March 20, 2012

Shinkai governor hears the voice of the people in Surri

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LAGMAN, Afghanistan (March 20, 2012) — Heavy snowstorms, deep mud and a river crossing swelling with snow-melt had kept the newly appointed district governor at bay since he took office of the Shinkai district.

March 19, 2012

Afghans thankful, security better after bridge repair

SHIR GHAZAY, Afghanistan (March 19, 2012) — As Afghanistan continues transitioning into a stronger, Afghan-led country, Marines continue to do their part by leaving things better than the way they found them.

March 16, 2012

ANA certifies artillery battery for Paktika operations

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan (March 16, 2012) — The D30 artillery battery of 4/2/203 ANA was certified for real-world operations in Paktika province by the MOD following a successful battery-level live fire here yesterday.

March 15, 2012

Afghan medics train their own, impress Marines and sailors

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan (March 15, 2012) — The soldiers all gather together inside the tent, the fluorescent light casts shadows across the Afghan National Army soldiers’ faces. Medical supplies of bandages, gauze and various tools line the shelves behind the five men, as they surround the stretcher carrying their Tolai member.

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 8, 2012

US advisers teach self defense to Afghan air force women

KABUL, Afghanistan (March 07, 2012) — Advisers from the 439th and 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadrons recently taught a class to four Afghan air force female personnel about the importance of using self-defense to escape a violent situation.

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.