March 15, 2012

Navy, Coast Guard crews rescue Persian Gulf mariners

PERSIAN GULF (March 15, 2012) — Crews of the Navy guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones and Coast Guard Cutter Baranof rescued 24 Filipino mariners here today, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command officials reported.

March 12, 2012

Afghan soldiers become medics under guidance of ‘America’s Battalion’ corpsmen

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELHI, Afghanistan (March 12, 2012) — Facing his student on the opposite side of a makeshift wooden trauma table, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Maxwell McGill watches intently as the Afghan soldier tightens a tourniquet around a dummy’s simulated leg amputation.

March 9, 2012

US, Afghanistan agree to turnover of Parwan Detention Facility

KABUL, Afghanistan — Gen. John R. Allen, commander of both United States Forces Afghanistan and the International Security Assistance Force, and Afghan Minister of Defense Abdul Rahim Wardak signed an agreement today that sets in motion the transfer of the Detention Facility in Parwan.

March 6, 2012

455th ESFS Reapers push out insurgents, keep Bagram safe

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (March 06, 2012) — Most service members deployed to Afghanistan have heard the alarm blare over the giant voice system that signals incoming indirect fire to the base.

March 5, 2012

Atlanta native works for progress in Marjah

MARJAH, Afghanistan (March 05, 2012) — Cpl. Trey James, squad leader, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, smiled and waved to the approaching Afghan child.

March 2, 2012

Afghan base security upgraded via sling load

KABUL, Afghanistan (March 3, 2012) — A multinational joint team of 19 U.S. airmen from the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, soldiers from U.S. Army Task Forces Griffin, Centre and Spearhead, and Italian army security forces partnered to execute a special equipment transfer from Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan, to the small forward operating base of Buji, Afghanistan, 95 miles south, Feb. 6-8, 2012.

March 1, 2012

Afghan Local Police repel attack at checkpoint

FARYAB PROVINCE, Afghanistan (February 29, 2012) — Afghan Local Police defended a checkpoint from an insurgent attack in Qeysar district, Feb. 26.

March 1, 2012

White House pays tribute to Iraq War veterans, families

WASHINGTON (March 1, 2012) — President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a White House tribute to Iraq War veterans and their families last night to honor them for their service, sacrifice and commitment to the nation.

Feb. 28, 2012

Afghans refurbish mosque with help from Marine

KHAN NESHIN, Helmand province, Afghanistan (February 28, 2012) — Afghan construction workers, contracted in partnership with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and coalition forces, refurbished a grand mosque which was once a crumbling ruin in the secluded village of Khan Neshin. It has now been returned to the village as the centerpiece of the local government.

Feb. 27, 2012

Spearhead aircrews play key role in rescue mission of stranded AUP personnel

GHOR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (February 27, 2012) — Soldiers from Task Force Spearhead, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, teamed up with coalition special operations forces to conduct a search and rescue mission near the village of Cabalaq, Feb. 22.