LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Members of the Afghan National Army’s 203rd Corps practice hand and arm signals during a drivers safety class given by Sgt. 1st Class Rebecca Kirven, left, a Ruston, La., native and a platoon sergeant with Company D, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, attached to 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th IBCT, at Combat Outpost McClain, Afghanistan, May 26. The course helps improve the ANA soldiers’ driving skills and prevent casualties due to rollovers. Better driving is one of many ways U.S. Soldiers are helping Afghans improve their ability to take the lead for security.
NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – In a regional first, U.S. Army intelligence officers met face-to-face with their Afghan National Security Forces counterparts at the Afghan Border Police (ABP) Zone 1 compound in Jalalabad, Nangarhar Province, on June 10.
U.S. Army Maj. Michael O’Meara, brigade intelligence/S2 officer, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, of Clarksville, Tenn., met with representatives from the ABP, Department of Intelligence (DOI) and Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) to compare notes about the nature and concentration of enemy activity within Zone 1.
Zone 1 is comprised of the provinces of Nuristan, Kunar and Nangarhar. The latter two provinces are along the increasingly volatile Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
“It’s not normal for the American S2 to meet with all his counterparts from the ABP and ANCOP,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class David Rivera, the intelligence advisor for Security Forces Advisory and Assistance Team-ABP Zone 1, 1st BCT, 101st Abn. Div., of Honolulu, Hawaii. “This is the first time we’ve done something like this.”
Rivera was responsible for organizing the gathering and bringing O’Meara and the Afghan intelligence officers together.
The day began with introductions and light, informal conversation around a conference table filled with food and drink. Though the 90-minute discussion eventually turned to business, the initial chitchat was of vital importance.
Unlike in America where business dealings may begin over the phone or through email, successful working relationships in Afghanistan start over a cup of chai (tea) and a chat about family and friends.
Establishing that initial face-to-face contact is critical in this culture, Rivera said. Adapting the Army’s way of doing things to the Afghan way was a huge step in the right direction.
Such an attempt has not been made before for a couple of reasons.
There hasn’t been anyone to facilitate the relationship before, Rivera said. More importantly, however, ANSF capabilities have now developed to the point where U.S. and Afghan intelligence officers can work together on equal footing.
After the introductory gathering, O’Meara met individually with officers from each of the represented agencies to discuss that agency’s particular area of expertise and to share information. The American S2 got together with the ABP and DOI intelligence officers in the morning, and then with ANCOP personnel in the afternoon.
In light of a June 8 attack in Paktika Province, where two U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian were killed by someone dressed in an Afghan National Army uniform, the conversations paid special attention to thwarting future attacks coming from within the ranks.
“Right now we’re focusing on you guys, to protect you guys from inside threats,” said ABP Col. Muhammad Sadiq, director of intelligence, ABP Zone 1, to O’Meara with the aid of an interpreter.
O’Meara said he was very impressed with the steps Zone 1 officials have taken thus far to counter such threats.
Of particular note was the system DOI intelligence director Sayid Assadula has established to verify the identity of ANSF Zone 1 personnel. Given the lack of widespread identification techniques in Afghanistan, such as social security numbers or biometric databases, confirming that an individual is who he or she claims to be can be difficult.
Nevertheless, Assadula has created and implemented a system where identities are vouched for on multiple levels, a method which makes enemy infiltration extremely difficult, if not impossible.
“You’re running a very good program preventing threats like that from happening,” O’Meara told Assadula.
At the end of the morning meetings, the ABP and DOI representatives welcomed O’Meara and the other U.S. Soldiers accompanying him to a lunch catered in honor of the American S2’s visit. Over the meal of rice, chicken, goat, bread, soft-drinks and watermelon, the conversation turned casual again. The Afghans even began sharing jokes with the Americans, through the interpreter.
This meant the meetings were proving a success, noted Rivera.
“That’s rare,” Rivera said. “In Afghan culture, if they start making jokes like that in front of you, that’s because you’re in. So it went really, really well.”
LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – In a hot tent on Forward Operating Base Shank, with an American flag hanging from the ceiling, works a U.S Army welder whose recent project can help save many lives in eastern Afghanistan.
Reggae, soul music and rhythm and blues pours out of Sgt. Patrick Lewis’s stereo, as he goes to work welding together rebar to create culvert denial systems.
The systems will help prevent insurgents from placing improvised explosive devices in culverts along Afghanistan’s Highway 1.
Lewis, who hails from Queens, N.Y., is originally from Jamaica and moved to the United States in 2001.
He learned to weld at the Apex Technical School in Manhattan, N.Y., and joined the U.S. Army in 2007 as an allied trade specialist. He currently serves in Company B, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
Lewis, the primary welder in Co. B., has completed many projects since arriving at FOB Shank such as repairing radio towers and building steel gates, but this project is expanding his reach into Wardak and Logar provinces.
Preventing the emplacement of IEDs is essential to help prevent military and civilian casualties.
“Highway 1 is a main supply route going from BAF (Bagram Airfield) to Ghazni, and a critical point of our mission here is to keep that safe,” said 1st Lt. Shane Hook, Co. B executive officer.
The brigade counter IED office passed a sketch of the system’s design down the chain of command to Lewis. Then, rebar was shipped from BAF.
“We do just about anything,” Lewis said. “You name it, if you can come up with a picture and show us that, we can make it. It’s as simple as that.”
The static crackling sound can be heard as Lewis welds the rebar together into a cone-like shape.
Spc. Jonathan Carpenter, a native of Pendleton, S.C., and a wheeled vehicle mechanic in Co. B, who helps Lewis when he’s not servicing vehicles, said the culvert denial system will allow water to flow through the culvert, but deny insurgents the ability to plant IEDs inside of them.
Lewis said the system would benefit all U.S. Forces as well as Afghans who travel on Highway 1.
Lewis has a good reputation as a hard worker within the brigade.
“He’s a measure twice, cut once, type of guy, which is good,” said Hook. “That is exactly the type you want.”
First Sgt. Robert Walker, a native of Bryant, Ala., and the Co. B. first sergeant, said Lewis is one of his better noncomissioned officers. “He takes every opportunity he can to teach Soldiers,” he added.
Lewis’ good reputation stems from his enjoyment of his job.
“I love what I do,” Lewis said. “This is me playing my part. If this is what I can do to prevent the loss of another U.S. service member then I’m more than willing to contribute in whatever way I can.”
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces killed 11 enemies of Afghanistan, detained four suspected enemies of Afghanistan and found and safely cleared four improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, June 18.
Khowst Province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Jaji Maiden District.
Afghan National Security Forces detained four suspected enemies of Afghanistan during operations in the Moosa Khel District. The suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.
Paktika Province
Coalition Forces killed seven enemies of Afghanistan during operations in the Sar Hawza District.
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Sharan District.
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces killed two enemies of Afghanistan during operations in the Urgun District.
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Zarghoon Shar District.
Paktya Province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Zardan District.
Wardak Province
Afghan National Security Forces killed two enemies of Afghanistan during operations in the Jaghato District.
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces killed five enemies of Afghanistan, detained one suspected enemy of Afghanistan and found and safely cleared four improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, June 17.
Kunar Province
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces killed three enemies of Afghanistan during operations in the Wata Poor District.
Laghman Province
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces killed one enemy of Afghanistan during operations in the Qarghaee District.
Nanagarhar Province
Afghan National Security Forces killed one enemy of Afghanistan during operations in the Dih Bala District.
Paktika Province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared three IEDs during operations in the Kushamond District.
Paktya Province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Zardan District.
Wardak Province
Afghan National Security Forces detained one suspected enemy of Afghanistan during operations in the Sayed Abad District. The suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.
KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Imams with the Jordanian Armed Forces, Jordanian Engagement Team, met with village elders, Mullahs and Afghan National Security Forces from Paktika and Khowst Provinces, June 11.
The Jordanian Imams, leaders or teachers of the Muslim religion, have been working on engagement teams since 2006 and spreading the Amman message, a calling for tolerance and unity in the Muslim world.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II first stated the Amman message, Nov. 9, 2004. It is based upon points of unanimous concensus from approximately 500 leading Islamic scholars and leaders world wide and are what Jordan’s military engagement efforts are based upon.
“We want to make sure peace and prosperity prevail in Afghanistan,” said Capt. Imam Sabri Ahmad Ali Alqudah, senior Imam with the Jordanian Engagement Team based out of Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. “We give assistance with Islam doctrine to the scholars and people of Afghanistan, as well as members of the [Afghan National] Army.”
Through the use of radical Islamic doctrine, the Taliban has been gaining recruits which, in turn, causes strain for Afghan National Security Forces and Mullahs alike.
The Mullahs and village elders expressed their wish for the Imam’s message to help keep that from happening.
“We all agree with the Jordanian Muslim scholars,” expressed Mullah Izhar Udin, a religious scholar from Khowst, Afghanistan. “We need the Imams to tell the Mullahs [supporting the Taliban], to prove to them, that the reason they are killing people is wrong.”
“We want the people to stop the competition, stop the fighting and have peace for all parties involved,” stated said Capt. Imam Sabri. “To be a good nation, people need to do the right things, stay away from the bad, as was stated by Allah.”
Delivering that message and preventing the Taliban from misusing Islamic doctrine to gain members, is the drive behind Jordan’s use of religious outreach and Teams.
“My two Imams and I came from Jordan to help and assist [the people of Afghanistan] in recommendation, consultation and clarification of Islamic doctrine and the Amman message,” said Maj. Abdel Latif, the officer in charge of the JET. “I would like for the commanders, Mullahs, village elders and citizens [of Afghanistan] to come together and put their hands together to build a better future for Afghanistan.”
PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Bits of debris lay scattered around the blast site, all that remained of an improvised explosive device that had just detonated.
Shredded plastic from the IED’s casing littered the road, along with mangled bits of metal, ball bearings and scraps of electrical tape.
Members of the Afghan Uniform Police and National Directorate of Security lined up along the road, pointing out bits of evidence to be photographed and collected.
They made sure to collect even the bits of tape, which may preserve fingerprints or DNA from the bomb maker.
That evidence could be analyzed and potentially lead to the bomb maker’s arrest, said Jon Hanning, chief trainer, Combined Joint Task Force Paladin – Theater Explosive Exploitation.
It was the last day of a forensic processes course, a three-day seminar at Forward Operating Bases Rushmore and Sharana that taught AUP and NDS how to process an IED site for incriminating evidence.
“We’ve never had this kind of technique,” said Staff Sgt. Ehsanullah, chief of biometrics, AUP. “The important thing for us is, there were things we couldn’t do in the past to find guilty people, but now we can find the guilty person easily, by taking fingerprints.”
The class represented another step toward the rule of law in Afghanistan as Afghans solidify a nationwide law enforcement system.
“It used to be in Afghanistan we didn’t have a [unified country],” said 2nd Lt. Mohammed Aman, Provincial Reconnaissance Company. “Different parties, different people, they had their own laws that they tried to implement on their own people. Different commanders had different visions. Right now we have a commander, and we have to follow him.”
Training the Afghans to take fingerprints, swab for DNA and collect evidence at a crime scene will aid Afghan judges and attorneys in court proceedings, said U.S. Army Capt. Ian Jarvis, second in command, CJTF Paladin TEX.
Understanding the science behind fingerprints and DNA will help them understand the significance of such evidence in court, he said.
Having that science also makes it easier to track down enemies of Afghanistan, Hanning said.
“This class helped us,” Ehsanullah said. “Now we can easily identify detainees. We can find out who the guilty person is.”
The seminar consisted of a train-the-trainer day, during which five Afghans learned fingerprint and DNA collection techniques from the TEX team. The next day, those five trained about 15 of their comrades.
The seminar culminated in an exploitation day, where the Afghans collected evidence from exploded IEDs at a controlled site at FOB Sharana.
Having basic forensic skills gives the Afghans that many more tools to use as Afghanistan solidifies their rule of law, Hanning said. It will be up to them how they choose to use them.
“We don’t try to teach them that this is the way to do it,” Hanning said. “We teach them that this is a way to do it.”
Aman said that Afghan law enforcement not only plans to use forensic processes, it’s very important for them to do so.
“For all of our forces, it’s very important to follow this so we can identify guilty people,” Aman said.
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces killed five enemies of Afghanistan, detained four suspected enemies of Afghanistan, discovered two weapons caches and found and safely cleared 12 improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, June 16.
Ghazni Province
Afghan National Security Forces detained one suspected enemy of Afghanistan during operations in the Deh Yak District. The suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Ghazni District.
Khowst Province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared five IEDs during operations in the Khowst District.
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces detained one suspected enemy of Afghanistan during operations in the Saberi District. The suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Tanai District.
Laghman Province
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Alingar District.
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Qarghaee District.
Paktika Province
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces found and safely cleared two IEDs during operations in the Kushamond District.
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces killed three enemies of Afghanistan and recovered five rocket-propelled grenades, one small-caliber rifle and more than 1,000 rounds of small-caliber ammunition during operations in the Mata Khan District.
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces killed two enemies of Afghanistan during operations in the Omana District.
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Sharan District.
Wardak Province
Afghan National Security Forces detained two suspected enemies of Afghanistan and discovered two weapons caches during operations in the Sayed Abad District. The caches contained 34 IEDs, four rocket-propelled grenades, six mortar rounds, one mortar tube and one rifle. The suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.
GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A crowd of Polish and U.S. Soldiers gather around two people in the center of the dining facility at Forward Operating Base Ghazni. The Soldiers, one senior, one junior, were selected to observe and participate in a time- honored tradition.
Residents of FOB Ghazni gathered in the Eagle Main Dining Facility to witness the cake cutting ceremony, June 14. As U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Clemens of Burbank, Ill., and Pvt. Matthew Dos Santo of Fairview, Mass., grasp the saber provided by Polish Brig. Gen. Marek Sokolowski in preparation for cutting the cake, the crowd in the DFAC sings the Army song, followed by “Sto lat”, the traditional birthday song in Poland.
The two soldiers selected to cut the Army birthday cake represent the most senior and most junior in the Army. This tradition celebrates the past, as well as the future of the Army.
Clemens, assigned to Task Force White Eagle as the U.S. communications officer, was selected for his 39 years of service to the Army. Clemens reflected on being selected to cut the cake, “After being in the Army as many years as I have, any honor you have is always a good honor. I’m at the end of my tour now, another six months and I’ll be retired; I’ve had a good time with the Army, so it’s a good time to reflect on the good times.”
Dos Santo, assigned to Cross Functional Team Warrior was supposed to be on mission, but was selected as the most junior member on the FOB to participate in the ceremony. “It was pretty cool that it’s the different generations, the youngest and the oldest, how they get together and they make up the Army,” Dos Santo said. “You know, the people with the most experience and people with not so much experience.”
Though they are deployed, leaders try to make sure they give their soldiers an opportunity to celebrate the good and participate in traditional activities. The cutting of the Army birthday cake is one of those traditions. It offers a short break from the day’s tasks and places focus on an event to be celebrated.
Dos Santo appreciated the tradition of the ceremony by remarking, “I think it’s good that we still did the tradition even though we’re deployed. We didn’t forget that it’s still an important date and it’s why we’re here, so I think it’s a good reminder that just because we’re deployed, we don’t lose our traditions.”
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces killed one enemy of Afghanistan, discovered one weapons cache, and found and safely cleared six improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, June 15.
Ghazni Province
Coalition Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Andar District.
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Ghazni District.
Coalition Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Waghez District.
Khowst Province
Coalition Forces discovered one weapons cache during operations in the Tanai District. The cache contained four mines, one IED, and six rocket-propelled grenades.
Paktika Province
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces found and safely cleared two IEDs during operations in the Kushamond District.
Wardak Province
Afghan National Security and Coalition Forces killed one enemy of Afghanistan during operations in the Daymardad District.
Coalition Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Sayed Abad District.
