Jan. 11, 2012

Major route construction projects near completion in Helmand

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan (January 10, 2012) — Marine engineers with 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) have nearly completed two major route construction and improvement projects in Helmand province.

Jan. 11, 2012

Training kicks off for NATO mentors in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (January 10, 2012) — Almost 300 troops from eight countries, all bound for Afghanistan to mentor Afghan National Security Forces, kicked off a rigorous pre-deployment training rotation yesterday in Hohenfels, Germany.

Jan. 10, 2012

Afghan, Marine forces clear remnants of insurgency in southern Helmand

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan (January 9, 2012) — Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces with Regimental Combat Team 5 have launched Operation Tageer Shamal (Shifting Winds), a clearing operation focused on removing the final strains of the insurgency in southern Helmand province.

Jan. 10, 2012

U.S. Coast Guard ship renders aid to Iranian mariners

PERSIAN GULF (January 10, 2012) — A U.S. Coast Guard ship, assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 55, rendered aid to six Iranian mariners from a distressed vessel in the North Arabian Gulf.

Jan. 9, 2012

Soldier in the classroom

KARABTI SAN, Djibouti (January 6, 2012) — U.S. Army Spc. Tiffany Larriba held her hands in front of her, fingers closed, as children from Karabti San, Djibouti, waited in eager anticipation Jan. 3

Jan. 9, 2012

DOD leaders: U.S. will remain world’s strongest military

WASHINGTON, (January 8, 2012) — The Defense Department’s new, 10-year strategy will ensure the United States remains the world’s strongest military power, DOD leaders emphasized in weekend interviews.

Jan. 6, 2012

Centurions deliver for Alaska-based airborne brigade

KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan (January 3, 2012) — A group of Alaska-based parachute riggers are now rigging everything from fuel to food for delivery to soldiers on the front lines in Afghanistan.

Jan. 6, 2012

U.S. Navy rescues Iranian fishing vessel from pirates in Arabian Sea

ARABIAN SEA (January 6, 2012) — Yesterday, forces assigned to the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group rescued an Iranian fishing vessel from pirates in the northern Arabian Sea. At approximately 12:30 p.m, an SH-60S Seahawk from the guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) detected a suspected pirate skiff alongside the Iranian-flagged fishing dhow Al Molai. Simultaneously, a distress call was received from the master of the Al Molai claiming he was being held captive by pirates.

Jan. 5, 2012

Face of defense: marine, recruiter reunite in Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan (January 4, 2012) — Three years ago, Staff Sgt. James Pribyl, then a Marine Corps recruiter, met Ernest Wetzel at a public library in Wetzel’s hometown of Woodstock, Conn.

Jan. 4, 2012

Kandahar Air Wing rings in new year with annual open house

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (January 1, 2012) — About 350 school children and elders from Kandahar province visited the Afghan air force Kandahar Air Wing Jan. 1 during its third annual open house, where they had the opportunity to become familiar with the aircraft they often see or hear overhead.