Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Issue 74 Oct. 15, 2011
OP-160, best view in Afghanistan Story and photos by Sgt. Ruth Pagan 2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO
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rudging up the steep incline carrying an M-4 rifle and wearing a protective vest and kevlar helmet one starts to wonder why anyone would want to climb this mountain. But then, the summit is reached and the view of the Arghandab River valley is breath taking; the luscious green valleys end only when they meet the backdrop of mountains and from this perspective the poor mud villages look quaint and picturesque. Looking to the left on the very edge of the cliff is Observation Post-160, which is manned by the Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and they have the best view in Afghanistan. “It’s beautiful up here,” said Staff Sgt. Shelton Stansbury, noncommissioned officer in charge of OP-160. “You get to see a different perspective of a war torn country; you get to see the quietness and stillness of it.” “Most people think this country is dirty and gross looking, but when you’re up here
you can actually see the beauty of this place,” said Cpl. Christopher Gojdycz, a team leader at OP-160. “It doesn’t feel real,” said Pfc. Joshua Witt, a communications specialist at OP-160. The Soldiers may have amazing views but they are defiantly not living a privileged life. “You have your good days and bad days coming up (the mountain),” Gojdycz said. “Depending on the supplies we have to carry up it can be tough.” “The cases of MREs, cases of water and big stuff are air dropped in,” Stansbury said. “But most (everything else) we carried up. Anything we need to get us through the week we ruck up ourselves.” “Not having any electricity and being that the generator is down they rely on two solar panels that charge the batteries for the radio systems,” said Sgt. 1st Class Cameron Davis, NCOIC for S1 who doesn’t work at OP-160 but likes to climb the mountain any chance he gets. There are two teams of men who switch out every week and keep the operation running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pfc. Joshua Witt (pictured left), a communications specialist for the Observation Point-160, from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pours a bottle of water to boil in order to make coffee. Staff Sgt. Shelton Stansbury (pictured right), the noncommissioned officer in charge of OP160 demonstrates the steps taken in order to utilize the facilities. At the top of a mountain in the middle of the Arghandab River valley the Soldiers do not have modern day conveniences like electricity and indoor plumbing, but the view is unbeatable.
Though it can be a tough OP to run, it is vital to operations in the Arghandab. “If there is a foot patrol out and they can’t get a hold of battalion (on the other side of the mountain), we relay the message for them,” Witt said. “We act as an over watch for any activity that goes on in the valley and a re-trans site for the battalion,” Stansbury added. The official name of the post is OP-160 but the Soldiers have taken to calling it something else. “We call it OP-Slap-shot,” Stansbury said. “I’m responsible for this mountain so I named it after the mascot of my favorite hockey team, a team from Fort Collins, Colorado. Because we own it we took pride over it and named it Slap-shot.”
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Warhorse Pride
School opens for youths Story and photo by Capt. Michael Newman 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment
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ave you heard your parents or grandparents talk of the days when they went to school? They walked miles to and from. There were no buses and they definitely didn’t get to go shopping for fancy backpacks that displayed their favorite cartoon characters. With their hardships long remembered they make jokes and nag from time to time. For children in the Shah Wali Kot region, this is not a joke; this is their life. There has been talk of building a school at the SWK district center for years. It is now a reality thanks to hard work, planning and dedication of Habib Ullah, the SWK minister of education. “This is a great day for the children, (and) a great day for the teachers and
parents. This is a long time coming and I am very pleased to be here,” said Ullah. Lt. Col. David Raugh, commander of 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, stopped by the new school to congratulate all those who helped on a job well done. “This is their accomplishment, their efforts,” Raugh said. “We are really proud of them and hope that we see more schools like this in Shah Wali Kot.” The minister of education and Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 5th Sqdn., 1st Cav. Reg, had reason to celebrate the occasion as 19 children arrived bright and early with smiles and excitement knowing that they were the first to attend the new school. Children from ages 5 to 13, some traveling up to 5 miles, came with book bags in hand, ready to start after a long summer. They were
Issue 74 Oct. 15, 2011
not only excited for the first day of school but had smiles on their faces when the Soldiers welcomed them and exchanged handshakes and high fives. Some of the children knew a little English and demonstrated their knowledge proudly. They counted in English and said, “How are you?” as well. Ullah introduced five new teachers who will work full time at the school. They gave a tour of the new school, and were proud of establishing a new school right next to the SWK district center. Rhamatullah Gul, the SWK National Directorate of Security chief said he was more than happy to serve the people of SWK by volunteering his time to teach the children. There was also discussion of providing an after-school program that would allow teachers to give literacy classes to adults. That topic caused a lot of excitement and is something Ullah is going to pursue further. “Education is the key to building better communities and providing better jobs for our citizens— teachers here today want to be a part of it,” Ullah said.
Lonestars shoot it up Story and photo by Capt. Bonnie Hutchinson 2nd Special Troops Battalion
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he Personal Security Detachment for 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, participated in combined marksmanship training with Task Force South (Italian), Forward Operating Base Farah’s Provincial Reconstruction Team and the Air Force Joint Tactical Air Controllers. In addition to building teamwork, the event was aimed at improving individual proficiency on weapons. “This (training) will aide in the effectiveness of the coalition partnership and our ability to work together on our joint mission,” said Maj. Richard Fierro, the
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
operations officer for 2nd STB. During the event, American and Italian Soldiers learned about each other’s weapons systems and were given the opportunity to shoot them. “During events with coalition partners, it is important to focus on training,” Fierro said. To culminate the event each Soldier fired their primary and alternate weapon while moving. “This is an experience I will always remember,” said Staff Sgt. Micael Lanthier, the PSD platoon sergeant. “Although it did get competitive at times, we all took the time to learn from each other’s combat experience and never lost focus on the brotherhood we have all formed at FOB Farah.”
Spc. Yeison Betancur a driver for 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, shoots an M-4 rifle during marksmanship training. The training involved Soldiers from 2nd STB, Task Force South (Italian), Farah’s Provincial Reconstruction Team and the Air Force Joint Tactical Air Controller. The different Soldiers and Airmen came together and learned from each other’s experiences.
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
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