THE SPO-TIMES
V o l um e 1 , I s s ue 5 S e pte m be r 2 0 1 2
I nt er na l n ew sl et t er f or o ur s er vi ce me m ber s a n d f a m il i e s. . . The SPO Times is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The SPO Times are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, or the Department of the Army. The commanding officer for NTM-A DCOM SPO is Brig. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters Jr. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO Public Affairs Officer. Contact information: monika.comeaux@afghan.swa.army.mil, DSN: 318-237-0470, Cell: 070-681-8709.
Kandahar Regional Military Hospital: the premier trauma care center in Afghanistan Story by Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO PAO KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – While child mortality rates or average life expectancy in Afghanistan may come as a shock to the Western world, there are bright spots in the country’s health care system that affect entire regions. One of these bright spots is the Afghan National Army’s Regional Military Hospital in Kandahar. See ANA HOSPITAL on p. 6-7
A nurse tends to an Afghan National Army soldier Aug. 20., in the Kandahar Regional Medical Hospital. Although only 177 of the 237 Tashkill (authorization document) positions are filled it is considered the premier trauma care center. Photo by U.S. Army Capt. Monika Comeaux 1
TABEL OF CONTENTS: P. 1 & 6-7: Kandahar Regional Military Hospital P. 2-3: From our leaders P.4-5: Keystone 9 expedites parts delivery to ANA P. 8: ANA’s 215th Corps move into new Forward Supply Depot P. 9: Featured coalition partner
P. 10: ANA takes over operations at Chimtallah National Ammunition Depot P. 11: ANSF participates in pilot class for contracting P. 12-13: Coalition members organize film festival to build morale P. 16-17: From Trash to Treasures; massive cleanup P. 18-19: Around the battlefield P. 20: Camp Eggers remembers 9/11
From our leadership DCOM-SPO Team, I have a few very important things to share with you all this month. As the month of September comes to end, gives us an opportunity to share some memories and look forward to October. One key event of September was the PreDeployment Site Survey (PDSS) for the 16th Sustain Brigade out of Germany; they came here with a motivated team between 8-10 folks to include their Commander and Command Sergeant Major to see how the DCOM-SPO operate on a daily basis. We shared our daily activities, took them on a few road trips, talked about some challenges and best of all, the way ahead. The 16th Sustain Brigade is ready to get into the rotation of this mission, but must wait their time. The Current DCOM-SPO/13ESC, still has plenty of work to do. I was honored to witness hundreds of Afghan Seniors NCO sharing a dinner meal as they prepared for their Annual Sergeant Major of the Army Conference. The NonCommissioned Officer Corps of Afghanistan is on their way to build an excellent team; as I do Battle Field Circulations to the different Regions and communicate with my Afghan counterparts, they share lots of the same concerns as our service members; they are honored to serve their country, want to make a better life for themselves, and they have thoughts on how to make their system work; have trouble getting the information to the top as we do on occasions. Green on blue is a terminology normally used for an incident that involves an act of violent of an Afghan Soldier/Policeman against a coalition or friendly force. I can tell you that green on blue doesn’t include the professionals I just spoke about; folks that commit green on blue, aren’t part of the Afghan and coalition team that wants to see a country of greatness. Our coalition partners are a main effort in the development of the Afghan Soldier, police and play a significant role in all areas of leadership. I want to express how very proud I am of your accomplishments in DCOM-SPO! You all make doing more with less look easy, each and every day. We have downsized due to surge recovery, eliminated some billets and despite challenges you are all performing wonderfully. Your laser focus on training up our Afghan partners has not waivered one bit. It’s very satisfying to see how many convoys are now planned, and conducted by our Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) partners. It is heartwarming to look at the photos of Afghan service school graduations, or go to yet another forward support depot or training facility turnover! You may not see the big picture at your level, but I can assure you that your work is appreciated and you are contributing to the success of this mission. Without you, we would not be able to achieve our goals as an organization! I need you to remain alert and focused on our goals. Keep in mind the reasons we are here and do not allow the actions of a few taint your opinion about the people of Afghanistan as a whole! Check and double check everything. Make sure that as you conduct training programs, you are abiding by all safety and security measures. Do not become complacent. I need everyone to remain alert and aware of your surroundings, even as you are setting foot on the aircraft that will take you home. If you are close to redeployment, make sure the person who replaces you has all the tools in hand to continue operations. A seamless transition is paramount to maintain the momentum we have achieved. Think about things you must share with them; try to remember things you wish you were told when you took over the mission! Make sure you establish solid continuity books, and examples of the work you do on a day to day basis. If you have the name of the individual replacing you, be sure to contact them and be a reliable sponsor as they transition into theater. This should be no different than being an assigned sponsor for someone stateside! If you are just arriving to this AOR, remember it’s about work and balance ”everyday”; work out, eat, rest, make friends, use the MWR facilities and keep in touch with your family. Have a plan for what you are trying to accomplish during this deployment, have a plan for what you will do once you leave here. Have some fun. Do follow your football team! Do participate in fantasy football! And if you are one of our coalition brothers, do follow soccer, cricket or whatever it is the national sport in your country. Do not isolate yourself from what is going on in the world, keep up with the news. I once again wanted to express my gratitude to those who support us from home. The Team here in theater and the folks back home keeps us strong. Deployments help to put into perspective of those things that are important and help to focus on wanting them again. Please continue to keep the communication open. We may be apart, but we can be part of the process of whatever is going on when given the opportunity. Keep the photos, home videos, and any special moments coming for us to stay up to date of what’s going on in our family and town. It’s an honor to service beside people who are here for a cause greater then themselves, no matter what your reason. You don’t have to be here, it was your choice. I am very proud of our DCOM-SPO team, keep up the good work! CSM Terry E. Parham Sr., DCOM-SPO CSM 2
DCOM-SPO/13th ESC DCOM-SPO Team, Your hard work continues to make impacts. Now that the Force Manning Level reductions or "Surge Reductions" are complete I ask each of you to gather with the sections and relook the missions you are performing. We've spent a great deal of effort on DCOM-SPO priorities across each of the sections, but with fewer people these reviews are very important. Make sure your priorities are accurate. The Staff is working hard to define what the DCOM-SPO will look like out through FY 13. This effort is called BASEORD 13, and it is also important that you understand this planning effort, which is led by the DCOM-SPO J5. We are basing our manning levels on the dates, we plan to transition logistics nodes and functions. Transition dates are based on BASEORD 13 planning, the Mid Year Azimuth Check and to lesser degree our monthly Logistics Assessment and the Unified Transition Plan. Ask questions and make sure you sections priorities and manning levels for the next year are correct. Logistics Capabilities Assessment Tool (LCAT). As I mentioned last month the Logistics Common Operating Picture (LCOP) has developed into an extremely useful method to assess our progress in developing logistics capabilities. You must understand it. We changed our assessment approach in September, and are now focusing on the plans to "fix" issues; those areas assessed at "RED" or "AMBER" rating on the LCAT. Now the RSC teams lay out their plans to provide training, advising, or other resources they need help with to get an issue fixed. Training and advising are the primary area that can be applied quickly to fix shortfalls. All the training efforts are managed by the J3, so if you are working on something that has the word "training" in ityou need to get with the J3. As many of you know the 13th ESC members of DCOM-SPO will redeploy around the first week in December and our numbers will be replaced by the 16th Sustainment Brigade. Our goal is to develop a good road map for the incoming members of DCOM-SPO. As discussed above- this will include a well defined list of priorities and good explanations of everything you are working on. This will be a larger than normal change in people- so we must spend time cleaning up our records, history files, SOPs and prepare for a relief in place. As part of the close out of 13th ESC, we will conduct another Commander's Conference on 28-29 November so the new team can meet our Commanders and vice a versa. As you look at your individual area of concentration, I ask you to focus on simple and clear instructions to help the new members of the team quickly understand your responsibilities and practices. Thanks again for the hard work and if you have questions or something is not clear- Please Ask! “Shohna-ba-Shohna!" شاهنه به شاهنه BG Clark LeMasters DCOM-SPO/13th ESC Commander NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan 3
Operation Keystone 9 expedites parts delivery for Afghan National Army By Army Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM DCOM-SPO PAO
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Greg Pierce, a member of the Coalition Forces Sorting Facility team in Regional Support Command-South guides a forklift in Kandahar, Afghanistan, as it downloads cargo June 10 at a yard used to temporarily sort and prioritize incoming and outgoing shipments of critical repair parts for the Afghan National Army. Photo by U.S. Navy Lt. Cdr. Trey Scudder, RSC-South Logistics Training and Advisory Team deputy
CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan – A handful of service members assigned to the Deputy Commander of Support Operations under NATO Training MissionAfghanistan have planned and are executing an operation known as Keystone 9. This operation, which started in July of 2012 and is expected to run until late October, rapidly processes repair parts and distributes these parts to Afghan National Army units. “Operation Keystone 9 is a mission designed to expedite the
delivery of critical Class IX repair parts to the theater in support of the ANA combat operations,” said Lt. Cmdr. Trey Scudder, the senior mentor for the Second Forward Support Depot ( under Regional Logistics Support Command-Kandahar) supporting the ANA and also the deputy for Logistics Training Advisory Team South. “A secondary mission of the operation is to clear out the global backlog of Class IX repair parts destined for the ANA … filling the Authorized Stockage List for each of the ANA Corps 4
thereby giving the ANA a baseline from which to support their respective maintenance companies,” Scudder added. The concept is multifold, said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dempster D. Upshaw, a supply technician who manages Class IX parts within DCOM-SPO. Instead of all parts arriving from New Cumberland… and from Thailand going through Kabul some are now flown into Kandahar where they are prioritized, sorted and pushed out. “It is saving time by eliminating the Depot 0 warehouse (the national-level Class IX repair parts depot)…and essentially doing a ‘direct delivery’ of parts and supplies to the front doorsteps of the customers… These parts hit home to the action level directly,” Upshaw said. DCOM-SPO receives notification of inbound parts approximately 48 hours before they arrive to Kandahar. It allows Upshaw to have a look at what is on the particular aircraft and match up against on hand supplies and shortages.
See KEYSTONE 9 next page
KEYSTONE 9
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Austin Eckert, a member of the Coalition Forces Sorting Facility team in Regional Support Command-South checks date on a shipping box of spare parts against his inventory listing July 10, 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Photo by U.S. Navy Lt. Cdr. Trey Scudder, RSCSouth Logistics Training and Advisory Team deputy
Once they arrive at Kandahar Air Field, incoming parts are all signed for by a coalition representative. All parts are convoyed to the Coalition Forces Sorting Facility that they all affectionately refer to as the “Yard.” Here service members sort the parts. “The hard work displayed by a very small team comprised of five Marines, one Sailor, three Airmen and seven Army service members is a true testament to the merits of joint service missions. The level of enthusiasm displayed by the troops involved in this mission literally breathed life back into the ANA repair parts system” said Scudder. Once parts are sorted, Scudder’s team arranges for transportation by either ANA transportation assets to nearby locations or coalition assets to remote locations. By simply bypassing the logjam in Kabul, Scudder thinks that several weeks are shaved off the traditional processing time. Operation Keystone 9 is a temporary solution, allowing ANA units to receive repair parts in the midst of the fighting season and also allowing Depot 0 to clear up their backlog and conduct personnel training, before all parts are routed through them again, starting late September.
Afghan National Army soldiers carry a simulated casualty played by an ANA soldier into the triage area during an ANA mass casualty exercise at the 215th Maiwand Corps' clinic on Camp Shorabak, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2012. The exercise was held to help the ANA medical staff on Camp Shorabak organize and fine tune their mass casualty treatment plans. U.S. Army photo by Bill Putnam 5
ANA HOSPITAL continued Here, the wards are kept cool by air conditioning systems, patients lay in clean beds, most covered with colorful sheets and the medical staff, housekeeping and administration works around the clock to care for those in need. Not only do they treat combat injuries, they also assist civilians and following international healthcare norms, they also provide assistance to injured insurgents. “A lot of what you see here is what we have done internally in the Afghan system ourselves,” said ANA Brig. Gen. Sayed Azim Hussaini, the hospital commander, through an interpreter. Azim has been a doctor serving his country for 28 years. He learned medicine in Kabul and prior to taking command of this facility, he commanded the ANA Regional Medical Hospital in Herat. The facility recently increased the number of emergency room beds from three to nine, intensive care unit beds from four to seven, and doubled the number of total beds from 50 to 100 to accommodate general admission patients, said Dr. Mohammad Sadiq, Chief of the Medical Staff and general surgery specialist. “The RMH here in Kandahar is probably the most advanced and efficient hospital in the entire Afghanistan,” Azim said. He and his coworkers continuously try to improve the facility and the efficiency of care. He greatly contributes the hospitals success to his devoted employees. “I am very proud of my staff,” Azim said. They are very disciplined and organized. Each
Dr. Mohammad Sadiq, the chief of medical staff and general surgery specialists gives a tour of the Afghan National Army’s Kandahar Regional Military Hospital to a visiting NATO group Aug. 20, 2012. The facility is considered a premier trauma care center in Afghanistan. The hospital receives visits from a NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan mentor team from Regional Support-Command South on a regular basis. Photo by U.S. Army Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO PAO
and every one of them are taking care of the patients… Nothing can be done by one person. I appreciate my team here and everything we do is teamwork. A commander without a team is not a commander; I am a commander because I have a team,” said Azim humbly. Recently his team and the Afghan Air Force distinguished themselves with conducting the first four all-Afghan organized and Afghan-led MEDEVAC missions from KRMH, although Azim admits that the routine MEDEVAC process still needs some work. Other areas where they need to improve, Azim said, are getting medical supplies to the 6
Class VIII medical supply warehouse and the hospital faster and they would also need more surgical subspecialists. “What is unique here is how the Afghan providers do so much under such difficult circumstances. The providers are generalists and do amazing things…while they lack in subspecialties, they make up for it in just practical experience,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John P. Savage, a medical adviser working with Azim and his team in Regional Support CommandSouth, under NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan. See ANA HOSPITAL next page
staff is extremely committed, an effecKRMH treats tive organization, 20 percent of the working with very total ANA battle limited resources, injuries and supthat I would trust port 27 percent of with my own life,” all intensive care unit admissions for said Savage. the ANA that occur “If I was injured in the entire counon that compound, try of Afghanistan. the 20 minutes it The hospital averwould take to call The medical staff of the Afghan National Army’s Kandahar Regional Military ages 650 hospital Hospital, who were on duty Aug. 20, 2012, pose for a photo in one of the and get a U.S. helibed days per hallways of the hospital. Photo by Capt. Monika Comeux, DCOM-SPO PAO copter to come and month, said Sadiq. The hospital staff assists cian’s assistance class is half get me, is 20 minutes I would with the ANA’s Combat Medic way through its 13-month dura- not want to wait. I would trust Training, Combat Physician As- tion and is predicted to graduate the staff out there to be able to sistant Program, and Biomedical approximately 50, said Sadiq. take care of me. There is no Equipment Repair Training ProThe NTM-A trainers, to ingram as well conducts their own clude Savage are very optimistic U.S. community based hospital that could do what they regularly staff training to improve the about the hospital and have a number of trained medical prodo for trauma or mass casualty high opinion about the quality of fessionals within the ANA. Its response,” said Savage. Afghan physician-taught physi- services provided there. “The ANA HOSPITAL
R S C - C a p it a l A NP E N G t ur ns ov e r a co mp l et ed p roj ec t to A f gh a n U ni fo r med P o l ic e a t I s ta l i f The Korem Ebad Construction Company, the Istalif District Governor, 1st Lt. Kyle Staron, Regional Support Command –Capital Afghan National Police Engineer Project Manager (wearing glasses), and other members of RSC-Capital watch as ANA Lt. Col Hashim, Istalif District Deputy Commander, cuts the ceremonial green ribbon to officially turn over the facility Sept. 1. Istalif is a village about 18 miles northwest of Kabul, Afghanistan. The project consisted of a combined barracks, latrine, shower, shave, and washing facility, a power plant, dining facility, well house and site work valued at $790,000. The new compound will be used to house AUP and allow the ANP to grow to meet its new Tashkill requirements and future demands in serving and protecting the Afghan people. Cutline by U S Army Capt. Andew D. Wilkerson, Photo by Dan Dergance 7
ANA’s 215th Corps move into new Forward Supply Depot By Bill Putnam, Regional Support Command Command--Southwest Public Affairs Specialist CAMP SHORABAK, Afghanistan – The 215th Maiwand Corps cut the ribbon on a major facility that will increase their logistical ability to supply their soldiers for operations Sept. 5. The Corps’ Regional Logistics Supply Center took over a set of 23 barracks, offices and warehouse buildings during a ceremony in the site’s new dining facility attended by officers and soldiers from the ANA and their advisors from Regional Support Command Southwest, NATO Training Mission and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). Afghan National Army Maj. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Clark LeMasters, right, the deputy commander of Support Operations, NATO Gen. Hotak, the commander of Training Mission Afghanistan, and Afghan National Army Maj. Gen. Hotak, the commander of the the ANA’s Army Support ComANA's Army Support Command, cut the ribbon to open the 215th Maiwand Corps' Forward Supply Depot at Camp Shorabak, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2012. The FSD will supply the mand, thanked (through an interAfghan National Army's 215th Maiwand Corps in Helmand and Nimrouz provinces. U.S. Army preter) NATO Training Missionphoto by Bill Putnam Afghanistan and Regional Command-Southwest for their help in Strumolo, an adviser to the 215th they want to use this to support their building the facility. Maiwand Corps RLSC, said the ANA brothers fighting,” Strumolo said. “I’m very happy to be here parin the RLSC planned the entire event. “They understand if they don’t take ticipating in this ceremony,” Hotak “You’re a little nervous but they care of these buildings their ability to said during his speech. “On behalf of executed the way they were supposed do that goes down.” the (Ministry of Defense) I’d like to to,” Strumolo said. “They planned and The ANA have started moving thank you for building this facility.” into the buildings and they should be executed that entire event.” Logistics plays a very important fully up and running in the next month Strumolo said how everything role in supplying an Army, Hotak conor so, Strumolo said. related to how the Maiwand Corps tinued. “It doesn’t matter how units are fights will be stored in the warehouses “That’s everyone living and workfighting if they don’t have strong logisand, like Hotak said during the cereing out of the new buildings,” he said. tics they won’t perform well,” he said. mony, the ANA are grateful for the The FSD is part one of a three“In history of the ANA we’ve site. part build to increase the Corps’ logisnever had such a facility. I’d like to “How the kandaks fight, eat and tics, Strumolo said. An ammunition thank you from the bottom of my treat the wounded comes from those bunker complex and a new set of vehiheart,” Hotak said. “Since we have cle maintenance buildings will be finbuildings,” Strumolo said. such a great facility that will actually “They’re very grateful,” Strumolo ished in the next few months. increase what we do.” said. He also said few of the ANA solBuilding upkeep will be done by During the ceremony, U.S. Madiers have told their advisers they un- 75 ANA soldiers trained in plumbing, st rine Corps 1 Lt. Joe Strumolo said he derstand what it will take to maintain wiring and even cooking equipment was happy everything during the cerethe buildings. maintenance, Strumolo said. mony went smoothly. He was planning “’We want to make you proud, we the next step in the move from the want to make your country proud’ and FSD’s current facilities to the new site. 8
SEPTEMBER’S FEATURED C OA L I T I O N PARTNER ADRIAN DIMA FROM ROMANIA
A moment with Capt. Dima By LS2. Ronald Pitts, Regional Support Command-South/NTM-A Public Affairs Specialist “I have two prior deployments to Kosovo.” There “we helped with crowd and riot control, guarded court houses and civil service centers, manned certain high profile checkpoints, protected certain facilities along the new border separating Kosovo and Serbia, and provided escort of war criminals,” Dima said. What the Gendarmerie does back in Romania compared to here in Afghanistan is quite different. “Back in Romania I provided training to my subordinates, but I also do police work. In Afghanistan I am an LNO between my other Romanian colleagues and I also help with training the ANP by providing the proper programs of instruction and ensuring they are being adhered to,” said Dima. Working in Afghanistan has presented a unique opportunity to work with coalition forces for Dima, primarily with US forces at RSC-South. “It has been a great experience for me, I love working with members of other countries. I also find working in the international environment appealing due to learning new things, meeting new people, and using my own personal experiences to help with the mission here,” said Dima. Being in the Gendarmerie presents opportunities to travel, and after this assignment is over Dima would like to continue serving his country, visiting remote locations. “I would go anywhere in the world if it was in the interest of the Romanian Gendarmerie, Romania or other international institutions Romania is part of. However, being that I have been to Europe and Asia, I would like to go to Africa and help the people there,” said Dima in conclusion.
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan— Deployments present service members with unique experiences, which include meeting coalition partners like Capt. Adrian Dima of the Romanian Gendarmerie, who is assigned to Regional Support Command-South as the Romanian Gendarmerie liaison officer (LNO). Dima arrived in Afghanistan from the city of Bacau, in the eastern part of Romania in “early May along with the 3rd Romanian Contigent.” His team is the third group of Romanian Gendarmerie’s to serve as part of NATO Training MissionAfghanistan and are here on a six-month rotation helping work with the Afghan National Police at their various training sites in Southern Afghanistan. Dima personally brings 18 ½ years of experience with him. Romanian Gendarmerie members selected for duty in Afghanistan must “pass certain test, and examinations to include psychological, physical, medical, theoretical, and practical,” said Dima. The Gendarmerie sounds like a unique name so I asked Dima to explain what it is. The Romanian Gendarmerie is a “police force dedicated to combating violent crimes, crowd and riot control, security of high profile events (sporting events, public celebrations) as well as international police assistance.” The description seems to fit the Gendarmerie well for their mission here in Afghanistan helping the ANP, since much of what the Gendarmerie specializes in are still ongoing challenges here in Afghanistan. Even though this is Dima’s first deployment to Afghanistan, this is not his first deployment overall. 9
ANA takes over operations at Chimtallah National Ammunition Depot By Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM DCOM--SPO/NTM SPO/NTM--A PAO
Brig. Gen. Abdul Basir, the commander Afghan National Army's Logistics Command, signs transition paperwork assuming responsibilities for the Chimtallah National Ammunition Depot Sept. 16, in Kabul, Afghanistan as his Ammunition Director, Col. Ghulam Qadir Nasiri looks on from the background. It took months and months of hard work from both sides to arrive to this historic mile marker and transition over the modern storage facility. The trainers and mentors will continue to look on and provide support, with lesser and lesser roles. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO/NTM-A PAO
KABUL, Afghanistan – Representatives from the Afghan National Army assumed the responsibilities of operating the Chimtallah National Ammunition Depot Sept. 16, during a ceremony that took place at a newly built bunker. Brig. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters, Deputy Commander of Support Operations, NATO-Training Mission-Afghanistan represented the coalition during the official signing of the transition documents, and Brig. Gen. Abdul Basir, ANA logistics commander, attended and signed the paperwork representing the Afghan Ministry of Defense. The staff at the depot, with the help of ammunition mentors and trainers from Regional Support Command-Capital, trained for months to prepare them10
selves for properly operating the facility, said Air Force Master Sgt. Candice D. James, the senior munitions advisor from RSC-C. Oversight from the trainers however will not come to a screeching halt, she added. “We will support them for the next 101 days,” James said. “If they have any questions, we will help them out.” James has worked closely with the ANA staff during the past ten months, to bring the transition process to fruition. The ceremony actually occurred just one day before she was scheduled to depart from Afghanistan, and she was very happy that she was able to be a part of such an important milestone event. “I started with the bare minimum and worked my way up,” said James. “They have come a long way; they can do this, they have great leadership. I am very proud to pass this on to them and let them run their own facility,” she said. Afghan National Army Col. Ghulam Quadir Nasiri, the ammunition director of the ANA’s Logistics Command thanked coalition partners for their help with the facility during his speech. “Everything you see here today happened with the help of the coalition,” he said. Basir followed suit, praising the coalition partners not only for what they have done for the Chimtallah Ammunition Depot, but also for expanding ANA fuel storage capacity in the Kabul region and assisting with the medical supply warehouse and other warehouses in the national capital area. “This ceremony today represents the hard work and dedication of the Afghan soldiers at the Chimtallah Ammunition Depot, and the hard work and dedication of the mentors and advisors of RSC-Capital,” said LeMasters during the ceremony. The buildings are just the shell, it is teamwork and dedication what makes this facility function, he said. Basir thanked the coalition and the US taxpayers in particular, for their help to his country. “The US is spending taxpayer’s money on developing the ANA, but on the grand scale of things, it is one nation, the United States, helping out another, Afghanistan, and we are very thankful for this help.”
Afghan National Security Forces participate in pilot class for contracting By Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM DCOM--SPO/NTM SPO/NTM--A PAO KABUL, Afghanistan – The Operational Contracting Section under the Deputy Command of Support Operations in NATO Training MissionAfghanistan held a contracting class for ANSF personnel, Sept. 8 –12 at the Afghan National Army’s Logistics Command. The class was the first of its kind for the Afghan partners, allowing the instructors to obtain valuable feedback on the Contract Acquisition Advisory Team (CAAT) program of instruction (POI) developed by the DCOM-SPO and acquisition advisers from the Deputy Commands of Police and Army under NTM-A. In February of 2012, an adviser in the Afghan Ministry of Defense Acquisition Technology and Logistics Directorate identified the issue of not having enough transparency in the Afghan contracting systems, said U.S. Army Master Sgt. Saalih K. Muzakkir, the senior enlisted adviser for DCOMSPO’s CAAT training team. As a result, he received instructions to develop a POI for a contracting overview class. “Each class represented a different aspect of the procurement process,” said Muzakkir. “We contacted the Afghan Ministries of Interior and Defense and asked them to send some qualified participants to the class, and at the end we had between seven and 12 participants each day, learning the contracting process from identifying the need for a service or item all the way up to supervising the contract once it is awarded.” “I am very pleased that I got to participate in this training,” said Afghan National Army Junior Capt. Abdul Karim Muttaki through an interpreter. He added that he is happy that the U.S. is transitioning more to the Afghan National Army and he was
U.S. Army Master Sgt. Saalih K. Muzakkir, the senior enlisted advisor for the Contract Acquisition Advisory Team in Deputy Command of Support Operations under NATO Training MissionAfghanistan shows the financial regulations pertaining to contracting and acquisitions to participants of a contracting class test-run Sept. 12 at the Afghan National Army's Logistics Command in Kabul, Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO
eager to participate in the training to learn how to handle future tasks. “I am a logistician in my unit, that is why I was chosen,” Muttaki said. His unit expects him to share his experiences with others in his section once he returns to them. “I have a lot of experience in contracting already,” said Mr. Nazim, a civilian employee of the MoD. “What I was able to gain from this class was something unique and new to me. I am going to be able to go back to my office, implement things I learned here and I will become a much better contracting officer,” Nazim said. Afghan National Police Sgt. Ahmadzai Quadratullah was also happy that he was given the opportunity to participate in the class. He expressed his thanks, starting off his by saying, “If you will allow me please, I would like to thank the instructors for the class.” He, too, is a logistician who 11
is looking forward to using his newly acquired knowledge. “We are forward looking and forward thinking… and want to improve ourselves” said Nazim. “We are keen on implementing everything we learned here from A to Z.” Nazim said he was very pleased with the subjects covered in the class. “We started identifying the needs, went through authorities and toward the end discussed the laws and ethical rules governing contracting,” he said. Muzakkir thinks their training was well-received. He found his students energetic and enthusiastic. They were “really open to the ideas and concepts we were presenting.” Muzakkir hopes that the training they provide in a small way will be beneficial to the Afghan people and economy, moving the country forward, building a better Afghanistan.
Coalition members organize By Capt. Monika Comeaux, CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan – Mem-
cialist with the personnel section (J1) of
bers of the headquarters element of Dep-
DCOM-SPO.
uty Commander of Support Operations
The re-enactments showed included
under NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan the following movies: ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ held a film festival to boost morale on
‘Talladega Nights,’ ‘Monty Python and the
Sept. 2.
Holy Grail,’ ‘Office Space,’ ‘The Color Pur-
The idea for the festival came from the ple’ and ‘We Were Soldiers.’ Cannes Film Festival, an annual interna-
“We chose to re-enact ‘Talladega
tional event that takes place in a scenic
Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,’ because
seaside town in the South of France.
it is a favorite of several people in the J3
Brig. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters Jr.,
(current operations) shop,” said U.S. Army
DCOM-SPO, set strict rules for the entries. Maj. Joshua Johnson, the officer in charge Film clips had to be in good taste, and
of the logistics common operating picture
were judged on costume and scenery, spe- within J3. We also thought it would be cial effects, the number of staff members
easy to re-enact the “baby-Jesus” prayer
participating, acting abilities, and the ac-
around the table scene, said Johnson, who
curacy of re-enactment. The audience also played Cal, Ricky’s best friend and teamgave some input by clapping up a storm
mate from the movie.
for the popular vote scores. Festival organ-
Lopez and her office chose to re-enact
izers showed the original movie clip before
‘The Wizard of Oz’ scene where Dorothy is
playing their three to five minute re-
welcomed to munchkin land. Lopez said
enactment piece.
they just recently received their first coali-
Participants welcomed the film festival. tion forces co-worker from Belgium, and “I think it builds good cohesion and it’s a
the section found it fitting to do this part
good distraction from all the work we
of the movie to welcome their new addi-
currently have going on,” said U.S. Army
tion.
Sgt. Irene Lopez, a human resources spe-
Being in a deployed environment, one 12
film festival to build morale DCOM-SPO/NTM-A PAO has to be inventive when it comes to cos-
morale building event. The fourth place
tumes and props for a movie shoot. Actors cup went to J5 (future operations), the were seen wearing anything from trash
third place cup to LogOps (logistics opera-
bag tutus to wigs made out of mop heads.
tions), the second place to the combined
“For the costumes, we used different
efforts of the J3 (current operations) and
levels of the physical fitness uniform and
J2 (intelligence) sections and the winner of
winter gear to imitate the different NAS-
this months challenge is the combined staff
CAR jackets,” said Johnson. “We then
sections of J1 (personnel), J4 (logistics),
printed off some brand name logos and
J8 (resource management) and the secre-
taped them to our outfits to represent
tary of joint staffs.
sponsors.”
“I am very glad that we won, because
Johnson also explained that his crew did several takes and then edited the best
we put a lot of effort into it,” said Lopez in conclusion.
scenes into one fluid movie “to highlight the incredible acting abilities of our superior staff.” The first four best performances received winner’s cups that are reawarded each month to the sections that distinguish themselves in the current month’s
The winners of the Deputy Commander of Support Operations Film Festival pose for a photo with their trophy at the Camp Eggers clamshell Sept. 2. The winning team came from the personnel, logistics, resource management and secretary of the joint staff sections of DCOM-SPO. They entered the contest with their re-enactment of ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ Photo by U.S. Army Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO PAO 13
RLSC RLSC--SE Keeps 203rd Thunder Corps Rolling By Maj. Scott C. Hammond, Regional Logistics Support Command Southeast Senior Advisor FORWARD OPERATING BASE (FOB) THUNDER, Afghanistan – On June 20, the Regional Logistics Support Command-Southeast (RLSC-SE) Maintenance Company (Tolai) began moving into their new motor pool on FOB Thunder and by July 3, they had moved in and were anxious to begin repairing RLSC-SE vehicles. Since April 23, the RLSC-SE has completed 19 CLPs (Combat Logistics Patrols), distributing supplies to the 203rd Corps’ four remote brigades of the Afghan National Army at FOB Parsa in Khost Province (1st BDE), Sherana in Paktika Province (2nd BDE), FOBs Vulcan and Sultan in Ghazni Province (3rd BDE) and FOB Shank in Logar Province (4th BDE). One hundred percent of these CLPs were completed by the RLSC-SE without coalition forces assistance. In all, since completing their first convoy on April 23, the RLSC-SE has logged over 795,700 miles, travelling through the heart of the country. “What is the first thing that needs to be accomplished in Afghanistan to sustain the fight?” asked U.S. Army Master Sgt. Kenneth Hood, the noncommissioned officer senior advisor to the RLSC-SE recently. “It’s a great maintenance program. The reason why I say this is because the RLSC-SE has run 19 combat logistics patrols without any interruption, so that has allowed the combat soldiers to perform their jobs and win,” Hood added.
Regional Logistics Support Command – Southeast Maintenance Company commander Capt. Zebullah supervises his mechanics as they repair a 203rd Corps Ford Ranger at the Regional Logistics Support Command – Southeast - Gardez Motor Pool. Sept. 3rd. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Randy Myers
in the process of turning over general support level maintenance from contractors to RLSC-SE Maintenance Company. It represents a huge milestone for the RLSC-SE, as well as the combat logistics for the Afghan National Army as a whole.
“In the past four weeks, we have completed 25 rd Throughout July and Aug., the RLSC-SE Mainte- vehicle maintenance work orders for the 203 Corps,” said ANA Capt. Zebullah the RLSC-SE Maintenance nance Company has continued to maintain their own Company commander. fleet of ‘Internationals’ (seven-ton cargo trucks), U.S. Army Capt. Randal W. Myers, the RLSC-SE Humvees and Rangers, thereby enabling the sustainment of the 203rd Corps through distribution convoys. Support Operations mentor shared that “The RLSCSE is eager and ready to start repairing even more veMoreover, despite the waiting for the first 60 of the hicles in order to strengthen the 203rd Corps and the 132 authorized civilian mechanics to fill positions, rd Afghan National Army!” RLSC-SE began completing maintenance on 203 Corps vehicles on Aug. 25. This is the first step 14
Regional Support Command-Southwest conducts quick reaction drills By Bill Putnam, RSC-SW PAO RIGHT: U.S. Army Spc. Bryan Hergesell, left, talks with Sgt. Derrick Miller on how to draw his M9 Beretta pistol during a Quick Reaction Drill range at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Sept. 19, 2012. Hergesell is an infantryman with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 167th Infantry Regiment, Alabama National Guard, and a police officer in Alabama when not mobilized. Moore is a logistics advisor with Regional Logistics Center, Regional Support Command Southwest, NATO Training Mission Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Bill Putnam
LEFT: U.S. Army Maj. Dave Woods shoots his M9 Beretta pistol during a Quick Reaction Drill range at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Sept. 20, 2012. Woods is the officer in charge of the Regional Logistics Center, Regional Support Command Southwest, NATO Training Mission Afghanistan. The range was conducted to make sure NTM-A personnel were trained and prepared to react to active shooter scenarios that could occur during their advisory mission to the Afghans. Service members went through dry fires before shooting rounds during their combat shoot drills at targets from varied distances. U.S. Army photo by Bill Putnam
RIGHT: Service members police up brass shells at a range after conducting quick reaction drills at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Province, Afghanistan Sept. 20, 2012. Participants went through possible scenarios. The twoday event culminated in a stress-shooting lane where service members had to run to walls and change magazines then acquire targets at different distances . U.S. Army photo by Bill Putnam 15
ANSF trains side by side to learn maintenance skills By US Air Force Maj. Matthew Berridge , 4th RLSC Senior Maintenance Advisor about possible friction between the two organizations. Our hurdle was easily cleared by ANCOP themselves; when the lieutenant in charge broke the team up and placed each ANCOP with a team of ANA. This is the way they have worked for the past three weeks, and the only way to tell them apart is by their uniforms. They laugh and joke together on break, the sit together in class, about the only place they don’t sit together is lunch; allowing ANCOP to go to the dining facility is one of a small number of administrative hurdles we are still fighting through. US Air Force Maj. Matthew Berridge and US Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Morris, both Regional As this trial program continLogistics Support Command maintenance advisors pose for a group shot with Afghan Naues into its fourth week we can tional Army and Afghan National Civil Order Police personnel at Camp Shaheen, in Mazar-eonly be amazed at the ability of Sharif, Regional Support Command-North in early September, 2012. Courtesy Photo the soldiers and police to merge CAMP SHAHEEN, Mazar-e- sory Team – North during the into one team. At the floor meSharif - Who says that the Afmonth of Ramadan. ANCOP chanic level these guys are the ghan Ministry of Interior and Af- has no formal training program same, just trying to learn how to ghan Ministry of Defense can’t for its mechanics and its operado a job. The ANA Maintenance work together? The Soldiers of tions were suffering from a lack the 4th Regional Logistics Sup- of vehicles. The team decided Company XO stated that the port Command and the police of to broach the subject with the 4th ANCOP have progressed rapidly, starting with no real abilities the 6th Brigade, Afghan National RLSC Maintenance Company Civil Order Police (ANCOP) are commander to determine the to now being able to change oil, proving all the ‘ney’-sayers feasibility of mixing police with rotate tires and some other bawrong. These Soldiers and Po- soldiers. ANA Major Milang sic services. licemen are learning, side by thought it was a good idea and In two weeks we will evaluside, how to be mechanics while allowed us to bring the police ate the program to see if we can training in an Afghan National into the EMS shop for training add additional ANCOPs to the Army third line maintenance with ANA soldiers. The class unit. arrived on the first day after Eid, program, and turn our equipand we held our breath and ment maintenance site into a This trial program was the watched. culmination of a series of meettrue joint training center. ings between ANCOP mentors Before the class started, and the Logistics Training Advi- some mentors were concerned 16
Soldiers from 13th ESC celebrate unit’s 47th birthday in Afghanistan with teammates By Capt. Monika Comeaux, 13th ESC PAO CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan – Service members from the Deputy Command of Support Operations, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan came together Sept. 24 to celebrate the 47th Birthday of the 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command here. Although most service members serving in DCOM-SPO were deployed individually, 136 of the US Soldiers in the command come from the same unit, the 13th ESC. Participants bowed their heads while one of the 13th officers lead them in prayer, watched a short video about the unit’s history, and Brig. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters, DCOM-SPO and 13th ESC commander gave an address before cutting the birthday cake. “I am not here to only celebrate the heritage of the unit that some of us deployed from; I am here to celebrate the accomplishments of everyone in DCOM SPO,” said LeMasters. “We have every service except the Coast Guard within our ranks. We have 23 troop contributing nations within DCOM-SPO. You handle infrastructure, you handle network development, and you handle logistics. Our Afghan partners are getting better in logistics, they are getting better in sustaining themselves,” complemented LeMasters his team. Following traditions of military cake cutting, the commander asked the youngest and oldest deployed 13th ESC Soldiers, Spc. Ariel Gallarzo, an ammunition handler, and Lt. Col. Ronald Jack, the chief of the Fuel and Ammunition Assistance Team within DCOM-SPO, to assist him and Command Sgt. Maj. Terry E. Parham to cut the cake with a sword. “It was a pretty celebration; I wasn’t expecting such a good outcome,” said Shannon K. Armant, Jr., the J4 (logistics) noncommissioned officer in charge. Armant has been with the unit since July of 2011. He assisted with organizing the event, helped with the set up and teardown. It is not easy to get a cake in Afghanistan, but with the help of the Camp Eggers dining facility, the unit got to celebrate with a cake that fed all attendees and bore the unit’s colors. Deployed members of the 13th ESC only have a little over two months left before they re-unite with the rest of the unit at Fort Hood, and if still with the unit, all should get to celebrate the unit’s 48th birthday next year stateside.
Command Sgt. Maj. Terry E. Parham, the senior noncommissioned officer of Deputy Command of Support Operations and the 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Spc. Ariel Gallarzo, an ammunition handler and the youngest deployed Soldier of the 13th ESC, Brig. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters, DCOM-SPO and 13th ESC commander and Lt. Col. Ronald Jack, the chief of the Fuel and Ammunition Assistance Team within DCOM-SPO and the oldest deployed member of the 13th ESC, cut a cake to celebrate the 47th birthday of the
Members of the 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command also held an early birthday celebration at Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Aug. 11.. Courtesy photo 17
From around the battlefield
Camp Eggers participants cross the start line Sept. 14 during the Terry Fox run. Participants of the fundraiser had the choice between a 5K or a 10K run. The Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan, H.E. Glenn V. Davidson personally opened the run and addressed the crowds, reading a note from the sister of the late Terry Fox. Photos by U.S. Army Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO While you were out‌ Command Sgt. Maj. Terry E. Parham, the 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command Gnome has paid a visit to your office. Don’t worry, he did not take any of your coins, just wanted to see what it feels like sitting in the chair of the senior non-commissioned officer of the Deputy Commander of Support Operations and the 13th ESC.
Congratulations to Chief Warrant Officer 4 Dana Williams, who got promoted on Sept. 4. His family participated in his promotion ceremony via video teleconferencing. 18
From around the battlefield
Congratulations to Capt. Runnie Pender , who got promoted to captain on Sept. 8. Since he is a Dallas Cowboys fan, he could not leave them out of his ceremony as depicted on the backdrop. His family also participated via video teleconference.
Staff Sgt. Frank Bailey, the Deputy Command of Support Operations J6 (automations specialist) participates in the 9/11 memorial run at Camp Eggers. Running at the elevation of 5877 feet did not seem to bother him.
Capt. Liz Reyes runs up Gator Alley on Sept. 3, during the Camp Eggers Labor Day 5K run. Reyes participates in almost every race put on by the Morale, Welfare and Recreation team, and she often places during the runs. She won firs place amongst the ladies in this run. Photos by US Army Capt. Monika Comeaux 19
Remembering 9/11 at Camp Eggers By Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO/NTM-A PAO
20