Chaplain Assistant Trains With PSD
Story by Pfc. Kimberly Hackbarth
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Following the command "Dismount!" a group of Soldiers jumped off the ramp of a Stryker and scanned the area for potential threats.
Surrounded by Soldiers whose main job it is to protect the commander, Spc. Jacob Barbe, a chaplain assistant, trains with the personal security detachment in order to learn how to properly protect the chaplain.
Barbe's mission in the Army is helping the chaplain with important services, preparing sermons and providing religious support throughout unit. When those tasks are done, he searches for a different, but equally important mission; tagging along with the 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division's PSD.
It's necessary to train with the PSD to gain experience and knowledge of tactics used when outside the wire in order to effectively protect the chaplain, said Barbe, an Ocala, Fla. native. Chaplains are designated as non-combatants and do not carry weapons.
"I'm with the PSD for everything except for physical training and when I'm working with the chaplain," said Barbe.
Holiday Homecoming
The Longmont Times has an article on a Stryker soldier from the 1/25 SBCT who is spending the holidays at home for the first time in many years.
More than nine months after his Stryker combat vehicle was blown up in Iraq, Army Spc. Paul Bryan is home for the holidays.“This’ll be the first Christmas I’ve been home with my family in about three years, now,” said Bryan, during a welcome-back reception for him Saturday at the Longmont VFW. “I never had enough leave.”
He has it now — 45 days worth. He also has a few stories and more than his share of luck.
In February, he needed every ounce of it.
Brigade Awaits Decision on Troops
An embedded report from the Washington Times.
A Washington Times reporter and photographer spent much of October - the deadliest month for American troops there thus far - with U.S. Army soldiers in southern Afghanistan, who spoke openly of the need for more boots on the ground, the more and sooner the better."We need more troops," said Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Paul Rabidou, 24, stationed at a small combat outpost in the Maywand district. "It's just as simple as that."
The Blackwatch unit - Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, with the 5th Stryker Brigade - arrived at the outpost Sept. 13. Since their arrival, they have lost three soldiers and two civil-affairs officers. Bombings have destroyed three of their four Stryker vehicles.
U.S. Doctors Meet Iraq Partners
Story by Sgt. Bryce Dubee
BAGHDAD – The exchange of information regarding the latest medical studies and procedures are commonplace throughout the worldwide medical community, however after years of conflict and instability in Iraq, many Iraqi medical professionals have been left out of the information loop.
To help Iraqi doctors learn some of the latest medical, U.S. medical Soldiers from the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division organized an alliance between U.S. military doctors and local Iraqi hospitals.
"Our goal is to meet with the hospitals monthly," explained Capt. Gabriela Niess, a native of Davis, Calif., the brigade's medical planner.
Currently the brigade meets with two hospitals, one in Abu Ghraib and one in Yarmouk, in western Baghdad, with plans to add more hospitals to the exchange in the future.
Photos: Monitor the Village
DVIDS has five photos of soldiers from 2-1 INF, 5/2 SBCT during operations in Afghanistan.
Photos: Thanksgiving Visits to Afghanistan
U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry and actor Gary Sinise both visited Stryker troops in Afghnaistan.
Thanksgiving R&R
A local paper catches up with an officer from the 5/2 SBCT home on leave.
Johnson, 23, described his first months of work in a remote Army camp in southeastern Afghanistan, where he leads a 40-soldier platoon on foot patrols, often at night, trying at the same time to combat Taliban fighters and engage Afghan civilians on friendly terms.“We check every single house, every single orchard,” said Johnson, clad in a Harley-Davidson T-shirt and jeans in his College Township living room. “We’re checking for weapons caches, trying to make contact with any enemy that wants to fight us and check for bomb-making materials especially.”
Johnson’s is one of four platoons in Charlie Company, a 170-member force that is part of the 5th Stryker Brigade in the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division and among the 68,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan prosecuting the war against the Taliban.
Dragoons go for the Record
2d Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Public Affairs Office
Vilseck, Germany – Thousands of Dragoons gathered alongside their families in the wee hours of the morning Wednesday November 18 in front of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regimental Headquarters on a mission. Their objective was to set a new world’s record for the largest yellow ribbon run ever conducted by service members on a military installation by participating in the first-ever Rock & Roll Marathon Series Yellow Ribbon Run.
“Today is a day of celebration,” said Troy Mason, sponsorship and advertising manager for USAG Grafenwoehr and Garmisch. “A celebration of our returning troops, and also pays tribute to our Soldiers who have been deployed and are preparing to deploy.”
The event was produced by MWR USAG Grafenwoehr and the nonprofit organization The Warriors Tours. The Warrior Tours links the men and women of the US Armed Forces with the American people through physical fitness by teaming up stateside events with US military bases worldwide. The organization connects US service men and women with their friends and families through video, text, and images that are posted on The Warrior Tours website and broadcast at domestic sporting events.
The Warrior Tours founder Robi Powers, announced the momentous occasion. . Powers has been referred to as America's Voice of Running since 1988. He is a former U.S. National Team Athlete,Olympic Teams Coach and former US Armed Forces Sports Program Athlete. Powers was also a Soldier himself having served in the 2-172 Mountain Infantry Brigade.
"I've been announcing at some of America's largest running events for 22 years and can honestly say that being a part of the USAG Vilseck/Graf Military Communities Rock'n'Roll Marathon Series Yellow Ribbon Run was one of my absolute career highlights to date!" Powers said. "The Warrior Tours foundation is sharing this with hundreds of thousands of American's who are runners or family members of runners through Competitor Group and several worldwide magazines, to include Competitor.com," Powers said. "What really brought it home for me was the recognition of family that was incorporated into the event."
Following the race, Powers was given a tour of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and provided a chance to meet and talk with Troopers in their workplace.
"That was the icing on the American Cake for me,” he said, “getting to meet some of the finest soldiers in the world, at work, doing their jobs."
While the official registration count for the run set the record at 1,943 participants, organizers estimated over 2,500 runners took part in the event.
2SCR FIRES Names M-777
2d Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Public Affairs Office
Vilseck, Germany –The 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment’s FIRES Squadron gathered Thursday Nov. 20, to honor some of the outstanding Troopers from the Regiment’s rich history.
FIRES became the first unit in European Command to receive the new M-777 towed, lightweight 155mm howitzer. It has long been customary for gun crews to name their weapons when they receive them. In keeping with 2SCR’s tradition of remember the past, Fires Squadron decided to honor those Soldiers of the Regiment who were awarded the Medal of Honor for valor and bravery.
The guns bear the names of the following Troopers:
2/2 Soldiers witness historic celebration in Mödlareuth
2d Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Public Affairs Office
Vilseck, Germany – Troopers from 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment had the opportunity to attend a historic event in the town of Modlareuth on Nov. 9.
The Cougars were distinguished guests at the Bavarian State Government official celebration remembering the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain along the former border separating Western and Eastern Germany. Just like Berlin, the small town of Mödlareuth felt the harsh reality of separation during the Cold War as the Soviets erected a large wall which divided it right down the middle. Today a portion of the wall still stands outside the German German Musuem were the celebration was held.
During the Cold War era, 2ACR was responsible for surveillance of 731 kilometers along the Iron Curtain that included 375 kilometers separating West and East Germany. Mödlareuth was in 2SCR area of operation so it was fitting for 2nd Squadron to attend this event. American Soldiers patrolling the area nicknamed the town Little Berlin. Troopers said they felt honored to be part of such a significant moment.
“This is amazing to be part of such an occasion,” said Pvt. Dylan Baker of 2/2SCR. “I have never attended anything like this before.”
For Dylan, who just joined the Regiment three weeks ago, the ceremony was a great chance to learn more about the Regiment and it’s rich history in Europe.
One of the highlights of the evening was an address by Bavarian Governor Minister President Horst Seehofer. He began by thanking everyone involved in the peaceful end to the long separation.
"The people from former Eastern Germany (German Democratic Republic) owe our deepest appreciation for their courage, and desire for freedom and change,” he said. "We also need to thank the police, border police and the U.S. Forces for their special commitment by patrolling the borderline."
The last highlight of the evening, a group of German students from Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia who recently attended a seminar with American high school students from Vilseck, Bamberg and Hohenfels discussed their experiences. They talked with their American counterparts about the separation of Germany by the Iron Curtain. The German students said they were amazed at how knowledgeable the American students were on the Berlin Wall.
The culmination of the evening happened when Lt. Col., Jones presented a plaque to the German-German Museum Association of Moedlareuth Chairperson County Commissioner Bernd Hering. This plague is now permently part of history. It will hang in the museum to solidfy 2SCRs connection to Modlareuth.
FIRES Trooper earn their Spurs
2d Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Public Affairs Office
Vilseck, Germany – Troopers of FIRES Squadron 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment recently participated in the time-honored tradition known as the Spur ride. The Spur Ride is an event held over multiple days during which a Trooper must pass a series of physical and mental tests that evaluate leadership, technical and tactical proficiency, and the ability to operate as part of a team under high levels of stress and fatigue. FIRES Soldiers participated in three-days of events that taxed them both physically and mentally.
In the early morning hours of day one, participants formed teams and gathered for the first hurdle they had to face dubbed the PT test from hell. This was a three-mile run with various physical tasks along the route each team must accomplish. The teams completed team push-ups, sit-ups, log and water can carry.
From there it was out to the land navigation course where teams had to plot and find eight points on a map in under five hours. The plots were spread out over a distance of nine kilometers.
On day two, tired and sore the would-be spur riders gathered at the motor pool . for a 15 kilometer ruck march with each Trooper carrying a minimum of 35 pounds in his or her pack. With very little time to catch their breath, teams were ushered from the finish line of the march to the next event, a timed obstacle course. Soldiers faced several challenges that tested their strength and ability to work as a team.
The final day began with a Squadron run. Each team was then administered a written test on the history of the Regiment. Troopers had 5 minutes to answer 15 questions. After the test the teams began several community beautification projects both around post and in the town of Sorghof.
The Spur Ride ended with a presentation during which each Soldier was presented with their spur certificate inducting them into the coveted Order of the Spur.
In the team standings first place went to Bravo Battery Team 1. Engineers team 8 took second and third place went to HHB team 1. The top Battery/Troop average went to the Engineers.
Impact of Afghanistan Surge on Strykers
The Wall Street Journal has an article describing the potential impact of additional troops in Afghanistan.
As Gen. McChrystal's team scrambles to reverse Taliban gains in Kandahar, they will also dispatch thousands of American soldiers to secure the major highways that pass through the city to Pakistan and southern Afghanistan.As soon as this weekend, officers expect to order the fast-moving armored Stryker Brigade to devote itself full time to securing roads plagued by hidden bombs and illegal checkpoints run by insurgents, bandits and corrupt police. [...]
The Stryker Brigade will have road engineers and intelligence teams on board, and will likely use high-tech surveillance equipment to try to ensure that insurgents don't plant explosives or extort money from passersby, officials say.
Videos: UAV's at Warhorse
DVIDS has a series of video segments featuring soldiers from the 3/2 SBCT who operate the brigade's unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). All six clips are embedded after the jump.
Photos: Medical Civlian Affairs Patrol
DVIDS has an album of photos featuring the 4-23 INF, 5/2 SBCT.
Embedded with 2-1 INF
An Army Times reporter is currently embedded with the 2-1 INF, 5/2 SBCT in Southern Afghanistan.
HUTAL, Afghanistan — The denizens of this dusty market town had never seen anything like the sight that greeted them at midday Oct. 12.The previous day, a handful of insurgents in a nearby village had made the mistake of shooting at a pair of U.S. OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters. Stryker-borne infantry rushed to the scene and, together with the helicopters, engaged the Taliban, killing one, wounding another, who got away, and detaining three more.
Now, rolling slowly down the main street of the bazaar, came five Stryker vehicles with the weapons captured in that fight tied to their fronts on full display for the locals.
SPC Joseph M. Lewis
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spc. Joseph M. Lewis, 26, of Terrell, Texas died on Nov. 17 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
Related:
Bomb kills Fort Lewis soldier - The News Tribune
Man fulfilled a childhood ambition by becoming a soldier - Star-Telegram.com
Memorial: Fort Lewis honors Spc. Joseph M. Lewis - The News Tribune
Iraqi Army, U.S. Forces Work to Build Better Security
Story by Spc. Anthony Jones, 145th MPAD
DIYALA, Iraq – The Iraqi army with the help of U.S. Soldiers and contractors placed two large concrete towers and several concrete blast walls near the Diyala province, Nov. 14.
"The towers will go a long way in helping the Iraqi army provide better security for the Iraqi citizens," said 1st Lt. Jacob Magill, a platoon leader with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.
The first of the two towers was erected near the village of al Sada, where al- Qaeda has been moving, according to 1st Lt. Haider Maher Ali, executive officer for 3rd Company, 3rd Battalion, 20th Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division.
"We are placing these towers here in order to control the northern sector and deter al-Qaeda movement in the area," said Haider, who added he joined the IA to help build a better Iraq and make it a peaceful area.
The tower had to be erected on site, and was delivered and constructed by civilian contractors from Kellogg, Brown and Root with the aid of an Iraqi contractor and a large crane to lift the heavy sections of tower and the multiple blast walls placed around the tower.
"Working with the Iraqi contractor and IA shows our commitment to the security agreement," said Magill. "It was also good for the Iraqi citizens to see the Iraqi civilian crane operator working with the Iraqi army, working with the U.S. forces and showing a good, combined operation on all fronts."
After the first tower and blast walls were in place, Haider, who personally led the placement of the tower and accompanying walls, ensured his Soldiers would be able to utilize the tower for its intended purpose.
Once the first tower was placed the U.S. forces escorted the contractors through the desert to the second site where it could be used for over watch.
"We will work with U.S. forces as one team to help make this area safe and to secure the people from the bad people whether it be al-Qaeda or any terrorist organization as we build a new Iraq," said Haider.
(via DVIDS)
Stryker Memorial
Ft. Lewis held a memorial yesterday for two 5/2 SBCT soldiers killed in Iraq. The News Tribune provided coverage.
[I]nsurgents detonated a bomb underneath their 20-ton Stryker, killing Spc. Aaron Seth Aamot and Spc. Gary Lee Gooch Jr., both 22 years old.Hundreds gathered at the North Fort Chapel on Thursday to mourn the 27th and 28th losses from 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. Aamot, a soldier from Custer, near Bellingham, was remembered for his deep Christian faith and deep love of military history. Gooch, a radio telephone operator from central Florida, was remembered for having a wicked sense of humor.
The men served with the hardest-hit unit in the brigade: 2nd Platoon of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment. Their unit has lost 11 soldiers since July, fighting in the Arghandab Valley of Kandahar province.
Related:
Fort Lewis remembers two soldiers from a hard-hit platoon - Seattle Times
Mechanics Keep Task Force Legion Rolling
Story by Pvt. Luke Rollins, 22nd MPAD
FORWARD OPERATING BASE RAMROD, Afghanistan – This year marks the first time the sands of southern Afghanistan have seen the tire treads of Army Strykers. The 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division's campaign in the Kandahar province depends upon the vehicles freely roaming the desert, disrupting counterinsurgency patterns and enemy supply chains.
While the Soldiers inside the Strykers score victories against enemy forces in the Afghan countryside, behind the scenes teams of mechanics work to keep the motor pool at full strength.
At Ramrod, the task of repairing not only Strykers but all the vehicles attached to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, falls to the team of mechanics and other repairmen from Combat Repair Team 1, 402nd Brigade Support Battalion.
"On a daily basis we have anywhere from seven to 10 vehicles for different reasons," said Chief Warrant Officer Heriberto Rivera, a technician at the Ramrod motor pool and battalion maintenance chief.
The two main types of repairs are scheduled repairs, such as annual and semiannual services, and unscheduled repairs, which are the damages vehicles see outside the wire, said Rivera.
Task Force Legion Arrives in Maywand District
Story by Pvt. Luke Rollins
FORWARD OPERATING BASE RAMROD, Afghanistan – Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, have spent the first months of their deployment introducing themselves to the people of the Kandahar region and its terrain.
2/1 Soldiers, part of the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, are patrolling along Afghanistan's Highway 1 to prevent the insurgent flow of men, weapons and equipment.
The mission has seen success in its early stages, said Capt. Matt Quiggle, commander of Alpha Troop, on loan from the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment of 5th SBCT.
"Along the highway there have been a reduced number of attacks. We've had success partnering with the Afghan national army and [Afghan] national police, and meeting the local leaders," said Quiggle.
Quiggle's troops and other units have been pushing north into areas that haven't seen ISAF forces in a long time. The introduction of Strykers to the region has allowed ISAF forces to disrupt what traditionally has been an insurgent stronghold.
"The terrain here is very challenging," he said. "Getting to the villages is stage one. I think that's our biggest challenge right now."
Once there, Quiggle has been meeting with village leaders in an effort to make the Coalition presence known and to find out who's doing what in those towns.
"[We'll] continue pushing north into the mountains as long as it disrupts the [insurgents] and gets the locals involved in that process. We're here to stay, and we're here to provide them security."
(via DVIDS)
Michael Yon to Embed With Strykers in Afghanistan
According to a new update on his website, Michael Yon is headed back to Afghanistan. Yon tends to embed for long periods of time, so it will be nice to have additional first-hand reporting re: the 5/2 SBCT.
As of today, this is the first set of paperwork for Afghanistan. Minutes ago, I completed and emailed these forms to Afghanistan for an embed with the Stryker Brigade. Looking forward to getting back with the infantry.
Zaidon Market Road Increases Commerce, Safety
Story by Pfc. Kimberly Hackbarth
BAGHDAD – Local area leaders of Zaidon gathered, Nov. 12, to celebrate the completion of the three-month-long project which transformed what was once just a pot-holed dirt road into paved thoroughfare.
Soldiers with 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division provided security at the official opening of the road, designed to facilitate easier travel and better business opportunities for locals going to the Zaidon Market in Abu Ghraib.
"People weren't able to get in the Zaidon market to make purchases in the city and transport goods and items that were sold, particularly agricultural items," said Navy Lt. Ross Simpson, a civil affairs team leader with 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion. "Trucks couldn't fit through."
The $440,000 funding for the project was funded through Commander's Emergency Response Program. The project started during a previous brigade's deployment and was transferred to Simpson when his unit took over responsibility for the area.
The close proximity of the market to the citizens of Zaidon was also taken into consideration when planning what improvements would be made. These considerations lead to going beyond just simply widening and paving the streets for vehicles, the sidewalks were also paved for the safety and ease of pedestrian traffic.
"The overall goal of the project was to provide the local populace of the Zaidon village with a more efficient, safer, more convenient way to travel throughout this major village," said Simpson, a native of Dalton, Ga.
Convenience, however, came to a screeching halt in the beginning of the project.
"One of the biggest obstacles was being able to juggle the amount of traffic on any given day with construction work that needed to be completed," explained Simpson. "[The workers] had to do it in a way to allow the local populace to use [the road.]"
It took a lot of planning, but the project was finally completed earlier this week, he said.
Once the ceremony came to an end, the attendees said their goodbyes and left down the road that now provides the area with a safer and more efficient way to travel.
(via DVIDS)
"Camera Boy" Book Signing
Last night I had the pleasure of attending a reading and book signing by Fred Minnick, author of Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War in Iraq
I've corresponded periodically with Fred, but never had the chance to meet him in person until last night. His reading opened with the following quote from General George Washington.
The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation. - George Washington
This set the stage for the book passage he subsequently read, which described a series of post-deployment events that slowly and painfully made him realize that he needed help to deal with the PTSD he was suffering from. That was four years ago. Minnick made it clear that writing the book and speaking about it are part of the continuing healing process. I'm looking forward to reading the book.
Fred's book tour will take him to Springfield, MO, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK this week. Definitely attend a reading if you're in the area.
Related:
- Buy Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War in Iraq
- Visit Fred's website
- Become a fan on Facebook
Embedded Report With 5/2 SBCT
Sara Carter of the Washington Times has an article featuring the 2-1 INF, 5/2 SBCT in Afghanistan.
KASHK-E-NOKHOWD, Afghanistan | Army Capt. Casey Thoreen wiped the last bit of sleep from his eyes before the sun rose over his isolated combat outpost.His soldiers did the same as they checked and double-checked their weapons and communications equipment. Ahead was a dangerous foot patrol into the heart of Taliban territory.
"Has anyone seen the [Afghan National Army] guys?" asked Capt. Thoreen, 30, the commander of Blackwatch Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment with the 5th Stryker Brigade. "Are they not showing up?"
4-23 INF Operates in Zabul
Stars & Stripes reports on the 4-23 INF, 5/2 SBCT as it operates in Shah Joy District, Afghanistan.
SHAH JOY DISTRICT, Afghanistan — An old man approached U.S. soldiers and Afghan army troops and told them he knew of a madrassa where it was rumored that Taliban fighters had indoctrinated young men to become suicide bombers.U.S. soldiers saw the tip as a huge break. Shortly after they had moved into the area in August, a Taliban suicide bomber had struck during a patrol in the Shah Joy bazaar, killing two civilians and wounding 12 soldiers.
The discovery of the Taliban religious school was the biggest find during a three-day operation in late October in Zabul province’s Chineh villages, which U.S. troops described as an important Taliban stronghold. No weapons or explosives were found, but graffiti inside the mud-brick compound indicated that the building had served as a Taliban safe house.
In a remote region where U.S. and Afghan security forces are scarce, villagers have largely thrown their lot in with the Taliban, either by choice or necessity. The madrassa tip was a small sign, the Americans hoped, that those sentiments may be beginning to shift.
Previous:
U.S. forces chafe under challenges of working with Afghan forces-| Stars and Stripes
War Eagles gear up for IR 10
2d Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Public Affairs Office
Vilseck, Germany – Troopers of 1st Squadron 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment are headed for the Republic of Georgia to participate in a two-week long training event known as Immediate Response 10.
IR10 is a joint exercise conducted at Vaziani Military Base to improve combined capabilities and strengthen regional cooperation. This exercise is held yearly and allows U.S. Soldiers the chance to train alongside and get to know their Georgian counterparts .
“One Georgian platoon will be integrated into our company,” explained Capt. Chris Felix, Bull Company commander , 1st Squadron, 2SCR, “and one of our platoons will join the Georgian company.”
Felix said the exercise will begin with each unit conducting situational training exercise which will culminate into a company-level field training exercise as the capstone event.
Some of the skills the Dragoons and their Georgian allies will be honing as part of the platoon level training is reacting to contact, cordon and search as well as capture and recover high value targets and personnel.
When they are not training hard in the field, Felix said his Soldiers will have the chance to get to know their Georgian brothers and their customs.
“We will have a cultural day and a weapons live-fire as well,” Felix said. The live-fire event will allow each Soldier the chance to fire the others weapons.
Felix said that the highlight of the exercise for his Soldiers will be working alongside the Georgian military.
“With current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, working with partner nations is a skill set every Soldier needs,” Felix said.”Anytime we have a chance to work with a partner military it’s great.”
War Eagles dedicate room to fallen Brothers
2d Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Public Affairs Office
Vilseck, Germany – The War Eagles of 1st Squadron 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment gathered with their German counterparts from the 112th Panzer Brigade Thursday for the dedication of their newly renovated squadron classroom. In addition the unit unveiled the War Eagle Memorial Wall dedicated to the memory of the eight Soldiers killed during the Regiment’s deployment to Iraq last year.
The ceremony began with the unveiling of the classroom’s new name. The classroom was named after Sgt. Patrick Leonard. Leonard was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on May 15 1870. Leonard and four Troopers from C Troop, 2nd U.S. Cavalry Regiment were searching the Little Blue River in Nebraska when a war party of 50 Indians surrounded the group. Leonard slaughtered the two wounded horses and proceeded to use them to build a fortification. In the end the Troopers repelled the attack killing three and wounding several others. With all their mounts killed in battle, Leonard withdrew his men on foot.
Following the room dedication, the Burgermeister of Hirchau, Hans Drexler and Lt. Col. Markus Kreitmayr of 112 was invited to tap the first kegs of War Eagle Brau. War Eagle Brau was brewed specifically for 1/2 by the Hirschau Schlossbraurei in honor of the numerous community outreach projects the Squadron has performed in the city.
Once the kegs were tapped and the steins were full, Glasses were raised in honor of the eight fallen War Eagles whose pictures adorned the memorial wall. Each Trooper was toasted by a friend who described their character, and a stein of beer was poured for each and placed on the bar.
Raiders Earn Combat Patch
Story by Sgt. Bryce Dubee
BAGHDAD, Iraq – All across western Baghdad, Soldiers from the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division took time, Nov. 11, to make an adjustment to their uniform; adding the distinctive Indianhead patch of the 2nd Inf. Div. to their right sleeves.
The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia-Former Wartime Service, commonly known as the "combat patch" is authorized for wear right sleeve of the uniform by Soldiers to denote their participation in combat operations.
Roughly 4,000 troops from Fort Lewis based brigade combat team arrived in Iraq in the beginning of September, conducting operations across western Baghdad and north, to include the city of Taji. Of those Soldiers, approximately 1,200 received their first combat patch on Wednesday.
"This patch is never coming off of this uniform," said Pfc. Jason Jerome, an Aniston, Ala. native assigned to 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment. "I'm really proud of it."
Units within the brigade all held their own patching ceremonies with Soldiers amassing in front of rows of Stryker armored vehicles, around a large metal anvil and even at a nighttime bonfire.
At a small ceremony held in front of the brigade headquarters, Soldiers representing every battalion received their patch from Col. John Norris, the brigade commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Huggins, the brigade command sergeant major.
"It is, indeed, my honor to stand amongst you heroes, put your combat patches on, and welcome you to a very, very elite club," said Norris, after the ceremony.
Spc. Niomi Wright, a Portland, Ore. native from 4th Brigade's personnel office said that it felt "surreal" to actually be in Iraq and receive her patch.
"It's exciting. I never thought I'd actually deploy," she said.
Pfc. Joel Pasqualucci, from Placentia, Calif., said he feels that earning the patch will help in his military career, as a sign of experience.
"I think it represents everything that you're doing here," he said. "It's [not just] a patch."
(via DVIDS)
Abu Ghraib Recreational Facilities Improvements
Story by Pfc. Kimberly Hackbarth
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Thanks to combined efforts of U.S. forces and the Iraqi community, the children of Abu Ghraib have two new places where they can safely play.
Local leaders from the Abu Ghraib area, along with Lt. Col. John Leffers, commander, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, and native of Utica, N.Y., attended the opening ceremony of a soccer field and a playground, here, in central Abu Ghraib, Nov.10.
The soccer field and playground, funded by the Commander's Emergency Response Program and sponsored by the Iraqi Ministry of Youth and Sports, cost approximately $20,000 and $40,000 respectively, and were contracted through two different sources.
NPR Follow Up
NPR has posted a follow up (article, audio, photos) to its article the other day about the 5/2 SBCT.
It's still pitch black on Nov. 6 when the Stryker armored vehicles roll out of their hilltop compound in Afghanistan's Arghandab Valley, a Taliban stronghold outside the southern city of Kandahar. The soldiers of the Army's 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team out of Fort Lewis, Wash., know the Taliban is out there, watching, so they are using the cover of darkness to begin this recovery mission.The day before, a massive bomb tore apart an armored vehicle, killing two soldiers of the 2nd Platoon. Now, the troops are heading out of their outpost to recover their still-smoldering Stryker.
Pvt. Dylan Higden bounces along inside the tight crew compartment of his Stryker. Along the way, he talks about his unit — and the attacks it has endured — in the first three months of its yearlong deployment.
Previous:
With the 5/2 SBCT in Afghanistan
Veterans Day
We would like to take a moment to thank all of the veterans, past and present, who have sacrificed so much on our behalf. Your efforts represent a debt that cannot easily be repaid, if at all. During this time of conflict let's not forget those still in harm's way, or who have been injured and are fighting to recover. A special thanks to all the families supporting each and every servicemember - you are "veterans" as well. Thank you.
With the 5/2 SBCT in Afghanistan
NPR has an article, audio report and photo album featuring the 5/2 SBCT in Southern Afghanistan. The reporters were with a platoon as it was attacked by an IED that killed two members of the unit - Spc. Aaron Aamot and Spc. Gary Gooch.
One of the most lethal areas in Afghanistan for U.S. troops is the Arghandab Valley, a Taliban stronghold just outside the southern city of Kandahar. The Army's 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Fort Lewis, Wash., patrols the area, facing the risk of huge roadside bombs.One platoon already has lost 11 soldiers, and several more were seriously wounded — about one-third of the force.
One day last week, more bad news crackled over the radio: a Taliban attack and casualties in 2nd Platoon.
Video: Combat Patch Ceremony
B-roll of Soldiers from the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division receiving their combat patches in a brigade wide ceremony.
Stryker Memorial
The following are articles regarding the memorial held today at Ft. Lewis for seven soldiers from the 5/2 SBCT.
- Biden Offers Condolences for Slain Stryker Squadron - DVIDS
- 7 fallen Stryker Brigade soldiers honored at Fort Lewis - Seattle Times
- Biden calls 7 Fort Lewis soldiers 'fallen angels' - The News Tribune
A Husband at War
Georgie Hanlin, whose husband is deployed with the 5/2 SBCT, wrote a Veterans Day editorial in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Returning to my hometown of San Francisco for this year that my husband is deployed to Afghanistan with the Stryker Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division, I am quite aware of the dichotomy of my experience: That is, of being an Army wife on a military base versus being an Army wife in a city where the only thing remotely military is the preserved Presidio, the Army post that closed in the 1994 and is now a national park.On a military base, everywhere you turn, you see uniforms that constantly remind you, even on your busiest day, that there are people training for war. Your neighbors, who might be complete strangers, are easy to confide in as they know your life: They've moved as much as you, they've worried as much as you, they've sacrificed as much as you, they've celebrated as much as you. The emotions behind each deployment and its homecoming cannot even begin to be captured on television.
I think about aspects of this war each day. Will additional troops sent to Afghanistan be enough influence to strengthen the Afghan government? Can the Taliban be reduced so the country can attempt its own democracy? Will my husband return safely? Admittedly, my questions don't always fall in that order.
Parting Thoughts
Hal Berton of the Seattle Times shares his thoughts as he leaves Kabul to return to the US.
Sometimes I have been discouraged by what I have seen here, and, on some occasions, I've been overwhelmed. [...]I have plenty of doubts about what will happen in the months and years ahead to this country. Will it stay a single country or eventually splinter apart? How long should troops from the United States and other NATO nations be the glue that binds this nation? [...]
As I return home, the Fort Lewis-based soldiers I stayed with in the Arghandab Valley in the southern province of Kandahar continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of the losses. [...]
Still, there are some signs of progress.
New Commander for 1/25 SBCT
The Daily News Miner profiles Col. Todd Wood, the new commander of the 1/25 SBCT.
FAIRBANKS — Fort Wainwright’s Stryker Brigade has a new commander.Col. Todd Wood took command of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry, from Col. Burt Thompson on Tuesday at a ceremony at the Carlson Center. [...]
Originally from Iowa, Wood was commissioned by the Army as an infantry second lieutenant following his graduation from Central Missouri State University. A recent graduate of the U.S. Army War College, he has had past assignments in Hawaii, Texas, Kentucky and Georgia.
SPC Gary L. Gooch Jr.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spc. Gary L. Gooch Jr., 22, of Ocala, FL, died Nov. 5 in Jelewar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Gooch was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
Related:
Two more from Fort Lewis confirmed killed in Afghanistan - The News Tribune
Ocala soldier dies in Afghanistan attack - Orlando Sentinel
Fallen soldier was to return for Thanksgiving - Star Banner
Soldiers killed by bomb remembered - The News Tribune
Fort Lewis soldier killed in Afghanistan buried at Arlington - washingtonpost.com
SPC Aaron S. Aamot
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spc. Aaron S. Aamot, 22, of Custer, WA, died Nov. 5 in Jelewar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Aamot was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
Related:
'Faith will help us out,' Fort Lewis soldier's family says - TheNewsTribune.com
Ferndale High grad served with Fort Lewis' 5th Stryker Brigade - Bellingham Herald
Two more from Fort Lewis confirmed killed in Afghanistan - The News Tribune
Custer son, soldier laid to rest - Bellingham Herald
Ferndale mayor declares Nov. 14 Aaron Aamot Day - Bellingham Herald
Soldiers killed by bomb remembered - The News Tribune
When Crashing Is Part of the Plan
Story by Pfc. Kimberly Hackbarth
BAGHDAD – Focused on his task, Pvt. Richard Jarus, guided a small unmanned aerial vehicle in circles around a landing area near the brigade headquarters on Camp Liberty, Nov. 7.
Steering it into a straight line, he used the hand controller to tell the RQ-11B Raven to quickly lift its nose into the air, causing it to stall and crash into the ground; pieces of the UAV scattering among the rocks. The landing was a success, by a Raven pilot's standards.
When the Raven "crashes", its pieces are designed to fly off, dispersing energy among them, to keep from harming the main body of the UAV, said Jarus, a native of Hanover, Penn.
Soldiers from every battalion in the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division had new equipment training (NET) with the Raven during the brigade's rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., but most of the Soldiers who attended review training that day hadn't flown the bird in country before, said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Wayne Grimes, of Fort Lewis, Wash., a brigade Raven master trainer.
This training provided an opportunity to build the Raven pilots' confidence and evaluate their efficiency with the device. It also reinforced the skills they already learned as well as some tactics, techniques and procedures that they didn't necessarily learn during NET.
It's important to have extra time to execute flying techniques is to remind them of the skills they learned in previous training on Fort Lewis, said Grimes.
"It's so perishable since they just learned it."
The Soldiers know that they might not have many opportunities to fly the Raven, so they took full advantage of what the training day had to offer by asking questions and continually working on flying the UAV.
"The guy I went to training with [changed duty stations], so it's just me and it's hard to [fly the Raven] by yourself," said Jarus, who explained that since he's the only Raven-trained Soldier in his platoon, he may not get to fly it as often.
Grimes told a story about how he has flown a Raven alone, and how many others have had to do the same.
Training ended with everyone laughing and cheering as the Raven hit the ground one last time, another perfectly imperfect landing.
(via DVIDS)
Partnership at the Range
Story by Spc. Luisito Brooks
BAGHDAD—As the sun sets over a dusty patch of land surrounded by a wall of dirt, Iraqi army and U.S. Soldiers take time to improve their rifle marksmanship and build a stronger relationship.
Members of the 6th Iraqi army division and 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division met, Nov. 6 to exchange training tips and ideas at the range on Forward Operating Base Constitution.
"We meet up with guys from the Iraqi army very often," said Sgt. 1st Class James Denison. "We share our stories and training with them and they share with us."
This range took a new turn for the Americans as IA Soldiers demonstrated to the how to handle, load and fire their AK-47s at the range.
"The AK-47 was very fun to shoot," said Pfc. William Knights, from Scottsboro, Ala.
The U.S. Soldiers also allowed the IA Soldiers to fire their weapons as well, including the M240B machine gun.
"The American Soldiers have very nice weapons," said Maj. Yessn, a company commander with the 6th IA Div.
"The Americans and us have a common goal of seeing the Iraqi people do well," said Lt. Miutz, a military police officer with the 6th Div.
As the sun went from a tiny speck to nothing, the IA soldiers finished firing and began to picking up what brass they could find.
"Our relationship with the IA is very important and we have to make every attempt to make that relationship better," said Denison.
(via DVIDS)
Update: Injured Stryker Soldier
The News Tribune has a long article and photo album featuring Lt. Dan Berschinski, who was seriously injured in Afghanistan is now recovering at Walter Reed. He is a member of the 5/2 SBCT.
WASHINGTON – No one knows how long the bomb lay under the packed earth of southern Afghanistan. How many times had the soldiers stepped over it? Each member of Lt. Dan Berschinski’s platoon had, at least twice. The Fort Lewis officer figures he walked by the area two times with no problems.But the bomb lay there, inches below the dirt path. It was likely made of plastic and triggered by a pressure switch.
Bombs like this one kill and maim indiscriminately. It didn’t target Berschinski on Aug. 19 because he was an officer or because he was leading a Stryker platoon on foot into a Taliban-controlled area. Nor did other enemy explosives pick out his comrades from the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. Of the 26 men from the brigade reported killed to date, all but one died in bomb blasts, and many others have been wounded by bombs.
Berschinski, like the others, just happened to be in the wrong place. And it rendered him a disabled war veteran just a month into his first deployment.
SSG Amy C. Tirador
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Amy C. Tirador, 29, of Albany, N.Y., died Nov. 4 in Kirkush, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the 209th Military Intelligence Company, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
Related:
Soldier dies on her second Iraq tour - TheNewsTribune.com
56th SBCT Homecoming
WTAJ-TV News has a very extensive collection of video clips regarding the recent homecoming of the 56th SBCT. Thanks to Ray for sending this link along.
Ft. Hood
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of those killed and wounded at Ft. Hood yesterday. The Army homepage is a good starting point if you are looking for official information.
Iraqi Army, U.S. Troops on the Hunt
Story by Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell
BAGHDAD, Iraq – As Iraqi Security Forces continue their missions inside the city, here, insurgents and criminal groups find themselves forced out to the rural areas.
Recently, insurgents used a local farm on the western outskirts of Baghdad to attack a U.S. convoy.
U.S. infantrymen from 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, combed the area with Iraqi Army Soldiers, Nov. 4, to prevent insurgents from gaining a foothold in the area.
"A lot of weapons come through this area into Baghdad," said Spc. Daniel Pacheco, from San Antonio. "Our job is to stop the supply routes into the city."
The joint American/Iraqi patrol searched rows of farmlands and abandoned buildings in the area to hunt for any clues, explained 1st Lt. Mark Hamilton, a platoon leader from Baltimore.
"Historically, the people doing the emplacing or pulling the trigger aren't doing it because they dislike the U.S. or IA, they do it for money," said Hamilton. "The jobless rate out here is very high, I think like 70 percent, so it's important to get out there and go see the people...so that they're not forgotten."
Hamilton stressed that joint patrols like this one allow local farmers to connect with Soldiers, with the hope that they will be less likely to help insurgents in the area.
"We make it a lot harder for the insurgents, so they can't do what they want," added Pacheco, while his fellow troops checked haystacks, looked under empty barrels and searched behind doors.
While many times the searches turn up nothing, Soldiers, like Pacheco, do understand the importance of their role in the out-lying regions of Baghdad.
"If we stop the flow of weapons into the city, then it helps the government get on its feet," said Pacheco. "Helping the capital helps keep the country stable."
(via DVIDS)
Cordon and Knock in Afghanistan: Combat Advisors See ANA in Action
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Afghan Soldiers in armored humvees led a combined convoy of Afghans and Americans down Highway 1 in the early morning. As dawn broke they passed an Afghan national police checkpoint and dismounted by an ANA combat outpost. Their objective was Shah Hasan Kheyl, a village about a kilometer off the road.
Starting in August 2009, small embedded training teams dispersed throughout Afghanistan started getting replaced with combat units from 4th Brigade Combat Team (Task Force Fury), 82nd Airborne Division to serve as combat advisors. The battalion-sized operation involved several companies of the Afghan National Army, their combat advisors, the ANP, and a company from 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.
It was the first large-scale mission conducted by 3rd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 205th Corps of the ANA in conjunction with their new combat advisors from 4th BCT, and was aimed at increasing ANA presence in the village and surrounding communities in Zabul province, Afghanistan.
As the Soldiers made the uphill journey to the village they spread out across multiple avenues of approach up terraces and into orchards. Green grass and trees by the Tarnak river made the area look like a completely different country from the broad desert they just came from.
IA Led Joint Patrol Protects Aqur Quf
Story by Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell
BAGHDAD – On a dusty road in northwestern Baghdad, Sgt. Kegan Cline kneels beside a wall, resting his M-14 sniper rifle as a group of Iraqi girls in blue school uniforms walk by, giggling and pushing each other, Nov. 3.
The Worcester, Mass. native, smiled briefly and nodded at the girls, knowing that his presence, combined with Iraqi Army Soldiers, allows the girls to walk around safely.
"It feels great that we're here serving a purpose," said Cline, assigned to Company A, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. "These kids can go to and from school without fear and that the community sees two organizations working together as one is a great thing."
Since arriving a few months ago in Aqur Quf, a rural area in northwestern Baghdad, U.S. troops have worked with IA Soldiers on a daily basis to help keep the area safe.
"It's a good thing that the U.S. forces support us and we work together and the community sees that," said IA Capt. Nomas Mohammed Hussein. "These people just need somebody to hear their concerns and understand them."
In order to do that, the American and Iraqi Soldiers patrol the area on foot, interacting with the people face-to-face and giving the locals a different perception.
Stryker Battalion Uncases Colors
Multi-National Division Baghdad
CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Making the arrival of 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, official, here, north of Baghdad, the Stryker Soldiers held an uncasing of the colors ceremony, Oct. 29.
"We are at the right place at the right moment with the right Soldiers for this job," said Lt. Col. Michael Lawrence, the battalion's commander. "This is not the first time we have uncased these colors and that is because this unit works hard and will succeed at whatever we do."
"I can't tell you how proud I am to see each and every one of you here," said Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Huggins, the brigade command sergeant major. "For the next year, this unit will have many challenges. It will not be easy because nothing is, but I have complete confidence in this unit. Let's do a good job so we can get back home to our families."
The Fort Lewis, Wash.-based Soldiers will continue working with the Iraqi government, army and police to create irreversible momentum pushing towards a complete hand over of control to the Iraqi people.
"Standing here in this formation are 'Tomahawks', said Lawrence. "We trained hard, we've got a strong vision and you've got buddies that you care about to your left and you right, and by God, you are not going to fail."
On Point: 3/2 SBCT Newsletter
"On Point" is a monthly newsletter produced by the 3/2 SBCT, which is currently deployed to Iraq. The brigade forwarded a copy to us so we can share it here: On Point: Arrowhead Arrives in Diyala.
Photos: Raiders Search for Weapons
DVIDS has a new album featuring soldiers from the 4-9 INF, 4/2 SBCT.
Trust Leads to Weapons Cache Find
Story by Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell
BAGHDAD – A concerned local citizen contacted the Soldiers of Company A, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment about a site insurgents used to store weapons here, just northwest of Abu Ghraib.
With the help of local Iraqi army soldiers, the Fort Lewis-based troops assigned to 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, quickly sprang into action and dug up an insurgent weapons cache in northwestern Baghdad, Nov. 1.
The combined search uncovered a mortar tube, a tripod and a base plate used by insurgents for launching indirect fire.
For these Soldiers who have been in Iraq for almost two months, it is a tangible sign they are helping the security situation here, said Spc. Eric Marquez, an infantryman from El Paso, Texas, assigned to Company A, 4th Bn., 9th Inf. Regt., 4th SBCT, 2nd Inf. Div.
"I was pretty excited ... I broke a little sweat, but it was worth it," Marquez explained after digging up suspected cache sites in full body armor.
Marquez added, most of the time the information or the tip doesn't work out, so this mission has been the best one yet.
"This is the first thing that we've found since we've been here," stated a sweat-soaked and dirt-covered Marquez.
Updates on SSG James Clark
The family of SSG James Clark, a 5/2 SBCT soldier who was seriously injured in Afghanistan, has set up a CaringBridge website to keep people updated during his recovery at Walter Reed.
On October 15, 2009, while on patrol in Kandahar, the stryker he was in hit a large IED. The explosion picked the stryker up off the ground. The driver landed on top of James. His helmet was blown off. The stryker driver landed on top of him. He was positive at the time that he had lost both of his legs. But he never lost conciousness. He was instructing everyone what to do - he put a tourniquet on his right leg, and got another soldier to do the same on the left leg. He made sure the area was secured. He made sure a helicopter was coming for him. And he reminded them to bring both of his legs with him on the flight.
