By Capt. Kris Gardiner TARIN KOT, Afghanistan - Afghan National Security Forces have disrupted insurgent actions in Uruzgan with a series of complex and short notice operations in the western part of the province.
Conducted between late August and mid-September, the operations involving 4th Brigade, 205th Corps, soldiers and Afghan National Police cut off insurgent resupply lines with Helmand province and drove outnumbered and outskilled fighters from around check points in Deh Rawud and Char Chineh districts.
It is the second time in recent months insurgents have failed to expel government forces from western Uruzgan. Read more.
Story by Staff Sgt. Johnathan Hoover
Capt. Steve Scuba from Washington, the brigade nurse with Charlie Company, 15th "Gamblers" Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, evaluates a simulated casualty for further injuries during "back wall" medic training in Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, Sept. 14, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Johnathan Hoover, 2nd BCT PAO, 1st Cav. Div.)
PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan –From time to time, everyone likes to have a little help and the flight medics of Task Force Fighting Eagles are getting just that.
Six soldiers from Charlie Company, 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team “Gamblers,” 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, volunteered for training to become back wall medics to assist the flight medics during an air medical evacuation missions under TF Fighting
Eagles.
For approximately two weeks, Soldiers will train alongside flight medics to prepare them for real world scenarios so they can proficiently perform duties treating our casualties.
“Casualties that could be U.S., Coalition Forces and/or Afghan National Army,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class James Crawell, Headquarters Medical Platoon Sergeant, Charlie Company, 2nd General
Support Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, TF Fighting Eagles.
A back wall medic is a combat medic who has been assigned to a medical evacuation unit, said Staff Sgt. DJ Anderson of Rocklin, Calif., a back wall medic instructor for 2-1 GSAB. The back wall medics will go through additional training to assist them in aviation missions.
Anderson added, the back wall medic gets its name from the position of where they are in
the aircraft. Read more.
Story by Staff Sgt. Opal Vaughn KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – In the distance, white puffs of
smoke rise in the morning sky over Ganjigal, a quiet valley tucked away in the vast mountains of Sarkani district. The southern mountain peaks are a seemingly perfect vantage point for insurgent fighters to attack.
“They know we’re coming,” said an interpreter, who uses the pseudo name David as a safety
precaution. “You see, look there in the distance.”
Just the night before, insurgents launched a barrage of rockets and mortars from those very peaks into the valley, David said.
Still these attacks do not deter most of the villagers and, in particular, Afghan Local Police guardian Sam-i-Ullah. For him and the few that do remain, Sarkani is home.
“I have been in the ALP for about two years now,” said Sam-i-Ullah. “I used to work out there in the big cities doing labor work consisting of different odds and ends.”
But becoming an ALP gave him the chance to do more than simply earn a living, he said.
“One day I heard about the ALP program, and I jumped at the chance to not only be closer to home but to serve my country,” explained Sam-i-Ullah.
Lush greenery surrounds the narrow streets of Sarkani district. Vendors waving bags in the air filled to the brim with almonds, raisins, vegetables and fresh fruits. There are young boys scurrying to school, dressed in satin blue and milky white uniforms. Read more.
Story by Staff Sgt. Opal Vaughn WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan- Afghan Commandos from the 6th Special Operations Kandak thwarted an insurgent attack and prevented the emplacement of a car bomb Sept. 19 in Kabul province’s Sayadabad district.
Approximately six insurgents attacked the Commandos near Highway 1 in Baghak village. The Commandos were there as part of an effort by Afghan National Security Forces to increase security and presence in the area.
The elite soldiers spotted the armed insurgents trying to conceal weapons and the car bomb. The insurgents opened fire without hesitation, but the Commandos overwhelmed their attackers and caused their retreat.
Afghan Commandos secured the area and detonated the car bomb in place. No Afghan military, civilian or enemy casualties were reported.
Baghak village is a known stronghold for insurgents and foreign fighters. Insurgents take advantage
of the area to facilitate weapons storage and to increase manpower, said Noori Mohammed, Wardak province National Security Directorate Chief. Read more.
An Afghan National Army Special Forces soldier with the 6th Special Operations Kandak escorts a group of local villagers to another compound during a clearing operation in Sayed Abad District, Wardak province, Afghanistan, Sept. 19, 2013. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. James McCann)
Story by Staff Sgt. Opal Vaughn WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan- Afghan commandos detained four insurgents and discovered weapons Sept. 20 during a clearing operation in Wardak province’s Sayed Abad District to reduce insurgent attacks in Baghak village along Highway 1.
The commandos, from the 6th Special Operations Kandak, were clearing Baghak village when 12 heavily-armed insurgents opened fire. The elite commandos immediately returned fire discovering the insurgents had been trying to conceal the weapons.
Although four enemy fighters were detained, several others fled. Following the attack, the commandos found and destroyed a 107 mm rocket and an 82 mm recoilless rifle round.
The detainees were transferred to the Sayed Abad District National Security Directorate.
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