Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Issue 66 Aug. 19, 2011
Afghans celebrate Ramazan, talk reintegration Story and photos by 1st Lt. Jeffrey Parrott 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment
Interim Mayor Muhammad Nasim, Reintegration Provincial Joint Secretariat Team leader Haji Omer Satai and other Kandahar City officials held Iftar with leaders from 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division in celebration of Ramazan Aug. 3, at the Governor’s palace. Iftar is the communal act of breaking the daily fast that Muslims practice during Ramazan. As Afghan leaders and coalition interpreters excused themselves to perform a short evening prayer, a traditional Afghan dinner of lamb, chicken, rice and dates was served on large silver trays. Dinner was presented in this manner to encourage a ‘family style’ meal. Smiling at their American neighbors, Afghans held up a handful of rice encouraging Soldiers to set aside their silverware and eat in a more traditional manner. Soldiers who ate the meal with their hands were applauded with smiles and laughs from the Afghans. Satai spoke to the group about war, peace and the way forward for Kandahar. “Afghanistan has been at war for three
Haji Omer Satai, the Reintegration Provincial Joint Secretariat Team leader for Kandahar, speaks to community leaders and members of 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during an Iftar dinner at the Governor’s palace Aug. 3.
decades,” Satai said. “Now with the help of coalition forces, it is time to end the violence and bring peace and stability to Kandahar.” Acknowledging that the international community is investing heavily in Afghanistan’s success as a state, Satai encouraged the Afghan leaders in the room to cooperate with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. A part of Satai’s encouragement focused on reintegration. GIRoA-led programs designed to reintegrate former Taliban and insurgent fighters are taking hold throughout Afghanistan. A former Taliban commander and product of reintegration was recently appointed as
the Kandahar Minister of Hajj. “It is now the responsibility of community leaders to prepare the future for a new generation of Afghans,” Satai said. Community leaders took the opportunity to socialize with Interim Mayor Nasim and their International Security Assistance Force partners following dinner. During Ramazan, it is much easier to conduct business during the evening hours because Muslims fast during the day and are often spending this time with their families and out of the scorching sun. As guests left, Nasim passed out new prayer rugs and Korans to Afghan community leaders while thanking them for taking time away from their families during the holiday season. The heat of the day had settled with the sun and a cool breeze swept over the city, rustling the green grass outside the Governor’s palace. Change was coming to Kandahar City, and the heart of this change would come from the city government. If the minarets and mosques reminded Kandaharies of the Prophet Mohammad’s teaching, municipal buildings and green grass reminded the citizens that a future of peace and stability was on the horizon.
3-16 conducts MEDEVAC training Story and photos by Capt. Tramaine Gillard 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment
Soldiers with 1st Platoon, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division conducted training on medical evacuation with their partners in the Afghan National Army, Aug 13. MEDEVAC is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel using medicallyequipped ground vehicles or aircraft. The class, consisting of 12 ANA and three Afghan Uniformed Police, taught the proper
procedures of a MEDEVAC. It also allowed Soldiers to share their experiences with their Afghan partners. ANA and AUP officers were taught basic MEDEVAC techniques like: how to build, mark and secure a landing zone and how to prepare a patient for transport. The ANA and AUP were taught valuable skills that will help them expedite evacuation for their wounded in battle. The training will increase their readiness and prepare them for when they assume full and sole responsibility throughout the battlefield.
Afghan National Army Soldiers practice their medical evacuation training by carrying an injured Soldier to an aircraft. The Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment trained their Afghan partners in MEDEVAC procedures, Aug. 13.
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Warhorse Pride
Dealers spearhead development
Issue 66 Aug. 19, 2011
Cleaning weapons
in the Arghandab Story and photo by Sgt. Benjamin Shutt Security Forces Assistance Team 4
Most Soldiers know they can go to S-1 to get their paperwork done or they go to S-6 for communications but what in the world is S-9? “I hadn’t heard of S-9 before coming to (Afghanistan),” said 1st Lt. C.J. Daines, the stability officer in charge of the S-9 shop for 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The military definition for S-9 or Civil-Military Operations is a primary military instrument to synchronize military and nonmilitary instruments of national power, particularly in support of stability, counterinsurgency and other operations dealing with asymmetric and irregular threats. Daine explains it simply as: CMO contracts projects, manages money and helps build governance for the Arghandab District. “It can be as simple as that, but it’s a lot of work,” Daine said. Daine’s job is quite complex. He serves as a link between the lethal targeting efforts, the Department of State, Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, security forces, and logistics entities. He compiles and analyzes information from these sources in order to identify any gaps in the capacity of the Arghandab civilian government and uses this data to figure-out how to use money to fill those gaps. Daine
also spends a significant amount of time meeting with contractors and paying them for services provided. Since June, Daines has supervised the development of over 44 development projects in the Arghandab District, ranging from transportation infrastructure improvements to repairs of civic and cultural facilities worth in excess of $1.3 million. There will not be a way to accurately predict the final outcome of his contributions, Daines said. “For me personally, just working with this unit, it’s a great personal experience,” Daines said. He added, “spending time with the Soldiers, spending time with the people from Afghanistan - it’s priceless.”
Pfc. Daniel Hernadezgalindo and Pvt. Kenny Cardenas, both infantrymen with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, clean their weapons on the deck of the gym at Area Control Station 4, Aug 3. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ruth Pagan, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division PAO)
Buying melons The stability officer in charge of the S-9 shop, 1st Lt. C.J. Daines, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, sits with the District Governor, Haji Shah Mohammad, and a contractor to discuss the terms of a new project, Aug. 7.
Purple Heart recipient Gen. John Allen, commander of International Security Assistance Force, whispers words of encouragement to Staff Sgt. Louis Siciliano, Troop B, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, attached to 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, after awarding him with the Purple Heart Medal for injuries sustained in combat. Troop B is part of Task Force Lonestar which operates in Farah Province and Regional Command West. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Bonnie Hutchinson, 2nd Special Troops Battalion)
Warhorse Pride Col. John S. Kolasheski...................2nd BCT Commander Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa..............2nd BCT CSM Maj. Kevin Toner................................................2nd BCT PAO Sgt. Seth Barham..................................................PAO NCOIC Sgt. Ruth Pagan......................................Layout and Design Spc. April York.........................................Layout and Design
The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The Warhorse Pide is an Army-funded newsletter authorized under provision of AR 360-1. Contents of the Warhorse Pride are not necessarily the view of, nor endorsed by the U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial content of The Warhorse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public
Cpl. Tommy Clark and Spc. Corey Penton, with Troop B, 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, carry away watermelons they purchased from a local merchant Aug. 8. (U.S. Army photo by Troop B, 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment) Affairs Office. The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commentary and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the publication. All issues of The Warhorse Pride can be viewed online from your home computer at www.facebook. com/2bct4id Submissions should be e-mailed to the editor: seth.barham@afghan.swa.army.mil