Issue 98 April 7, 2012
Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Talon extends security, government to northern Kandahar Story by Maj. Kevin Toner 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., PAO
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oldiers with 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division received a request from the Kandahar provincial governor and the southern region security czar to help the Afghan National Security Forces provide security and stability to the citizens of Mya Neshin district. The Mya Neshin district in northern Kandahar Province has not had a functioning government since the Taliban seized the district center in 2005. The district has also not had a regular presence of NATO forces or ANSF…until now. The first step was to secure and repair the road that leads to the district center and now the focus has shifted to building an interim district center for the district government to operate from. “The 10 kilometer road into Mya Neshin was in utter disrepair,” said Lt. Col David
Hardy, battalion commander. “During the years of instability, the road became impassable due to washouts. The Army engineers and Navy (construction battalion) have done an incredible job repairing the road.” “The weather became a real challenge,”
said Capt. Spenser Bruning, battalion engineer. “The heavy snow slowed us down to only repairing about 50 meters each day, but we’re getting the work done.” “The Afghan citizens are happy with the improvements,” Hardy said. “The trip from Mya Neshin to Kandahar City used to take over ten hours. Now it takes about three.” Security for the road is primarily the responsibility of the Afghan police and army. Talon has built checkpoints along the route, which the ANSF occupy. “The insurgents have really not challenged us,” said Capt. John Intile, commander of Company C, 2nd Bn. 8th Inf. Reg. “The ANSF, who are from the area, are Soldiers with 2nd Bn., 8th Infantry Regiment, and their ANSF counterparts especially motivated to clear and repair Route Robyn, the road to the district center, as the first step make this work.” in bringing security and stability to the citizens of Mya Neshin.
Female AUP receive training from FET Story and photos by Sgt. Ruth Pagán 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., PAO
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s they entered Camp Nathan Smith, covered head to toe in long-flowing neutral or light blue burkas, the nine Afghan Uniformed Police women are not average Kandahar women. These women have made a conscious decision to risk their lives in the betterment
of their country. The Female Engagement Team with 58th Military Police Company attached to 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, held a day of training for the female AUP, March 28. “(We) began working with the female AUP because we rec-
ognized a need for professional courses specifically directed towards the women,” said Capt. Megan Spangler, the commander of the 58th MP Co. “We’ve found that partnering Soldiers directly with the female AUP works well to provide individual attention and build relationships.” The AUP were welcomed
Sgt. Melody Price, a medic with the 58th MP Company attached to 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., instructs female AUP how to dress a penetrating wound. continued on page 2
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Warhorse Pride
Issue 98 April 7, 2012
and the probability “I feel awesome to be able to of them having to use train these women because they this skill is high, said are going to take what we’ve Grilliot. taught them and share it with “They seemed like their fellow officers,” Sumrow they had prior experi- said. ence with some of the “The most rewarding thing emergency trauma I took from this experience is dressings but not the knowing that we are helping the penetrating wound or female AUP become more expepressure bandages,” rienced and trained to become said Sgt. Melody self-sufficient in their field,” Price, a medic with Deters said. the FET. “I think they “I think everyone has differgot it down pretty ent motivations for why they do good; no one seemed the things they do and honestly confused.” I think they have more drive “Once we passed and more motivation than us,” Sgt. Brittany Deters, a Soldier with the FET for the 58th MP Company attached to 1st Sqdn., 10th out the bandages Price said. “Not saying SolCav. Reg., coaches female AUP who are practicing searching a detainee at CNS. to practice they got diers don’t have drive, but these onto camp by the FET and “Overall they really wanted to up and went right women have it a lot tougher escorted to a classroom where get hands on and try everything to work,” Grilliot said. “They than us. (Being women) and the the day’s itinerary consisted of we were showing them,” said picked it up really fast.” job they do it’s so much more a rule of law class taught by an Spc. Rosa Sumrow, a communiThe final event for the female of a threat for them; they have Afghan lawyer, proper search cations specialist with the FET. AUP was a demonstration of that drive because they know it’s of a detainee, basic first aid for During the detainee search what a military police bleeding and a military police class, the female AUP demondog is capable of doing. dog demonstration. strated for the Soldiers their “We wanted to show “We thought about the things own techniques when they them, not so much that they will have to deal with search detainees. what the dog could do, most when planning what we “Even though they have but the control that the would teach them,” said Staff their own way of doing things, female handler has on Sgt. Grace Grilliot, the noncom- us being able to show them a the dog and how strong missioned officer in charge of safer way so they can protect women can be,” Grilliot the 58th MP Company FET. themselves is important,” Grilsaid. The FET had two interpreters liot said. “I know they aren’t The training ended as well as handouts and hands going to do it exactly like we on a high point with on demonstrations to ensure the taught them, but hopefully they smiles and thank yous language barrier did not deter will implement some of our given by both Soldiers from learning. techniques into their searching and AUP as each woman “Of course the language barprocedures.” was given a certificate of rier always plays a factor when “I think the training went completion for training. teaching female AUP, but I don’t extremely well, and it was “Everything you think that it hindered the traininteresting to learn the female teach us is to help us ing,” said Sgt. Brittany Deters, AUP had their own searching survive,” said one female an NCO with the FET. techniques, as well,” Deters said. AUP who attended. “We A female AUP reads over a handout on the weak “They were shy in the begin“It was a learning experience for need to learn.” areas when searching a female detainee March 28. ning but once we got them to all of us.” “We thank you and start participating in the differTeaching the women basic appreciate your time and eflife or death. I think it’s good we ent demonstrations they opened first aid is important because of fort,” said another female AUP are able to train them and help right up,” Grilliot said. how dangerous their jobs are, participant. them to be better.”
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 Sgt. 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
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