Daily Afghan-Iraq Update/10-24
Army Staff Sgt. Icar Morales walks up a mountain during a patrol with his platoon near COP Herrera, Paktiya prov., Oct. 13, 2009. Morales is deployed with Apache Troop, 1st Sqdrn, 40th Cav Regt.
Spc. Adrian Rosas walks past a group of Afghan men.
1st Lt. Kevin Jewell, right, talks to his sgts to determine the best route.
An Afghan man on horseback watches as U.S. Army Soldiers and ABP cross a log bridge.
Dogs follow U.S. Army Soldiers as they patrol through a village.
Sgt. Perry Bessant, a squad leader from Co. F, gives out meals ready-to-eat and water after a shura on the last day of Operation Germinate, Oct. 10.
Capt. Francisco Zavala, comm. officer of 2/3's Co. F, shows a local Afghan how to open a meal ready-to-eat, at a village in the Buji Bhast Pass.
Marines from 2/3 and ANA soldiers move across a wheat field in the Buji Bhast Mountains, Oct. 10 during Operation Germinate.
Lance Cpl. Cody Adams practices Pashto with some locals waiting to get medical attention.
NANGARHAR PROVINCE – Marine Capt. Staci Reidinger, the U.S. Forces—Afghan liaison to the Govt Media Info Center (GMIC) in Kabul, explains the role of the Regional GMIC in building, training the free and independent media. The objective of the project is to connect the people with the govt through better communication.
A RGMIC is designed to close the gap between the GoA and the community by communicating through media in the region. “Modern communication in Afghanistan is a new experience,” said Amin Shafiee, dep. dir. of the national GMIC.
Shafiee explained that the GMIC has a signed agreement with the Independent Directorate of Local Governance, an org. dedicated to strengthening local governance, to establish RGMICs in Jalalabad and Kandahar before the end of the year.
“This is our first trip to Jalalabad and we're here to see what we can do to establish the office here,” said Sediq Sediqi, head of the media relations and coordination dept of the GMIC in Kabul. “The RGMIC will establish strategies for the Nangarhar govt to communicate” with its people.
Establishing a functioning facility here will require some technical improvements to facilities in Nangarhar, said Shafiee. “It requires us to have modern facilities here; it’s essential that we share info between the region and Kabul by the internet, and video teleconference,” said Shafiee. The Nangarhar PRT and IDLG will assist with those technical aspects of a facility.
“The Nangarhar PRT is willing to also assist with the technical capabilities of the RGMIC anyway we can,” said AF Capt. Melissa Milner info, ops officer for the Nangarhar PRT. “We can also help develop training programs for the future employees and local media.”
“According to our strategy we will deploy 6 officers here—a director plus a staff of professionals,” said Shafiee. “We will see the gaps and fill those gaps in terms of salaries and equipment.”
The RGMIC will also have the task of training communication professionals in the region including civilian media, said Marine Capt. Staci Reidinger the U.S. Forces—Afghan liaison to the GMIC. “One of the most important things we do is build capacity,” Reidinger said. “It’s essential that we identify what training is needed and then provide that training.”
“The public has a right to know what the govt is doing,” Sediqi said. “That’s why we're here today, to see how we can do this better.”
PARWAN PROVINCE - Several ANP officers watch intensely as Spc. Brandon Meredith and Army Cpl. Christian Redman, both members of 410th MP Co, demonstrates a proper response measure, as a part of the hands-on portion of the immersion training. The immersion training will help prepare the ANP for law enforcement activities, by providing them with realistic hands-on training by mentors with the skills and background in law enforcement. “Our hopes are that upon completion of immersion training the ANP will be seen by the population as a professional force that will provide security for the citizens of Afghanistan,” said Master Sgt. John Plasse, TF Cyclone, ANSF coordinator, 38th ID PA.
A group of the ANP are inspected during immersion training by one of the enlisted police officers. Members of the 410th teach and mentor the local ANP in proper response measures.
Soldiers from B Troop, 1st Sqdrn, 7th Cav Regt, 1st BCT, 1st Cav Div, and a plt of IFP assembled around a combatives pit, Oct. 14, 1st Lt. Juan "Mike" Olvera, drew on his past experience in a variety of martial arts, a 2-year professional boxing career, and the Army's combatives program to lead the instruction.
The intent of the training was not to turn the Iraqis into professional hand fighters. Instead it focused on training the IFP to deal with situations where a weapon is not available or not necessary. "You want to keep space between yourself and a potential opponent," Olvera told the class as he demonstrated how to approach a person displaying hostile intent.
After several weeks of proficiency training, this Iraqi plt knows how to effectively use their weapons. Now they're learning techniques without weapons. Olvera shows them how to gain and maintain the advantage, with policemen working in pairs, and practicing techniques for pushing an opponent away when an assailant attempts to grab or strike them. As they push their opponents away, the policemen take additional steps backward which gives them time to raise a firearm. "Most of these guys had never done anything like this before, but they were really motivated. They learned fast," Olvera said after the class.
Several Soldiers from B Troop assisted in the instruction, demonstrating and holding sparring pads to develop the Iraqis' punching techniques. Additional instruction focused on fending off knife attacks, taking an opponent down to the ground, and regaining control in the event that an opponent managed to take them down. "This was by far the most fun we've had training with them," said Spc. David Croft.
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MNF-I
National Guard Medics Care for Local National Workers
"Actually, I'm real happy. I was happy the first time I saw Richard, and I haven't seen my son since February when they left," Senon said. "To have the opportunity to see both of them, I don't have words for that."
RAMADI – The 9th Regional Commando Bn, with U.S. forces advisors, arrested 6 alleged al-Qaeda cell members on warrants, Oct. 14, in the vicinity of Habbaniyah.
The alleged terrorists are suspected of robbery, murder, and are believed to be connected to numerous terrorist activities and crimes.
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MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
BAGHDAD – ISF arrested 7 suspected terrorists Oct. 18, during 4 separate security ops conducted in the greater Baghdad area and Mosul.
An ISF team, with U.S. advisors, arrested a individual in southern Baghdad last night based on a warrant. The individual is a suspected member of an AQI VBIED network responsible for multiple vehicle bombings across Baghdad in April.
Near Balad Ruz, located approx 76 km NE of Baghdad, IP, with U.S. advisors, searched for an IED facilitator who also provides safe houses for AQI and ISI members. The security op resulted in the arrest of 2 suspects, both possessing forged documents at the time of their arrest.
The 3rd IFP Bde, with U.S. advisors, arrested 3 suspects in western Mosul while searching for an AQI emir of security and explosive devices for Mosul. IP apprehended one suspect after the individual attempted to evade arrest by running to a nearby building. Another individual is allegedly responsible for a Sept. 17 VBIED attack against Kurdish forces, and the 3rd suspect was determined to be an accomplice to criminal activity.
In eastern Mosul, the IA with U.S. advisors, arrested a suspect while searching for the leader of an ISI oil extortion network. Intel reports indicate the suspect is directly tied to extortion-related assassinations. The security team arrested the suspect without incident.
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