges are many and not quite what you might expect. First, we are Airmen lent to the US Army for a year, working with a foreign army. You can find many Air Force and Navy personnel taking on traditionally Army roles as we help to relieve the Army of some of its taskings. Fighting two wars simultaneously has stretched the Army too much, and we are helping to relieve some of the pressure. But that means we need to learn how the Army does things, and then try to teach the ANA the “Army Way” to operate.

R: What is your average day like? How many times a week are you bored, and how many times a week is it chaotic? What can you do when it is boring?

CT: My work day varies considerably. Much of my current schedule is driven by when we need to unload airplanes. We do have a fair share of chaos at the airport on occasion, but I have a good team, both American and Afghan, and we haven’t failed to accomplish any mission yet.

I am never bored. When I am not working, I am writing, playing sports, or watching anime. I usually spend about two hours with my blogging and writing each day, so I have little time to be bored.

R: Could you please give us an idea about all the good things that are being done to help the Afghanis?

CT: We are working hard to train the troops we work with to be self-sufficient. In the eight months we’ve been here, CMA has become a very active, very vital part of the Afghan military. We are building a very nice base for them, and trying hard to equip their troops properly. I don’t have much insight into what is being done for the civilian population.

R: How many people are you responsible for, and how many do you have to answer to?

CT: We have 15 Americans working at CMA and over 200 Afghans which we assist. I am the second highest ranking American. My boss is Maj Apple, a great guy to work for. He puts a lot of thought into how we can best motivate the Afghans to be the best unit possible.

R: Do you find yourself counseling anyone? Is this how bonds are created?

CT: I have not had to counsel anyone. We have an unusually excellent group of men at CMA. We have lots of time to talk as we travel, or sit waiting for planes to land, so we get to know each other pretty well that way. We also play sports together.

R: Are you free to do your job the way you were trained? Has political correctness crept in to hamper you? Do you ever feel as if your hands are tied behind your back?

CT: Anyone in the military has limits on their free speech. We are not allowed to criticize our leadership, so when I blog, I have to make sure I stay within regulations. Everyone has their ideas about how the wars are being run, but it’s not our place to comment in an open forum like this. As far as doing my job, I have been givin great freedom to do the job as I wish. I have no complaints there.

R: What is the best day you have had over there, and what is the worst day?

CT: The worst day was the night before the anniversary of 9/11. We were going to have to travel that day, and the night before I was sure we would get hit by a suicide bomber and I would die. I’ve only had one bad night like that.

It’s hard to say what my best day was. I really enjoy working out at the airport, and I’ve had some great days out there. Christmas Eve was also a great day, because the guys in my hut had a good time together celebrating. You can read about it in my blog.

R: If you had it to do all over again, would you?

CT: No, I’ve had a very happy, fulfilling life. I don’t have any significant regrets.

R: Will you think about re-enlisting? Is this a career move for you?

CT: I retire in two years, and staying in past that is not an option for me.

Terrorists
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R: Are there many terrorist attacks? Are you allowed to gestimate about how many terrorists are in or around Afghanistan?

CT: I have no ideas on the numbers here. We usually have at least one attack a day somewhere in Afghanistan, but not too many here in Kabul. Last week a suicide bomber rammed the front gate of Camp Phoenix, where I lived. He was caught, but the bomb went off when they were trying to defuse it. That was pretty exciting!

R: Does the rhetoric in Washington encourage the terrorists? Do they hear what we talk about?

CT: Of course they hear what we are talking about, but I have no idea if it gives them encouragement. They are motivated by a religious hatred of non-Muslims, so I doubt anything we say really makes any difference.

R: Have you lost any of your men? If so, could you please share with us a little about their lives? Who they were, what they loved, what they hated, so that they are not just numbers for the evening news?

CT: Fortunately, now of our people have been harmed in any way.

Government
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R: Is there much corruption in the Karsai government?

CT: I have heard that corruption is very common over here, or so my interpreters tell me. But they do not want to go back to the Taliban government.
R: If you were POTUS, what would you do about Iraq, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, China and Darfur, Sudan? Just a simple question to follow those other tough hitting ones. I know it’s above your pay-grade, but give it a shot. Who knows? Maybe someone will consider it!

CT: No Comment

R: I know there is a problem with the poppy. Is anyone focusing on this? Are they planting other things such as food, cotton, etc?

CT: I read about an effort to use the poppy crop for medicinal purposes in the US. They will not be spraying to kill the crops. I know little else about this topic.

R: Does Afghanistan have a stable government outside of Kabul? What do they need to accomplish a stable government to the whole country?

CT: I think it will require a whole new generation to grow up and take over before we see a really stable government. There are so many factions here; creating unity is going to be a slow process.

R: Is there a form of Sharia law being practiced?

CT: Not in the Kabul area, but in areas the Taliban control, I would think so. But I have no first hand knowledge.

Iraq’s ESU leads cordon and search

Thursday, 25 January 2007
Story and photo by Sgt. Michael Tuttle
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

KIRKUK, Iraq — The Emergency Services Unit here, with support from 25th Infantry Division Soldiers, conducted an early morning cordon and search operation Saturday outside the city.

The ESU searched three villages for contraband with 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment Soldiers, while an American civil affairs team spoke with locals to gauge living conditions in the area.

"The villages were thoroughly searched,” said 1st Lt. John Byler., A Company platoon leader, 2-35. “These guys are allowed to have one AK and one magazine. A couple guys tried to get away with five so we’d take the extra four.”

While no contraband was found during the search, the ESU’s professionalism should help build confidence with the populous, Byler said.

“The ESU are some of the better guys that we work with,” Byler said. “They’re well-trained by and large. We’re here for support and guidance.”

While the ESU searched house to house, Spc. Richard Hy of the 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion, spoke to the mukhtar of Ilnhraom, a village of about 1,000 residents. The mukhtar is the village leader and a valuable source of information.

The mukhtar expressed the village’s desire for a medical clinic, Hy said. The village is also in need of a water treatment system to replace their current irrigation system.

Hy said that after his team has collected the information, they will figure out what they are able to do to help the village, in hopes of building better relations there.

Photo: A Kirkuk Emergency Services Unit captain opens a case during a cordon and search operation Jan. 6. The ESU, along with Soldiers from A Co., 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, searched houses in three villages outside the city of Kirkuk and spoke to locals about village needs durng the early morning operation.