April 29, 2011

Battalion’s partnership prepares Afghans for greater role in Parwan detention facility

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan (April 29, 2011) — After a ten-month deployment training Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers in support of the conditions-based transition of the Detention Facility in Parwan (DFIP) to Afghan control, the 96th Military Police Battalion, Task Force Spartan, was relieved by the 785th Military Police Battalion during a transfer of authority ceremony April 27, 2011.

April 27, 2011

Artillery Marines hold back insurgents in key Afghan district

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ZEEBRUGGE, Afghanistan (April 22, 2011) — Kajaki District is usually dangerous, occasionally beautiful, always strategically important, and for the last six months its security has been lead by a single Marine Corps artillery battery.

April 27, 2011

Two IED blasts can't stop BLT 3/8 Marine

ELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (April 27, 2011) — I think psychologically it started to get to me. It was like, all right I just stepped on an IED again; I've got to be hurt. There's no way I'm not hurt. ... How many guys do you hear that step on two IEDs in one deployment?

April 27, 2011

Redhorse Soldiers mourn loss of fallen hero

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan (April 27, 2011) — Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Redhorse, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, TF Red Bulls, mourned the loss of a friend and fellow Soldier during a memorial ceremony held at Joint Combat Outpost Pul-e Sayad, Afghanistan, April 25.

April 27, 2011

Afghans lead way at Regional Training Center Mehtar Lam

MEHTAR LAM, Afghanistan (April 25, 2011) — Rebuilding a nation presents multiple challenges such as establishing a government, providing the foundation for economic growth, and ensuring the safety and security of its citizens. But before any of these things can be accomplished, one regional training center in Afghanistan finds establishing a strong national identity to be critical to that success.

April 27, 2011

Iraqi air force leaders thank U.S. advisors, celebrate 80th anniversary

BAGHDAD (April 27, 2011) — U.S. Air Force and Iraqi officials opened a state-of-the-art air operations center as the Iraqi air force celebrated its 80th anniversary April 21.

April 26, 2011

ISAF Confirms Number 2 Insurgent Killed in Coalition Airstrike

KABUL, Afghanistan (April 26, 2011) — The International Security Assistance Force confirmed their number two overall targeted insurgent in Afghanistan was killed during an airstrike in Dangam district, Kunar province, April 13.

April 23, 2011

Eighth cohort of Afghan National Army military police Soldiers graduate

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan (April 23, 2011) — The eighth cohort of Afghan National Army Military Police Soldiers graduated from the Detention Operations Transition Course Thursday, April 21, 2011, the first of two phases of instruction required to serve as military police in the Detention Facility in Parwan.

April 21, 2011

Mullen cites Pakistani cooperation in Afghanistan

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan (April 19, 2011) — Cooperation between U.S. and Pakistani soldiers on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is better than it has ever been, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.

April 21, 2011

Fighter squadron ready to 'fight tonight' in Southwest Asia

SOUTHWEST ASIA (April 20, 2011) — The 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron activated their squadron for the second time in a decade at a deployed location. As part of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, the Fighter Squadron will fly, fight and win with the state-of-the-art F-15C Eagle to enhance regional partnerships, support regional security exercises and demonstrate a continued commitment to regional security and stability.