Global Special Operations |
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SEP-OCT-NOV-2001 NEWS HISTORY
WAR ON TERRORISM GENERAL INFORMATION
WAR ON TERRORISM PORTAL
By Staff Sgt. Victoria Meyer, USAF Special to American Forces Press Service KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 12, 2005 - The Afghan National Army's first military medical education center opened recently here with the help of the ANA Surgeon General's office and the Office of Security Cooperation Afghanistan. Located on the National Military Hospital campus here, the center will consolidate medical training for ANA combat medics, nurses, medical faculty and medical officers. The facility can accommodate, house and feed up to 500 students and has 27 classrooms. Before the new facility, medical training was conducted in various locations around Kabul such as the Kabul Military Training Center, the military hospital and the Pol-e-Charkhi garrison. "This is a much better learning environment for the students," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Luis Montes, combat medic in OSCA's medical plans and operations section. "They have everything they need on the campus of the National Military Hospital. The students have professional instructors and will be able to receive instruction within the hospital from the physicians and nurses." With the opening of the new education and training center, the ANA is better equipped and more prepared for its medical mission. "We can provide the ANA the best equipment, supplies and medications, but if they are not trained to use them, it will be a wasted effort," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jose Betancourt, former section chief. The center originally consisted of two separate Soviet-built structures from the 1970s. OSCA medical section leaders determined it would be more cost effective to renovate them instead of starting from scratch. A local construction company remodeled and refurbished the new building at a cost of almost $500,000. "Taking what was once a battered and beaten up building and turning it into a quality education center is a great representation of the mission and the people who will work here," said Air Force Maj. Gen. John Brennan, OSCA chief. Combat medic students are the first to occupy the building. They will go through a six-week training course to learn the medical skills they need in a field environment. Throughout the course, the students will learn how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, administer IVs, treat battle wounds, and perform field sanitation, preventive medicine and emergency medicine. "We believe the building will enable the ANA to dramatically improve its combat medic training by co-locating the training at the hub of their medical system," said Army Lt. Col. Thomas Paul, medical plans and operations chief. Besides the convenience of having everything needed in one building, the Afghan army also has a large military hospital just steps away. "They can work on their clinical and medical skills in the hospital, which will make them better qualified as medical professionals," Montes said. "I look forward to this medical training facility producing well-trained and skilled medics for the Afghan National Army," Brennan said at the grand opening of the center. "It will open the door of opportunity for many of your young men and women- an opportunity to serve the people of the new Afghanistan and help rebuild this great nation." (Air Force Staff Sgt. Victoria Meyer is assigned to the Office of Security Cooperation Afghanistan Public Affairs Office.)
American Forces Press Service BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Aug. 11, 2005 - Taliban leader Qari Amadullah was killed during heavy fighting near the city of Wazikwa in eastern Afghanistan Aug. 9, U.S. forces confirmed today. Amadullah was believed to have commanded up to 50 Taliban fighters in the region and was thought to be in possession of a number of weapon systems to include rockets and rocket propelled grenades. "Killing this individual will significantly disrupt Taliban operations in the region," said Army Brig. Gen James G. Champion, deputy commander of Combined Joint Task Force 76. "We hope that with his death, Amadullah's forces are able to find the courage to break with the Taliban organization and begin to reconcile with the government of Afghanistan in their efforts to rebuild this war torn nation." Amadullah was killed during a firefight with Afghan National Army soldiers and U.S. paratroopers assigned to the 1st battalion, 508th (Airborne) Infantry Regiment. Five other militants were killed and three U.S. servicemembers were wounded. Afghan and U.S. forces were conducting operations in the area designed to kill or capture Taliban leaders. (Based on Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news release.)
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, July 28, 2005 A coalition CH-47 Chinook helicopter made a "hard landing" due to "brown-out conditions" as the crew was attempting to insert forces southwest of the city of Spin Buldak on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan late on July 27, military officials reported today. In aviation circles, brown-out conditions occur when helicopter rotors kick up dust and debris, reducing pilots' vision and can make landing dangerous. The aircraft, one of two operating in the area at the time, was responding to reports of enemy activity. Chinooks are twin-engine, tandem rotor helicopters designed for transportation of cargo, troops and weapons during day, night, visual and instrument conditions. Noting that hostile fire was not involved in the incident, officials said the aircraft was destroyed by fire, which is believed to have started from the hard landing. No one was injured in the incident. Afghan National Army and coalition forces have secured the site and a team of investigators is searching for the cause of the incident. An investigation of the April 6 CH-47D Chinook helicopter crash near the Afghan city of Ghazni that killed 18 is complete, and the results have been provided to family members of those killed, according to U.S. officials in the Afghan capital of Kabul. The U.S. Army's Collateral Investigation Board reviewed events leading up to the crash of the helicopter known as "Big Windy 25." Investigators found that the aircraft encountered a severe dust storm with winds of more than 45 knots that caused the pilots to lose outside visibility. The pilots were transitioning to instrument flight procedures when they became spatially disoriented and over-controlled the aircraft, investigators reported. The five Army crewmembers and the passengers - six Army soldiers, one Marine, two Army National Guard soldiers, one Army Reserve soldier and three civilian contractors -- were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed. The helicopter, which belonged to F Company, 159th Aviation Regiment, 12th Aviation Brigade, was transporting passengers and supplies from Forward Operations Base Orgun-E Kalan to Forward Operations Base Sarhawdza in Ghazni province. "We mourn the loss of this crew and its passengers, and will never forget their selfless service and sacrifice," said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jason K. Kamiya, commander of Combined Joint Task Force 76. "We have already implemented or are in the process of implementing the recommendations of the investigation team to preclude tragedies such as this from occurring in the future." (Compiled from Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news releases.)
By Donna Miles American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, July 26, 2005 - Taliban members who face off against coalition forces or the Afghan National Army are facing heavy losses, so they've resorted to recruiting young teens to join the fight, the Joint Staff's operations director told Pentagon reporters today. Marine Lt. Gen. James Conway spoke following a July 25 incident that involved heavy fighting in a small village west of Deh Rawod in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province. The incident, which left one U.S. soldier and an Afghan National Army soldier dead, took a considerable toll on the enemy, the general said. Some press reports claim as many as 50 insurgents were killed, he said. "My observation, tracking this day in and day out, is that virtually every time the Taliban come up against our regular forces or those of the Afghan National Army, they are losing pretty badly," Conway told reporters. These continual losses are likely to affect the way these enemy forces operate, he said. "What we suspect, over time, is that they are going to be driven to the standoff tactics that we see being employed in Iraq," Conway said, "because they can't sustain those kinds of losses and continue to remain viable." The coalition has received reports that the Taliban is attempting to recruit 14- to 16-year-olds to their cause because "older and wiser" Afghans simply are "not buying into their rhetoric," Conway said. Army Brig. Gen. Jack Sterling, deputy commanding general for Combined Joint Task force76, expressed condolences over the U.S. servicemember killed during the Deh Rawod incident in a July 25 Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news release. "Our brave servicemember died while fighting alongside Afghan forces to eliminate the threat of terrorism to the world and to bring a brighter future of Afghanistan," Sterling said. "This tragic loss strengthens our resolve to further the advance of a democratic Afghanistan."
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, July 5, 2005 Coalition forces have located the bodies of two U.S. servicemembers who had been missing in Afghanistan's Kunar region since June 28, military officials in Kabul announced today. The servicemembers, part of a special operations team, had been conducting counterterrorism operations in the region. The military said the two servicemembers were taken to the U.S. military hospital at Bagram Air Base, where they were pronounced dead. Another member of the team was located July 4 and airlifted to the Bagram hospital with injuries that officials said are not life- threatening. The whereabouts of one other team member remain unknown, the military said. On June 28, an MH-47 helicopter sent to support troops in the region crashed, killing all 16 servicemembers on board. The military is investigating reports the helicopter was shot down by Afghan rebels. Coalition forces have been actively engaged in Operation Red Wing, a counterterrorism operation to defeat terrorists and deny them sanctuary in the Kunar province. The military also reported today that six people were detained for questioning after U.S. forces discovered a weapons cache northwest of Asadabad in Kunar province July 4. The cache consisted of five grenades, one rocket-propelled grenade, wires and timing devices, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and Taliban propaganda materials. (Compiled from Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news releases.)
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, July 4, 2005 Coalition forces located a U.S. servicemember whose whereabouts had been unknown since June 28, military officials in Afghanistan reported today. He was taken to Bagram Air Base for medical treatment, Combined Forces Command Afghanistan officials said, reporting his condition as "stable." He was part of a force conducting counterterrorism operations in Kunar province. An MH-47 helicopter carrying troops to support the force crashed June 28, killing all 16 servicemembers aboard. Operations to recover remaining servicemembers whose whereabouts are unknown since that time are continuing, officials said. Coalition forces remain actively engaged in Operation Red Wing, a counterterrorism operation to defeat terrorists and deny them sanctuary in Kunar province. (From a Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news release.)
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, July 4, 2005 The coalition's military command in Afghanistan today released a statement expressing regret over civilian casualties resulting from a July 1 air strike on a terrorist compound in the country's Kunar province. In the statement, Combined Forces Command Afghanistan officials said the strike used precision-guided munitions "that resulted in the deaths of an unknown number of enemy terrorists and noncombatants." The noncombatants apparently were members of the terrorists' families. The targeted compound was a known operating base for terrorist attacks in Kunar province, the statement continued, as well as a base for a medium-level terrorist leader. The battle damage assessment continues, officials said. "U.S. forces regret the loss of innocent lives and follow stringent rules of engagement specifically to ensure that noncombatants are safeguarded," the statement said. "However, when enemy forces move their families into the locations where they conduct terrorist operations, they put these innocent civilians at risk." Officials said guarding against civilian casualties is a high priority, sometimes resulting in planned missions being cancelled. "Every air operation is carefully planned, and all possible efforts are taken to prevent noncombatant injuries and deaths," the command's statement said. "In some instances, U.S. forces dramatically alter a planned mission, or cancel it altogether, to prevent risk to innocent lives. Coalition forces deeply regret the loss of innocent lives, and are investigating the incident to prevent future occurrences."
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, June 29, 2005 Seventeen servicemembers were on board a CH-47 Chinook helicopter that crashed in mountainous terrain west of Asadabad, Afghanistan, June 28, military officials said today. Initial reports indicate the crash may have been caused by hostile fire. The status of the servicemembers is unknown, officials said. Coalition and Afghan National Army forces quickly moved into position around the crash to block any enemy movement toward or away from the site, officials said. Coalition aircraft remain overhead. The helicopter was transporting forces into the area as part of Operation Red Wing, which is part of the enduring fight to defeat al Qaeda militants and deny them influence in Kunar province, officials said. Combined Forces Command Afghanistan officials said recent enemy activity in the area has been described as a series of harassing attacks and intelligence-gathering activities against Afghan and U.S. forces. "This is a tragic event for all of us, and our hearts and prayers go out to the families, loved ones and servicemembers still fighting in the area," said Army Brig. Gen. Greg Champion, deputy commander of Combined Joint Task Force 76. "Our courage and commitment to America's fight in the global war on terror will not waver. This incident will only further our resolve to defeat the enemies of peace." More information will be provided as it becomes available. (Compiled from Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news releases.)
American Forces Press Service BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, June 24, 2005 The Afghan National Army and local government officials coordinated efforts with coalition forces to rescue 119 Afghans stranded on a small island by floodwaters June 23. A coalition helicopter lifted the stranded individuals to safety as waters rose on the Indus River near Mehtar Lam, in the Logman province. A dam upstream gave way, sending water downstream and trapping the group. Afghan National Army soldiers coordinated loading the aircraft and then dispensed aid supplies to the victims at a safer area approximately 300 meters away. The Logman province deputy governor, working in conjunction with aid agencies, coordinated the rescue effort with coalition forces. Aid agencies are working with local officials in the area to ensure that Afghans displaced by the flooding have access to shelter, medical attention and food. "This is a perfect example of the Afghan government taking the lead, working with Afghan National Army and coalition forces to save lives," said Army Lt. Col. Jerry O'Hara, a spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force 76. "We are continuing to work with the government of Afghanistan to ensure the people displaced by this tragic disaster receive the aid they need." A provincial reconstruction team at Mehtar Lam is working closely with aid agencies and local Afghan leaders to assist in relief efforts, officials said. (Courtesy of Combined Forces Command Afghanistan.)
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, June 22, 2005 Afghan and coalition forces killed about 40 enemies June 21 in fighting southwest of Deh Chopan, Afghanistan, after insurgents attacked with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, military officials reported today. One Afghan National Police officer was killed and five U.S. soldiers and two Afghan policemen were wounded in the clash. The injuries were not serious and all were transported for treatment at Kandahar Airfield, officials said. Coalition and Afghan forces were patrolling the area as part of Operation Catania, which is a search-and-attack operation designed to take away enemy safe havens. Coalition warplanes and attack helicopters hammered enemy positions throughout the evening. "This mission is a ongoing effort to take away enemy sanctuaries," said Army Lt. Col. Jerry O'Hara, Combined Joint Task Force 76 spokesman. "We are not letting up on the enemy and will continue to pursue them until the fighting stops. Coalition and Afghan forces will continue to defeat these militants for as long as necessary to ensure the people of Afghanistan remain free of oppression and tyranny." (From a Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news release.) American Forces Press Service
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, June 19, 2005 An unprovoked attack on a coalition patrol today left 15 to 20 militants dead in Afghanistan, U.S. officials said. The patrol reported coming under small-arms and rocket-propelled- grenade fire, which pinned the unit down northwest of Gereshk, in Helmand province. U.S. airplanes and attack helicopters engaged the enemy. Initial battle-damage assessments indicate 15 to 20 enemies died and an enemy vehicle was destroyed, according to a news release from Combined Forces Command Afghanistan. "When these criminals engage coalition forces, they do so at considerable risk. We will close with and destroy those that stand against Afghan and coalition forces at every opportunity," U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jerry O'Hara, a spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force 76, said. No coalition personnel were injured in the incident, officials said
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 28, 2005 - Two ex-Taliban insurgents this week began the process of formally renouncing violence and swearing reconciliation to the duly elected government of Afghanistan. They are taking part in the government's Takhim-E Solh, or Strengthening Peace, program. Takhim-E Solh grants amnesty to mid- and low-level insurgents who agree to stop fighting and peacefully enter into civil society. Coalition officials explained the program aims to break the cycle of violence that plagues Afghanistan, enabling the country to build a more safe and prosperous future. Only mid- and low-level insurgents are eligible for the program. High- level Talibans and individuals accused of war crimes are deliberately excluded. Takhim-E Solh petitioners must pledge loyalty to the government of Afghanistan and renounce violence against Afghan and coalition forces Amir and Ismail both expressed a desire to return to their homes and work within the law, officials said. "From the beginning. I have never had anything to do with those people (insurgents) and have had nothing against the government and coalition," Amir said in a statement signed during his initial interview with Afghan and coalition forces. Takhim-E Solh is based on trust, but not blind trust: Petitioners must undergo background checks to ensure that they are not accused of any serious crimes against the Afghan people or coalition forces. Takhim-E Solh "is a vital tool for the government of Afghanistan as it continues the difficult process of rebuilding this war-torn nation," says U.S. Army Brig. Gen. James G. Champion, deputy commanding general for operations for Combined Joint Task Force 76. Ex-Taliban and other former fighters need to "know they can come back home so long as they accept the democratically elected government here," he noted. "A lot of individuals may fear they or their families will be imprisoned if they return, but that's clearly not the case." Also in Afghanistan, Afghan and coalition forces May 27 killed a man who attacked an allied patrol with small arms fire. The man was riding a motorcycle east of Shinkay when he initiated his attack. The patrol returned fire, killing the man. Afghan and coalition forces are conducting a number of patrolling operations near Shinkay and in the Zabul province. These patrols are designed to disrupt insurgent activity, thereby helping to build a safe and stable environment for Afghans. (Compiled from Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news releases.)
American Forces Press Service HERAT PROVINCE, Afghanistan, May 12, 2005 Changes are taking place on the borders of Afghanistan, and one man is leading the way. Afghan Col. Safe Aube, commander of the Transitional Afghan Border Security Force, and 229 border-security volunteers from across the country are replacing the existing border police forces in Islam Quala, on Afghanistan's border with Iran in Herat province. "The mission is to replace the existing border police with my men so that those men can be retrained to enforce the rule of law," said Aube. "Once the men are trained, they will return, and we will then move on to the next border site and do the same thing." This pilot program is planned for 13 other border locations around the country. The hope is to put an end to corruption and increase revenue through proper taxes instituted at the borders. "There has been this methodology of living with corruption for so long. Now that they are trying to bring the rule of law, it's like trying to settle the Wild West," said U.S. Army Maj. Anthony W. Oliver, the coalition's liaison officer to the border security force. American soldiers from Combined Task Force Longhorn, which oversees coalition operations in western Afghanistan, have lent a hand in the training. "They are there to help coach and mentor the Afghans with some basic skills, like vehicle searches, personnel searches and detaining procedures," Oliver said. "We emphasize on what they already know and build on that." The government of Afghanistan loses millions of dollars annually through its borders. Officials believe the efforts are paying off: An estimated $10,000 a day is being sent to the government by weeding out corruption and properly taxing goods. "Justice has come to Islam Quala," Aube said. Aube goes to border villages and speaks with elders who used to receive bribes for allowing smuggling. "They are so used to the way things were, it's hard to convince them that this will be for the good of the whole country," said Aube. "The majority of people are for the change, but there is still a potential for violence," he said. Aube has done an outstanding job at avoiding violence and being able to solve differences through a step-by-step diplomatic process, Oliver said. (Courtesy of Combined Forces Command Afghanistan.)
By Sgt. Douglas DeMaio, USA American Forces Press Service FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan, May 9, 2005 U.S. forces here are beginning to hand over security responsibilities to the Afghan National Army. As the Bobcats of B Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, pull their troops from the Tarin Kowt area, the ANA's 3rd Kandak, 1st Brigade, 205th Corps, is moving in. "They have been working pretty much hand in hand with Bobcat," said Maj. Kellard Townsend, the embedded training team's logistics adviser to the kandak. "They are definitely ahead of the game with all the new players coming in. They know the critical areas and the key players." The standup of the ANA in Tarin Kowt brings security to the area that villagers are more likely to welcome, said ANA Capt. Kamrullden. "ANA soldiers are Afghanistan's soldiers," he said. ANA kandaks are formed during training at Kabul Military Training Center and are made up of soldiers from tribes all over Afghanistan. Being such a diverse force tells villagers that the ANA is the nation's army, the captain said. "When we get to a new area, I ask the soldiers to first walk around in their uniforms when they go to the village," he said. Doing this allows the soldiers to make an immediate impact, said Platoon Sgt. Alladad, who has been in the ANA for more than three years. "When the people see the green beret, they know we represent an army that holds Islamic values," he said. The soldiers speak to villagers on the streets and let them know the ANA is in the area to provide a service to the people -- security and economic growth. "They are establishing their bases around the country and building up the infrastructure," Townsend said. Establishing a base in the area brings more financial stability to Tarin Kowt. Contracts for the base bring money into the local economy. Roads such as the Tarin Kowt - Kandahar Road being built provide supply routes and accessibility for Afghanistan's military. "It's for the military, but it benefits the economy more than anything else," Townsend said. Roads were one thing that dramatically improved the security and stability of Qalat in Zabul province, Alladad said. Prior to moving to Tarin Kowt to establish a new base, the kandak was in Qalat, where the unit's mission was the same as it will be in Tarin Kowt: disarming militants and improving security in the area so the community can prosper. The city now has business owners making more money because of the security in the area and roads, which bring in travelers and other goods for trade. "We brought security and growth in Zabul and plan to do the same for Tarin Kowt," Kamrullden said. (Army Sgt. Douglas DeMaio is assigned to the 20th Public Affairs Detachment.)
By Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample, USA American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 23, 2005 Insurgents using roadside bombs and hidden mines in Afghanistan are injuring and killing innocent citizens and children, military officials said during a news briefing in the country’s capital, Kabul, today. The military said one such indiscriminate attack that occurred today injured six innocent Afghan citizens when their vehicle struck a mine near Qalat. Four of those injured were treated at the scene. However, two individuals were medically evacuated to Kandahar Airfield for further treatment. This is another example of how the insurgents' operations are just as likely to injure unsuspecting citizens as they are to injure coalition forces, a spokesman said. Hidden weapons stockpiles also pose a serious risk. "The safety of innocent children and others who can easily get to volatile weapon stockpiles is at stake, the spokesman said. On April 20, a young Afghan near Ghazni led coalition forces to a compound where weapons, munitions and narcotics were being stored. The weapons cache consisted of rocket-propelled grenades, RPG boosters, a shotgun, a radio, a mortar round, plastic explosives, AK-47 rifle parts and various loose cans of ammunition, the spokesman said. Too frequently, children are brought to coalition bases for medical treatment after they have stepped on a mine, or have accidentally been shot or injured by old weapons and munitions, the official explained. Last week, coalition forces reported recovering 27 caches across the country. Of these, 17 were turned in by either Afghan citizens or Afghan forces. The military spokesman said coalition forces are being alerted of improvised explosive devices along roadsides by Afghan citizens and Afghan forces that see them. Eight IEDs were identified before detonating this past week, and Afghans discovered four of those. These actions prevent not only coalition forces from becoming casualties, but they are also protecting unsuspecting Afghan citizens from becoming injured by indiscriminate roadside blasts, the military spokesman said. Meanwhile, the spokesman said, the military is going after insurgents responsible for the attacks. Coalition forces are committed to tracking down and capturing or killing those who seek to do harm against coalition forces or Afghan citizens, the spokesman said. This week, at least 14 insurgents were killed when coalition forces using helicopters, aircraft and artillery responded to an attack on U.S. Forward Operating Base Salerno, in the Khowst province. The rockets caused no injuries or damage to equipment. Military officials also reported that progress remains steady as provincial reconstruction teams spread out across the country continue their rebuilding efforts. In Khowst, the PRT completed a 6.7-kilometer road through the city’s downtown a week ago. This road is vital so citizens can travel, shop and do business to improve their economy. The road also allows access to the city from distant outlying villages, the spokesman said. The PRT is also building an orphanage and day care in the Matun district of the city. The building is estimated to cost $85,000. The school will allow approximately 500 children to come in the morning and leave in the evening, the spokesman said. They will have a school for both boys and girls, and in the winter homeless children will stay overnight. In addition, the Khowst PRT and the U.S. Agency for International Development is spending $350,000 to build an assembly hall, where community leaders can come together and discuss community issues. Currently, the biggest meeting place seats only 75 people; the new facility will seat about 200.
American Forces Press Service HERAT, Afghanistan, April 23, 2005 - Officers from the Transitional Afghan Border Security Force, along with a small contingent of coalition forces, seized 479 kilograms (1,054 pounds) of heroin along Afghanistan’s northwestern border April 17. The bust also netted seven Afghans suspected of smuggling operations. The suspects are being held by Afghan forces. The border crossing is known as a hot spot for smuggling operations in the western region, a coalition spokesman said in a press release. It's estimated the Afghan government loses $300 million a year in taxable goods through its borders. The Transitional Afghan Border Security Force was assembled in Kabul two weeks ago and is made up of 229 border police volunteers from throughout the country. Its mission is to conduct operations at the Islam Qalah border checkpoint and 13 adjoining border points in order to secure the border, control illicit trade and interdict narcotrafficking. The primary goal is to set the conditions for corruption-free immigration, customs revenue control and collections, officials said. "This is counternarcotics at its best. The entire operation was planned, led and executed by the Afghans," said U.S. Army Maj. Anthony W. Oliver, liaison officer for the mission. "All we supplied was coaching, mentoring and some logistics." The street value of the seized heroin is estimated at $2 million, officials said. (From a Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news release.)
American Forces Press Service BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, April 19, 2005 As the young engineer unzips his bag and removes his mine detector, he surveys the sandy, wind-swept hills he is about to clear. Before him sit bunkers, trenches and piles of junk -- all potential spots to hide mines or improvised explosive devices. Army Spc. Felife Hernandez, a minesweeper with Company A, 367th Engineer Battalion, sweeps for landmines in a trench at a new engineer training area. He is using a Handheld Standoff Mine Detection System, which has metal-detecting capabilities and ground-penetrating radar. Clearing minefields is a long, slow, time-consuming process, and there is no room for error, said Capt. Jonathan Zimmer, the assistant officer in charge of the Mine Action Center. We go by NATO standards, which means we have to use two types of methods to clear a minefield and must obtain 99.6 percent clear. The soldiers of the 367th Engineer Battalion have multiple tools at their disposal to meet the requirements needed to consider a minefield clear, said Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Gallup, a combat engineer team leader with the 367th’s Company B. Usually, we will go through a minefield first with an ‘Aardvark medium flail.’ Once that is finished, we send in the engineers and dogs, he said. The Aardvark is a mechanical flail with an armored cab capable of withstanding 7.62 mm armor-piercing rounds. With that much armor it can definitely withstand a mine blast, Gallup said. In addition to the mechanical devices, dogs from the 67th Demining Dog Detachment are used. The 67th is the only unit in the Army that has such dogs, Gallup said. They are trained to work closely with the engineers in finding mines. A dog will narrow the possible location of a mine to about a square meter, and then the engineer uses his probe to locate the mine. If dogs are not available, an engineer may go in to the field with a Handheld Standoff Mine Detection System, which has metal-detecting capability and ground-penetrating radar. Weather plays a major factor in clearing a minefield. It impacts everything from the dogs being able to pick up the scent of a mine to the machinery getting bogged down in mud. Summers in Afghanistan are ideal for mine clearing. Mine clearing is not all about going out to the field with a metal detector and an up-armored bulldozer, said Zimmer. We must look through old logs and try to figure out what areas are already clear and what need the most attention. (Army Spc. Jason Krawczyk is assigned to the 20th Public Affairs Detachment.)
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 16, 2005 Desperate Taliban members and their al Qaeda allies are likely to launch more violent attacks with the approach of parliamentary elections this fall, the commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan told reporters in Kabul today. Army Lt. Gen. David W. Barno, who heads Combined Forces Command Afghanistan, called the election of Hamid Karzai as Afghanistan’s president last October a strategic defeat for the Taliban and said much of the organization is close to collapse. Some Taliban leaders have expressed interest in joining the political process in Afghanistan, Barno said, but others are clinging to hopes of reversing the country’s course. As the terrorists’ capability grows more and more limited, he predicted, hard- core fanatics would desperately try to do something to change the course of events in Afghanistan. These terrorists want to reassert themselves, Barno said. And I expect they would be looking here, for the next six to nine months or so, to stage some type of high-visibility attack to garner media publicity. Despite the terrorists’ weakened capabilities, they continue to threaten the country’s stability, the general said. I think we must be realistic and clear- eyed with the understanding that the enemy is still dangerous, he said. Barno delivered his comments after the Taliban’s threat to intensity attacks against U.S. and Afghan troops following a full in terrorist activity following the national elections last October. The coalition has assured the Afghan government that it will help ensure security for the Sept. 18 parliamentary elections, Barno said.
By Spc. Dijon Rolle, USA Special to American Forces Press Service GARDEZ PROVINCE, Afghanistan, April 11, 2005 Rows of shoes stand at attention next to neat stacks of T-shirts and sweaters folded dress-right-dress. These items have all passed Sgt. Rena Brownridge’s inspection. Brownridge, with the Gardez provincial reconstruction team’s Civil Affairs Team Alpha, is in charge of sorting all of the boxes of humanitarian aid sent to the PRT. I saw all the boxes just kind of sitting around and that was kind of it, she said. I rolled up my sleeves and got busy. Surrounded by mountains of shoes, clothing and toys, Brownridge methodically works her way through the piles, sorting items by size, color and even season. It’s amazing some of the stuff we get. A lot of it is brand new or close to it, she said, smiling as she held a tiny red corduroy jumper at eye level. A lot of the children here don’t get toys. They’re like little adults. It’s hard for them to be children when they’re already out working, supporting their families. Even if it’s just a Beanie Baby or a box of crayons, I think it gives them a piece of their childhood back. After sorting and re-boxing the items, Brownridge and her team take them to area villages. We don’t just go out and drop off boxes. We physically go out and give it to the people ourselves because we want to make sure that it actually gets to them, she said. We also want to put a human face on our presence here. Some of these people have never seen an American soldier up close and they don’t know what to expect, Brownridge explained. It’s important that we show them that we’re people too and we’re here to help them, no strings attached. Team members help to fit each person with shoes and clothing, from children to adults. This is where Brownridge’s efforts really pay off. It saves us a lot of time, because we already know what we have before we go out, said Staff Sgt. David Philbeck, the Gardez PRT Civil Military Operations Center noncommissioned officer in charge. We can line everyone up and get started. There’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. She really does a good job with it, said Staff Sgt. Mark Matteson, Gardez PRT communications chief said about Brownridge. Matteson knows firsthand the importance of organization. He started a Shoes for Kids program at the PRT. As a result, he’s received hundreds of pairs of donated shoes from the United States for distribution in Afghanistan. It’s a good feeling to be able to help, to contribute, she noted, and it’s even better when you know that soldiers like (Brownridge) and her team are going to make sure that these things get to the people who really need them. This is Brownridge’s second major deployment. She deployed to Iraq in 2003. I didn’t really do any humanitarian aid there it was too dangerous, said Brownridge. I mainly worked with the contractors and I did a lot of paperwork. For me, being here is completely different than when I was in Iraq. Here I have more direct contact with the people. I can see my efforts firsthand. The majority of the donations received at the Gardez team come from individuals, businesses and churches in the United States. Several items have also come from the PRT soldiers themselves. I think I have the best job in the Army, said Brownridge. I get to immerse myself in the culture and in the people. I’ve met so many women and children and I’ve seen a lot of smiling faces. (Army Spc. Dijon Rolle is assigned to the 17th Public Affairs Detachment.)
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 9, 2005 Recovery crews have removed the bodies of all 18 victims from the wreckage of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter that crashed in Afghanistan April 6, Combined Forces Command Afghanistan officials reported today. The bodies were taken to Bagram Air Base in the Afghan capital of Kabul, and will be flown to Dover Air Force Base, DE., for positive identification, officials said. The helicopter had flown out of Bagram on a supply and transport mission to southern Afghanistan. It was returning to Bagram when it crashed in severe weather near Ghazni. A U.S. Army’s Combat Readiness Center investigation team from Fort Rucker, AL, will investigate the crash. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of those involved in the crash, said Navy Lt. Cindy Moore, a CFC-A spokeswoman. They gave their lives to a purpose greater than themselves, and for that reason we were honored to serve with them and call them our comrades. Fifteen of the crash victims were U.S. military personnel, and three were civilians working for the military as contractors. We are still fulfilling a combat mission in Afghanistan, and we mourn the loss of any member of our team, Moore said. The best way to honor the memory of our fallen comrades is to continue the mission they came to Afghanistan to fulfill. Moore expressed gratitude to the Afghan people near the crash site. We are very grateful to the people of Ghazni, she said. They were quick to notify coalition forces of the helicopter crash. They provided additional security and assisted with the recovery of remains from the crash site. At a Kabul news conference today, Moore briefed reporters on several recent coalition humanitarian medical evacuation missions conducted for Afghan citizens. Two children were taken to a hospital in Jalalabad with burns, Moore said. A 3-year-old child was taken to a coalition base near Orgun-e for an infection on his hand, and because of the treatment he received he will continue to have the use of his right hand, Moore said. Another boy was taken to Kandahar Airfield after a cow kicked him in the head, Moore said, and he was reported to be in stable condition. An 18-month-old boy suffered third-degree burns to both feet when an oil lamp spilled in his home. He was taken first to the coalition base at Asadabad and then to Bagram for treatment. A quick response saved his feet, Moore said. This week, she added, coalition forces conducted 18 medical evacuations of Afghan citizens. In other news, the Gardez provisional reconstruction team bought more than 9,000 fruit trees and flood relief items for villages in Paktia province. The growth of these trees will depend on the governor’s program to get the local children involved in caring for the trees, Moore said. In Sharona, coalition medical personnel conducted a medical assistance visit, treating hundreds of children for worms. The PRT also continues flood relief operations in Tarin Kowt and Lashkar Gah, Moore said.
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 7, 2005 The known death toll from the April 6 CH-47 helicopter crash near Ghazni, Afghanistan, has reached 16. Five crewmembers and nine other servicemembers died. Three U.S. contractors were also killed. Two U.S. servicemembers remain unaccounted for, according to military officials in Afghanistan. The mission’s manifest showed 18 people on the flight, they said. The crash occurred during severe weather. The aircraft, one of a two-flight mission, was en route from Kandahar to Bagram Airfield. The other safely landed there. The names of those killed are being held pending notification of next of kin. Military officials said they are investigating the cause of the crash.
Officials Confirm Nine Dead in Afghanistan Helicopter Crash American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 6, 2005 Nine people are confirmed dead in the crash today of a coalition CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan, Combined Forces Command Afghanistan officials reported. News reports quoted American military sources as saying at least four crewmembers were aboard. A news release said initial reports indicate the crash occurred in severe weather near Ghazni, about 100 miles southwest of the Afghan capital of Kabul. The helicopter was one of two Chinooks returning to Bagram Airfield from a routine mission in southern Afghanistan when, according to a command spokeswoman, air-traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft. The second helicopter returned to base safely, officials said. A recovery operation is under way at the site, providing security and accounting for the dead. The names of the dead are being withheld until their families are notified. An investigation into the cause of the crash has begun. By Sgt. Jennifer S. Emmons, USA American Forces Press Service GHAZNI, Afghanistan, April 5, 2005 The Army is rich in history and tradition, and the soldiers of the unit known as the "Bedford Boys" know they have much to live up to. Company C, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, is made up mostly of soldiers from Bedford, Va. During the invasion of Europe on D-Day, June 6, 1944, this National Guard unit was among the first to hit Omaha Beach. In the first moments of the bloody battle, 19 soldiers from Bedford gave their lives for their country. The town lost more servicemembers per capita than any city in the United States. Since then, the soldiers of this company have been known as the Bedford Boys. This is the first time the unit has deployed since World War II, said Staff Sgt. Ken Asbury, a Company C squad leader. It’s interesting that our unit was on the front lines of fighting for the freedom of Europe. And here, over 60 years later, we are fighting for the freedom of the Afghan people. It’s great to be part of helping a country get out of poverty it’s been in for hundreds of years. Things are different now from how they were in World War II, said Sgt. Michael Walker, a Company C team leader. The job might not be as demanding as it was for the soldiers assaulting the beach on D-Day, but we are doing the same job of fighting for freedom and keeping the peace here, said Walker. Bedford residents are proud of their Bedford Boys. When we got the orders to mobilize, the executive officer of the original Bedford Boys came and shook all the soldiers’ hands, said 1st Lt. Steele McGonegal, executive officer of Company C. The people from Bedford are very proud. They gave their boys once, and live with that every day. Sgt. Anthony Dooley, an anti-armor team leader for Company C, grew up in Bedford. Everyone holds the memory, he said. I grew up listening to my grandparents telling me the stories about ‘their boys.’ When I got off active duty, there was no question what unit I wanted to be a part of within the National Guard. People from Virginia have been visibly supportive of their deployed troops. The battalion has received 60 percent of the mail that comes into (Bagram Air Base), said Asbury. Out of that, Charlie Company has received about 60 percent. With so many past heroes coming from the unit, the soldiers feel a sense of duty to do well for their community. We’re professional, and we are going to do the best we can to accomplish the mission, because that is what we do, McGonegal said. The Bedford Boys want to complete the mission here in Afghanistan, not only for the sense of pride it brings them as soldiers, but also to carry on the tradition of bravery set by those men more than half a century ago. It’s important to do the best we can for the guys to our left and right, said Walker. It’s almost as important to be able to go home at the end of this (deployment) and be able to look at the people in the community and say, "Yes, your boys did good work". (Army Sgt. Jennifer S. Emmons is assigned to the 17th Public Affairs Detachment.)
By Maj. Rick Peat and Lt. Col. Frederick Rice, USA Special to American Forces Press Service KABUL, Afghanistan, March 28, 2005 The new National Military Academy of Afghanistan celebrated its grand opening March 22. Afghan government ministers, senior U.S. and Afghan military officers, special guests from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, including Dean of Academics Brig. Gen. Daniel Kaufman, as well as numerous ambassadors and other dignitaries attended the opening ceremony. Maj. Gen. Mohammad Sharif, NMAA commander; Abdul Rahim Wardak, Afghanistan minister of defense; and Abdul Karim Khalili, second vice president of Afghanistan, were featured speakers at the event. The role of this academy is vital for the future of Afghanistan, because this academy will produce loyal, professional and true leaders for Afghanistan’s future without any ethnic, language and tribal distinction, said Wardak. These young cadets will be trained in the spirit of national unity and strong military character upon which we can be proud among the respective nations of the world. Khalili emphasized the excellent reputation the ANA has built among the people of Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan appreciate and strongly support the good work of their integrated national army, which represents the true face of the Afghan nation, he said. Today, we are going to open an institute which will train the future commanders and leaders of our proud army and of this hopeful nation. During the ceremony, West Point and NMAA officials showed their mutual admiration and respect for each other’s institutions through a gift exchange. Kaufman presented a West Point saber mounted in a display case, while Sharif offered a hand-carved wooden plaque of the NMAA shoulder sleeve insignia encased in a presentation box. Sharif confidently vowed success during his address at the ceremony. Through this podium, I promise to Defense Minister Wardak that we will do our best at teaching the cadets to international standards and in the spirit of national unity, he said. The first class of cadets completed seven challenging weeks of basic training on March 17 and began their first day of academic classes the day following the academy’s grand opening. The cadets represent all of the major ethnic groups throughout Afghanistan and traveled from literally every corner of the country, across rugged and undeveloped terrain and through blizzard-like conditions, to report to the academy. One cadet was more than 20 days late due to his travel troubles, but was welcomed and immediately integrated into the program. Modeled after West Point, the academy is a four-year, degree-granting institution that will commission its cadets as second lieutenants in the Afghan National Army. Graduates will earn an engineering degree with an emphasis on civil, mechanical, systems or electrical engineering. The curriculum focuses on engineering for a good reason. Our country is war-struck and devastated, said Sharif. We are in the process of rehabilitating it. We need more engineers, because we need reconstruction. Planning for the academy began more than 18 months ago, when Army Maj. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, chief of OMCA at the time, and senior Afghan Ministry of Defense leaders agreed upon the need to establish a military academy that would provide the ANA with a highly educated and capable future officer corps. OMCA was ready to assist and quickly enlisted the help of the U.S. Military Academy. Military academy study team chief Col. Barney Forsythe and Maj. Gen. Mohammad Juma Nassar, the defense ministry’s general staff working group director, submitted the initial plan for the academy to the defense minister and the OMCA chief in November 2003. West Point staff and faculty members then began the planning process, deploying to Afghanistan for several months at a time to write policy, develop admissions standards and determine the curriculum. They completed all steps hand in hand with their Afghan counterparts, ensuring all programs were adapted to meet Afghan standards and culture. Our environments are different, said Sharif, contrasting Afghanistan and the United States. Planners considered all cultural aspects and did not impose anything on us. While the academy will be similar to West Point, it will not be the same. The most significant challenges involved the logistical requirements of setting up the academy from scratch. They didn’t have so much as a paper clip on hand to get the academy started, said Col. Chris King, a West Point geography professor. You have to find every little thing you need, things you take for granted. To fill their faculty positions, the MOD identified 1,023 potential academic professors who possessed the necessary advanced degrees. Military academy implementation team chief Col. James Wilhite, West Point faculty and OMCA members Col. Ray Winkle, Col. Gary Krahn and Larry Butler then narrowed the list to 200 candidates with the desired qualifications to teach everything from world history to physics to chemistry to psychology. The team eventually hired 30 professors to form the academic faculty. By the end of November 2004, 353 cadet candidates had completed the competitive entrance exam. The defense ministry, in conjunction with OMCA staff, then conducted personal interviews of the prospective cadets. The top 120 young men were offered a place in the first class. Forsythe, who laid the groundwork for the academy 18 months ago, returned for the grand opening and remarked upon his impressions of seeing the concept turned into reality. The academy facility is excellent and represents the excellence that the Afghan government and ANA expect of the officer corps and their service, he said. This institution could play a significant role for the emerging democracy in Afghanistan, much like West Point played a large role in the emerging United States of America; providing leaders of character who would serve the Army and their people. And at some point in time, when they left their service in uniform, would continue to serve the country in another capacity that further advances the nation. The USMA corps of cadets recently adopted the NMAA corps of cadets as their first and only cadet corps partnership. They will correspond with each other, exchange ideas and share resources. To fully care for the administrative and logistical needs of new academy, a 300-soldier NMAA support battalion will be assembled over the next year. West Point will continue to send faculty, administrators and support personnel as needed to assist in forming and training the support battalion and to further develop the NMAA faculty for the specific course work and curriculum being taught there. More NMAA faculty will be hired as the corps of cadets grows over the next few years. Future classes will have between 250 to 300 students each, and upperclassmen will take on leadership roles in guiding the underclassmen. Cadets, who are between the ages of 18 and 23, will earn $80 a month as well as receive free books, supplies, housing and food, in addition to their education. For the privilege of attending the academy, they incur a 10-year service commitment to the ANA, twice the commitment length of U.S. Military Academy cadets. But none of them blinked an eye when taking his oath of office. Wilhite has grown very close to the NMAA corps of cadets during his work with the academy and will redeploy soon. Before the grand opening ceremony he made a point to shake the hand of each cadet and offer his personal congratulations. Later, when reflecting on the significance of this act, he remarked that he was likely shaking the hand of a future general, a future minister, a future president of Afghanistan. Cadet Jamshaid, the top cadet of the NMAA, said, As military officers, we will never step back from learning and will always be disciplined and remain faithful and loyal to our beloved country. Hope and love of country are also shown by the cadets’ parents. Cadet Aminullah, from Herat province, said his father provided special advice to him before leaving home to attend the academy. Be faithful to your country, he said. Afghanistan is like a mother. If you serve your mother, you have to serve your motherland too. (Maj. Rick Peat and Lt. Col. Frederick Rice are assigned to the Office of Military Cooperation Afghanistan public affairs office.)
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