April 19, 2012

Clinton, Panetta: NATO partners committed to Afghanistan

BRUSSELS, (April 18, 2012) — Meetings today provided a clear sense of NATO’s ongoing commitment to the security mission in Afghanistan up to and beyond 2014, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said at NATO headquarters here today.

April 19, 2012

Successful elections evidence of governance, growth in Garmsir

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Afghanistan (April 19, 2012) — The Hazar Joft Bazaar was unusually quiet for a weekday morning. Rows of shop doors remained locked. Commercial chatter was minimal. Both workers and patrons seemed to be nonexistent.

April 18, 2012

Afghanistan ambassador invites U.S. Soldier to embassy

WASHINGTON (April 17, 2012) — An American Soldier's simple actions in Afghanistan last year gained the attention of that nation's ambassador to the United States, who spoke April 13 with the Soldier one-on-one at the embassy in Washington, D.C.

April 17, 2012

Afghan attack response shows improved forces, leaders say

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2012 — Challenges will continue in Afghanistan, but the response to recent attacks points to the maturation of Afghan security forces, U.S. defense leaders said here today.

April 17, 2012

Afghan Local Police assume full responsibility of Larkhabi

KUNDUZ PROVINCE, Afghanistan (April 17, 2012) — The Afghan Local Police of Larkhabi, Kunduz district, assumed full responsibility of the Larkhabi ALP facility from their coalition special operations forces advisers, April 14.

April 16, 2012

Afghan commandos kill more than 40 insurgents who attacked shura

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan (April 15, 2012) — Afghan commandos partnered with coalition special operations forces killed more than 40 insurgents in response to an unprovoked attack on a security shura with the district governor at the Kamdesh district, April 12.

April 16, 2012

CENTCOM CSM visits Afghan, U.S. service members in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (April 16, 2012) — The top enlisted leader for U.S. Central Command visited Afghanistan, April 11-14, to personally thank the men and women serving on the front lines.

April 13, 2012

From Vietnam to OEF: Pilot flies last mission of career

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan (April 13, 2012) — On April 12, 2012, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. James Routt, a pilot deployed with the 71st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, flew his last combat air mission of his 33-year military career over the skies of Afghanistan.

April 12, 2012

Teacher, soldier, medic, doctor: ANA soldier with a heart to serve

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan (April 11, 2012) — The past 30 years have been tough for the Afghan people, but for one man who lived through them all, following his dream has positioned him to help Afghanistan toward a peaceful future.

April 12, 2012

ANSF teach their own to defeat explosives threat

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (April 12, 2012) — Surrounded by the debris of previously detonated objects, students from Camp Hero’s Afghan National Security Forces Explosive Hazards Reduction Course climb out of their truck with mine detectors. Walking on either side of their vehicle, the Afghan National Army soldier and Afghan Uniformed Policeman check the immediate area to ensure a safe dismount for the rest of their team members.