Daily Afghan-Iraq Update/10-16

Dear Interested Reader,

TF Cyclone trains ANP officers. Tinsmith Vocational Training program graduates disabled participants. Militants detained in Logar prov. U.S. and Canadian Soldiers work with ANSF to secure Zhari district.

Iraq: Oregon NG provide medical evacuations. Academy at COP Carver prepares IA soldiers. School suplies delivered to Rumaytha.

Joanna

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October 16, 2009

CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center

Soldiers train ANP officers to perform security checks, first-aid

By Spc. William Henry

Pfc. Nick Weeks explains techniques of a traffic control point to police officers during training nearby Dandar village.

PARWAN PROVINCE - Soldiers attached to TF Cyclone with 4th Plt, Co B, STB, 82nd Abn Div, gave an intensive, interactive and hands-on 3-day block of instruction to an attentive group of ANP officers in the Kuh-e Safi district in Parwan Prov, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1

The training consisted of traffic control point ops, vehicle and personnel search, and first-aid ops, all culminating with a live training scenario incorporating all 3 days of instruction. The intention, according to police trainer Sgt. Sam Bieber, an inf squad leader, was to transform the ANP into a self sufficient org that operates more cohesively with CF.

"We're here to help these people build pride in being an ANP and someone to look up to," said Bieber. "I want to build confidence in them so their people have confidence in them. Honestly, the ANP is the first face of security presence that these people will see."

"It's tough sometimes because of the language barrier and the resources of the police officers. You can still train them how to be safe and how to do things that are going to help them and help their people," said Bieber. "So far I'm impressed how fast they've picked everything up."

"They're willing to learn so that's good," agreed Army Pfc. Nick Weeks, an infantryman. "One of the things we can really learn from this training is a little bit more of the social background of the people. Sometimes when you're learning it's a lot easier to get to know the people before you just start jumping into training, because it makes things run a lot more smoothly."

The policemen say they feel the same way about the training. "We don't have any problems learning and we like the training. I can take what I learn here and show others. Even if I relocate I can show others on the force," said 3rd Lt. Musawer, a 3-year veteran of the Kuh-e Safi district police force. "This training is very important. We have to learn from the American Soldiers, because we're here to do the same things," said Musawer.

Spc. Calixto Alvarado, a medical Soldier attached to TF Cyclone, observes ANP officers practice treating a sucking chest wound.

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Joint Combat Camera Afghanistan

Tinsmith Graduation

Photos by Master Sgt. Sarah Webb

Friends and family members gather to witness a ceremony to honor the graduates of the tinsmith vocational educational training program. Thirty disabled participants completed the 90-day training course. The course was sponsored by USAID and coordinated by the National Disabled Assn and Dept of Labor and Social Affairs.

Cmdr. Wilson Marks, comm. officer for PRT-Ghazni, presents a graduate from the tinsmith vocational educational training program with his set of tools. The ceremony was held to honor the 30 graduates.

Friends and family members gather to witness a ceremony to honor the graduates.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Victor Lytle, reservist from Naval Ops Support Center, member of PRT-Ghazni, stands guard.

Local kids gather around to greet members of PRT-Ghazni.

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NATO ISAF

Militants Detained in Logar Province

KABUL - A joint Afghan and ISAF detained several suspected militants Oct 10, in Pul-e Alam district, Logar prov. during an op to disrupt a militant cell believed to be responsible for making IEDs.

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NATO ISAF

Soldiers Work With ANSF to Secure Zhari District

FOB WILSON – U.S. and Canadian soldiers partnered with local ANSF to conduct an op in the village of Pasab, located in the Zhari District. Op PASAB was one of the first ops conducted in this area by the 1st Bn, 12th Inf Regt since they moved from FOB Ramrod to FOB Wilson.

"The main focus of the mission was to talk with local villagers in their compounds, so that Taliban wouldn't be able to influence what they said by using intimidation," said Capt. Sam Shepherd, HHC cmdr, 1-12th Regt. "We also wanted to clear the village of Pasab of weapons and IED making materials, link the people to the compounds using photos and full name, conduct a village assessment of their capabilities, and get the Afghan uniformed police (AUP) out to show security."

The AUP work throughout each district and are responsible for maintaining public order and security, preventing and discovering crime, arresting suspects, protecting public and private property, and regulating road traffic. By using the AUP and ANA, Shepherd hopes to help build the Afghan's confidence in their own Soldiers.

"It's important for the people to have the trust and confidence in their govt," said Shepherd, a 14-year veteran. "We have to link the people to their govt by backing up the AUP and ANA. We have to show them that the govt works and can be trusted." Building that trust and confidence is one of the main goals of HHC, one of 5 companies operating under the 1-12 Bn. Keeping the population safe is also something Shepherd hopes his company will achieve during their time here. "The HHC area of responsibility is within walking distance of the district center," Shepherd said. "This area should be the safest place to be with the govt being right here. We just have to get them to mesh and get the message out that the govt is here and ready for them."

Re-building the Afghans confidence in their govt, providing peace and stability, and winning over the hearts and minds of the locals is what the Bn aims to do throughout the next year. For Maj. Chris Hormann, the 1-12 INF ops officer, he sees the shift from kinetic ops to non-kinetic ops as key to winning over the people. They plan to use that non-kinetic approach in the village of Senjaray.

"We're focusing on population centers where we can have the most impact," Hormann said, referring to Senjaray, which has a population of 10,000. "We're going to go into the village with a soft approach – protect the people from the insurgency – and help them fight against intimidation of the Taliban."

Once they have established security for the village, the Bn will focus on meeting the needs of the villagers. "We'll identify the needs of the people, the threats in the area, and any additional resources they might need in the village," said Hormann. "Our goal is to help them live their lives by providing their security and needs."

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MNF-I

Oregon Guard Soldiers Provide Theater-wide Medical Evacuations

Story by Sgt. Keith VanKlompenberg

Sgt. Tracy Braeme, a UH-60 Blackhawk crew chief with C Co, 7th Bn, 158th Aviation Regt prepares her crew's helicopter for a medical evacuation mission, Oct. 8 at JBB.

JOINT BASE BALAD – Every day in Iraq, medical evacuations help save the lives of injured service members and civilians who would die without immediate care. The Oregon NG Soldiers with C Co, 7th Bn, 158th Aviation Regt, stationed at JBB, can't afford to take days off because lives are on the line. They perform theater-wide medical evacs and transport missions constantly.

"We're always on call, on alert," said Maj. Geoffrey Vallee, a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot and cmdr of C Co. "This mission is very reactionary." Vallee said the crews always have their helicopters and medical equipment ready, so when a mission comes along, the only variables are location and level of urgency.

When a 9-line medevac request is called in, the crew on rotation springs into action. An urgent call requires the helicopter to be off the ground within 15 minutes, said Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Casha, C Co.'s first plt sgt and a flight medic. "It's a pretty challenging thing," he said, "but everybody does their job as part of a team, and we get off the ground pretty quickly."

Each Black Hawk team is composed of 2 pilots, a medic and a crew chief. The medic provides en route care for the patient and, when necessary, is assisted by the crew chief. "My first priority is the security of the helicopter and all the people in it, but I also provide assistance to the medic," said Sgt. Tracy Braeme, a crew chief.

The Soldiers of C Co. said the mission, while challenging, can be very rewarding. "I can't imagine doing anything else," said Casha, who works as a paramedic in Oregon. Vallee said it's being able to do good things not only for American Soldiers, but for the Iraqi people that he finds most gratifying. "It's an easy mission to be proud of," said Vallee.

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Multi-National Division Baghdad

Mada'in Academy Prepares Iraqi Army Soldiers

Story by Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell

IA soldiers bandage each other as Spc. Wesley Richards, an infantryman looks on during the final exercise of the Mada'in Training Academy at COP Carver, Oct. 8.

BAGHDAD – Warrant Officer Haider Sada has been in the IA for 14 years. Since 2003, he has worked closely with U.S. forces and understands all too well what is at stake for his country's future. "We live in a very tough situation, so I have to be involved to help my people," said Haider.

When Haider's military tactical and technical knowledge reached a plateau, he sought out the Mada'in Training Academy. "Whenever we reach a certain level of military knowledge, we need to find more," explained Haider, "so we come to American academies like this."

Throughout Baghdad, U.S. Soldiers have set up courses to impart their combat skills to Iraqi soldiers in academies like this one. On Oct. 8, Soldiers from Co A, 1st Bn, 505th PIR, 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn Div, graduated another class, bringing the total number of IA Soldiers successfully trained to 288.

The 5-day course focuses on company-level leadership skills for lts and below, with instruction ranging from counterinsurgency ops, identifying IEDs, reflexive fire, checkpoint ops and first-aid lanes. "Everybody in the IA is supposed to be a Soldier and everybody should know these techniques," said Haider. "This is my motivation for going to this class. I'm a Soldier and this is my duty."

Like Haider, Sgt. Daniel Montijo, an instructor at the academy, has a military family tradition too. Both of his grandfathers fought in World War II; instilling a strong sense of duty in him. "I've always wanted to take care of Soldiers," said Montijo, a combat medic. "They're Soldiers just like us. The IA are allies and if I can help them secure a better future for Iraq, then it'll help keep us out of here."

According to Montijo, positive feedback from the graduates reinforces the fact that, given the chance, the students want to become better Soldiers. "I think that they don't have the opportunities available to further their military knowledge like we do in the States," explained Montijo. "So, if we can impart our knowledge and technical strengths, then we can help them as an army and a country."

"It seems like every class that comes through are better able to answer the medical questions," Montijo explained. "It's a testament that they're going back and spreading their knowledge learned here." The instructors noticed a change in the students when they combined their newly-acquired skills for the final medical lanes exercise. "Certain individuals may have had a problem with the PowerPoint and the lectures, but when they accomplish the lanes portion, they do have a sense of pride, and they feel better knowing that they can accomplish these tasks," said Montijo.

With smiles on their faces, all the students received diplomas and the coveted 82nd Airborne patch. Most of the students will return to their checkpoints, except 2. Instructors hand-picked Haider and another student for permanent assignment to the academy; the first students to do so. They will undergo a 2-week training regimen before they become primary instructors teaching alongside U.S. paratroopers.

An IA soldier searches Spc. Arnold Graham, an infantryman, during a practical exercise on proper searching techniques.

Spc. Wesley Richards, an infantryman, demonstrates how to properly pull security while fellow Soldiers receive aid during the medical training lanes.

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Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq

Elementary School Visit

Photo by Spc. Gavriel Bar-Tzur

Students at Rridiyya Elemtary School examine their new school supplies purchased and passed out by CF in Rumaytha, Oct. 8. The 450 students take classes in tents while construction workers renovate their school.

CF distribute school supplies bought with their personal funds.

Students of Rridiyya Elemenntary School run out to greet CF. The renovation is expected to be complete in two months, meanwhile, the 450 students take classes in tents.

Students anxiously wait for supplies from CF.

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troopscoop’s posterous

Daily Afghan-Iraq Update/10-16

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