Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
AUP from Police Sub Station 10 gather around Spc. Gregory Hill, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with Company B, 204th BSB, 2nd BCT, as he demonstrates how to check the oil on their Ford Ranger Sept. 10.
‘Rough Riders’ train AUP Story and photo by Spc. April York 2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO
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oldiers from 204th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, offer sustainment excellence courses to Afghan Uniformed Police to teach basic-level skills at Forward Operating Base Walton. The course, which has been running for seven weeks, is offered to AUP who work in the 17 police sub stations located in Kandahar City and is offered twice each week.
The Course consists of three different stations and each station has a translator. The first station is vehicle preventative maintenance checks and services and generator PMCS. The second station is basic first aid and the third is the range where they go over weapon familiarization. “We are teaching them how to take care of themselves,” said 1st Lt. Adam Stear, the officer in charge of the 204th logistic training assistance team. “One of the main goals for sustainment excellence day is to link-up the
Issue 71 Sept. 24, 2011
AUPs with the contractors who are available to them.” Stear went further to say, “a lot of the AUP don’t know that (contractors) are out there and they don’t know the process so we are connecting the dots between them.” The AUP have two contracting companies to help sustain their vehicles and weapons. Alpha Omega Services is their weapons maintenance contractors and Automotive Maintenance Systems services their vehicles. While the AUP are rotating between the stations AOS services any of their non mission capable weapons and AMS services the vehicles the AUP brought with them in order to give them a better understanding of the services they offer. “So far we have had a great turn out,” Stear said. “We usually have about 30 AUP who show up and we split them into groups of 10 to rotate between the stations.” “The training is going really well,” said Sgt. Christopher Griffin, a medical technician with Company C, 204th BSB, who teaches the first aid course. “I’ve gotten good responses from them and they are definitely very appreciative of having the class.” “As long as the AUP understand that AOS and AMS are available and at their disposal then we are helping them accomplish their mission,” Stear said.
Titans assist government connect with people Story by 1st Lt. Thomas Rosa 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavlary Regiment
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he “fight” in the Arghandanb River valley has become more one of ideas than of guns. As the enemy there has become less active and less effective, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment has adapted its approach to assisting the Afghan government and the Afghan National Security Forces connect to the people and protect them. The Arghandab residents face a decision between supporting the Afghan government or the insurgents. “Jelawur is the most contested village in the Arghandab, a village with over 3000 people that make up a decisive population that is
clearly sitting on the fence,” said Lt. Col. Michael Kirkpatrick, squadron commander. “Over the course of the last 30 days, Titan Soldiers and their Afghan partners have shifted the momentum of support and reduced the level of violence by helping provide for people’s basic needs,” he said. Afghan National Army and Afghan Uniformed Police partnered with Troop A recently distributed over one ton of dry food goods, sports equipment, school supplies, toys and winter clothing. The AUP distributed over 100 pairs of shoes, which are much needed by the children of Jelawur. “The combined mission proved very successful in building relationships
between the ANSF and the population,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Yerger, squadron command sergeant major. “The more we connect the people to the district government the more the level of violence and crime will decrease, providing a more secure environment for the men, women and children of Arghandab.”
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Warhorse Pride
AUP closer to becoming PRC Story by Sgt. Ruth Pagan 2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO
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fghan Uniformed Police in the Kandahar Provincial Response Company are taking a high risk operations course taught by the Security Force Assistance Team 2, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. AUP officers must complete an initial fourweek course to become qualified to continue PRC training. “This course prepares the PRC to conduct operations designed to protect the Afghan people from the enemies of Afghanistan,” said Sgt. Preston Haynes, a Soldier in SFAT 2. PRC officers conduct high risk operations and close proximity offensive actions or close quarter battle, which requires the officers to make spilt-second decisions and take appropriate actions in order to save lives.
A squad of Afghan Uniformed Police who are training to become Provincial Reaction Company officers, conduct high-risk training at their compound outside Forward Operating Base Walton Aug. 30.
“Realistic training like this allows the PRC to capture the enemies of Afghanistan without putting civilians in danger,” said Cpl. Jason Lovejoy, a Soldier in SFAT 2. SFAT 2 trains the AUP to identify and de-
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scribe the elements of a vehicle borne improvised explosive device, identify and describe the elements of a suicide bomber, recognize dangers of improvised explosive devices and how to react to IEDs. Convoy operations are also taught. The AUP learn how to do pre-combat checks, convoy formations, rules of engagement while mounted, mounted contact battle drills, recovery operations, and IED awareness and avoidance. “I feel more confident after this training,” said Abdul Rahman, AUP officer. “I’m more prepared to defend my country.” The AUP will have to complete a PRC advance course to become proficient and successful PRC officers. “I am proud to watch the PRC train and improve,” said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Morris, a Soldier in SFAT 2. “These elite Soldiers know the risks their job carry and therefore train especially hard.”
2STB Chem platoon becomes WIT Story by 1st Lt. Abbey Paton 2nd Special Troops Battalion
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he Chemical Recon Platoon of 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, transitioned to the Weapons Intelligence Team prior to the unit’s deployment in support of OEF 11-12. The transition began during their Joint Readiness Training Center rotation at Fort Polk, La., in February. The training conducted at JRTC consisted of basic forensic and technical exploitation skills. Soldiers worked in pairs to exemplify their skills as on-scene investigators. After JRTC, a mobile training team traveled to Fort Carson, Colo., in April to continue training the platoon on counter IED lessons. The instructors of the course used their personal deployment experiences to give a current perspective on what the unit’s deployment to Afghanistan would entail. The platoon was taught and evaluated on numerous aspects of scene exploitation to include evidence collection, evidence preser-
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
vation techniques, crime scene photography, post blast analysis and biometric evidence collection. In addition, the platoon received instruction on basic IED components and identification. The platoon was split into two WITs, with Team One located at Forward Operating Base Farah with Task Force Lonestar and Team Two with 749th EOD, they have been very successful. Team One, led by Sgt. Clinton Easterling, has been able to posture themselves as an effective weapons intelligence entity while also training the Afghan Uniformed Police at their training academy in Farah City. During each training academy rotation, Team One instructs the AUP on basic forensic and evidence collection. The training provides the recruits with a basic understanding of the importance of proper evidence handling and chain of custody procedures. IED recognition and actions taken once an IED is identified were also taught. “Through tactical site exploration training the AUP Investigative Surveillance Unit will have the ability to collect tangible evidence 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
Sgt. Clinton Easterling, platoon sergeant for the WIT, Team One with 2nd STB, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., (next to the easel) instructs Afghan Uniformed Police on basic forensic and evidence collection.
without destroying any enemy biometrics or signatures,” said Easterling, platoon sergeant of WIT Team One. “The AUP recruits have displayed an unwavering desire to apply their knowledge as they are increasingly depended on in their province to combat crime and anti-coalition forces.” “I look forward to supporting the AUP training academy in the near future with my WIT team,” said Capt. Orande S. Roy, commander of HHC. “I believe the skills we provide them today will allow them to become a well-equipped and independent fighting force.” 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