Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Chimera partners with AUP to secure villages Story and photos by Sgt. Ruth Pagan 2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO
Afghan Uniformed Police officer 2nd Lt. Allah Dad with Police Sub Station 15 passes out a bag of beans to a local villager in Sub District 6 of Kandahar City.
C
ompany C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, coupled with the officers of Police Sub Station 15 held a three-day operation designed to improve security and intelligence within Sub District 6 of Kandahar City. “The enemy really started placing heavy intimidation tactics within the villages of Neyda Muhhamed and Diwatiano,” said Capt. John Intile, the Charlie Co. commander. “Our intention for this operation was to go in and
secure the populace.” The three-day/night operation, based out of Police Sub Station 15, included a Female Engagement Team, a Civil Affairs team, military police, snipers and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers. “The FET and CA teams gained invaluable information,” Intile said. “We were able to talk to the women of the village and get information about how they really don’t feel safe outside their homes and different illnesses affecting them,” added Sgt. Shanequa Cardona, a FET member with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn., 8th Inf. Reg. After each day’s operation, the elements came together and exchanged information gathered. The debriefs were very important because the information gained from other elements allowed the adjustment of approach in the next day’s operation, said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Stockpole, a civil affairs team leader with 489th Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. Soldiers and Afghan Uniformed Police strengthened relationships by working and living together for an uninterrupted 72 hours.
Snow days in Qadis
Issue 78 Nov. 19, 2011 Sgt. Michael Johnson, a team leader with the 89th Military Police Company attached to 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., gives an Afghan Uniformed Police officer a class on how to properly use a metal detector. Soldiers and AUP work closely and must rely on each other to pull security and detect threats when possible.
By being able to live together during this operation, the level of understanding has grown between the Soldiers and AUP, Intile said. “I’m grateful for this opportunity to provide support for the Soldiers, my brothers,” said Col. Abdul Cadeare, the commander of PSS15. In culmination of the events, the AUP handed out humanitarian aid in the form of flour, rice, beans and oil to the villagers. That evening a dinner was held for the village leaders and elders. The dinner was important because it identified who a lot of the key leaders were and was a good way for them to all interact, Intile said. “It’s too early to say exactly how successful this mission was but so far we think we got good results,” Intile said. Cadeare emphasized, “This experience has been very good for all the people involved.”
Page 2
Warhorse Pride
MPs train AUP on weapons Story and photo by Sgt. Ruth Pagan 2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO
S
oldiers with the 58th Military Police Company attached to 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., held an AK-47 rifle range at Camp Nathan Smith for the Afghan Uniformed Police from Police Sub Station. “This is the first step,” said Sgt. 1st Class Marcus Dampier, a platoon sergeant with 58th MP Co. “We want to get them familiarized with their weapons so they can be more proficient at doing their job.” “We went over the different firing positions that they will be doing: kneeling, prone and standing,” said Staff Sgt. Gordon Williams, a squad leader with 58th MP Co. “We also
covered weapons safety and the basic fundamentals of firing.” For some of the AUP this was their first time firing live rounds. “There are a lot of the guys who are uneducated and don’t have the experience so this is very good for them,” said Sgt. Abdul Wasi, a squad leader with the AUP. “They will get good experience from this and they will know how to shoot.” “We want them to come away knowing how the weapon operates, how to load it, clear it and to see how a round affects a target,” said Dampier. “We want them to get the feel of the weapon system while firing live rounds.” The range lasted only a few hours but the
Issue 78 Nov. 19, 2011 Sgt. 1st Class Marcus Dampier, a platoon sergeant with 58th Military Police Company attached to 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, checks the weapon of an Afghan Uniformed Police officer to make sure it is clear of any ammunition.
knowledge and training gained will have a long lasting effect. “I think we are having a positive impact on our mission here in Afghanistan,” said Spc. James Lesmeister, an MP with the 58th MP Co. “We are training the police force to be more proficient with their weapons, which is making them into more effective police force.”
Burning explosives for the safety of Soldiers Story and photos by Sgt. Ruth Pagan 2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO
T
hrough three sweltering Afghan summers and three freezing cold winters, tons of explosives - ammonium nitrate fuel oil and ammonite, have sat in metal containers on Camp Stone. “They are no longer safe or usable for their intended purpose, which is mining and quarrying,” said Jim McGuire, an Explosive Ordinance Disposal technical advisor for Dyncorp. “Looking out for the welfare of our troops and the Afghan troops, it was decided to get rid of it. So we are taking the (fuel oil) and ammonite out and disposing of them, which is to burn them.” An Afghan contractor carries boxes of ammonite out of a shipping container to load onto a truck, Nov. 3. Soldiers from Battery A, 3rd Bn, 16th FA Reg., 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and explosive ordinance disposal contractors dispose of approximately two tons of ammonite each day.
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
taking care of the burn itself and we make sure everyone arrives safely and returns safely,” said Sgt. Luis Reynold Gonzalez, a fire direction controller with Battery A. “Our mission is an absolute necessity,” said Sgt. Chris Hall, an artilleryman with Battery A. “There are a lot of (improvised explosive An Afghan contractor pours gasoline onto boxes of ammonite, a replacement for device) components trinitrotoluene (TNT), Nov. 13. The gas is poured on the ammonite as an acceler- that we are getting rid ant in the burning process. Once the ammonite is prepped for burning, every person of.” involved in the process, gets to a safe location and then the explosive is lit on fire. “We are getting an Each day Soldiers with Battery A, 3rd opportunity to prevent Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd hijackers from getting these explosives,” said Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry DiviSpc. Christopher Miller, an artilleryman with sion, EOD contractors and Afghan workers Battery A. “We get to go out and provide seload about two tons of explosives into trucks, curity and it really makes me feel useful, like transport the materials to a safe location in I’m doing something worthwhile.” the desert, unload the material and burn it. “It’s an experience,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve The Soldiers take their duties very seriously. never done anything like this before. Provid“We as Soldiers are providing the over ing over watch for a burn of this caliber is watch and security for the personnel who are probably a once in a life time opportunity.” 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