Army @ MindSay

By Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden

American Forces Press Service

 Aug. 28, 2008 - Coalition forces in the Madain community south of Baghdad are shifting their efforts from predominantly offensive operations to improving central services and further developing the local government, a military official posted in Iraq said today. "Progress in Madain is absolutely phenomenal," Army Col. Pat White, commander of the 1st Armored Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, known as the Iron Brigade, told Pentagon reporters via teleconference.

The Iron Brigade's main mission in Madain may suggest heavy combat, as they're responsible for filtering the flow of insurgents and munitions entering Baghdad. But attack levels are down from an average of more than three per day in 2007 to less than one now – half of them directed toward Iraqi security forces, White said.

White credited the area's growth to the overwhelming success of Iraqi forces and his predecessors from the 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, who were part of the original troop surge in 2007, he said.

"The area saw very little coalition presence prior to 2007," he said. "Now, the populace is absolutely assured of [coalition] commitment and the commitment of [Iraqi security forces].

Today, Iraqi forces have a much bigger role in the region's security efforts, he said.

The "ever-increasing professionalism" of Iraqi security forces and the contributions of the "Sons of Iraq" citizen security group have led to security operations in the area being conducted "by, with and through Iraqi security forces," the colonel said.

"Coalition and Iraqi security efforts combine to deny insurgent sanctuary and provide a solid foundation of hope for the free citizens of Madain," he added.

The increased security conditions also have allowed for significant economic growth. Since their arrival to Madain in May, the Iron Brigade soldiers have continued their predecessors' efforts to support the local civil work infrastructure. They have also supplemented the Iraqi government's own funding initiatives, White said.

Recently, State Department entities and the local government have facilitated the competition of projects worth nearly $1 million. Plans are in the works for more projects worth more than $9 million dollars that the Iraqi government will fund, he said.

"The great news story of all of this is the [Iraqi government's] increasing capacity to fund civil works reconstruction," he said. "Their financial commitment in Madain exceeds coalition forces by about a 60-to-40 ratio. Their plans clearly show their commitment to take over reconstruction funding and move beyond its reliance on U.S. funds."

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 28, 2008 - Iraqi army maintenance soldiers were honored for their recent achievements and progress during a ceremony at the Taji Level III Wheeled Vehicle Maintenance Facility Aug. 26.  The ceremony highlighted the Iraqis' ability to perform Level III maintenance for 150 wheeled vehicles and 25 tracked vehicles since the Iraqi army took over the facility June 1.

"This averages out to about 20 vehicles a week, which is great," said U.S. army Capt. Randall Weiser, the Iraqi Security Force Cell officer in charge.

In attendance was Staff Gen. Nasier Abadi, the Iraqi army's deputy chief of staff, and guest of honor, and others from the Iraqi army and coalition forces.

Brig. Gen. Muniem, the electrical and mechanical engineering officer, the keynote speaker for the event, praised the hard work of the officers and soldiers of the Level III facility.

"We have done a great job fixing a lot of vehicles during this campaign, so congratulations," he said. "They are very professional and work very hard to support the Iraqi army and our country."

In April, a small group of officers and soldiers of the U.S. army's 1st Sustainment Brigade started working with their Iraqi counterparts, making this event just as exciting for them to see as well.

"It's exciting. This represents change for the Iraqi army," said Chief Warrant Officer Keith Hammitt, a maintenance advisor. "This is a result of their hard work and sacrifice."

After the speech, Nasier cut the ceremonial ribbon, then he touring the facility and talking with the mechanics. At one point, the soldiers broke out in song and dance as the general and his staff clapped along.

Afterward, several soldiers received awards from Abadi. Each soldier and officer saluted the general, shook his hand, and accepted their award with pride.

"Through this effort, we are able to insure the country is more secure," Muniem said.

(From a Multinational Corps Iraq news release.)

By Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 27, 2008 - In Oakland County, Mich., every day is Veterans Day, thanks to strong military support from Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.  The department is one of 15 organizations receiving the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for outstanding support of its employees in the National Guard or Reserve. The department also is a co-recipient of the 2008 Michigan Employer Support Guard or Reserve Pro Patria Award.

Initiatives such as the "Every Day is Veterans Day" campaign launched by Bouchard's department and other local organizations are a testament of the department's respect and efforts to support military  veterans.

The department is the first Michigan law enforcement agency to partner with the Army in the "Partnership for Youth Success Program," which actively recruits armed forces members for employment. Because of the program and other initiatives, a number of reserve-component servicemembers, including 12 deputies, now work for the sheriff's department.

Servicemembers welcomed into the department's work force are provided the difference between their military  pay and their sheriff's department salary and full benefits for themselves and their families throughout their military  career.

Deploying employees are given laptop computers purchased by the department for their personal use, while the department provides employees returning from deployments 10 days of paid time off in appreciation for their service.

The department also remembers its employees who were injured in combat. Employees recovering from wounds and undergoing rehabilitation continue to receive benefits and support from the department.

Bouchard recently was recognized by the Michigan Army National Guard with the Michigan Distinguished Service Medal for his exceptional support to deputy sheriff and Army Sgt. James McKelvey and his family while McKelvey recovered from injuries suffered during a deployment to Iraq.

Bouchard personally visited McKelvey on multiple occasions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, and provided weekly updates of his recuperation to the department as well.

"It's been an honor and privilege to work for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office," said Shawn Wilson, who also is a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve corporal. "They continue to be a tremendous support system to the individuals who are deployed around the world and their families."

Whether employees are deployed or at weekend and annual drills, they feel they are able to concentrate more on their military  missions and obligations and worry less about their families because of the high level of support the department provides, Wilson said.

"Knowing that our families are taken care of at home allows us to more effectively focus on the mission at hand," he said. "I will always be in debt to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and its employees for providing my family with the assistance they did while I was deployed."

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office will receive the Freedom Award along with 14 other companies in a ceremony Sept. 18 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center here. The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to recognize exceptional support from the employer community.

By Army 1st Lt. Tomas Rofkahr

Special to American Forces Press Service

Aug. 27, 2008 - Members of the Australian Reconstruction Task Force and Task Force Castle's 420th Engineer Brigade completed the emplacement of two Mabey Johnson bridges near Andar and Moqur in eastern Afghanistan. Insurgent attacks during the summer left the bridges impassible, forcing Afghans and coalition forces to use single-lane bypasses.

Work progressed quickly once the Australian and American combat engineers arrived. The first bridge in Andar was erected in just over two days, and forces then moved on to Moqur, where they emplaced the second bridge.

Both bridges are on Highway 1, which connects Kandahar in southern Afghanistan to the Afghan capital of Kabul. Highway 1 is a paved route originally built in the 1960s. The 300-mile stretch that includes the bridges was refurbished in 2002 and 2003 as part of President Bush's Afghanistan Road Initiative. The U.S. Agency for International Development credits the work with reducing the transit time between Kandahar and Kabul by half.

In recent months, Highway 1 has become a focal point for insurgent activity, as Taliban fighters and common bandits target supply convoys and merchant traffic. The bridge attacks were the latest in the Taliban's efforts to impede Afghanistan's reconstruction and stability, officials said.

The bridge attacks are a serious concern, but not a serious engineering problem to solve.

"Each section of the bridge is called a bay and is about 10 feet long," said Army Capt. James Reid, Task Force Castle's assistant operations officer. "We were able to do a 10-bay bridge in two days."

Reid, an Arkansas native, has seen a great deal in his 20 years of military service, with multiple tours in Iraq and now building bridges in Afghanistan.

"I'm excited to be involved in this," he said. "It's helping everybody -- it's helping Afghanistan, it's helping the coalition forces, and it's just a win-win for everyone."

(Army 1st Lt. Tomas Rofkahr serves in the Combined Task Force Castle Public Affairs Office.)

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 24, 2008 - The commander of U.S. European Command traveled to the former Soviet republic of Georgia to ensure the ongoing U.S. humanitarian effort in the wake of a Georgian conflict with Russia is proceeding smoothly. "I'm here to talk to Georgian leaders and our U.S. assessment team to hear what they need," Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock said. "We have to get it right so we can help people quickly. We want to optimize the humanitarian aid effort and bring in the right stuff, to the right place at the right time."

The general and several key staff members from EuCom headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, were joined on the visit by U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Henrietta Holsman Fore. As part of the visit, Craddock visited a building in Tbilisi where about 250 displaced people were living, unable to return home since the Russian advance. The general also met with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and defense ministry officials about the way ahead for U.S.-Georgian military-to-military relationship.

Craddock said EuCom would assess the Georgian forces' needs and make a recommendation to the secretary of defense.

"We express our gratitude for your help, and will never forget what you have done to help us in our time of need," Saakashvili said in a brief joint news conference after the meeting.

Craddock minced no words when discussing Russia's compliance with a France-brokered cease-fire agreement.

"There is an agreement between two heads of state, and there has to be compliance," he said Aug. 21. "My assessment is that the Russian withdrawal is now slower than it ought to be. [The Russians] need to do what they said they were going to do almost a week ago and

withdraw."

Craddock expressed support for an Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe observer mission slated to provide 100 unarmed military observers. The mission will provide better awareness of withdrawal progress and reduce the possibility of new clashes between Russians and Georgians.

Also part of Cradock's visit was a stop to observe the growing U.S. aerial port mission at Tbilisi Airport and tothank the U.S. troops working there. To date the U.S. has provided more than $11 million in direct support of the humanitarian aid mission in Georgia.

Navy Rear Adm. Steven Romano, EuCom's director of logistics and security assistance, said U.S. Air Force aircraft have established a tempo of C-17 and C-130 deliveries that are providing enough food to feed about 50,000 people per day until USAID and Georgian government efforts can sustain the effort.

Maritime assets are also playing a growing role in the aid effort. USS McFaul, a Navy destroyer, left Souda Bay, Crete, on Aug. 21 after taking aboard dozens of pallets of humanitarian relief supplies, and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas is following with more humanitarian aid.

(From a U.S. European Command news release.)