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Archive: 2012

Feb. 16, 2012

Operation Shahem Tofan: Afghan Border Police, Marines extend reach toward Helmand border

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan (February 16, 2012) — The thunderous clap of low-flying helicopters reverberates off an endless desert landscape. Inside the mechanical fortress, rows of Afghan Border Police and U.S. Marines stare out the open back hatch, calmly watching the wilderness rapidly retract beneath them.

Feb. 14, 2012

Never a Bridge Too Far: Combat Engineers increase mobility in Garmsir

GARMSIR, Afghanistan (February 14, 2012) — During the last week of January, fifty-five Marines of Bridge Platoon, Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) traveled nearly 80 miles through the central portion of Helmand province in order to reach Combat Outpost Rankel, a small base located in the district of Garmsir, Helmand province. Their mission consisted of removing a medium girder bridge and replacing it with a more permanent and cost-efficient structure that would increase the mobility of the Marines and Afghans in the area.

Feb. 13, 2012

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visits Bulldog soldiers in Afghanistan

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (February 10, 2012) — Soldiers with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, known as Task Force Bulldogs, were treated to a visit from the top. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey visited his old unit – this time in a different war, where the snow-capped mountains instead of the deserts form the main backdrop.

Feb. 13, 2012

Confidence in ANP among Afghans grows

AFGHANISTAN (February 13, 2012) — The Afghan National Police, ANP, are the vanguard of defense for Afghanistan against the myriad threats the country faces — Taliban recrudescence, crime, corruption, to name three. However, their effectiveness drops severely if public confidence in their ability is lacking amongst the masses.

Feb. 10, 2012

Civil Affairs team gets dirty to learn new ways to help Afghans

FRESNO, Calif. (February 10, 2012) — In Afghanistan, agriculture is the culture.

Feb. 9, 2012

Security Forces airmen conduct Afghan FTX

KABUL, Afghanistan (February 9., 2012) — Airmen from the 439th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron recently conducted a field training exercise as a course conclusion for Afghan air force security forces personnel.

Feb. 7, 2012

ANP train to take the lead

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHOJA, Afghanistan (Februray 7, 2012) — Soldiers stationed here have been training the Afghan National Police in different tactics and techniques that will come in handy once the coalition forces have left Afghanistan. The ANP and American soldiers came together Feb. 1 to conduct a training patrol in a nearby village to show their presence in the area.

Feb. 6, 2012

Operation Aluminum Python puts squeeze on insurgency

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan (February 6, 2012) — The enemy sniper moved silently in the mountain darkness, snake-like, as he stalked the American and Afghan National Army soldiers, waiting for his opportunity to strike.

Feb. 6, 2012

Air Force advisers, Afghan aircrew drop medical supplies to rural villages

KABUL, Afghanistan (February 6, 2012) — Advisors from the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group and Afghan air force helicopter aircrew, from Shindand Air Base, delivered critical medical supplies Jan. 27 to inhabitants of two remote villages struck by a measles epidemic.

Feb. 3, 2012

Camp Arena soldiers pave way for brighter Kuchi future

BALA MURGHAB, Afghanistan (February 3, 2012) — Elders and children from a Kuchi village in western Afghanistan made their way from their mud huts and nomadic tents to meet a coalition convoy during a humanitarian mission Nov. 18.