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Commander’s CornerPage 1

Clear goal, Risky approach for Operation Steel Lion 3Page 2

Dragon company Air Assaults into Zharay District to fight TalibanPage 5

Combat Engineers keep the roads safePage 6

Zharay Children prepare to go to school with all-new school supplies and backpacks Page 7

Infan-tillery: From cannons to combatPage 8

A first-hand look at the life of a MedicPage 9

Tactical Savvy leads to SuccessPage 10

Faces from HomePage 11-12

Dreadnaught’s ‘Aces’ fight insurgencyZharay water shura studies water issuesPage 13

Zharay district officials, Soldiers release five detainees from NalghamPage 14

Hutal Residents Celebrate Eid-al-Fitr with a Concert in the ParkCoalition forces kill two enemy insurgents, destroy recoilless riflePage 15

Dreadnaught Soldiers recognized for showing courageous restraintPage 16

Building a Modern Army’s NCO CorpsPage 17

Spartans re-open Mullah Omar’s VillagePage 18

Faces of the SpartansPage 20

Legal center opens in Zharay DistrictPage 22

Spartan Soldiers and Families, Nearly two months ago, our team made history by becoming the first unit ever to reach the Arghandab River, the southernmost point in the Zharay district of Kandahar province. With the help of our partners in 3rd Brigade, 205th ANA Corps, our units continued pushing the Taliban south, and making our operational objective of “To the River,” a reality. As the first phase of our campaign plan - “To the River” is now complete, it is important to note the efforts it took to get here, as well as the efforts it is taking to make our next phase of “To the Core” a success. Whether it was clearing new roads, building strong-points, taking the fight to the enemy in places like Nalgham and Shia Choy, and protecting the popula-tion in Hutal and Senjaray, our Spartans are winning in this demanding area. It is through their actions that the campaign plan we developed back at Fort Drum is “coming off the page.” The 10th Mountain Division’s Command Group just recently transferred responsibility of Regional Command-South to the 82nd Airborne Division, and have now made their way home to the North Country. The Spartan BCT was fortunate to fight for our own Division – and we all believe in Mountain 6’s statement, “This is the time, this is the place, and we are the team.” 3BCT looks forward now to fighting for the All-American Division, led by MG Huggins and CSM Lambert. All The Way, Sir! As we enter into the deployment’s seventh month since arriving in April, our impact on defeating the enemy is being noticed by the Afghan people, who are feeling more secure in their villages. At the local level, Afghan elders are starting their own “shuras,” or meetings to influence security, stability and governance among the population. In Sangsar, Spartans helped raise a giant Afghan flag, Sept. 19, that waves above the birthplace of the Taliban and hometown of Mullah Omar. Children there are attending a new school, and enjoying a sports field to play soccer and volleyball. Their families can shop at the newly-reconditioned bazaar nearby. This is a stark difference from the days when Mullah Omar hanged a rival warlord from a tank barrel in the very same spot. Our second phase of “To the Core,” turns our focus to the central Zharay district, where Spartan Soldiers are getting after it and making their mark known by conducting rapid air assault operations and interdicting insurgent leaders and networks. These operations are solidifying gains made against the enemy, and helping to drain them of their resources and manpower. As we approach the 30-day point in this phase, we are seeing tremendous victories being made on a daily basis. In this issue for September, you will read stories of Spartan Soldiers who are doing everything from keeping the roads and routes safe, providing medical care to Afghan women and families, capturing Taliban fighters and weapons, to training future Afghan Army Non-Commissioned Officers how to lead Soldiers. As we approach the fall season here, we are beginning our next fight – “a non-lethal surge” with school and medical clinic openings, distributing wheat seed to area land owners and farmers, and initiating the Civil Service Department, a program that will give Afghan civilians a chance to become skilled tradesmen and open their own businesses. None of this would have been possible years ago in Zharay and Maiwand districts. The Taliban know that their grasp on the area is slipping dramatically, and the Afghan people know their families will share in the victory over the enemy this year, as they watch their children safely attend school. I continue to be very impressed with the support we are receiving from Families and Friends back home who support Spartan Soldiers on a daily basis, as well as many North Country organizations. Your actions do not go unnoticed, and it’s through your help that the Spartan Brigade can focus on the mission at hand, and continue to win!With Your Shield, Or On It!Climb To Glory! All The Way!COL Patrick FrankSpartan-6

Spartan Times

Clear goal, risky approach for Operation Steel Lion 3By Laura Rauch, Stars and Stripes STRONG POINT ALIZI, Af-ghanistan — The night was black, moonless. A sandy, humid haze hung in the air, further dimming the usually brilliant Afghan night. Most of the soldiers lay in the dirt in a field near Combat Outpost Ahmed Khan on Aug. 27, wait-ing for Operation Steel Lion III to commence. A few stood about, too nervous or too full of caffeine to sleep.Their rides, two Chinook heli-copters, were already more than four hours late. Their communica-tions rehearsal would have to be scrubbed, along with their run-through with the Afghan National Civil Order Police, who were joining them on the mission. No one had a good feeling about this one. It didn’t help that the opera-tion had been postponed twice due to weather. “Every time the mission got pushed back, people got a little more worried that the mission was cursed, like it was just bad luck,” said Sgt. Blaine Zimmerman, of Cicero, Ind. The mission for soldiers with Company C and the Scout Platoon, 1st Battalion, 32nd Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division was to cut off enemy access and supply routes to the Zhari district by taking control of a stretch of the Arghandab River at Nalgham, southwest of Kan-dahar city. According to brigade commander Col. Patrick Frank, the region has been the leading

ingress point for insurgent activity throughout the district. Their plan was simple, but dangerous: Land behind the en-emy’s lines of defense south of the Arghandab River and cross the dry riverbed before dawn, then clear a path through any improvised explosive devices, secure a row of compounds along the north side of the river and establish a strong point to be occupied by Afghan security forces. Instead of fighting their way in from the north as the Taliban expected, they would drop in by helicopter to the south, sur-prising the enemy and avoiding a swath of fighting positions and IED emplacements. “You’re behind the enemy’s defenses so you become almost cut off from friendly support. It can be very successful, or it can be very

dangerous,” said company com-mander Capt. Dennis Call, of Albu-querque, N.M., who led the assault. “Sometimes, to be very successful, you have to take some risks.” Company C knows about suc-cess and risk. Their village-based operations, in which they earn trust and gain support from locals then fortify areas with U.S. and Afghan security forces, have been hugely successful throughout the summer. But they’ve had to fight for nearly every inch of ground they’ve taken in Nalgham. Aside from being a major access point into the Zhari district, the region is also part of the spiritual homeland of the Tali-ban, having produced many of its founding high-level members. The Taliban have fought relentlessly to control it. Continued on page 3

photo by Laura RauchSgt. Ramone Villablanca of Company C, 1st Battlion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Bri-gade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division uses a “minehound” to check for impro-vised explosive devices after soldiers blew an anti-personnel obstacle breaching system during Operation Steel Lion III on August 27, 2011, at Strong Point Alizi in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

Spartan TimesSteel Lion continued Since the company deployed in late March, seven soldiers have been killed and 25 wounded. Someone has been killed or severe-ly wounded in every major opera-tion the company has undertaken. They expected Steel Lion III to be no different. “We didn’t sit around and talk about it, but most people went in there thinking, ‘Somebody’s going to lose their foot, or somebody might get killed,’ ” said Sgt. 1st Class Carter Conrad, of Scottsville, Va. In the days leading up to the mission, soldiers at the company’s headquarters at Combat Outpost Nalgham who weren’t assigned to the operation kept checking in with those who were slated to go. “Hey man, be safe. I’ll see you in a couple of days,” they told 1st Platoon’s 2nd Squad leader Sgt. Jessie Arrowood, of Travelers Rest. S.C. “In the back of their minds they’re like, ‘Oh God, who’s not coming back?’ ” Arrowood said.Moving out In the field near Ahmed Khan, soldiers received word around 3:15 a.m. that the helicopters were inbound. Within a few quiet mo-ments, they were kneeling on the landing zone, ready to board. When the Chinooks landed, their powerful twin rotors kicked up a blinding cloud of earth that slammed the soldiers, dusting them like powdered doughnuts. The blast of debris caked their eye protec-tion, and most struggled to see as they loaded and lifted off. Less than 10 minutes later, as they hovered to land, a heavy earthy scent wafted through the cabin and an unexpected rush of

cool air greeted them as they filed out. The ground was moist and slippery from irrigation canals. That wasn’t the dry riverbed they expected. As soldiers adjusted their night-vision goggles, they realized they had been dropped into a mas-sive old-growth marijuana planta-tion, about a quarter-mile west of their targeted landing zone. “Sir, are you sure we didn’t land in Guatemala?” Zimmerman asked Call as they readied to move out.Pushing east out of the cannabis field proved arduous for the sol-diers, heavily loaded with obsta-cle-breaching equipment, radios, ammunition and extra rations. Marijuana plants towered over them as they slogged through the canals.Ready at dawn When they cleared the mari-juana field and turned to cross the riverbed, soldiers found their footing along the smooth rocks and they significantly picked up their pace. Just before dawn, they were assembled on the north bank of the Arghandab, right where they wanted to be. As the darkness lifted, the soldiers readied themselves for the assault. The scouts flanked left as Arrowood’s squad moved through the center and fired the first line charge of explosives, setting off any IEDs in their path. The rocket blew a straight line to the center compound. “It couldn’t have been more perfect. It was just a one in million shot,’’ Arrowood said later. As the rest of the company moved along the cleared path, 2nd Squad pushed forward and quickly blew another line charge, which breached a mud wall on the south side of the center compound. Using

an IED detecting device known as a MINEHOUND, soldiers cleared the way and moved inside. A man soon appeared and lifted his shirt to show he was unarmed. He told soldiers he was the owner and quickly offered to cooperate. If he was afraid of the Americans, he never revealed it. The scouts moved in, blow-ing line charges and taking an-other compound to the west. The rest of Company C secured yet another compound to the east. It wasn’t long before soldiers had set up fighting positions around the compounds and on the roofs. They settled in for the counterattack they were sure would come that after-noon. “We don’t have to worry about fighting IEDs now. If the enemy comes at us, we’re fighting from a covered position. That’s a fight that plays to our strength,” Call said. As soldiers watched from their positions, Kiowa Warrior heli-copters hovered low, covering the troops on the ground. It’s a wel-come sight for the infantry soldier on the line, seeing the big guns overhead. Later that day, soldiers laughed and hollered as an A-10 Warthog and an F-16 fighter jet passed over in a show of force, shaking the ground as they flew by low and fast. Back at company headquarters at COP Nalgham, soldiers had been making their way into the command post in a steady stream, checking to see how the mission was unfolding. “We’ve given so much. We’ve given lives and limbs and sweat and blood,” Spc. Russell Stamann, one of the soldiers who remained back at the COP, said later. Continued on page 4

Spartan TimesSteel Lion continued “What the guys are doing out-side the wire, pushing as far as they have, is amazing. It says a lot about our company’s mettle, about our company’s toughness.” As the afternoon drifted into evening, the owner of the com-pound brought out fresh grapes for the Americans, then settled in for some tea with the ANCOP officers, whom he befriended.The counterattack never came. As night fell, an air of ease settled in as soldiers began to real-ize they had taken the Arghandab at Nalgham without a shot fired or a soldier being blown by an IED. “We leapfrogged their entire front line of defense and came in their back door, which they really didn’t have guarded,” Conrad said. As relief forces with Company A pushed toward the newly secured Strong Point Alizi, Company C readied for the almost two-mile hike back to Strong Point Kakaran, just south of Ahmed Khan, where their vehicles were staged. The scouts stayed behind to link up with Company A. “I had a blast. That was the second most fun day I’ve had in Afghanistan behind when the Mav-ericks won the NBA title,” Zim-merman said. “It is a pretty historic opera-tion.” Frank said. “No one has held Nalgham in a decade. It’s been a tough fight all summer.” The Taliban fighters have been used to being attacked from the north, he said. “This is the first time we’ve been able to attack their southern defense. I think they saw those helicopters land in the Horn of Panjwai and they moved out.”According to Call, the moral vic-

tory couldn’t come soon enough for the company that’s suffered a bat-talion’s worth of casualties in the five months it has been deployed. In addition to controlling a road nicknamed Montreal that links them to Company A on the west, and securing two major fighting positions along that road, they also hold two strong points in villages in the north of Nalgham named for Company C fallen soldiers.

“We were all leery of the costs. Every time, it’s cost us blood,” Call said. “Now we’re going to build a strong point that we don’t have to name after a soldier that’s been killed.”

“Article and photos by Laura Rauch. Used with permission from Stars and Stripes. Copyright 2011 Stars and Stripes.”

photo by Laura RauchSoldiers with Company C, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division move forward after an anti-personnel obstacle breaching system is blown at dawn during Operation Steel Lion III on August 27, 2011, at Strong Point Alizi in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

Spartan Times

by 1st Lt. Matthew Lecours4-25 Field Artillery

The thumping sound of heli-copter rotors had nearly drowned out all other sound for the past 40 minutes. During hot-load training, yelling was all that allowed the platoon sergeant and squad leaders the ability to communicate verbally with each other. Inside the aircraft, everything was illuminated by the green glow of PVS-14 night vision devices positioned on top of Soldiers’ hel-mets. It was too grainy to make out the details of Soldiers sitting across the aisle from each other, though like everyone else, they had yet to sleep tonight and wouldn’t again until the end of today. The flight took only eight min-utes before the bird landed with a thud. Everyone in front rushed out. As the Soldiers left the aircraft and onto the landing zone, the aircraft’s blazing hot air coming off the back almost burned. Rocks pelted Soldiers’ faces, and with the cloud of dust so thick, even if they could get their eyes open, there would be nothing to see. The only knowledge that they have of their fellow Soldiers’ loca-tion, is the battle buddy to their

Dragon Company Air Assaults in to Zharay District to fight Taliban

right, whose hand rests on the next Soldier’s shoulder to ensure the two maintain contact. It is only a moment before the helicopters are far enough away that they can barely be heard. Their deafening noise is now replaced with the quiet of the Afghan desert and the slight rustling of other Sol-diers, as they adjust their gear and charge their weapons. The air is still filled with dust, and while it is not clear enough to see more than a few meters, each Soldier can just make out the out-line of those next to him. They see each others’ helmets, slowly scan-ning back and forth with the night vision device sticking out. Behind each Soldier’s head, is the silhou-ette of his rucksack resting heavily on his back. The weight of their own rucks on their shoulders and back im-pacts everyone as they lay quietly in the dirt. Even now, it is heavy and the march hasn’t even started yet. Inside is a day’s worth of food, batteries and water. In an environ-ment of more than 110 degrees, and where each Soldier is carrying at least 100 pounds of gear water is a precious commodity. But like the helicopter landing, the Soldiers’ leadership has ensured that every-one has the perfect set of supplies for the mission. The squad leader walks the line of his Soldiers. He checks to ensure everyone made it off the helicopter, with all their gear and that they are in the right position. As they move on down the line, everyone hears him call the platoon leader to report

his status: “Six, this is One, 1st Squad is up, ready to move, over.” The dust has settled some more and a few hundred meters away the Soldiers can make out blinking lights sitting low on another piece of empty dirt. Without their night vision goggles, nothing is visible, but with it, the infrared blinking lights look like a Christmas light display. It’s the other platoon, fresh off their helicopter as well. Everyone is facing out, scanning sectors of fire while leaders assess and adjust as necessary. Soldiers here know that from their vantage point, their platoon looks just as lethal and ready. The drone of other helicopters can be heard now. Now it is the gun teams – an OH-58D Kiowa and an AH-64 Apache. They are circling around the landing zones, the Apache high above and the Kiowa low enough that Soldiers can almost see the pilots’ faces. The air teams will come and go throughout the long day ahead. When they are around, their devastating firepower is all that is needed to make even the most-dedicated insurgent fighter go running. The Squad Leader taps the Sol-diers’ boots. “Get up. We’re mov-ing out. Start getting into move-ment formation. Let’s go!” It is early on a Monday morn-ing in Kandahar Province, and the warriors of Dragon Company are starting another mission.

Spartan Times

By Sgt. Melissa StewartTF Spartan Public Affairs

A combat engineer company’sstandard mission on deployment is route clearance. Typically, a route clearance mission consists of pa-trolling roads in the brigade’s area of operations and clearing them of improvised explosive devices before a convoy uses the road. The purpose of a route clearance pack-age is to allow the other units to accomplish their mission without hindrance or unnecessary injury or enemy contact. Due to the unique mission re-quirements in 3rd Brigade Combat Team’s area of operations, Spartan combat engineers in Alpha Com-pany, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, have adapted to meet the requirements of Kandahar Prov-ince, Afghanistan. Instead of being an RCP, many of the combat engineers are be-ing attached to infantry units on dismounted patrols and using new technologies to clear the route ahead of the unit. “In Iraq, I did RCP, so I was mounted all the time,” said Spc. David Reynolds, a combat engi-neer and Doking operator in Alpha Company, 3rd BSTB. “Coming here and being dismounted, there is defiantly a lot more to do.” The Doking MD4, is operated with a remote control by a Soldier following the vehicle either on foot or in an armored vehicle. This piece of tactical equipment is help-ing save Soldiers from injury or death caused by IEDs. By putting the Doking before the patrol, the chances of a Soldier stepping on an IED are decreased drastically.

Combat Engineers keep the roads safe

“It’s one of the Army’s remote operated arsenals, it’s a robot with separate attachments,” said Sgt. Adonys Lendof, squad leader in Alpha Company, 3rd BSTB. “It has a flail, a mine roller, and a blade and we use it to clear in front of us so we are not actually stepping on any IEDs.” The Doking is about three feet high and about five feet long. The engineers have four that they use every time the battalion in Spartan brigade request’s their presence on a patrol. “It hasn’t hit any (IEDs) yet, but it keeps us and the infantry from being the first ones down the route,” said Lendof. Alpha Company Soldiers have a standard way of completing their mission as a team. “We take out the whole squad (on mission),” Lendof said. “The Doking is in the front, the operator behind it with his security detail, and another engineer behind that with a mine detector.”

courtesy photoSoldiers in Alpha Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, clear a road of Im-provised Explosive Devices with the Doking.

The Soldiers are still adapting to their new mission in Afghanistan. Even though they are effectively using the equipment to clear roads of IEDs, most of them had never even seen the Doking until they deployed in March. However, they quickly learned how to use the equipment, and are glad for the added safety it brings them and other Spartan Soldiers. “I didn’t even know it existed until we got here, but it’s pretty easy to get the hang of,” said Pfc. Nate Oncea, a combat engineer in Alpha Company, 3rd BSTB. “(I) feel a lot safer walking down a route after (the Doking) has been down it,” Alpha Company Soldiers play an important role in the overall Spartan mission in Afghanistan, and their new equipment is helping them accomplish that mission. “We are providing mobility, coun-ter mobility (and) survivability to the infantry,” Oncea said proudly.

Spartan Times

by Capt. Kevin SandellTF Spartan Public Affairs

Officials from the Kandahar Provincial Ministry of Education joined with the Zharay District Governor and other district of-ficials, Sept. 6, to kick off a tour of four schools in eastern Zharay district, and distributed school sup-plies and backpacks to Afghan chil-dren during the first day of school throughout Afghanistan. Abdul Basir Agha, Deputy Director of Education for the Kandahar Ministry of Education, Mohammad Ewoz Nazari, Deputy Administrative Director, and Mo-

hammed Shah Khan, Director of Plans and Communications for the Kandahar MoE, traveled with Niaz Sarhadi, the Zharay District Gov-ernor, and his education official, to three schools and broke ground on a fourth. Starting at the Now Ruzzi school in eastern Zharay district, the senior government officials formally declared the start of the school year to a small crowd of Afghan children and their teachers. Now Ruzzi is located in southeast-ern Zharay district near the Bagh-E-Pol bridge. Once the officials handed out school supplies and backpacks to

the children, they then traveled to the Bagh-E-Pol school, and hosted an outdoor press conference for Af-ghan media in attendance. District Governor Sarhadi, a former school teacher himself, spoke about the value of education to a child’s life, and how education is the future of Afghanistan. In the audience were long rows of desks where the schoolchildren, both boys and girls, were sitting anxiously awaiting the gift of a new backpack. From Bagh-E-Pol, the group moved to Pir Mohammad School near Senjaray, and met briefly in a classroom to discuss plans for school openings throughout Kanda-har province, then before leaving, they handed out bags of packed schoolbags and supplies to the children. Finally, the officials traveled west to Kandalay, where they participated in a ground-breaking ceremony for the temporary school being opened. A throng of excited children played on playground equipment nearby, and each had an opportunity to cut their own section of ribbon during the ceremony. This year in Zharay district, Afghan government officials are planning to open 14 schools throughout the area, versus two that were opened this time last year. Government and education officials attributed the increase in school openings to effective security throughout the region, and encour-aged the local children to continue going to school.

Zharay children prepare to go to school with all-new supplies and backpacks

photo by Sgt. Stephen SchmitzAn Afghan boy receives a new backpack from Zharay district officials and the 3rd Brigade, 205th Army Corps at Now Ruzzi school during a tour by the officials there, September 6.

Spartan Times

By Capt. Benjamin Roark4-25 Artillery

In a counterinsurgency conflict, units are attached and detached to one another across the battlefield to bring specific assets to the fight. Alpha Battery, 4th Battalion, 25th Artillery Regiment, was tasked with securing the populace of the Azimjan Kariz area and defeating the insurgent forces that used to dominate the region. Comprised of three artillery platoons, Alpha Battery “traded” an artillery platoon for an infan-try platoon to better support the high intensity fight around COP Azimjan Kariz. With them, the 3rd Platoon “Dragons” brought a wealth of knowledge, equipment and weapons not typically assigned to an artillery battery. This fusion of forces led to Steel Battery’s suc-cess as Soldiers of different techni-cal backgrounds combined their knowledge and skills to produce lethal results. “We trained for months straight on gunnery and artillery skills and were the best battery around but our guns are nowhere to be seen. Now, we can fight with the best of them,” states Spc. Alonzo McFash-ion, a machine gunner from 2nd Platoon, Alpha Battery. Artillerymen are setting down their lanyards, and picking up their rifles to bring the fight to the enemy, face to face. Although not able to focus on infantry and small-unit tactic skills as much as they wanted before deploying. Alpha Battery Soldiers honed those skills during countless hours of combat patrols and fire fights in the fields and canals outside of their Combat

Infan-tillery: From cannons to combatOutpost. The attention to detail and technical knowledge required of an artilleryman to “rain steel on the enemy” also benefits them as they learn to navigate the Improvised Explosive Device “belts” and en-gagement areas around their COP. So far, Alpha Battery platoons have identified and reduced more than 70 IEDs within a two kilo-meter radius of their COP. This number would be impressive alone for a battalion-size element, but for a battery, it speaks to their skill, discipline and courage. Alpha Battery elements are also engaged by the enemy on a daily basis either by direct weapons fire or by enemy rockets or mortars.Many artillerymen have traded their howitzers for weapons not typically associated with ‘gun bunnies,’ a term of endearment for howitzer crews.

In addition to their battlefield success while engaged in a daily lethal struggle with enemy insur-gents, these Soldiers turned the worst piece of tactical infrastruc-ture within the brigade’s area into the best, most heavily-defended combat outpost in the area, COP Azimjan Kariz. As different elements and civil-ians move through the COP to service a generator or to fix a com-puter, they are always surprised to find out that the Soldiers are not infantrymen but artillerymen. It is a testament to their skill and efforts in doing everything they can to ac-complish the mission. Although their howitzers may finally be put into action at the COP, the Soldiers of A Battery will always be battle-tested and proven “Infan-tillerymen.”

courtesy photoSoldiers in 4th Battalion, 25th Artillery Regiment, and Afghan National Army Soldiers clear a building in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, while conducting an “Infantry” patrol trough the villages surrounding Combat Outpost Azimjan Kariz.

Spartan Times

By Spc. Nataskie Francis2-87 Infantry

When asked to write about a typical day in the life of an aid sta-tion medic, it confused me because there is no such thing. In the sim-plest terms, I am a person who does the work required of me no matter what it may be. As a female in an infantry unit, I am able to cover some areas of operation that males are not able to cover; I am able to help the Female Engagement Team by going out and engaging the entire population both male and female. That is an opportunity many have not been able to enjoy. I am able to see the family dynamics that exists amongst each family in the villages. As a medic in the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, Main Aid Station, I was afforded the opportunity to participate in two Combined Medical Engage-ments where we brought care to the poor families who may not be able to travel or afford medical care. We positioned ourselves in one location and the families were informed of our presence. Both engagements provided the citizens with a place to go for medical care and to discuss any issues they may be having. I have learned that, while Af-ghan males are cognizant of the medical facilities, the women are often not able to leave their homes and children to seek medical atten-tion. Afghan women are the same as any female in the states. They worry about their bodies, their

A first-hand look at the life of a Medic

children, and their safety. They are welcoming, funny and they are most appreciative of any help that is given to them. As a female, I am happy to as-sist a fellow female, as a medic I am happy that my work is appreci-ated. I have also learned that as an African American female, I bring a different aspect to each engage-ment. With each encounter I be-lieve I help to reduce the xenopho-bic views of the village inhabitants that are not accustomed to seeing someone of my skin color. In doing so, I believe that my efforts and that of every female working in this capacity are able to demonstrate that we care about building the people up and ensuring that they are able to sustain themselves in the future. When in the aid station, I nor-

mally revert to my job as a health-care specialist. I help conduct sick call for the American Soldiers as well as the Afghan National Army. At times, when a trauma such as motor vehicle accidents or gunshot wounds to local police comes in, it is my job to get vitals and evalu-ate my side of the casualty. While performing that task, I also remain vigilant to the needs of the fellow medics, the recorders and most es-pecially the casualty. I concentrate on fixing the casualty, getting them packaged and evacuated as quickly as possible to the next level of care. For many, the responsibilities of a medic are a mystery, but I believe if we continue to touch the lives of everyone, whether injured or not we will affect positive changes that will ultimately benefit the populace and our Soldiers.

courtesy photoSpc. Nataskie Francis, a healthcare specialist in 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment on a mission in the Zharay

District.

courtesy photoSpc. Nataskie Francis, a health care specialist in 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment on a mission in the Zharay District.

Spartan Times

By Chaplain (Capt.) Omari Thompson1-32 Infantry

Many of the patrols by Dawg Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, up to this point involved the insurgents moving around the battlefield like ghosts popping up out of nowhere and taking shots at U.S. and Afghan National Army Soldiers, then drop-ping their weapons and disappear-ing before an opportunity to gain an advantage was established. Intelligence reports explained that insurgents in Zarifquel were running illegal checkpoints. 2nd platoon leader, 1st Lt. Kellen Petersen and his platoon were dispatched as Chosin’s Quick Re-action Force to investigate, while always just missing the insurgents conducting their illegal activities. Petersen recognized that a different approach was necessary to catch these insurgents. Upon gaining approval from his commander, Petersen devised a plan to out maneuver the enemy and gain an advantage. He split his unit into two sections and set them in over-watch positions where suddenly they received fire from the enemy. They returned fire and quickly gained fire superiority, yet they were unable to destroy the enemy. On the next day, Petersen split his platoon into three elements, two in over-watch positions, and the third focused directly on the suspected checkpoint position. The Soldiers received fire once again from the same enemy position. Like the day before, they re-turned fire and gained fire superior-

Tactical Savvy leads to Success

ity, however, they were still un-able to close with and destroy the enemy. Despite returning from another patrol with nothing to show for it, Petersen learned something that would serve him well for future operations. “They don’t leave the area they fight from,” he said. “They never do.” Armed with this knowledge, Petersen set out for patrol. They moved to their positions again in three elements, this time using two of the elements to draw fire from the enemy, while placing the third element in a position to surprise the fleeing insurgents. The insurgents opened fire from the same position as the last two days. As soon as 2nd platoon estab-lished fire superiority, the enemy began to retreat, but as they did, they moved directly to the third element. The Soldiers gained posi-tive identification of an insurgent with a weapon peeking out from a

covered position. The next time the insurgent ap-peared, Dawg Company Soldiers fired upon the insurgent and killed him. “This is what we’ve been train-ing so hard for, this right here; after four or five days of being shot at and remaining patient, to finally be in the right place at the right time to take out the enemy is just what we as Soldiers need,” Sgt. Matthew Lepak, an infantryman in Dawg Company, said. Petersen’s tactical savvy cou-pled with his platoon’s competence served as a morale boost for all of Dawg Company and TF Chosin. “They are not the ghosts that are waiting to shoot at us like it once seemed,” said Petersen. “They are guerillas who aren’t well trained. We can outmaneuver them. Our movement techniques are second to none, we can move where we want and not be seen, and now they will always be second guessing about our whereabouts.”

courtesy photoA Soldier in 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment patrols to stop insurgent activity.

FACES FROM HOME

FACES FROM HOME

Spartan Times

by 1st Lt. Safir Lakhman2-34 Armor

Charlie Company, 2nd Bat-talion, 34th Armor Regiment, the “Fighting Aces,” have been operat-ing out of Hutal, the largest popu-lation center within the Maiwand District. The Fighting Aces are the battalion’s main effort and have been heavily involved with all provincial governance efforts and partnered security operations with Afghan National Security Forces. The Aces also maintain an adjacent unit relationship with U.S. Special Operation Forces that has led to a number of combined opera-tions. The fighting Aces in partner-ship with the Afghanistan National Police have seized over 20,000

 

 pounds of illicit drugs, over 25 im-provised explosive device materials and a number of persons of interest. The Aces also supported the first Dreadnaught Air Assault in over 70 years by assuming the battalion’s Quick Reaction Force mission. This particular mission set requires the Aces to routinely partner with Explosive Ordinance Disposal personnel and ANSF forces to mitigate and reduce any improvised explosive devices while retaining the flexibility to respond to any contingency. As the Dreadnaught battalion continues to execute our directed mission profile, the fighting Aces will continue to be at the center of action – governance, security force assistance and agricultural develop-ment.

Dreadnaught’s ‘Aces’ fight insurgency

Regardless of the mission set, Charlie Company will continue to conduct combined operations, build rapport with leaders and foster a relationship with the local popula-tion.

By Sgt. Melissa StewartTF Spartan Public Affairs

Zharay District officials and Soldiers in 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, met at the Zharay District center to discuss the usage and sup-ply of water in the area, Sept. 22. This is the second water “shura” or meeting that has taken place at the Zharay District center. A shura is like a town council meeting. The local shura mem-bers consist of the Zharay District governor, village elders and local mullahs, and it is their job to meet with Spartan Soldiers to discuss what the villages need in regards to security, development, and in this

case, water. “The purpose for this one was to lay the ground work for the water use association and to identify a potential water construction project to be completed no later than 15 December,” said Alissa Morrison, assistant civil affairs officer, Head-quarters and Headquarters Com-pany, 3rd IBCT. By having regular shuras, everyone can stay informed on the problems and improvements being made in the area, and make a de-cisive plan that is beneficial to the area’s people. “We are working to move forward on the development of water infrastructure in the Zharay District,” Benjamin Bright, a social

scientist with the Spartan Human Terrain Team said. There are several projects that Afghans and Soldiers are working on currently. “We are looking at division boxes, retaining walls, and we’re also looking to de-silt the canals of the silt that has built up over the last ten years,” said Bright. Afghans, while they are receiv-ing assistance from Soldiers, are taking the lead on all local water projects. “We are trying to bring together an association of water managers who will be able to identify prob-lems and coordinate the distribu-tion of water across the district,” said Bright.

Zharay water shura studies water issues

Spartan Times

by Capt. Kevin SandellTF Spartan Public Affairs

Zharay district officials, includ-ing an influential village elder and a local mullah, along with the Commander of Combined Task Force Spartan, had some stern warnings for five detainees before releasing them back to their village during a detainee release ceremony held at the Zharay District Center. “The Americans know they gain nothing by Afghanistan becoming a better country,” said the local Mullah. “They want Afghanistan to become a better country for the Af-ghan people. So why do you want to hurt the progress being made in our country?” The Commander of CTF Spar-tan, Col. Patrick Frank, told the former detainees that because of the generosity bestowed on them by Haji Abdul Wali, a village elder from Nalgham, that they would be released back to the commu-nity in observance of Eid-Al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan. He did however, tell them that they must enter into Afghanistan’s Peace and Reinte-gration Program, which provides former insurgents a three-month stipend and training in a skilled trade. “The Taliban cannot do that,” advised Col. Frank. “The Taliban is not going to train you in a skill.”The five men were detained by

Zharay district officials, Soldiers release five detainees from Nalgham

 Former detainees raise their right hands during a reading of the detainee release oath by a coalition forces’ interpreter, during a detainee release ceremony held at the Zharay District Center.coalition forces during an air as-sault operation in central Zharay district, August 15. Two of them were captured after riding away on a motorcycle from a suspected enemy compound. A third man riding along, remains in jail as a suspected insurgent leader. The other three detainees were captured in a different compound with homemade bomb-making material and pictures of insurgents with weapons hanging on the walls. During the release ceremony, each of the men was read an oath that said Afghan government and coalition forces’ leaders have agreed that their release benefits the peace and partnership between “all ethnic groups.” It also obliged them to “become a contributing member of the community in the historic ef-

fort to rebuild [Afghanistan].” The former insurgents then each inked their thumbprint on the oath, a traditional Afghan method used in place of signing a document. Haji Abdul Wali and the Mullah also signed sections of the oath guar-anteeing the “mature and peaceful future actions” of these men.Before their release, the five men were enrolled into a biometrics database, which would alert coali-tion forces if they are ever detained again for insurgent activity. Col. Frank concluded the cer-emony by reminding each of the men that in Pashtun culture, prom-ises are kept, and their thumbprints on the oaths signified their obliga-tion to stay away from insurgents operating in the area.

Spartan Times

by Capt. Kevin SandellTF Spartan Public Affairs

To celebrate the second to last day of Eid al-Fitr, residents of Hutal hosted a “concert in the park,” August 31, where more than 50 people attended at the Hutal soccer field in Maiwand district. With a giant Afghan flag painted on concrete barriers as their back-drop, the residents erected a tent and placed rugs on the ground for seating. A local band played music atop two bed frames with drums, tambourines and other instruments, and was also outfitted with an amplifier and speakers, which drew

Hutal Residents Celebrate Eid-al-Fitr with a Concert in the Park

in more people as the concert went on. Nearby, children were enjoying the new playground equipment at the Hutal Park, courtesy of Afghan civilians working for the Civil Service Department, who built the equipment. The playground con-sists of three swing sets and one merry-go-round, and will eventu-ally include two soccer goals. The commander of coalition forces in Hutal, Lt. Col. Christo-pher Kidd, was amazed at the im-promptu concert, and said residents there felt safe enough to host the concert in celebration of the Eid al-Fitr festivities.

“It was a complete and ex-tremely pleasant surprise to see a local band had set up and was play-ing for all the children and adults alike,” said Lt. Col. Kidd. “The park was thriving and everyone was in good spirits. The people of Maiwand have truly taken owner-ship of the new Hutal Park.” Eid al-Fitr is a three-day Mus-lim holiday that marks the end of Ramazan, the month of fasting for Muslims. Afghans celebrate it by visiting with family and friends, hosting dinners and parties, and even buying new clothes.

by Capt. Kevin SandellTF Spartan Public Affairs

An enemy insurgent team armed with an 82mm recoilless rifle was killed and the weapon destroyed after coalition forces observed the team firing a round toward a coali-tion forces’ base near Ghariban. At 2:20 p.m., Sept. 11, coalition forces observed three suspicious persons near the village of Bur-mohammed carrying the recoilless rifle. One of the insurgents then fired a single 82mm round towards Strong Point Gariban, a nearby base occupied by Soldiers with Combined Task Force Spartan’s 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regi-

Coalition forces kill two enemy insurgents, destroy recoilless rifle

ment. Aerial reconnaissance assets observed the team move back to a compound to the south, and then proceed to head west on foot to meet up with another insurgent on a motorcycle. Coalition forces then observed the insurgent on the motorcycle drive east past Abbotsford. Coali-tion commanders believed the insurgent was initially setting up another attack on Gariban, but con-tinued moving further east, where commanders believed he was possibly going to engage Forward Operating Base Pasab to the north. Combat helicopter pilots flying overhead were given clearance to

engage the insurgent on the motor-cycle, and fired a Hellfire missile, killing the insurgent instantly. A second insurgent fleeing the scene was also engaged with a Hellfire missile, killing him as well. The commander of 4th Squad-ron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, Lt. Col. Michael Katona, said the killing of the insurgent weapons team, along with the destruction of the 82mm recoilless rifle was detrimental to insurgent operations in the area. “The destruction of this 82mm recoilless rifle cell will have a last-ing effect on insurgent operations in the area of operations,” Katona said.

Spartan Times

By Sgt. Melissa StewartTF Spartan Public Affairs

Senior leaders from 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team recognized Soldiers in D Company, 2nd Bat-talion, 34th Armor Regiment and gave them Spartan brigade coins as a sign of appreciation for their cou-rageous restraint while in combat in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, Sept. 4. “These fine gentlemen stand out on ANP (Afghan National Police) Hill, day in and day out, (conducting) daily dismounted patrols, sometimes partnered (with ANP) from the get-go, sometimes they move out on foot to the ANP station and link up with their ANP counterparts and go on patrol,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Kidd, com-mander of 2-34 Armor. While a group of Soldiers were approaching the strong-point called ANP Hill, which is located in the Hutal and Maiwand area, they were fired upon by the ANP. While all International Security Assistance Forces have the right to defend themselves against anyone that fires upon them, these Soldiers realized that, while the ANP at the strongpoint were firing on them, they were probably not shooting at them with the intent to harm them. They were probably just confused about who was approaching the strongpoint, and since the Soldiers were conducting a night mission, the ANP could not see the Soldiers clearly. “We expect our Soldiers to have restraint,” said Kidd of what is

Dreadnaught Soldiers recognized for showing courageous restraint

expected of his Soldiers while they are deployed and in hostile envi-ronments. “You don’t fire on reflex, you assess on reflex.” The 2-34 Armor Soldiers real-ized that even though they were getting shot at, it was just a mistake that their Afghan partners were making because of misinformation and not a hostile attempt to harm them. While it was within their rights as Soldiers to shoot back and defend themselves, these Soldiers choose to take the high-ground. Instead of immediately return-ing fire at the Afghan base, they took cover and waited to clarify the situation with the Afghans. After a few minutes, the Afghans realized that they were shooting at Ameri-can Soldiers and not at insurgents like they had initially thought.

“These guys did the right thing, they held off, they paused then carefully moved back to the check-point to (talk) to the check-point commander,” said Kidd. Americans and Afghans were able to discuss the issue immedi-ately afterward. After discussing the issue, Soldiers found out that the reason the Afghans shot at the American Soldiers was because the base’s leadership failed to inform the tower guard that Soldiers would be coming onto the base to work with them. “What we have right here is a squad that has done it perfectly, (they) are a textbook example of how those engagements should go,” said Col. Patrick D. Frank, commander of 3rd IBCT.

photo by Spc. Melissa StewartSoldiers in D Company, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment were recognized by Col. Patrick D. Frank, commander of 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, for courageous restraint in combat, September 4.

Spartan Times

By Capt. J. Kevin McKittrick4-25 Field Artillery

September 18, marked the grad-uation of the second class of the 4th Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 205th Afghan Army Corps’ Non-commissioned Officers’ Academy. As graduates proudly held their certificates over-head and dedicated their achieve-ments to building a better and more secure nation, Soldiers with Head-quarters and Headquarters Battery, 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, looked on knowing that they had made a difference by shar-ing with their Afghan counterparts, the tools needed to be effective Soldiers and leaders. Early on in its deployment, HHB recognized that the 4th Kandak had highly motivated and well-trained Soldiers. To make it even better, the Headquarters Bat-tery developed an NCO academy to continue educating the Afghan Soldiers. “The current success of the United States Army is because of its Non-Commissioned Officer Corps. Hands-down, we have the best Army in the world because we train our junior leaders to make decisions, analyze problems, and solve them with minimal guidance from senior NCOs and Officers,” said 1st Sgt. Gregory Caywood, a native of Greenup, Ill., and the first sergeant for HHB. “Our goal with our Afghan NCO Academy is to train their junior leaders in decision making and leadership principles, so the Afghan NCO can serve his Army and Nation in the same way that the U.S. NCO currently serves his Army and Nation.”

Building a modern Army’s NCO Corps

When creating the idea for a Non-Commissioned Officer Academy for junior NCOs, Head-quarters Battery realized it needed to focus on one particular topic: the company-grade planning and decision making process called the “Troop Leading Procedures.” One major obstacle to this goal, how-ever, was an inconsistent literacy rate. Though it is an Afghan Army requirement to have some basic lit-eracy skills to become an NCO, the level of education varies greatly, due to thirty years of conflict in the war-torn country. “We recognized that Afghans are a very visual people. To teach them effectively, we needed to teach them in a way that spoke to them, not the way we are used to teaching US Soldiers,” said Sgt. 1st Class Wardell McGhee, from Cleveland, Ohio. “We realized that many Afghan Soldiers were very interested in map reading, so thinking about this when we were building the classes, gave us the

perfect idea.” HHB leadership tailored the in-struction around the Troop Leading Procedures in planning for a short tactical mission as the course’s capstone exercise. By teaching junior NCOs how to read a map, they were able to graphically depict mission building and utilizing a terrain model, or “sand table” to orally brief their mock mission to fellow students. “I can now use what I learned here and brief my Soldiers before each mission. When my Soldiers know what is going on, they perform better.” said Sergeant Ashuqullah Logari, the distin-guished honor graduate from the first NCO Academy Class. One ingenious idea to assist the students in remembering what they had learned, was to create a “smart card” that followed the lessons taught over the two-week course.

Continued on page 19

photo by Capt. J. Kevin McKittrickAn Afghan Soldier in 4th Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 205th Afghan Army Corps, graduates the Non-commissioned Officer’s Academy.

Spartan Times

By Sgt. Melissa StewartTF Spartan Public Affairs

Afghan security forces and Sol-diers with Combined Task Force Spartan’s 1st Battalion, 32nd In-fantry Regiment kicked off a series of civil projects in the birthplace of the Taliban, including opening a new school, bazaar, and sports complex, and also raised a giant Afghan flag, Sept. 19, at the site where Mullah Omar once hanged two mujahedeen fighters from a tank barrel. Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin Hill, the command senior enlisted leader for the International Security Assistance Force, also participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony held in Sangsar, in central Zharay district of Kandahar province, Af-ghanistan. Inside the Sangsar complex is a playground that was built by 710th Brigade Support Battalion weld-ers, a refurbished bazaar, a mosque, a playground and a soccer field. While the school itself is tempo-rary, it is set up like classroom with desks and chairs. A water well is also nearby, so the schoolchildren have a ready supply of fresh water. “The Soldiers of 710th BSB assisted the school by grading and rolling the ground, emplacing the playground equipment and put-ting up the soccer goals,” said Lt. Col. Jared Helwig, commander of 710th BSB. “They also helped with the larger Sangsar initiative by emplacing the flag-pole, putting up the meeting area with sun-shade, leveling out and emplacing the playground equipment by the mosque, constructing and setting the footbridges, building the vol-

leyball court and constructing the larger soccer (field).” The ceremony and official open-ing of the Sangsar complex brought dozens of people, including the Zharay District Governor, ISAF leaders, Afghan security forces, and local children. During the ceremony, Col. Sadiqi, the 1st Kandak, 3rd Bri-gade, 205th Afghan National Army Corps commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Hill first spoke about the significance of the center’s opening and the partnership that has brought a noticeably positive change in the area, and then cut the ribbon together. With the new school opening, children and families now have the opportunity to attend school with-out being intimidated by insurgents from the area. Opening the school and the complex at the site of the Taliban founder’s mosque, also sends a message of victory against

the insurgents. “It is supported by the local government and provides an oppor-tunity to the children of the area to attend school and gain an education that was not available before,” said Helwig about the visible progress seen in Sangsar. Sangsar was once an extremely violent area where insurgents pub-licly executed Afghan people; now, children are playing on newly-built swingsets, and business owners have a chance to safely open shops. “At this very same location, Mullah Omar executed people by hanging them from a tank,” Com-mand Sgt. Maj. James Carabello, the senior enlisted leader of 3rd In-fantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, said to Spartan leadership after the school complex opening.

School continued on page 21

Spartans re-open Mullah Omar’s Village

  photo by Spc. Melissa StewartCommand Sgt. Maj. Marvin Hill, the command senior enlisted leader for International Security Assistance Force, participates in a ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside leaders from the 3rd Brigade, 205th Afghan Army Corps, during a ceremony to kickoff projects in Sangsar, the birthplace of the Taliban, Sept. 19.

Spartan TimesNCO continued

“U.S. Soldiers constantly rely on their own smart cards, so creat-ing one for the ANA makes sense. If all the course fundamentals are on one document that can easily fit in your pocket, you’re more likely to reference it and more likely to use it,” said Sgt. Erik Marconi, from Indianapolis, Ind. McGhee, the primary instructor for both classes of the Afghan NCO Academy, is the spirit behind the training. He knows that his instruc-tion not only provides the tools to develop effective junior leadership in a fledgling army, but that his students in the classroom today, may be receiving enemy fire and faced with important decisions on the battlefield tomorrow. The best way to continue the lessons learned in the classroom is to encourage effective partnership immediately following graduation.

“The Afghan National Army Basic Sergeant’s Leadership Course at FOB Azizullah prepares junior leaders to lead ANA soldiers and to foster a professional work-ing relationship between ISAF, U.S. and ANA Forces,” McGhee said. “By teaching, coaching, and mentoring these junior ANA lead-ers in accordance with Afghan and U.S. military doctrine, on basic leadership tasks and drills, (our) forces will improve their working relationships and better understand what it takes to work together for a common goal.” When Americans think about the War in Afghanistan, armed conflict is often the first image they think of. However, a vital part of the coalition forces’ mission is to support the growth in capacity and capability of the Afghan National Security Forces. Without placing the development of our Afghan counterparts first and foremost, the

American military cannot hope for a long-term and sustainable peace for Afghanistan. Headquarters Battery of 4-25 Field Artillery, clearly understands the importance of training future Afghan Army leaders, and by us-ing effective teaching methods, they have ensured that the army’s Non-Commissioned Officer Corps has all the tools to develop into a highly successful security force for the benefit of the Afghan people. At the conclusion of the gradua-tion ceremony, Caywood expressed his thoughts to his fellow Non-Commissioned Officers. “These Soldiers should be proud of what they accomplished in two weeks. To make you realize that what your battery implemented can shape the senior leaders of the Af-ghan Army tomorrow, truly makes this mission worth it,” he said.

photo by Capt. J. Kevin McKittrickAn Afghan Soldier in 4th Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 205th Afghan Army Corps hands graduation certificates to ANA Non-commissioned Officers that have completed the NCO course, Sept. 18.

Faces of the Spartans

Spartan Times

 

Schools continued

“Today, a giant Afghan flag was raised, a new school was opened, a village bazaar project was com-pleted and a sports complex with volleyball courts and soccer fields was opened,” Carabello continued. The opening of the school is a significant event for not only the Afghan people, but for Spartan Soldiers as well. The school is a symbol of the progress that is be-ing made in the area through the partnership and hard work between Spartans and their Afghan counter-parts. “It shows the Soldiers of the Battalion that their hard work and efforts are recognized and appreci-ated throughout the command,” said Helwig. “It helps provide validity to the work they have been doing; many times our Soldiers do the projects and ship them out without ever seeing the end re-sult. With this initiative they were able to see the project all the way through to completion.”

photo by Spc. Melissa StewartThe Afghan flag was raised at the Sangsar School, Sept. 19.

Members of the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, have a piece of home with them while they are deployed in South Afghanistan. A Syracuse University basketball and football were sent to give the troops an “Orange connection.”

An infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, patrols with an Afghan National Army Soldier through the villages of Kandahar Prov-ince, Afghanistan. Soldiers in 2-87 Infantry have worked hard to build a strong relation-ship with Afghan National Security Forces, as well as local villagers in their areas of operations.

Spartan Times

by Sgt. 1st Class John Santamaria3IBCT Legal

On Sept. 13, the District of Zha-ray and Task Force Spartan took a significant leap forward in rule of law efforts with the opening of a new legal center. The opening of the legal center was more than just ceremonial. It provided much needed office and courtroom space for the legal assets of the district, as well as an out-ward symbol of the Afghan govern-ment’s commitment to addressing the local population’s legitimate judicial needs. The design for the legal center was the idea of Maj. Jeremy Lar-chick, Combined Task Force Spar-tan Brigade judge advocate and Navy Lt. Joseph Toth, the Rule of Law Field Force Advisor, along with Afghan National Security Prosecutor Colonel Rahim Safi. Thanks to the efforts of 3rd Bri-gade Special Troops Battalion, led

Legal center opens in Zharay District

by Staff Sgt. Daniel Jones, and the welders of 710th Brigade Support Battalion, the Legal Center was transformed from four connexes to its present form in just over six weeks. Once in place, the Zharay District center and the Community Service Department took over, painting the center in a matching color scheme, and building a brick courtyard between the buildings. New furniture and carpeting added the final aesthetic touch. “This was a real team effort,” said Larchick, “There is no way this could have come together as quickly and as well as it did with-out the combined efforts of every-one involved.” The new Legal Center is multi-purpose: it provides a workspace for prosecutors, and also serves as a venue for those wanting to settle minor grievances or address other legal issues. The hope is that it will eventually serve as a centerpiece for higher-profile court cases. Such visibility will help promote rule of law efforts throughout the prov-

ince, as well as serving notice to the local population that a legiti-mate judicial process is in place. Afghans have grown ac-customed to living in a state of lawlessness, and, until recently, under Taliban rule, where a strict interpretation of Sharia (law) often resulted in harsh punishments, in-cluding public executions. The aim of the legal center is not to undo the past, but rather to build hope that future systems will protect its citizens, and provide a means to facilitate and manage both criminal and administrative legal matters. The building is made of wood, steel, and cement, but its founda-tion is built on the most basic ideal of jurisprudence: that all persons enjoy certain inalienable rights and freedoms, and that those rights and freedoms should be protected by government institutions and due process considerations. The legal center is the first step toward that idea and in building a better and more just Afghan soci-ety.

photo by Spc. Melissa StewartJudges, district officials, and lawyers from all over Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, cut the ribbon officially opening the new Zharay District legal center, Sept. 13.

Spartan Times

ContributorsSpartan PAO Section

Capt. Kevin SandellPAO OIC

Staff Sgt. Bruce PetittPAO NCOIC/ Broadcast Journalist

Sgt. Patrick GuerraBroadcast Journalist

Sgt. Melissa StewartPrint Journalist/ Layout and Design

Spartan Times ContributorsLaura Rauch

Stars and Stripes

Capt. J. Kevin McKittrick4-25 Field Artillery

Chaplain (Capt.) Omari Thompson-1-32 IN Public Affairs Representative

Capt. Benjamin Roark4-25 Field Artillery

1st Lt. Matthew Lecours4-25 Field Artillery

1st Lt. Safir Lakhman 2-34 Armor

Sgt. 1st Class John Santamaria3IBCT Legal

Spc. Nataskie Francis2-87 Infantry

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