Dec. 14, 2012

Obama, Karzai to Discuss U.S. Future in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (Dec. 13, 2012) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accepted an invitation from President Barack Obama to visit Washington in January, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told reporters here today.

Dec. 13, 2012

US, Romanian Soldiers rescue Afghan honey bees

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MESCAL, Afghanistan (Dec. 12, 2012) -- When the Mescal Detachment of Agricultural Development Team 4 from Mississippi arrived in Afghanistan, they didn't know they were inheriting beehives from the outgoing Agricultural Development Team, or ADT, but they found out pretty quickly and they were just in time.

Dec. 11, 2012

Afghan AF, NATC-A/438 AEW sign joint strategic flightplan

KABUL, Afghanistan (December 9, 2012) — Maj. Gen. Abdul Wahab Wardak, commander of the Afghan Air Force, and Brig. Gen. Steven Shepro, commander of NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan, signed the first-ever combined strategy into effect at the Nov. 28, 2012 ceremony in NATC-A headquarters at the Kabul, Afghanistan, International Airport . All three Wings and key A-Staff leaders witnessed the ceremony. The 54-page strategic flightplan guides both commands to execute a jointly developed decree of vision, goals and key tasks, with milestones focused on 2012-2013. The ceremony capped a three-month bottom-up planning effort across the groups, Afghan air wings, AAF HQ, NATC-A and 438 AEW staff.

Dec. 10, 2012

Rule Of Law Makes Impressive Gains At Justice Center

CAMP PHOENIX, Afghanistan – The Afghan criminal justice system continues to make impressive strides in implementing the rule of law and demonstrating its national sovereignty in the criminal justice system at the Justice Center in Parwan (JCIP). Established in June 2010, the JCIP exists to ensure fair and impartial justice for those defendants alleged of committing national security crimes in the Afghan criminal justice system.

Dec. 10, 2012

Afghan Soldiers Take the Lead to Defeat IEDs

CAMP PARSA, Afghanistan (December 8, 2012) — At Camp Parsa, Afghanistan, an Afghan National Army-led, six-week counter improvised explosive device course is currently on track to churn out more than 40 new, highly trained Afghan soldiers who are motivated to combat IEDs. The training gives Afghan troops another capability necessary to sustain unilateral operations and provide security for Afghanistan.

Dec. 7, 2012

From NY streets to Afghan skies, NYFD crew saves lives

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan (December 6, 2012) — Four New York City Firefighters, four Airmen, four friends, one team, one HH-60 Pave Hawk, one crew deployed together with the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, and they brought a flavor unique of New York Fire Departments with them.

Dec. 6, 2012

U.S., Iraq Sign Defense Cooperation Memo of Understanding

WASHINGTON (December 6, 2012) – American and Iraqi officials signed a memorandum of understanding today in Baghdad that will make it easier for the two countries to work together.

Nov. 29, 2012

83rd ERQS: scrambling to save lives

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (November 29, 2012) — It's late in the afternoon at the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, and there seems to be little going on.

Nov. 27, 2012

No sleep till Bagram

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (November 25, 2012) — A small group of people leave their office and pile into a vehicle. Twelve hours later, they've travelled more than 800 miles - roughly the distance from Seattle to San Francisco - stopped several times in the middle of nowhere, picked up a few passengers who speak very little English, overcome engine trouble and evaded fire from semi-automatic weapons.

Nov. 27, 2012

Afghan Border Police take lead in Operation Southern Strike IV

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan (Nov. 26, 2012) — In remote villages of Kandahar province, to access the nearest city means crossing approximately 55 kilometers of hazardous terrain along unimproved routes through insurgent contested areas.