Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan

Nuristan Women celebrate International Women’s Day

2010-03-09T15:48:00.001+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s female engagement team attended a shura on International Women’s Day, in the Nengarach village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, March 8.

Nooristani, an engineer from the Do Ab District and one of Nuristan’s most successful women, planned the shura to celebrate women’s rights and equality in the light of Islam. The shura provided an opportunity to build unity among women, Nuristan’s tribes, the Afghan government officials, and Coalition Forces.

The shura was also an opportunity to speak to others about the civic duty people have to protect those who deliver aid and implement development projects in Nuristan province.

Many women and young girls, the village Maliks, Afghan government officials, and the Nuristan female engagement team attended the shura.

“There is nothing better than women in the world,” a representative of the Nurgarm District said. “We should always respect our women.”

The female engagement team leader, Leah Kaplan, of Denver, Colo., the U.S. Agency for International Development representative for the Nuristan PRT, was asked to speak on behalf of the PRT, on her thoughts about International Women’s Day.

“It was great to see government officials, village elders, women and girls coming together to speak about and celebrate this important day,” Kaplan said. “Liza Nooristani is a role model for women, not just in Nuristan, but in all of Afghanistan, and we are so grateful that she took it on her own initiative to plan this event and was kind enough to invite us to participate.”

Nooristani ended the event with a powerful, moving message to all the young girls and women in the room.

“Women can do anything that they put their mind to,” Nooristani said. “You can swim the deepest ocean, climb the highest peak, be a doctor, fly a plane, and face adversity, and still walk tall. Women are strong, beautiful, compassionate and much more. This is your day, as is every day you live.”

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Liza Nooristani, an engineer from the Do Ab District of eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, speaks to a group of Afghan government officials in a shura celebrating International Women’s Day, in the Nengarach village, March 8. The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s female engagement team attended the shura held by Nooristani to celebrate women’s rights and equality in the light of Islam. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Local Afghans and Coalition Forces sit side by side at a shura held in honor of International Women’s Day in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, March 8. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Liza Nooristani, an engineer from the Do Ab District, speaks to a reporter during a shura celebrating International Women’s Day, in the Nengarach village of eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, March 8. The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s female engagement team attended the shura held by Nooristani to celebrate women’s rights and equality in the light of Islam. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

Nuristan Province’s FET Catches U.S. Attention

2010-02-27T14:37:00.000+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s female engagement team conducted a phone interview with San Diego’s KNSD-TV, an NBC television affiliate on its recent success in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Feb 24.

Alicia Dean, a military news reporter for KNSD requested to interview the team leaders for the Nuristan female engagement team after reading a recent article of their meeting with women in a village in Nuristan.

Dean wanted to speak with the women in hopes of providing some guidance for the 45 women from Camp Pendleton, California who are going through their pre-deployment training for female engagement teams in Afghanistan in the near future.

Female engagement team leaders, U.S. Navy Lt. Stacey Gross, of Lakeville, Minn., the information officer for Nuristan PRT and Leah Kaplan, of Denver, Colo., the United States Agency for International Development representative, for Nuristan PRT provided insight and advice to the Marines of Cam Pendleton.

“The best advice we can give is take it slow with dealing with the women of Afghanistan,” said Gross. “When working with the women it’s about relationship building and the small things. Don’t promise to solve all their problems at once, we need to understand that this is a long process and we won’t be able to fix everything right away.”

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne and U.S. Navy Lt. Stacey Gross with the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, along with Leah Kaplan, Nuristan's United States Agency for International Development representative, are interviewed via phone by Alicia Dean, a military news reporter, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Feb. 24. The women are part of the Nuristan Female Engagement Team, who were interviewed to give their perspective on the women and the effect Afghan culture has on their lives. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Leah Kaplan, with Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s United States Agency for International Development, is interviewed via phone by Alicia Dean, a military news reporter, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Feb. 24. Kaplan is currently part of the Nuristan Female Engagement Team, who were interviewed to give their perspective on the women and the effect Afghan culture has on their lives. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. Stacey Gross, of Lakeville, Minn., Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team information officer, is interviewed via phone by Alicia Dean, a military news reporter, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Feb. 24. Gross is part of the Nuristan Female Engagement Team, who were interviewed to give her perspective on the women and the effect Afghan culture has on their lives. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

Nuristan Female Engagement Team visit village elders

2010-02-27T14:33:00.001+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. Stacey Gross, of Lakeville Minn., the information operations officer with the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team and 1st Lt. Thomas Reader, of Reno Nevada, the security force platoon leader for Nuristan PRT wait to speak with the village elders of the Nanjerch village, Feb. 24. The Nuristan Female Engagement Team, met with the village elders to ask what their feelings were on the female shuras to promote female literacy and equality. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 2Lt. Natassia Cherne, Nuristan PRT)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The boys of the Nanjerch village listen as the female engagement team for Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team speak with the village elders, Feb. 24. The Nuristan Female Engagement Team, met with the village elders to ask what their feelings were on the female shuras to promote female literacy and equality. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 2Lt. Natassia Cherne, Nuristan PRT)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The female engagement team for Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team speak with the village elders, Feb. 24. The Nuristan Female Engagement Team, met with the village elders to ask what their feelings were on the female shuras to promote female literacy and equality. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 2Lt. Natassia Cherne, Nuristan PRT)

End of Tour Awards

2010-02-21T12:08:00.002+04:30

TIME TO GO HOME!

Nuristan PRT Visits ANP

2010-02-20T17:06:00.001+04:30

By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Spc. Allen Marshall of Reno, Nev., assigned to the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s security forces, provides security while U.S. Navy Cmdr. Russell McCormack of Hampstead, N.H., the commander of the PRT, speaks with the Afghan National Police chief in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Feb. 15. The PRT visited the ANP in the Nurgram District center to discuss future plans of reconstructing their living and working quarters. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

Nuristan PRT conduct civil assessment in Mangow

2010-02-20T11:27:00.001+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Stacey Gross, of Lakeville, Minn., the information operation officer for the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, spoke with a local teacher about the education in the Mangow village in the Alingar district, Feb. 18. Nuristan PRT conducted a civil assessment with the local villagers to assess education, the economy, and security within the village. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 2Lt. Natassia Cherne, Nuristan PRT)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Local elders for the Mangow village in the Alingar district pose for picture with radios that were given by the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, Feb. 18. Nuristan PRT conducted a civil assessment with the local villagers to assess education, the economy, and security within the village. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 2Lt. Natassia Cherne, Nuristan PRT)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Local merchants from the Mangow village in the Alingar district smile after the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team purchase goods from their shop, Feb. 18. Nuristan PRT conducted a civil assessment with the local villagers to assess education, the economy, and security within the village. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 2Lt. Natassia Cherne, Nuristan PRT)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Local blacksmiths from the Mangow village in the Alingar district work on handcrafted knives to sell to servicemembers of the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, Feb. 18. Nuristan PRT conducted a civil assessment with the local villagers to assess education, the economy, and security within the village. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 2Lt. Natassia Cherne, Nuristan PRT)

UNAMA Military Advisors visit Nuristan PRT

2010-02-20T11:26:00.001+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Military advisors from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan visited the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Feb. 4 and 5.

Swedish Army Lt. Col. Eric Svensson, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, and New Zealand Army Lt. Col. Simon Williams, a native of Wellington, New Zealand, are the United Nations’ military advisors for the Kunar, Laghman, Nanaghar and Nuristan provinces in eastern Afghanistan. Their job is to relay information about security in the provinces and facilitate communication between the United Nations and International Security Assistance Forces.

UNAMA’s main goals are to manage the UN’s humanitarian relief, recovery, reconstruction and development activities in coordination with the Afghan government.

Both Svensson and Williams visited the Nuristan PRT to achieve these goals, and to get a better overall picture of the issues facing Nuristan.

“We gained a lot of insight as to the programs and development of sustainable activities taken on by the PRT,” Williams said. “We now know the extent of influence of the PRT and maneuver units have in Nuristan.”

During their visit, the advisors met with many of the departments in the PRT.

The advisors and PRT departments were able to discuss several pressing issues in Nuristan, including what the military situation is, what type of projects are being implemented in the province, and what kind of programs are used by the PRT to reach the local people.

“This visit was a good example of the relationship that should be shared by UNAMA and ISAF,” Svensson said. “It’s within our mandates to support each other. Nuristan PRT modeled how to do this.”

Williams and Svensson were surprised by the challenges Nuristan faces compared to other provinces. Due to the terrain of the region and lack of roads it is very hard to reach many parts of Nuristan, including the capital in Parun.

“We didn’t know the difficulties that Nuristan has in terms of outreach because of specific conditions and security in the region,” Svensson said.

Both men hope that through this visit they can express to their civilian counterparts the importance of the Nuristan PRT’s mission and help provide any assistance they can to Nuristan and the PRT.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Swedish Army Lt. Col. Eric Svensson, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, and New Zealand Army Lt. Col. Simon Williams, a native of Wellington, New Zealand, military advisors for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, speak before a meeting in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Feb. 4. The UNAMA military advisors came to Nuristan to meet with the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, and to see the issues facing Nuristan. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Swedish Army Lt. Col. Eric Svensson, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, and New Zealand Army Lt. Col. Simon Williams, a native of Wellington, New Zealand, military advisors for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, and Leah Kaplan, of Denver, Colo., a representative of the U.S. Agency for International Development, speak with local leaders in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Feb. 4. The UNAMA military advisors came to Nuristan to meet with the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, and to see the issues facing Nuristan. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

Nuristan Female Engagement Team makes with the women of Sundurwa village

2010-02-18T19:33:00.002+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s female engagement team visited the Sundurwa village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province to hold a female shura, Feb 13.

This was not the Nuristan PRT’s first visit to the village, It was the first time the female engagement team met with the women to introduce themselves and their mission, and to learn about issues facing women in the area.

“Visiting the women of Sunderwa village was very different [from] any of the other village visits we've had up to this point, mainly because the women were not reserved at all,” U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Stacey Gross, of Lakeville, Minn., and the information operation officer for the Nuristan PRT, said. “They wanted to begin discussions as soon as introductions were finished.”

Seventeen local women met the female engagement team with open arms and smiles. The meeting was more like an embracing of long lost sisters than foreign strangers.

“What was unique about this meeting was that all the women wanted a chance to speak about the kinds of projects that could be done to ease some of their burdens,” Gross said.

The first issue they mentioned was that their children had to travel to another village to go to school and the classes take place outside, despite harsh weather conditions.

The distance to the school also creates problems for the village’s girls, who can only go to school until the third grade because the village considers it dangerous for the girls to travel alone once they are older.

The women also face difficulties in the small village. One issue is that the village has no midwives, forcing families to travel to other districts like Laghman and Nangahar to receive medical care.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Destiney Dowdy, of Russellville, Ark., an aerospace medical service journeymen for the Nuristan PRT, asked the women if they would be interested in a midwife training program held by Sozo International, a non-government organization based out of Kabul that offers medical training to Afghans.

The women were very excited to hear about the program and provided their information for Dowdy to pass along to the organization.

"I thought the female engagement went really well,” Dowdy said. “The women seemed to be very interested in learning more about medical training. Everyone needs to know basic medical treatment, especially people that do not have a clinic in their village.”

The FET’s team leaders, Gross, of Lakeville Minn., and Leah Kaplan, the U.S. Agency for International Development representative for the Nuristan PRT, of Denver, Colo. encouraged the women attending the meeting to hold a shura with all the women in the village to figure out the top five problems they face.

At the end of the shura, the FET asked the women how they would feel about another visit from the FET.

“You come all the way here to our village to visit us and to help us, we are so happy,” Bebe Isha, a female elder in the village, said. “If you have more women, bring them.”

The female engagement team plans on visiting the women in a few weeks to check on the status in the village and to see if they would be interested in a literacy and vocational program.

“We are fortunate that they felt comfortable talking with us and look forward to working with them to develop projects that will meet their needs,” Kaplan said.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Stacey Gross of Lakeville Minn., the information operations officer for the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction, U.S. Air Force SrA Destiney Dowdy, aerospace medical service journeymen for Nuristan PRT, of Russellville, Ark., and U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach, an operations specialist for Nuristan PRT, of Smithfield, R.I., wait to meet the women of the Sundurwa village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Feb. 13. The female engagement team’s goal is to promote female literacy and equality for the women of Nuristan. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The men of the Sundurwa village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province wait for the female shura held by Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s female engagement team to end Feb. 13. The female engagement team’s goal is to promote female literacy and equality for the women of Nuristan. (U.S. Air Force photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan- U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Stacey Gross of Lakeville Minn., the information operations officer for the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction, an interrupter, U.S. Air Force 2^nd Lt. Natassia Cherne, public affairs officer for Nuristan PRT, of Richlands, NC, U.S. Agency for International Development representative for the Nuristan PRT, of Denver, Colo., U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach, an operations specialist for Nuristan PRT, of Smithfield, R.I., and U.S. Air Force SrA Destiney Dowdy, aerospace medical service journeymen for Nuristan PRT, of Russellville, Ark., the female engagement team for Nuristan PRT pose for a photo before meeting the women of the Sundurwa village for a female shura, Feb. 13. The female engagement team’s goal is to promote female literacy and equality for the women of Nuristan. (Courtesy Photo)

Nuristan PRT’s Warrior’s of the Year

2010-02-13T16:57:00.000+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Operations Specialist 1st Class Kathleen Leach, a native of Smithfield R.I., and U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswains Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Dustin Brzezniak, a native of Matawan, NJ, were awarded Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Non-commissioned Officer (NCO) Warrior of the Year and Junior Warrior of the Year at an informal ceremony held Feb.10.

The Nuristan PRT Junior and NCO Warrior of the Year are presented to the command's top junior and senior enlisted performers who exhibit leadership and professionalism, and set an example of excellence while performing their assigned duties.

Brzezniak commented on receiving the Junior Warrior of the Year award, what it means to him, and what it took to earn it.
"It feels great to be selected as Nuristan PRT 's Junior Warrior of the Year. It was a long road and a lot of hard work, but worth every minute of it," Brzezniak said.

In order to compete for the Warrior of Year honors, both service members had previously been awarded Warrior of the Quarter honors during their deployment with the PRT.

"I want to thank my leadership and everyone on the team for supporting me and making this such a successful deployment without the team I would not have been able to obtain my accomplishments," Leach said.

The Warrior of the Year competitors were rated individually with 70 percent of each participant's score based on a letter of recommendation written by their immediate supervisor. The letter addressed initiative, scope of responsibility, command involvement, leadership and mentoring, collateral duties, and education.

The other 30 percent of their score was based on an oral interview performed before a board of five senior NCOs. Brzezniak and Leach distinguished themselves based on reporting, military bearing, appearance and their responses to questions on select subject areas.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach (right), operations specialist, a native from Smithfield R.I. and U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Dustin Brzezniak(left), an aviation boatswaine handler, a native from Matawan, New Jersey, pose for a picture for Warrior of the Year Feb. 9. Leach and Brzezniak represent Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s top two enlisted performers who embody outstanding leadership, professionalism and set an example for excellence. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach, operations specialist, a native from Smithfield R.I. and U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Dustin Brzezniak, an aviation boatswaine handler, a native from Matawan, New Jersey, pose for a fun picture for Warrior of the Year Feb. 9. Leach and Brzezniak represent Nuristan Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s top two enlisted performers who embody outstanding leadership, professionalism and set an example for excellence. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

Sailor Receives Battlefield Promotion For Heroic Actions Under Fire

2010-02-11T14:08:00.002+04:30

By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) 3rd Class (ABF3) Robert Wagner, assigned to Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) force protection, was awarded a combat action ribbon and promoted to Petty Officer 3rd Class during a ceremony Feb. 5 at Forward Operating Base Kalagush.

Wagner, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., earned the promotion through the Combat Meritorious Advancement Program (CMAP) in recognition for his heroic actions in early Nov. 2009 which helped repel an enemy attack on an observation post in Nuristan Province. While standing guard at an entry control point, Wagner quickly responded to the enemy attack and fired 800 rounds of M-240B ammunition.

The CMAP is a promotion program that promotes Sailors who have served in combat during Operation Iraqi or Enduring Freedom.

“The CMAP is a very positive, good thing for Sailors who have gone way beyond what is expected, and it allows us to recognize their good overall standings,” said Cmdr. Rodney Ottinger, the U.S. Navy PRT executive officer.

Wagner said he was surprised when he found out that he would be promoted to Petty Officer 3rd Class.

“I’m very excited about the promotion,” said Wagner, who enlisted in the Navy in Oct. 2006. “It’s weird because I’ve waited a long time for it. It kind of doesn’t even feel like it happened.”

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) 3rd Class (ABF3) Robert Wagner, left, poses for a photo with Cmdr. Russell McCormack, commander, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, during an awards and promotion ceremony at Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Feb. 5. Wagner was awarded a combat action ribbon and promoted to Petty Officer 3rd Class through the Combat Meritorious Advancement Program in recognition of his heroic actions in early Nov. 2009 which helped to repel an attack on an observation post (OP) in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan. While standing guard at an entry control point, Wagner quickly responded to the attack and returned fire with 800 rounds using an M-240B Machine Gun. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

Nuristan PRT Provides Base Defense

2010-02-10T16:55:00.004+04:30

By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy personnel assigned to eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team help keep Forward Operating Base Kalagush secure by manning the Entry Control Point here.

This group of Sailors from different naval stations across the U.S. work as a team every day to perform searches, identify the local civilians and the Afghan National Army Soldiers who work on the FOB, and work with the Afghan military to provide force protection.

Chief Petty Officer Clifford Williams, of Shertz, Texas, the non-commissioned officer in charge of force protection for the PRT, has spent the last 17 years dealing with law enforcement as a master-at-arms in the Navy, he has also been a force protection officer since 2006.

“For the past several years, I have specialized in anti-terrorism and force protection,” said Williams. “I originally volunteered for the PRT to do something else, but coming here to work at the ECP and do force protection everyday was just a natural fit.”

Working at the Entry Control Point puts the sailors at risk if there is an attack on the base. During one incident, Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas Beck of Muskegon, Mich., and Airman Robert Wagner of Knoxville, Tenn., quickly responded and returned fire with 800 rounds of 240B machine gun ammunition after an attack on an observation post.

“It was an early morning when I heard the alarm sound and rushed to the ECP to unlock the ammunition room,” Beck said. “We were the first at the ECP to respond to the attack that morning.”

On a daily basis, the men work closely with ANA Soldiers, Afghan security guards, and local interpreters, to guard the gate.

The Sailors are also working to help the locals by teaching them a trade, and working to create jobs in the area, such as being a part of the ANA or contracted as security guards.

“We’re partnering with the ANA and [Afghan security guards] to help stabilize the region,” Williams said. “This is a primary mission of the Nuristan PRT that we all are a part of: to promote stability and governance, so that the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan can take over once all U.S. troops are out of Afghanistan and help their people.”

The ECP is made up of Sailors with diverse specialties such as logistics specialists, cooks, aviation specialists, and master-at-arms. The Sailors have searched more than 50,000 people and more than 10,000 vehicles while keeping the base secure.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Benjamin Growick, of Voorheesville, N.Y., assigned to the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, shows an Afghan National Army soldier the fundamentals of allowing vehicles through the Entry Control Point on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan Province, Jan. 20. Growick is one of many U.S. Navy Sailors working together to run the ECP as well as mentoring the ANA and Afghan security guards as they transition into providing security for their people. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Clifford Williams, of Schertz, Texas, assigned to the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, searches an Afghan's vehicle before allowing entry onto Forward Operating Base Kalagush, in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan Province, Jan. 20. Williams is the non-commissioned officer in charge of force protection, which involves running the Entry Control Point as well as partnering with the Afghan National Army and Afghan security guards to stabilize the region. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Gladey, of Port Saint Lucie, Fla., assigned to the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, scans an Afghan’s fingerprint on a Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment camera on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan Province, Jan. 20. The operators of the Entry Control Point use the camera to capture biometric data and prevent hostile forces from gaining entry to the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

Congratulations Servicemembers

2010-02-10T14:33:00.003+04:30

Nuristan PRT would like to say congradulations to the newly promoted servicemembers, achievement medals awardees, and combat action badge/ribbon awardees. Thank you for your hard work and dedication.

Receiving Army Commodation Medals

2010-02-10T10:51:00.005+04:30

Nuristan PRT Female Engagement Team Bonds with local women

2010-02-06T16:15:00.001+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s female engagement team visited the Nangarach village to hold a female shura and help start a community self help project, Jan. 26.

The objective of the shura was to take the women through the process of filling out a project proposal for a community self help project involving sewing machines.

Sixteen women attended the shura, including a village malik, or tribal leader; an interpreter; and five women from the Nuristan PRT.

The team leaders who organized the shura were U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Stacey Gross, the information operations officer for Nuristan PRT, a native from Lakeville, Minn. and U.S. Agency for International Development representative for Nuristan PRT, Leah Kaplan, a native of Denver Colorado.

Before, the PRT can provide funds or materials for self-help projects under $5,000, the community must agree to make a contribution to the project.

For this project, the women of Nangarach village agreed to provided a place for the sewing machines.

Once the shura objectives were met, Kaplan asked the local women if they would teach the women of the PRT how use henna, a dye that is used regularly by the women in Afghanistan for body art.

At first the women were shy about getting close to American women, but one woman took the hand of one of the women on the team and began drawing a design. Once the other women saw the interaction, the ice was broken and a bond between the women was made.

“The meeting with the women of Nangarach was a huge success,” Kaplan said. “Not only were we able to spend time getting to know the women and learning a little bit about their culture, but the women showed strong initiative for their own development by planning their own women's shura to talk about the project proposal they would like to submit to the government for sewing machines.”

The female engagement team’s ultimate goal for the women is to be self-sufficient. For example, the PRT wants the local women to create a female committee to be in of charge of teaching other women in the village how to sew. They would be responsible for ensuring they put aside funds to maintain all the sewing machines.

Eventually, the PRT would like to establish an adult female literacy program for the women, in hopes of empowering them in the future. Gross and Kaplan were able to identify two literate women in the village who with proper training, could teach other women to read and write.

The female engagement team plans on visiting the women in a few weeks to check on the status of the sewing project and they would like to follow up on the potential for a literacy program.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Members from the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, female engagement team hold out their hands that were decorated by local women from the Nangarach village with henna, Jan. 26. Henna, is a dye that is used regularly by the women in Afghanistan for body art. The Nuristan PRT FET goal is to promote female literacy and equality for the women of Nuristan, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

Congratulations on Those Who Received Achievement Awards and Medals

2010-02-06T14:36:00.012+04:30

Congratulations to PO3 Wagner and Lt. Gross on Their Promotions!

2010-02-06T14:28:00.005+04:30

U.S. Navy Lt. Stacey Gross

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Robert Wagner

Afghanistan's USAID and Department of Agriculture Visit New Greenhouse Projects

2010-02-05T09:57:00.008+04:30

By Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Kendall of Reno, Nev., assigned to the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s security forces, greets the foreman of a local construction company during an inspection of a greenhouse project in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Jan. 28. The United States Agency for International Development and the Department of Agriculture assessed the progression of the greenhouses. The greenhouses are part of a project jointly funded by the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, and the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, to provide fresh vegetables for the people throughout the region. (Photo U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Local construction workers build a greenhouse in eastern Afghanistan's Nuristan province, Jan. 28. The greenhouses were jointly funded by the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, and the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, to provide fresh vegetables for people throughout the region, and help the community earn money by providing jobs. (Photo U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Local construction workers build a greenhouse in eastern Afghanistan's Nuristan province, Jan. 28. The greenhouse is part of a project to provide fresh vegetables for the people throughout the region. The project was jointly funded by the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, and the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team. (Photo U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

Congratulations to our servicemembers who received Army Achievement Medals

2010-02-03T10:14:00.013+04:30

Nuristan PRT would like to congratulate all of our entry control point members who received Army Achievement medals for their outstanding contributions to the force protection for FOB Kalagush.

PO3 Growick

PO3 King

PO2 Gladey

PO1 Morgan

Nuristan PRT Conducts Civil/Engineer Assessment

2010-02-01T09:57:00.006+04:30

By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Lukas Haaglund of Winnemucca, Nev., a security force member for the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, patrols outside Forward Operating Base Kalagush, in eastern Afghanistan's Nuristan province, Jan. 25. The PRT conducted a dismounted patrol to Kautiak village to assess the progress a water storage project and to build positive relations with the local leaders. (U.S. Air photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Local children watch as Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team civil affairs members and engineers talk with an elder in Kautiak village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Jan. 25. The PRT conducted a dismounted patrol to the village to assess the progress of a water storage project and build positive relations with the local leaders. (U.S. Air photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team speaks with an elder about his village while visiting Kautiak village, in eastern Afghanistan's Nuristan province, Jan. 25. The PRT conducted a dismounted patrol to the village to assess the progress of a water storage project and to build positive relations with the local leaders. (U.S. Air photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

Warriors of the Quarter for PRT Nuristan

2010-01-31T19:30:00.001+04:30

Congratulations to our newest Warriors of the Quarter!

Name: Mason Sullivan

Branch: USAF

Rank: SrA

Time in Service: 4

Military Occupational Specialist: Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman

Home Station: Tinker, AFB

Hometown: East Boston, Massachusetts

Responsibilities for PRT Nuristan: Combat medic for Nuristan PRT

Best deployed experience so far for PRT Nuristan: The camaraderie.

Name: Michael DeMartin
Branch: USN
Rank: Petty Officer 2nd Class
Time in Service: 12
Military Occupational Specialist: Supply
Home Station: NOSC, Detroit
Hometown: Detroit
Responsibilities for PRT Nuristan: Supply officer in charge, Unit Liaison Officer
Best deployed experience so far for PRT Nuristan: The beginning of I-Stop in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Congratulations to ABF3 Wagner

2010-01-31T13:53:00.001+04:30

Nuristan PRT would like to congratulate ABF3 Robert Wagner, who is a part of the force protection team for the PRT, native of Knoxville Tennessee, on earning the Army Achievement Medal.

Nuristan PRT Medical Team treats gunshot victim

2010-01-30T15:21:00.002+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s medical team treated a young boy who was accidentally shot at a wedding celebration in the village of Gundalabuk Jan. 19.

A 10 year old boy was rushed to Forward Operating Base Kalagush by his mother and uncle after being shot in the chest by an AK-47 during celebratory fire at a local wedding party.

The bullet entered the boys chest and excited through the his shoulder causing a shoulder or upper arm fracture.

U.S. Navy Lt. Brian Ferguson, a Physicians Assistant for the Nuristan PRT, and a native of Stevensville, Md. helped treat the young boy’s wound.

“The kid was lucky, the wound could have been a lot worse,” Ferguson said. “The bullet missed his lungs, all major arteries and exited through the left shoulder.”

The medical team treated the chest wound, splint his shoulder, and provided antibiotics and pain medication.

The Nuristan PRT’s medical team was able to stabilize the boy and evacuate him to a hospital in Asadabad for surgery.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. Brian Ferguson, a physician’s assistant for the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, a native of Stevensville, Md., and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Rodney Ottinger, a physician’s assistant and executive officer for the Nuristan PRT, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., splint the arm of a young boy, who was accidentally shot Jan. 19. The boy was hit by celebratory fire during a local wedding celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, the senior medical officer assigned to the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, a native of McLean, Va., and U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class, Robert Dailey, a corpsman for the Nuristan PRT, and a native of Rutherford, N.J., check vitals for a young boy, who was accidentally shot at a wedding celebration Jan. 19. The Nuristan PRT’s medical team treated the boy. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. Brian Ferguson, a physician’s assistant assigned to the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, of Stevensville, Md., and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Rodney Ottinger, a physician’s assistant and executive officer for the Nuristan PRT, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., and U.S. Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, the senior medical officer assigned to the Nuristan PRT, of McLean, Va., splint and check vitals for a young boy, who was Jan. 19. The Nuristan PRT’s medical team treated the boy after he was shot in the chest by celebratory fire at a local wedding party. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

Nuristan PRT Female Engagement Team holds MEDCAP for children

2010-01-23T10:59:00.001+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s Female Engagement Team held a medical civic action program directed at children in a remote village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province Jan. 16 and 17.

Four female servicemembers from the PRT provided medical care and personal hygiene training during the visit.

U.S. Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, the senior medical officer assigned to the PRT native from McLean, Va., provided medical treatment to over 50 children. The children they treated in the village had common cold symptoms, body aches, skin rashes, and gastrointestinal problems.

“I think it was very successful,” Dreiling said. “It was nice to treat children for once we don’t to see that population very often.”

One little girl came to the MEDCAP to receive a referral for her arm, which was severely burned when she was younger. The scar tissue on the burn was preventing her from moving her arm. To help her, Dreiling referred her to Indira Ghandi children’s hospital which treats children and gives family members a place to stay for free.

The young girl’s brother said he had heard the announcement of the MEDCAP on the radio and knew she needed special treatment, so he brought her in.

Another part of the MEDCAP was personal hygiene lessons. The classes taught the children how to brush their teeth, tips for treating a sore throat, and the importance of washing their hands.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach, an operations specialist for the PRT and native of Smithfield, R.I., taught the personal hygiene classes to the boys, while another member of the team taught the girls’ class.

“This was the most rewarding mission I’ve done. I feel like we positively affected the local populace and it was nice to teach the children health and sanitation,” Leach said. “We were able to give back to the community.”

The female engagement team that held the MEDCAP plans to do many more missions to reach out to young girls and women.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan -U.S. Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, the senior medical officer assigned to the PRT native from McLean, Va., examines a young girl during a medical civic action program directed at children in a small village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Jan.17. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach, the operations specialist for the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction team, native of Smithfield, R.I., and a female interpreter teach young girls how to brush their teeth in a small village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Jan. 17. The PRT’s Female Engagement Team taught several classes on the importance of hygiene and provided medical care to the children who needed it. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Two young Afghan boys enjoy Poptarts after the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Female Engagement Team taught them about the importance of personal hygiene at a small village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Jan. 17 The Nuristan PRT visited the remote village and provided free medical care and classes on personal hygiene. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A young girl waits to be examined by the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s Female Engagement Team doctor at a small village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Jan. 17. During the two day visit, the PRT provided free medical care and personal hygiene classes to the local children.(U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

CONGRATS ON THOSE WHO RECEIVED ARMY AND NAVY ACHIEVEMENT MEDALS

2010-01-23T10:06:00.013+04:30

CONGRATS TO OUR SERVICEMEMEBRS WHO MADE E-5!

2010-01-23T09:57:00.008+04:30

Petty Officers 2nd Class Ring

Petty Officer 2nd Class Howard

Sgt. Veneziano

Followup on our Interviews with our Troops in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq announcement

2010-01-17T18:05:00.000+04:30

Bob Calvert

For those of you who have listened to some or all of the interviews I did over the past 10 days with our troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo.... maybe you could share you thoughts on the event page.

I will not be online this next week as much as I normally am (many many hours a day:) however I will do my best to catch up each day.

I will be back here the evening of Jan 23rd. I have an announcement about this on my facebook main page.

Anything you all could do this week to get this information about our troops stories out to many people.. they and we would be very grateful. I do not any funds to advertise (I live on social security) and the news media did not respond to our news release.

If you could take our announcement and send it to all your facebook friends and other contacts that would be appreciated.

I told our troops I would do everything possible to get their stories out in 2010. Your help is definitely needed. Many of my "friends" on Facebook are with a veterans group or a military support group, a conservative group, a talk show, a ministry and more. I think I would be accurate to assume that YOU ALL support our troops and their families.

You all can collectively take their stories and bring them out to hundreds of thousands for starters.

Thank you
bob

Nuristan PRT visits local villagers

2010-01-13T17:40:00.005+04:30

By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Spc. Preston Hall, from Boumtiful, Utah, a member of the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team civil affairs team, meets with elders in the Baba Kala village to gain information on the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Afghan National Security Forces while U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Rozario from Reno, Nev., provides security, Jan. 10. The Nuristan PRT civil affairs team visited the local people with the purpose of developing positive relations with the villagers and better understanding their government and security forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - A local boy guards a motorcycle while Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team civil affairs team members meets with village elders to gain information on the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Afghan National Security Forces in eastern Afghanistan's Baba Kala village, Jan. 10. The civil affairs team visited the local people with the purpose of developing positive relations with the villagers and better understand their government and security forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Dailey, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team medic from Rutherford, N.J., provides security while the civil affairs team meets with village elders to gain information on the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Afghan National Security Forces in eastern Afghanistan's Baba Kala village, Jan. 10. The Nuristan PRT civil affairs team visited the local people with the purpose of developing positive relations with the villagers and better understand their government and security forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

U.S. troops and ANA help victims of insurgent violence

2010-01-12T15:57:00.003+04:30

By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – When U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, the commander of the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, was notified of an improvised explosive device attack on civilians, Jan. 6, he put together a plan of action for the Coalition and Afghan forces to give their condolences and make sure the truth of the incident got to the Afghan people.

The IED injured four young Afghan girls as they were exiting their school in the Wat e Jabbarkheyl village. One of the girls later died from her wounds; she was only 13 years old.

With their Afghan counterparts, U.S. servicemembers from Forward Operating Base Kalagush in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province attended the girl’s funeral, Jan. 7, to mourn her passing and to offer their condolences to the families affected by this tragedy.

“I think that it is...important for the local government and security forces to go out and express their condolences to the people,” said Forsyth, a Mayfield, Ky., native. “It is essential for the government to communicate that they do care and that the local population can depend on their own officials when they need them.”

“Our presence there made a difference because it let the local population know that we’re here to help them,” U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Aaron Guzman from Orlando, Fla., said. “It was crucial for the ANA to be there also, to let them know their military does care for them and it shows unity between Afghan forces and U.S. forces.”

The night following the insurgent attack on the four girls, the ones responsible for the attack sent messages claiming U.S. forces were responsible for the incident. The commander wanted to make sure the truth of what happened got to the public.

First thing the next morning, the sub-governor of the Nuraram District gave a radio address, telling his people about the assault and expressing his concerns and outrage on the matter.

After the funeral, the ANA handed out care packages containing blankets, toiletries and school supplies to the families and the surviving victims.

“We are all incredibly sorry about the killing in Wat e Jabbarkheyl village,” Forsyth said. “It was an extremely repulsive act and it disgusts me that anyone would do anything [of] that nature.”

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Capt. Rahmat Gul, an Afghan National Army commander, gives toiletries, snacks and school supplies to the children of the Wat e Jabbarkheyl village, in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, after a funeral ceremony was held for a 13-year-old girl who was killed by an improvised explosive device, Jan. 7. U.S. forces and the ANA visited the village to express their condolences for the victims and their families, and also to strengthen relations with the local people. (Courtesy Photo)

Thank you Wild West Snacks

2010-01-12T14:48:00.001+04:30

Nuristan PRT would like to thank Wild West Snacks, especailly Anthony Nicoli and John & Cyndi Stout for sending us 10 bags of declisios jerky. Our servicememebrs loved it!

Thank you for all the support, please enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed the snacks.

U.S. Navy Servicmembers for PO2 Thomas Beck and Airman Robert Wagner enjoy some tender jerky.

Nuristan PRT Medical staff, takes a break from a hard day of work to enjoy some tasty treats. (Left to Right) Dr. Jennifer Dreiling, HM2 robert Dailey and HM1 Frank Graza.

Thanks again Wild West Snacks :)

Radio Show Talking with Heroes interviews Nuristan PRT Servicemembers

2010-01-10T13:25:00.002+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Talking with Heroes, a radio show based out of Colorado Springs, Colo., interviewed three servicemembers from the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, live, Jan. 8.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach, operations specialist and native of Smithfield, R.I.; U.S. Army Sgt. David Starkey, security force team leader and native of Reno, Nev.; and U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mason Sullivan, a combat medic and native of Boston, Mass., were chosen to do the radio interview with host Bob Calvert.

The three were chosen to do the interview with Calvert because of their continuous hard work and professionalism. Also, they served as a representation of the joint mission of the PRT to help promote development and governance throughout Nuristan province.

“It is refreshing to see a media portal that cares about the positive stories in Afghanistan and Iraq and the troops that are here. Very seldom do you see the good news stories broadcast over the airs or on television without it having a negative impact,” said Leach.

The servicemembers spoke on what their responsibilities add to the PRT mission by providing information on various topics like female engagement team, promoting female literacy and equality, security efforts in order to operate in a hostile environment, and the effort to educate local nationals on proper medical care.

Calvert started his radio talk show when his daughter and her husband both enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Calvert was looking for a way to support his daughter and other warriors, especially after his son-in-law returned from multiple deployments with injuries, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and other challenges many servicemembers and families face after deployments.

Eight years later, 100 aired audio programs, 100 video clips from trips to Iraq, and over 5,000 monthly readers on his online news site featuring stories from Iraq and Afghanistan, he found a way to support not only his daughter and son-in-law, but every servicemember fighting on behalf of the United States.

Nuristan PRT would like to thank Calvert for his constant support and sleepless nights ensuring that the every Solider, Sailor, Marine, and Airman’s story is told.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team operations specialist from Smithfield, R.I., is interviewed by Dave Carlson from the Talking with Heroes radio talk show out of Colorado Springs, Colo., via phone, as U.S. Army Sgt. David Starkey, native of Reno, Nev., with the Nuristan PRT security force, waits for his interview on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Jan. 8. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mason Sullivan, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team medic from Boston, Mass., is interviewed by Dave Carlson from the Talking with Heroes radio talk show out of Colorado Springs, Colo., via phone, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Jan. 8. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

ANA at Kalagush receive Completion Certificates for Delta 30 Howitzer Certification

2010-01-10T13:17:00.001+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army Field Artillery Soldiers with the 4th Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 201st Corps, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush await to be awarded completion certificates for certifying on the Delta 30 howitzer, Jan. 9. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, 2nd Battalion, 77th FA Regiment commander, and native of Mayfield, Ky., presented the certificates to the Soldiers. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 2Lt. Natassia Cherne, Nuristan PRT)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – An Afghan National Army Field Artillery Soldier with the 4th Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 201st Corps, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, holds up his completion certificate for certifying on the Delta 30 howitzer to his fellow ANA servicemembers, Jan. 9. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, 2nd Battalion, 77th FA Regiment commander, and native of Mayfield, Ky., presented the certificates to the Soldiers. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 2Lt. Natassia Cherne, Nuristan PRT)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army Capt. Rahman Gul, commander of the Field Artillery section of the 4th Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 201st Corps, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, presents U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, 2nd Battalion, 77th FA Regiment commander, and native of Mayfield, Ky., with a thank-you gift for helping his ANA Soldiers complete the certification process on the Delta 30 howitzer, Jan. 9. Forsyth presented the certificates to the ANA commander and his Soldiers. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 2Lt. Natassia Cherne, Nuristan PRT)

Eastern Afghanistan coalition forces disarm IED

2010-01-09T10:39:00.002+04:30

By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. servicemembers at Forward Operating Base Kalagush teamed up to respond to a call from the National Directorate of Security about an improvised explosive device found in eastern Afghanistan’s Nengarach village, Dec. 31.

U.S. Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment were on their way to a security shura in Alingar when they received a call from Hanan, the NDS chief, stating there were rumors of an IED located near the Nengarach village.

The rumor was reported the day prior, and prompted the NDS and an Embedded Training Team with the Afghan National Army to set up security that day and immediately look for the device, only to come up empty handed.

Viewing the search as a personal failure, NDS Chief Hanan decided to wake his troops up early morning, Dec. 31, to search the area again for the explosive device, and were successful. Feeling accomplished in his task, Hanan immediately notified Task Force Steel of the find and that more security and a professional team to deactivate the device were needed.

Right away, the mission shifted from going to a security shura to locating a small propane tank filled with 10 to 15 pounds of explosives, and disarming it.

Coincidentally, the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team was already there on a security patrol.

“We were doing a morning dismounted security patrol from Quandalay to Nengarach village,” U.S. Navy Lt. Brian Ferguson, Nuristan PRT convoy operations officer from Annapolis, Md., said. “We got a call from 2-77 wanting assistance in locating an IED and deactivating it.”

Once the two teams met up, they requested an explosive ordinance disposal team for assistance. An EOD team from FOB Mehtar Lam, in Laghman province, was already in the area and were the quickest to respond.

“After we got the word there was an IED, we drove there and saw that it was about 200 feet off the road, hidden in a ravine,” U.S. Army Capt. Rich Ingleby from Salt Lake City, Utah, said. “We were glad to see [Nuristan PRT], because we really needed the extra help. All of us came together to set up a vehicle patrol base, and went down to the site.”

“Along with EOD, eight of us went down there,” U.S. Army Sgt. Samuel Sharp, 2nd Bn., 77th FA Regt. intelligence section chief from Fairfax, Va., said. “There were four [from the 2nd Bn. 77th FA Regt.], two from PRT and two from the 984th Military Police Company, 759th MP Battalion, who are attached to the [2nd Bn. 77th FA Regt.]”

After the propane tank was blown up, pictures were taken of the damaged area so Coalition Forces could follow up on the site and reconstruct all damages.

“I think all of us coming together really highlighted the security of overall Afghans,” Sharp said. “It shows their trust and ability to work with coalition security forces, coalition civil assistance groups and their own Afghan security for the immediate, positive benefit for Afghanistan.”

Servicememebers get interviewed on the radio show Talking with Heroes

2010-01-08T22:31:00.000+04:30

Listen to Nuristan PRT servicemembers OS1 Leach, Sgt. Starkey, and SrA Sullivan be interviewed by Bob Calvert on his show Talking with Heroes.

Thank you Bob Calvert for getting our story out there!

Check out the link to hear the interview.

http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=19487&cmd=tc

Thank you for all the Christmas love

2010-01-08T15:08:00.000+04:30

Nuristan PRT would like to thank all the people who donated over a 100 gifts, this hoilday season. We would like to thank Danvers Bank and Debbie Lastih from Operation Troop Support in Danvers, Ma. We would like to thank, Bethany Costa, native from Dartmouth, Ma, Beth Miller from Colfax, NC and Operation Care Package in Joliet, IL. Lastly, we would like to send out a very special thank you to Village Bapist Church in Destin, FL for all the wonderful carepackages they sent to the men and women of Nuristan PRT.

Thank you again!

Nuristan PRT delivers assistance to Barge Matal

2010-01-03T21:43:00.001+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan –Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team delivered materials to the village of Barge Matal to help the village rebuild and compensate for lost of property by anti-Afghan forces the night of Dec. 29.

The summer of 2009, AAF set in motion a series of attacks on the villagers of Barge Matal, coalition forces, and Afghan security forces.

Due to the attacks, many homes and the village sawmill, which was the only source of economic activity for the village was burned down.

U.S. Navy Lt j.g. Christopher Saunders, Nuristan PRT engineering officer, and native of Camarillo, Calif., facilitated purchasing of the parts for the sawmill.

“The sawmill was the heart of economic activity in Barge Matal,” Saunders said. “The destruction of the sawmill by AAF was a huge blow to the... community, and it became our top priority to get a new band saw to the village in order to get the lumber industry going again.”

The village micro hydro, which provided Barge Matal with electricity, was also damaged by the attacks. Fortunately, Nuristan PRT was able to deliver the necessary parts to get the micro hydro functioning again.

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Russell McCormack, the commander of the PRT and native of Hampstead, N.H., and a personal security detachment met with local villagers to discuss the items being delivered to their village.

The villagers gathered the items and thanked the commander for providing funds and equipment for the people of Barge Matal in order to reconstruct their community and lives.

FOB Kalagush hosts weight lifting competition

2010-01-03T09:32:00.001+04:30

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Sgt. John Mills a Dallas native, lifts over 200 pounds as U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Judah Crawford from Pasadena, Calif., spots his performance during a weight lifting competition on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Dec. 31. The competition helped to boost morale among U.S. servicemembers and civilians around the FOB as they brought in the new year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kristopher Wilson, personnel non-commissioned officer-in-charge, from Camden, N.J., dead lifts 365 pounds as U.S. Army Sgt. Leveron Moore from Memphis, Tenn., monitors his performance during the thousand-pound challenge on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Dec. 31. U.S. servicemembers and civilians around the FOB participated in the wieghtlifting competition to celebrate the coming year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

Nuristan PRT reaches out to local women

2009-12-31T20:27:00.001+04:30

By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team visited the women of the Nengarach village in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, to talk about education in the area and the possibility of starting a female literacy program to help promote female equality within the region, Dec. 28.

The Nuristan PRT gathered a group of females together to conduct a shura with the women of a village elder’s household and asked them questions regarding their education and what type of education they would like to receive if a literacy program was to be started.

“One of the local villages actually came to the Nuristan PRT to request a female literacy program,” U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Stacey Gross, Nuristan PRT information officer from Lakeville, Minn. said. “A group of local non-government organizations became the point of contact and started working on it. The United States Agency for International Development got involved, and then we started working with the NGO’s to actually start the program in Laghman and Nuristan.”

The overall literacy rate is unknown, but is believed to be fairly low in the province for both males and females. It is especially hard for the females to learn because of the expectations they have to uphold, such as cleaning, and caring for their family.

The women say they are doing their best to try to find time to learn new things, such as a new language and basic arithmetic. They hold learning sessions within the household for themselves and the women in the village.

The number one thing the women declared they wanted to learn was how to sew.

Another issue that was brought up in the shura was the health of the women.

The village has a clinic, a pharmacist, a dentist and two midwives, but the females cannot be seen by the pharmacist or the dentist, because both are males.

For any sickness, the local women are seen by one of the midwives. If neither of the midwives is available, or there is a sickness beyond the midwife’s practice, the women travel to Laghman or Nangarhar province to be seen by a female doctor.

In order for the U.S. servicemembers of the Nuristan PRT to promote literacy for the women in the Nengarach area, they have agreed to help provide sewing machines and have the women hold afternoon classes among themselves in order to learn to sew, and learn basic school subjects and possibly new languages.

“I hope the outcome of this shura will be to bring literacy throughout the Nuristan and Laghman provinces,” Gross said. “Hopefully it can be the starting point that will branch out to the other villages so they can see the benefits of what we’re trying to do, and they would want a female literacy program started in their village.”

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Stacey Gross, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team information officer from Lakeville, Minn., left, and U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach, Nuristan PRT operations specialist from Smithville, R.I., wait to be introduced to the women of Nengarach village in eastern Afghanistan's Nuristan province, Dec. 28. The women of Nuristan PRT, along with United States Agency for International Development, conducted a women's shura to discuss various avenues in developing a literacy program for the women in the local area and promote female equality throughout the region. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

Christmas fun for Kalagush

2009-12-27T18:49:00.000+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Servicemembers on Forward Operating Base Kalagush celebrated the Christmas season with many fun events, such as a relay run, basketball tournament, gift giving and carolling, Dec. 24 and 25.

To start off the Christmas events, servicemembers and civilians ran the Icebreaker 10k relay race on Christmas Eve. The race started at 7:00 a.m., the winning team came in with a combined time of 40 minutes and 11 seconds.

On Christmas day, servicemembers had an opportunity to play in a three on three basketball tournament and watch Christmas movies like National Lampoon Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story and Elf.

The heart of all the Christmas events was the gift giving of about 250 gifts from Operation Care Package to all servicemembers, organized by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3^rd Class Travis Mobely, radio talk operator and Morale, Welfare Recreation representative for Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, native from Valdosta, Ga.

“I organized these events to make everybody have a wonderful holiday, especially since I know it’s so hard being away from home,” said Mobely.“These events also kept me from the mindset of being alone.”

Another event that brought Christmas cheer to Kalagush was the choir of 12 servicmembers who sang during Christmas lunch and dinner. The choir director was, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2^nd Class, Robert Dailey, corpsman for Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, native from Rutherford, N.J.

“I wanted to see if I could bring the Christmas spirit to people and I wanted to bring a little slice of home to everyone here,” said Dailey. “I was very fortunate to have a lot of servicemembers who were willing to try and had a great deal of talent to sing for everyone.”

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Servicemembers and civilians from on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, pose for a picture after the Icebreaker 10k Relay Race, Dec. 24. Kalagush celebrated the Christmas season with many fun events, like a relay run, basketball tournament, gift giving and carolling, Dec. 24 and 25.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Brent Howard from Albany, Ga., makes the winning shot for team one during the 3 on 3 basketball tournament on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Dec. 25. A total of six teams played against each other in which team one won the final game with a score of 11 to 4. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Christmas gifts from the organization Operation Care Packages organized by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3^rd Class Travis Mobely, radio talk operator and Morale, Welfare Recreation representative for Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, native from Valdosta, Ga. await to be handed out to servicemembers of Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Dec. 25. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2^nd Class, Robert Dailey, corpsman for Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, native from Rutherford, N.J. directs the Kalagush Christmas Choir during Christmas lunch Dec. 25. A total of 12 servicemembers from Forward Opearating Base Kalagush sang in the choir. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

From Petty Officer to Ensign in 8000 miles and 200 Pieces of Paper

2009-12-27T18:43:00.002+04:30

By: LTJG Michael A. Leach, NAVELSG Public Affairs Officer

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Two sailors assigned to the Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG) forward JULIET team, and two Individual Augmentees (IA)want to join the ranks of the Navy Supply Officer Corps as ensigns.

Forward-deployed petty officers Jeffery Braun, Angelita Noche, Victoria Schutz, and Michael T. De Martin were encouraged by their commanding officers to submit individual direct commission officer packages because the responsibilities each petty officer is typically held by a lieutenant in the Supply Corps.

Following in the footsteps of her two brothers, Angelita Noche enlisted in 2002. Presently, she is the lead petty officer in a communications operations center at a forward base in Iraq where it is her responsibility to ensure that command personnel, visitors and guests are always accounted for. Having earned a college degree, the next logical step for Angelita was to pursue a Supply Corps commission. “Submitting my Supply Corps officer package has been very exciting for me.” says Noche. “Since my enlistment in 2002, I always thought about the opportunity to become a commissioned officer and didn’t realize it would come to fruition during my deployment,” said Noche.

Service has always been close to Petty Officer Second Class Michael T. De Martin’s heart. He volunteered for a deployment to Afghanistan where he serves as a leader for a Provincial Reconstruction Team. De Martin became an important member to his commanding officer and the Army first sergeant with whom he worked that he was encouraged to apply for the direct commission officer program. “I have wanted to submit an officer package for a long time, but I always allowed things to get in the way, but with the full support of my commanding officer in Afghanistan, now is the time” says De Martin.

When Petty Officer Second Class Jeffery Braun isn’t teaching criminal justice courses at night for Central Texas College on his assigned base in Afghanistan, he’s busy as the Supply NCOIC during the day. “I have been working on my direct commission officer package since August” says Braun. “Not surprisingly, it is quite difficult to complete such a task from several thousand miles away; however, the process has been going rather smoothly so far, more so than I expected.”

For Petty Officer First Class Victoria Schutz, life in Iraq couldn’t be busier. She is the lead petty officer of the Mobile Air Cargo Handling Team supervising several sailors in the delivery of supplies and high priority assault support requests throughout Iraq. In her civilian life, Schutz works as a detention officer for “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” Joe Arpaio at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona. Schutz serves as a taser instructor, field training officer, and as a supply officer overseeing ordering of large quantities of food, clothing and other supplies for the county jail.

What is a Direct Commission Package for the Navy Reserve Supply Corps entail exactly? College transcripts; 26 pages of security clearance information; letters of recommendation; a personal mission statement of 500 words; two Supply Corps officer interviews from senior commanders or captains, which can be a challenge if you are 8000 miles away from the United States in Afghanistan or Kuwait; the Commission application; medical forms; identity paperwork, and countless other pieces of paperwork. As one can imagine, earning a direct commission is not an easy process.

Officer Program Recruiter, Lt. Cmdr. Tracy Bloomquist, herself a Reserve Supply Officer located in Syracuse, New York, is working closely with these Sailors to ensure their dreams of entering the commissioned ranks are realized.

Within a few months, all four sailors may be trading in their red chevrons for a single gold-bar and joining the proud tradition of the Navy Supply Officer Corps.

2-77 FA Commander Hosts Educational Shura

2009-12-27T16:10:00.001+04:30

By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, hosted an education shura with Afghan government officials and teachers from all over eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province to discuss issues regarding the education system and ways to improve it, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Dec. 15.

There are many problems facing Nuristan province’s education system, including a lack of government funding.

Classes are offered to students ranging from primary grades through high school, with males and females attending separate schools.

One district in the area faces the problem of having to join females and males in the same school, because there is not enough funding to build a separate girls’ school. Because of the mixture of the two genders, the government does not recognize a portion of the students, so the school does not receive the proper supplies or the funding needed to educate all of the students.

Another problem is educated, professional teachers often refuse to travel to the more dangerous areas in the province. This has resulted in a student to teacher ratio of 60 to 1 in some areas.

To add to the minimal amount of teachers in the province, some teachers do not show up because they are not getting paid, which causes headmasters to pay out of their own pockets.
Educational line directors, sub-governors, headmasters and teachers from various villages in
Nuristan met with Forsyth to explain these and other issues they face and how to solve them.

“We all met here to determine what their needs are as far as education in the local area,” Forsyth, a native of Mayfield, Ky., said. “Only the teachers themselves know what difficulties they all face, so meeting together can help us determine, as a whole, what the needs are before we can take that next step into progression.”

The shura unveiled the three main issues that need to be addressed.

The first is professionalism of the teachers. In order to complete that task, seminars will be scheduled and held on FOB Kalagush, beginning in the near future.

The second issue is teaching materials, which the International Security Assistance Forces hope to be able to provide.

The third is a lack of infrastructure, such as buildings in which to hold classes, power, water, and roads.

ISAF will be assisting the Afghans accomplish these goals, but it is going to take time, diligence, and cooperation between the Coalition Forces and the Afghan people.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, from Mayfield, Ky., the commander of the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, addresses issues of the educational system with line directors and teachers from across eastern Afghanistan's Nuristan province on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Dec. 15. The meeting was held as a chance for the elders and teachers of the districts to speak on what is most important and what needs to be done, in order to improve the education of the children in Nuristan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

U.S. servicemembers team up to train ANP

2009-12-23T16:38:00.009+04:30

Written by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. security forces servicemembers are hosting an eight-week training program on Forward operating Base Kalagush, Dec. 12, for Afghan National Police to help them build better tactical skills needed to provide security for eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province.

Nuristan PRT security forces and U.S. Marines will instruct in their areas of speciality, such as patrol techniques and hand-to-hand combat, while also building relationships with their ANP counterparts.

“We are giving the ANP the skills [all] police officer should have,” said U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Clifford Williams, the Nuristan PRT force protection non-commissioned officer-in-charge, from Grantspass, Ore. “If you want governance, security and stability in any area, you have to have a professional police force to provide that.”

The security forces team is training the ANP to get them ready for when they are on their own, so they can support themselves and any local crime that may occur when U.S. troops leave Afghanistan.

“This experience – to be able to train the Afghan National Police – is very worthwhile,” Williams said. “With the surge of troops coming in, there will be more of us to be able to properly train them. I believe that having a professional police force is very important, and it should be all over Afghanistan.”

The training is held once a week, and leadership is trained first, so they can teach their subordinates what they have learned.

The ANP’s final task will be working side-by-side with U.S. servicemembers at the entry control point, to demonstrate they will be able to police themselves.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Gilbert Lenz II, a Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team security forces member from Reno, Nev., teaches the local Afghan National Police hand and arm signals during an eight-week training course on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Dec. 12. The course is taught once a week to teach the ANP professional police skills, while building positive relations, which will benefit both ANP and U.S. forces. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

Nuristan PRT makes first contact with remote village

2009-12-22T22:10:00.001+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Servicemembers from the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team travelled a rugged, mountainous region near Forward Operating Base Kalagush to make their first contact with the remote ville of Kohe Taag, Dec. 19.

Kohe Tagg village is one of Kalagush’s closest and hardest to reach neighbors. This was the first time that the Nuristan PRT had ever visited the village, and only the second time the village had ever been visited by Coalition Forces.

Although the village was only 2 kilometres away, it took the Nuristan PRT two and half hours to climb over the rocky terrain and washes to get to the village.

While in the village, the Nuristan PRT met with Abdual Wahab, a villager closest to what many other villages would consider an elder or Malik. The civil affairs team was able to gather atmospherics on what their political views are, what their economy was like, and what they thought of Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition Forces.

U.S. Army Spc. Jason Dixon, a civil affairs specialist and native of Payson, Utah, explained the interaction between the PRT and the villagers.

“The village was small and the villagers were very opinionated,” he said. “They talked to us about corruption and politics even though the Afghan National Police were there, which is rare, because other villages would never be as honest as they were in front of the ANP.”

Even though Wahab and others had very strong opinions about the government, they were also the first villagers to say they are very proud of their Afghan security forces.

Mohammad Dadd, another villager, explained that they have seen ANP around the village, helping protect their way of life, and still doing their jobs even when they have to go without pay.

After much discussion about the role that the Coalition Forces play, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Russell McCormack, the commander for the Nuristan PRT and native of Hampstead, N.H., asked Wahab what the village needed.

Wahab said the village needed water storage and a clear footpath to get to other villages. As it stands now, it takes the villagers four hours, round-trip, to get to and from Nengarch, which is the nearest village.

The Nuristan PRT agreed to help build a water storage system and possibly create a clear pathway if a few villagers agreed to go to the concert class that the engineers on FOB Kalagush hold to teach locals vocational skills.

After attending a few classes, the villagers can get up to 50 bags of cement for their village. Once the village gets the cement, the Nuristan PRT will cover the rest of the cost for the water storage and possible footpath.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan- A young boy looks on as servicemembers from the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team speak with villagers in the Kohe Tagg village, Dec. 19. The Nuristan PRT traversed a rugged region near Forward Operating Base Kalagush to make its first contact with the remote village. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Tauseef Mastafa, a photojournalist with the Agence-France Presse, embedded with the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team takes a photo of U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Chappell, a corpsman from Bonne Terre, Mo., Dec. 19. The Nuristan PRT traversed a rugged region near Forward Operating Base Kalagush to make its first contact with the remote village Kohe Taag. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne)

US Embassy in Kabul connects with Nuristan

2009-12-17T20:18:00.004+04:30

By Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan (December 14, 2009) – Anne Frej, a cultural affairs specialist from the U.S. embassy in Kabul, visited the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team to view potential locations for a Lincoln Center, Dec. 13.

Lincoln Centers are a partnership between the public affairs section of the U.S. embassy in Kabul and the Afghan government. The centers provide books, internet, and programming for the Afghan public free of charge.

The centers hold events and activities such as author readings, film showings, speaker programs, workshops and meetings. Lincoln Centers also hold programs like English conversation clubs, internet courses, and speakers on Muslim life in America.

Two potential sites were identified for the Nuristan Lincoln Center, a school in the Nengarach village and the Nurgurum District center.

If either site is suitable, the Lincoln Center will be fully funded by the U.S. embassy if the local government or district government will donate the space free of charge.

The local government must also pay the security staff. Once a location is established, the embassy will install all the computer equipment, stock the library and hire a staff to run the center.

“Lincoln centers have been tremendously successful in both the east and north regions of Afghanistan, because they are a place where students go to gain access to a new world view,” said Kathryn Hoffman, foreign service officer for the Department of State. “The center also allows the PRT to do a lot of programming, like discussions on the meaning of elections and the role of women in society. We are really lucky that our Lincoln Center [will be] fully funded in the coming year.”

Lincoln Centers have been established in the major cities of Afghanistan, like Kabul, Herat and Jalalabad. In Kabul, there is a Lincoln Center at the Kabul University and there are also plans to place one in the women’s garden in Kabul.

“In some of the remote regions in Afghanistan there aren’t any internet cafés or even internet access, so the idea is to get into some of the more remote areas and create a place that provides students with English language programs, other types of programs and internet access,” Frej said. “Again, the program is about reaching out into the community, especially younger generations, and giving them a place to go and congregate to learn about American culture.”

In addition to looking at potential sites for the Lincoln Center and internet café, Frej also attended an educational shura to be held at Kalagush, Dec. 15.

She provided information on education and exchange programs offered by the U.S. State Department to students in Afghanistan including the Youth Exchange and Study program.

The YES program sponsors Afghan students visiting the U.S. who stay with a family and attend high school to learn English and the American culture for up to one academic year.

Frej identified how this program has benefited Afghanistan.

“Some of the students who have returned from the U.S. on the YES program have actually come together and formed a group in Afghanistan to try to do things to better their local communities,” Frej said.

The U.S. Embassy plans on establishing at least ten more Lincoln Centers around Afghanistan before the end of 2010.

The time frame for the Lincoln Center to be opened in Nuristan would be approximately six months, but if a location is chosen during her visit, the center and café can be opened as soon as February 2010.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan- Anne Frej, a cultural affairs specialist for the U.S. embassy in Kabul; Kathryn Hoffman, foreign service officer for the Department of State; George Like, field project officer from U.S. Agency of International Development; and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Lukas Haaglund, security force squad leader for the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, and native of Winnemucca, Nev., walk in the Nurguram District, Dec. 13. Nurguram is a possible location for a proposed Lincoln Center, to be provided by the U.S. Embassy. Lincoln Centers are a partnership between the public affairs section of the embassy in Kabul and the Afghan government that provide books, internet and programming for the Afghan public free of charge. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan- U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas Cinkovich, a native of Sparks, Nev., and security force team leader for the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, secures Nengarach village for the visit of Anne Frej, a cultural affairs specialist for the U.S. embassy, Dec. 13. Lincoln Centers are a partnership between the public affairs section of the embassy in Kabul and the Afghan government that provide books, internet, and programming for the Afghan public free of charge. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne)

Warrior's of the Quater

2009-12-17T20:10:00.003+04:30

Name: Travis Mobley

Branch: U.S. Navy

Rank: Petty Officer 3^rd Class

Time in Service: 4 years in June

Military Occupational Specialist: Culinary Specialist

Home Station: San Diego

Hometown: Valdosta, Georgia

Why you earned Warrior of Quarter: I pushed the bar on my working limits.

Responsibilities for PRT Nuristan: Radio Talk Operator, Head Mail Master, Morale, Welfare Recreation representative

Best deployed experience so far for PRT Nuristan: Standing guard at the Observation Post Loyalty, because it was my first time in a camping environment.

Name: David L. Starkey

Branch: U.S. Army

Rank: Sgt.

Time in Service: 6 years

Military Occupational Specialist: 19 D 2 P.

Home Station: Yerington, Nevada

Hometown: Reno, Nevada

Why you earned Warrior of the Quarter: Because I’m the best of the best.

Responsibilities for PRT Nuristan: SECFOR team leader, Motor Pool NCOIC, and Urine Analysis Assistant

Best deployed experience so far for PRT Nuristan: All the new friends I’ve met.

Nuristan PRT Provides Provincial Veterinary Ministry with vaccines

2009-12-17T20:03:00.002+04:30

By Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Dec. 15, 2009) - The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team provided the Afghan Provincial Veterinary Ministry with thousands of veterinarian vaccines for local livestock in the Nurguram District of eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Dec. 14 and 15.

Ray Lehn, the U.S. Department of Agricultural representative for the Nuristan PRT, , and native of Fairfield, Iowa, provided Abdula Qader, the Director of Veterinary Ministry for Nuristan, with veterinarian vaccines and supplies ordered by the last PRT to distribute among the villages that needed the vaccines the most.

“There was some request for veterinarian support last spring when the people in Nuristan were having issues with their livestock contracting diseases like sheep pox,” Lehn said. “So, that was one of the reasons why we decided to keep the vaccines and have the Afghan Veterinary Ministry distribute them.”

In the month of December, Qader will travel throughout the NurguramDistrict to ensure all 45 villages have the opportunity to receive vaccines for their livestock.

So far, 44 families have been seen in the Nengarach, Malil and Wadow villages. If there are any vaccines left, Qader hopes to distribute them to families in the Do Ab District.

This is the first time that the people of Nuristan have been able to receive vaccinations for the livestock because the lack of road construction had made travelling to their villages too difficult.

“The vaccinations are a huge success and will be just as successful in the future if the PRT continues to support us,” Qader said. “In the past nobody has helped with our veterinarian needs, so we are very grateful.”

One Last Salute for a Fallen Hero

2009-12-10T16:16:00.001+04:30

By Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan (December 8, 2009) – One hundred and sixty four servicemembers from Forward Operating Base Kalagush somberly stood side-by-side to render one last salute to their fallen comrade, 26-year-old U.S. Army Spc. Elijah Rao, from Lake Oswego, Ore., Dec. 5, who was killed by an improvised explosive device that day.

Rao was a meteorological specialist, but served as a rifleman and the “eyes and ears” of the intelligence shop while patrolling with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Steel.

“He had the ability to engage the people and gain the confidence of the people out there, because he was just that kind of guy that people felt comfortable approaching and talking to, even though he was a shy guy himself,” said U.S.

Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, 2nd Bn., 77th FA Regt. commander and native of Mayfield, Ky. “He took my dictum of treating everyone with dignity and respect very seriously, which he demonstrated on a daily basis.”

Servicemembers from the 2nd Bn., 77 FA Regt.; Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team; Military Police from 3rd Platoon, 984^th Military Police Company, 759^th MP Battalion; and Marine Corps Embedded Training Team 5-5 were among the ones to say goodbye. One by one, each servicemember waited for hours in the cold for an opportunity to render a single salute as fellow Soldiers walked past Rao’s remains.

“On the battlefield, Rao was super efficient, although his job was that of a weatherman he had a knack for gathering intelligence, which was very helpful to the mission,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Kyle Riley, Rao’s platoon sergeant, and native of Clintontownship, Mich. “He was something special...he was an asset. When we were at key leader engagements and I would run out of gas, I would look to him to take the floor.”

Rao, who was boarded onto a UH-60 Black Hawk to start his journey back to the United States, where the dignified transfer of his remains will take place at Dover Air Force Base.

“He was dependable, he was a rock, and with him having previous combat experience, he was able to be a mentor for a lot of Soldiers in our platoon who were on their first deployment,” Riley said. “He was more than just a peer to his team. He was someone that the lower enlisted looked up to.”

“Rao was the best our nation had to offer, he will be missed in the battalion,” Forsyth said.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan- One hundred and sixty four servicemembers from Forward Operating Base Kalagush somberly stood side-by-side to render one last salute to their fallen comrade, U.S. Army Spc. Elijah Rao, from Lake Oswego, Ore., the night of Dec. 5. Rao, was killed in action by an improvised explosive device in Nuristan Province that same day. (U.S. Air Force/photo SrA Ashley Hawkins)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan- U.S. Army Spc. Elijah Rao, a native of Lake Oswego, Ore., and meteorological specialist attached to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery maneuver platoon, “Nightmare”, 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Steel, (right) and U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Kyle Riley, the platoon sergeant for the Nightmare maneuver platoon, from Clintontownship, Mich., (left) stand with local villagers from the Parwii village, Aug. 9. Rao, was killed in action Dec. 5, by an improvised explosion device in Nuristan Province. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan- A UH-60 Black Hawk carries the remains of U.S. Army Spc. Elijah Rao, a native of Lake Oswego, Ore., and meteorological specialist attached to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery maneuver platoon, “Nightmare”, 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Steel, to Bagram Air Force Base the night of Dec. 5. Rao, was killed in action that day by an improvised explosion device in Nuristan Province. (U.S. Air Force/photo SrA Ashley Hawkins)

Nuristan PRT Corpsman connects with Dots

2009-12-02T19:37:00.000+04:30

Photo by U.S. Air Force 2^nd Lt Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Dailey, a corpsman from Rutherford, N.J., of, shares his box of candy dots with a local village boy, Dec. 2. Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team conducted a key leader’s engagement with the village leaders of the Gambah village to discuss economic development. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

Walking Hand in Hand

2009-12-01T18:57:00.000+04:30

Courtesy Photo by: U.S. Army Spc. Michael Hahnebohm from the 3^rd Platoon, 984^th Military Police Company, 759^th MP Battalion

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team - Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Todd Cellars, Squadron Leader for the 3^rdPlatoon, 984^th Military Police Company, 759^th MP Battalion, from Warren, Ohio, walks hand in hand with a little girl in the Alingar District, Dec. 1. The 759^th MP Battalion was conducting a key leader’s engagement and identifying the personal in the Afghanistan National Police in the local area. (U.S. Army/photo Spc. Michael Hahnebohm) (RELEASED)

Celebrating Eid and sports one volleyball game at a time

2009-11-30T15:30:00.001+04:30

Photos by Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team - Public Affairs

091128-AF-2222C-062: NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Locals from the Lowkar and Dareng villages play in a volleyball tournament to celebrate Eid and to encourage children to play sports instead of doing drugs, Nov. 28. The volleyball tournament held in the Lowkar village had an attendance of about 200 people, featuring 32 teams made up from villagers from the Alingar and Nurgram districts. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

091128-AF-2222C-111: NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt j. g. Stacy Gross, from Lakeville, Minn., the information operations officer for the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, speaks with Said Rahman, the chairman of architecture from Lowkar village, about future construction projects for the Alingar District during the volleyball tournament to celebrate Eid and to encourage children to play sports instead of doing drugs, Nov. 28. The volleyball tournament held in the Lowkar village had an attendance of about 200 people, featuring 32 teams made up from villagers from the Alingar and Nurgram Districts of eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province. The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team provided Abdual Raqeeb, the event organizer from Nangarach, radios and volleyball to hand out during the five day tournament. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PRT CIVIL AFFAIRS TEAM WINNING HEARTS AND MINDS OF AFGHAN PEOPLE

2009-11-30T15:24:00.001+04:30

Story and photos by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team - Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. servicemembers from the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team traveled to Forward Operating Base Blessing in eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province to rebuild a connection with local Afghans.

“We were sent here to FOB Blessing to represent the central valley of Waygul and Wama,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John McGlocklin, noncommissioned officer in charge of the Nuristan civil affairs team at FOB Blessing. “Because the people here don’t always have the means to travel all the way to FOB Kalagush, they have easy accessibility to the PRT with us here.”

The civil affairs team has been at FOB Blessing since mid-July and is attempting to develop relations with the community by giving them the means to initiate small self-help projects, such as water canals and storage tanks for clean water and better overall sanitation conditions, according to U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Burgess, Nuristan PRT civil affairs specialist.

So far, 23 projects valued at more than $70,000 have been distributed throughout various villages across the Waygul and Wama area. PRT members believe a major reason Afghans join with the Taliban is the severe lack of money. Employing Afghans with self help projects gives them economic development and teaches them alternative avenues to make money other than farming.

“There are five major valleys in the northern portion of the Task Force Lethal Area of Operation, and the Afghanistan PRTs impact two of them…Kunar and Nuristan. The civil affairs team here interacts with the people much more and communicates with the sub-governor almost weekly. That’s very important,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brian Pearl, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Division commander at FOB Blessing. “They literally tie government and development together, from village, to district, to overall provincial level.”

When the local people saw Coalition Forces wanting to help, a spark ignited in them and they were more welcoming. Governors, village elders and shura leaders meet with the team often to discuss the progress of current village projects and the plans for future development in the area.

“We are the only ones here in this area,” McGlocklin said. “We need to remain accessible to the Nuristanis so they can receive the help they need from us.”

“The biggest thing is the interaction with village elders and local government in the Waygul and Wama valley,” Pearl said. “Once you empower the government, then you can reestablish relationship with the people. Without the PRT, the government and the community would be separate.”

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Dustin Brzezniak, left, from Matawan, N.J., and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John McGlocklin from San Antonio, Texas, with the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, sit with Muhammad Osman, the sub-governor of the Waygul District of eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, and shura members during a meeting to discuss ongoing projects in the area, on Forward Operating Base Blessing, Nov. 18. Osman hires local Afghans to work on PRT-funded projects, and meets with the civil affairs team twice a week to request additional supplies for self-help projects. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

091120-F-7498H-025: NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A child from the Waygul District of eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province load bags of cement provided by the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team into a truck on Forward Operating Base Blessing, Nov. 20. Muhammad Osman, the sub-governor of the district, met with the civil affairs team two days prior to request additional supplies for self-help projects. Once he has a signed self-help project request form from the villagers, the form is sent to the PRT commander for funding and support. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

Nuristan PRT visits Alingar schools

2009-11-30T15:16:00.000+04:30

Photos by SrA Ashley Hawkins

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team- Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Spc. Jason Dixon Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team civil affairs team member, hands out a self help project request form to a boys' high school teacher while visiting and assessing literacy within the Alingar District of eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Nov. 24. The PRT routinely visits local villages to promote education and literacy within the area, and help provide a stable economy for the people. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Teachers of the girls' high school show text books and daily lessons to the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, while team members visited and handed out self-help project request forms to the villagers of the Alingar District of eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Nov. 24. The PRT routinely visits local villages to promote education and literacy within the area, and help provide a stable economy for the people. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Servicemembers from the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team talk with the girls' high school teachers while visiting and handing out self-help project request forms to the villagers of the Alingar District of eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Nov. 24. The PRT routinely visits local villages to promote education and literacy within the area, and help provide a stable economy for the people. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Sgt. David Starkey with the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team security force guards a classroom while the team talks with teachers of the Alingar District girls' high school in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Nov. 24. The PRT routinely visits local villages to promote education and literacy within the area, and help provide a stable economy for the people. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-28T21:24:00.003+04:30

From all the servicemembers at Kalagush, happy Thanksgiving and we wish we could have celebrated with our loved ones.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Capt. Erik Nerdalen, from Hicksville, N.Y., carves a turkey before serving Thanksgiving dinner to civilians and troops on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Nov. 26. It is the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment's tradition for senior non-commissioned officers and officers to serve their Soldiers during the holiday season to show their appreciation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)

(U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

Nuristan PRT battles H1N1 misinformation

2009-11-23T20:31:00.000+04:30

By Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team servicemembers took to the airways, Nov. 19, to combat misinformation put out by anti-Afghan forces about the growing H1N1 flu virus epidemic in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province. U.S. Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, from

McLean, Va., the senior medical officer, and U.S. Navy Lt j. g. Stacy Gross, from Lakeville, MN, the information operations officer for the PRT broadcasted the public health messages about the virus on Radio Kalagush, a U.S.-funded Afghan radio station that broadcasts from Forward Operating Base Kalagush.

According to Gross, the messages informed people how to react to the common cold or H1N1, signs and symptoms, and what to do if they suspect they have H1N1.

AAF in Nuristan province have been spreading misinformation on how the H1N1 is contracted and where it comes from.

“Part of the aim of the messages themselves is to dispel those rumors like you can contract the disease by eating pork or that H1N1 was brought to Afghanistan and spread by Coalition Forces,” Dreiling said.

According to Gross and Dreiling, every radio message that Nuristan PRT puts out with useful information about the virus, is another opportunity to take power away from the enemy’s information campaign.

Dreiling felt that the radio messages were successful because, “the radio messages makes the people feel like they have control of their own situation, and it’s empowering for them to know what’s going on around them.”

The Nuristan PRT releases public health radio messages at least once a week, and the radio stations replays them throughout the week.

NURISTAN, PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, from McLean, Va., senior medical officer for the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, records a radio message on Radio Kalagush, a U.S.-funded Afghan radio station that broadcasts from Forward Operating Base Kalagush, in eastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, educating locals about the H1N1 flu virus, Nov. 19. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2^nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

Martin Specht, Focus Photography

2009-11-23T14:47:00.000+04:30

Thank you Martin for telling our story. For more pictures taken by Martin Specht go to our facebook page!

Thanks again Martin :)

PRT Nuristan Congratulates Newly Promoted Servicemembers and Award winners

2009-11-13T15:09:00.001+04:30

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – (From left-right) Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, congratulate newly promoted servicemembers Air Force, SrA Destiney Dowdy, an Aerospace Medical Journeymen, from Russellville, Arkansas and Army Sgt. Joel Myers, Infantry, from San Antonio, Texas, November 13. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN, PROVINCE, Afghanistan - (From right-left) Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, congratulate award winners of the Army Achievement medal, Navy, OS1 Kathleen Leach, from Smithfield, Rhode Island, and Navy, HM2 Robert Dailey, from Rutherford, New Jersey, November 13. The Army Achievement Medal is awarded only in a combat area of operation, for distinguishing oneself by meritorious service or achievement. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN, PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan congratulate both newly promoted servicemembers and award winners of the Army Achievement Medal, November 13. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

Marine Corps ETT partner with 2-77 Field Artillery Steel Warriors to train ANA in artillery

2009-11-12T20:53:00.003+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Forward Operating Base Kalagush’s Marine Corps Embedded Training Team 5-5 along with Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Steel, teamed up to train Afghan National Army Soldiers on the D-30 122mm Russian howitzer, Nov. 11.

“The ANA do artillery training five times a week, along with infantry tactics and they conduct patrols to show locals that they have a government presence within their area,” said U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Bradley Brill, the team’s leader, and Sitka, Alaska native.

The artillerymen were firing at a site used by anti-Afghanistan forces to launch attacks on FOB Kalagush. It was the first time the ANA were firing a counter-fire operational mission.

“I have taken it on as my personal mission to ensure these men of the ANA are capable of doing independent firing operations,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, 2nd Bn., 77th FA Regt. commander and Mayfield, Ky. native.

The ANA went through a seven-week certification program, similar to the training that U.S. Army artillerymen receive to be certified on their weapons.

“If we can’t get them operating independently and have them do their job without us, then we’re failing our mission,” Forsyth said. “Part of our combined action plan for them is to become sound, confident artillerymen and have the ability to secure their nation.”

Once the ANA finished the certification process, the Marines and the Soldiers hopes heightened that they will be able to do their own firing missions and man their weapons 24 hours-a-day, like the Coalition Forces on FOB Kalagush do.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Marine Sgt. Joshua Winans, from Utica, Ohio, observes as a member of the Afghan National Army verifies the coordinates of the sector of fire before loading and firing off 122mm artillery shells from a Delta 30 howitzer on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Nov. 11. The ANA were conducting a mission to shoot out a point of origin the anti-Afghan forces were using to set up rocket attacks on the FOB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Marines with the Embedded Training Team show members of the Afghan National Army how to properly load and fire 122mm Russian artillery shells from a Delta 30 howitzer on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Nov. 11. The ANA were conducting a mission to shoot out a point of origin the anti-Afghan forces were using to set up rocket attacks on the FOB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

Happy 234th Birthday Day Uinted States Marine Corps

2009-11-12T20:50:00.003+04:30

By Air Force 2^nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Provincial Reconstruction Team-Nuristan- Public Affairs

FOB KALA GUSH, Afghanistan – Kala Gush Marines celebrated the Marine Corps 234th birthday with fellow their fellow Marines in Meterlam with cake, laughter, and reflection of the USMC history, November 10.

Marine Corps, Gunnery Sgt. Judah Crawford, 1st Lt. Bradley Brill, and Sgt. Joshua Winans, pose for a picture at the Marine Corps 234th Birthday in Meterlam, November 10. The Marines are with the Regional Corps Advisory Command Central, a part of the embedded training for the Afghanistan National Army, deployed on Forward Operating Base Kalagush. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

Nuristan PRT engages Tupak and Naylar villages with community self-help development projects

2009-11-10T10:44:00.000+04:30

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team visited Tupak and Naylar villages Nov. 7, to assess the recent community self-help projects, which included the Nuristan PRT providing fertilizer for villagers and materials for a protection wall for Tupak’s girls school.

The Nuristan PRT has created an opportunity for communities to get involved with small-scale projects. Community self-help projects are projects costing under $5,000, where the PRT will provide either the materials, funds, or both, as long as the community provides the labor. The labor for the projects is on a volunteer basis.

“I believe that these projects benefit the Nuristanis because it gives the community pride in what they do,” U.S. Navy Cmdr. Rodney Ottinger, executive officer for Nuristan PRT, from Knoxville, Tenn., said “If you have to build something yourself, you are more likely to take care of it. The same concept applies for the community self-help projects, if they build a protection wall or retaining wall, they are more likely to protect it and fight against Anti-Afghanistan Forces who may try to destroy their work.”

In Naylar, many families who were unable to afford fertilizer this crop season were given fertilizer.After elders applied for the self-help project, the Nuristan PRT provided 124 bags of fertilizers to 100 to 200 families who were in need.

“I believe the community self-help projects will be successful because it teaches the Nuristanis to work together for the good of the community,” Army Pfc. Jason Dixon, a civil affairs Soldier from Payson, Utah, said. “The people will also learn to rely on themselves instead of coalition forces, because when we leave they will have to depend on each other and their government.”

In Tupak, Nuristan PRT servicemembers provided materials for villagers to construct a protection wall around the local girls school, allowing them to study without fear of harassment by male villagers.

In order for communities to be considered for a self-help project they have to follow a list of requirements. Villages must be green, meaning they must support their local government and coalition forces, report improvised explosive devices in their area or any enemy activity to local police, villagers cannot support Taliban or enemy forces and they must push out Anti-Afghanistan Forces from their communities.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army 1st Lt. Julia Malouin, a civil affairs team leader and native of Manhattan, N.Y., with the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team visits the Tupak and Naylar villages in Afghanistan’s eastern Nuristan province, Nov. 7, to assess the recent community self-help projects, which included Nuristan PRT providing fertilizer for villagers and materials for a protection wall for Tupak’s girls school. Malouin asks local villagers about the progress of the protection wall for the girl’s school. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan visited Tupak and Naylar villages in Afghanistan’s eastern Nuristan province, Nov. 7, to assess the recent community self-help projects, which included the Nuristan PRT providing fertilizer for villagers and materials for a protection wall for Tupak’s girls school. (From right to left) U.S. Army 1st Lt. Julia Malouin, civil affairs team leader and native of Manhattan, N.Y., an interpreter, Pfc. Jason Dixon, a civil affairs Soldier, from Payson, Utah, and Mohammed Yunnus, the headmaster for the Tupak’s girls school and the village leader from the Tupak village, talk about future community self-help projects that would best benefit both villages. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan visited Tupak and Naylar villages in Afghanistan’s eastern Nuristan province, Nov. 7,to assess the recent community self-help projects, which included theNuristan PRT providing fertilizer for villagers and materials for a protection wall for Tupak’s girls school. U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Dailey, a corpsman from Rutherford, N.J., , looks at a young boy with an ear infection during the visit to the Tupak and Naylar villages. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

U.S. SERVICEMEMBERS IN AFGHANISTAN HELP SUPPORT BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

2009-11-02T19:55:00.000+04:30

Story and photos by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Twenty-five U.S. servicemembers made the effort to help raise funds, in support of breast cancer awareness month, by participating in a 5 kilometer run around Forward Operating Base Kalagush,in Afghanistan’s eastern Nuristan province, Oct 31.

Members of the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team hosted the 5K run to help support the Save the Ta-Tas Foundation, founded in 2008, by the Save the Ta-Tas clothing brand.

U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne, Nuristan PRT public affairs officer, and Lt. j.g. Stacey Gross, PRT information operations officer, first came up with the idea when they heard of a breast cancerawareness month 5K run being held in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan.

“Lt. Gross and I were going to go to Jalalabad and do the run,” Cherne said. “Then we thought we should do it here so that everyone who wanted to participate didn’t have to leave the FOB. FOB Fenty [was] doing a 5K through the Save the Ta-Tas foundation, so I looked them up, and worked with the foundation to raise money for their foundation by giving servicemembers the option to buy Save the Ta-Tas t-shirts. The people at the foundation were very supportive and really helped us get everything we needed in a two week time frame before the run. ”

Hosting the event at the FOB was a good chance for everyone who personally knew someone affected by the disease to show their support.

“Lt. Cherne came to me with the idea for the whole event,” U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis Mobley, Nuristan PRT radio talker operator, said “I knew someone who died of breast cancer, so I wanted to give back to something that I felt was really worth the cause.”

Statistically, nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die. Approximately 1,700 men will also be diagnosed, and 450 will die. It is the second overall cause of death among women, aside from lung cancer.

The Save the Ta-Tas foundation was introduced in order to promote cancer awareness and aid in a fight to find a cure for the disease. The 5K event made it possible for 57 t-shirts to be sold from the foundation’s website, raising a total over $900, in which a third was donated to help the effort.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Randall Maurer with 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Steel, finished first, with a time of 20:47. U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Bradley Brill and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Cory Cummings, a gunnery sergeant with2-77, finished second and third, with their times being 21:00, and 22:58, respectively.

For more information on the Save the Ta-Tas Foundation, visit www.savethetatas.com.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. servicemembers pose for a group photo before the breast cancer awareness month five kilometer run, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 31. The run was held in order to promote awareness of the disease and raise money to help find a cure. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. servicemembers run during the breast cancer awareness month five kilometer run, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 31. The run was held in order to promote awareness of the disease and raise money to help find a cure. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis Mobley from Valdosta, Ga., Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team radio talker operator, records runners' times during the breast cancer awareness month five kilometer run, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 31. The run was held in order to promote awareness of the disease and raise money to help find a cure. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. Brian Ferguson, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team convoy operations officer from Annapolis, Md., runs during the breast cancer awareness month five kilometer run, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 31. The run was held in order to promote awareness of the disease and raise money to help find a cure. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)

Halloween Party

2009-11-01T13:11:00.000+04:30

Thank you to all the people who sent candy and Halloween decorations. FOB Kala Gush ended October with a bang and lots of candy!

(U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

Thank you again!

Nuristan PRT attends Nuristan’s Provincial Development council meeting

2009-10-30T14:02:00.001+04:30

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team attended the Provincial Development Council meeting with Nuristan leaders to prioritize project developments for villages in the province, Oct. 30. Leah Kaplan, a United States Agency for International Development representative for the Nuristan PRT, from Denver, Colo., (LEFT) and Abdual Ghaffar, the Regional Senior Engineer for the National Rural Access Program, based out of Jalalabad, (RIGHT) discuss the recent success of programs that employ locals to work on community based projects that build up their villages. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team attended the Provincial Development Council meeting with Nuristan leaders to prioritize project developments for villages in the province, Oct. 30. Leah Kaplan, a United States Agency for International Development representative for the Nuristan PRT, from Denver, Colo., and U.S. Army 1st Lt. Julia Malouin converse with provincial council members on the crucial developments needed for the future of Nuristan. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

CONGRATS!!! To NOW Petty Officer 1st Class Frank Garza!

2009-10-29T15:40:00.003+04:30

Petty Officer 1st Class Frank Garza is a hospital corpsman, fleet marine force, and combat air crew medical specialist. He has been in the U.S. Navy for 8 years, and is currently a corpsman instructor at the Naval Hospital Core School in Great Lakes, Illinois. HM(FMF/CAC) Garza is from San Antonio, Texas. In his spare time at home, he enjoys spending time and traveling with his wife and daughter. What are his dislikes? "Kimchi!" Other than that, he feels everything should be tried once before a decision is made to dislike something. Wise man Garza, wise man!What is his most memorable experience so far this deployment?: "The concept of the different branches, never working together before, becoming a good mesh and working together to be the best PRT team. Especially the brotherhood I experienced in Barg-e Matal. That was a great experience."

We Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

2009-10-28T15:00:00.005+04:30

Spc Lucido and Lt. j.g. Gross posing with their save the ta-tas t-shirts!

FOB Kalagush Sends Holiday Greetings Home

2009-10-26T15:45:00.006+04:30

Make sure you're watching t.v. this Holiday season, maybe you might see your loved one wishing you seasons greetings!

PRT Nuristan medics treat former afghan border police officer Amputee

2009-10-23T13:16:00.000+04:30

By Air Force 2^nd Lt. Natassia Cherne, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Combat medics and a doctor from Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan disinfected and re-stitched sutures on the leg of Sayed Sharif, native from Tupak village, a former commander of an Afghan Border Police unit in the Kandahar Province.

Six months ago, Sharif returned to Afghanistan after living in Iran for 16 years and attended a police academy in Kabul. When he graduated, he became a 2nd Lt in the Afghan Border Police.

“In the past we didn’t have a stable government, but since Karzai was elected, we hope to have a stable government, that’s why I came back to serve my country,” Sharif said.

September 2009, Sharif was clearing out culvert with his men in the Kandahar province, when an anti-personal mine went off causing him to become an amputee. He quickly received medical attention and surgery from Canadian doctors in the Kandahar Province. After his surgery he relocated to his native village, Tupak.

When asked if he regretted his return to Afghanistan he simply replied, “I don’t regret my return to my country, I’m proud to serve my country and I lost my legs serving my country. If the ABP would take me back, I would be ready to work.”

PRT Nuristan medics came across Sharif during a civil assessment in the Tupak Village. Once they heard his haunting experience and examined his sutures on both legs, U.S. Navy Lt., Dr. Jennifer Dreiling, native from McLean, Virginia, recommended he come to Forward Operating Base Kala Gush for treatment on the wound on his left leg because it had started to open.

The doctor and her staff cleaned the wound and re-stitched sutures to prevent them from coming undone in the future. Dr. Dreiling commented, due to the fact that he lost his legs to an anti-personal mine, “I certainly have never seen anything like this, he’s lucky to be alive.”

Sharif will come back to FOB Kala Gush in two weeks for a follow up appointment.

NURISTAN, PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Dr. Jennifer Dreiling native from McLean, Virginia (LEFT), Airman 1st Class Destiney Dowdy, native from Russellville, Arkansas (CENTER) and Petty Officer 2nd Class Frank Garza, native from San Antonio, Texas (RIGHT), medics from the Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, disinfect and re-stitch sutures on the leg of Sayed Sharif, native from Tupak village in Nuristan, on Oct 22. Sharif was a former commander of an Afghan Border Police unit who lost both of his legs by an anti-personal mine while clearing a culvert in the Kandahar province. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN, PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Dr. Jennifer Dreiling native from McLean, Virginia, a medic from the Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, re-stitches sutures on the leg of Sayed Sharif, native from Tupak village in Nuristan, on Oct 22. Sharif was a former commander of an Afghan Border Police unit who lost both of his legs by an anti-personal mine while clearing a culvert in the Kandahar province. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2^nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

USAID Mission Director visits PRT Nuristan and 2-77 Field Artillery ReGiment

2009-10-22T19:30:00.001+04:30

By Air Force 2^nd Lt. Natassia Cherne, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – William Frej, the U.S. Agency for International Development Mission Director, and other USAID representatives met with the commanders of the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team and 2nd Battalion,77th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Steel , and Jamaluddin Badrm, the governor of Nuristan, Oct. 21, to discuss the relationship between USAID and its military counterparts.

Frej has worked 20 years for USAID and is the head of USAID Afghanistan team, that provides billion of dollars for development programs for Afghanistan

The Nuristan PRT is the first that Frej has visited on his tour of bases where PRTs are located in Afghanistan. His goals consisted of viewing field conditions, receiving an update on USAID projects and the working relationship between military members and his field officers.

Frej said the visit was to, “Improve our ability through our PRT development advisors to support the military in a much more subtenant way in the next coming months.”

U.S Navy Cmdr. Russell McCormack, commander of the Nuristan PRT and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, the 2-77 Field Artillery Regiment commander, shared with Frej their joint vision for the progression of Nuristan and what each unit offers to its development.

“Today was important because it enabled the USAID representatives at the Afghan level to understand the problem and issues in Nuristan so that they can better assist the PRT and Task Force Steel in development, planning, and execution,” Forsyth explained.

Also, Jamaluddin Badr, governor of Nuristan, provided the history of Nuristan, challenges that Nuristan faces and to thank USAID for all of their support in rebuilding his country.

“Sons and daughters of this nation run away, but you stay, I appreciate that,” Badr said.

Frej was greatly appreciative and his response to the governor was, “You have our commitment to help development in Nuristan, that’s why we came here."

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Agency of International Development mission director, William Frej, listens as Nuristan governor Jamaluddin Badr explains the conditions and possible solutions of the province during a briefing on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 21. The briefing was held in order to inform USAID, Regional Command East, and Provision Affairs personnel on the status of the field activities of the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction and their progress. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment from Murray, Ky, briefs the U.S. Agency of International Development mission director William Frej on the conditions and security of the province during a briefing on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 21. The briefing was held in order to inform USAID, Regional Command East, and Provision Affairs personnel on the status of the field activities of the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team and 2-77’s progress. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy commander of the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, Cmdr. Russell McCormack from Hampstead N.H., meets with the U.S. Agency of International Development mission director William Frej, and Nuristan Governor, Jamaluddin Badr, in order to brief them on the conditions and security of the province on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 21. The briefing was held in order to inform USAID, Regional Command East, and Provision Affairs personnel on the status of the field activities of the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team and their progress. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)

Tupak and Wolij Village

2009-10-17T22:20:00.001+04:30

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, visits Wolij village October 17, to inform the village elders and school teacher’s that their project proposal for a wall to be built around the girl school was approved. Staff Sgt. Shawn Christiance from Elko, Nevada, introduces himself to a village boy. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, visits Wolij village October 17, to inform the village elders and school teacher’s that their project proposal for a wall to be built around the girl school was approved. Army 1^st Lt. Julia Malouin, from Manhattan New York of Nuristan (LEFT), Pfc. Jason Dixon from, Payson, Utah (CENTER), and Kathryn Hoffman from Washington D.C. (RIGHT) discuss school curriculum with the teachers of Wolij village. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, visits Wolij village October 17, to inform the village elders and school teacher’s that their project proposal for a wall to be built around the girl school was approved. Army 1^st Lt. Julia Malouin, from Manhattan New York of Nuristan, goes over an English book with the local children. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

Thank you for the Halloween Treats

2009-10-17T22:18:00.000+04:30

FOB Kala Gush would like to thank the following people for their support and Halloween goodies!

For the note-writing and candy/donation:

Jennifer Robinson

Melissa Robinson

Mary Tatum

Elizabeth Tatum (Coast Guard Academy)

Lael Jackson

Valerie Robinson

Vicki Lowrey

Renita Graham

Adrienne Wagenblast

Terri Murphy

Phyllis Moody

Angela Smith

Anastasia Smith (3 years old)

Nancy Dulebohn

Sarah O’Donnell

Doris Simpson

Sohpia Hurley

Olivia Hurley (3 years old)

JoAnn O’Connell

Ginny O’Connell

Jessie O’Connell

Nicole Mahr

Shawn Mahr

Kathy Pittman

Ericka Lewis

Susi Lewis

Jay O’Shaughnessy

Lynn Novorska

Jim Novorska

Gail Torbeck

Nancy Granecki and church members

Robert Granecki and kids in band class

Denise Cox

Brenda Streit

Wendy Quick

Kris Lee

Valerie Robinson

JoAnn O’Connell

Denise Cox

Robert Sommer – UPS store owner

Susi Lewis - organizer

FOB Kalagush's Warrior's of the Quarter

2009-10-16T12:58:00.004+04:30

Petty Officer 1st Class Kathleen Leach is serving in the U.S. Navy as an Operations Specialist. She has been in for eight years and is stationed at the Naval Air Station North Island, in Coranado, Calif. Her hometown is Smithville, Rhode Island, and in her spare time, she likes to read, sew, and hang out with friends at home. Leach Doesn't really dislike anything, but she is looking forward to going back to sea.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Dustin Brzezniak is in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Boatswaine Handler. He has been in the service for three years and is from Matawan, New Jersey. Brzezniak is currently stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. What he likes to do in his spare time? "I like to fish. I lift weights 'cause I'm a badass!! I'm a Yankeys and NEW JERSEY Giants fan!! He dislikes The Eagles!! liver and lazyness in other people. What is his best memory from this whole deployment so far? "At Camp Atterbury when it rained and the lights went out. A lot of us ordered a bunch of Chinese food and just chilled that day."

NURISTAN PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAM ENGINEERS BREAK GROUND

2009-10-16T12:38:00.006+04:30

By Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team attended the ground breaking ceremony of a fourteen-mile (24 km) road connecting the villages of Gondalabuk and Doab in the Nurgram district, Oct. 12.

Navy Lt. j.g. Christopher Saunders from Camarillo, California, is the PRT’s lead engineer on the U.S. funded road project, being built by the local Afghans.

“The road will extend through the Gondalabuk and Doab villages, and will open up trade, education, and future reconstruction opportunities for residents in and around the area,” Saunders stated. “It will allow access to several valleys that were not able to be accessed before. The Nurgram and Doab districts medical facilities and commerce can also be more readily accessible to residents of the area.”

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Russell McCormack, from Hampstead, N.H., commands the Nuristan PRT in its efforts to assist local Afghan leaders and district governors in their effort to prioritize and resource this large scale development project.

"I think that it is extremely important for the residents in this area to be able to have access to commerce,” McCormack said. “The road doesn’t have to be paved, just as long as it’s designed efficiently, so that the people have easy access to connect with their government and have access to surrounding villages.”

Nuristan province is located in a remote region of Afghanistan. Lacking reliable trade routes, the villagers have little interest in the cultivation of cash crops and typically suffer from high percentages of poverty, illness and lack of education.

According to Saunders, PRT engineers and local government officials are building this road to generate increased trade revenues and improve access to schools and local government institutions.

The Nuristan PRT provided the resources for the local Afghan workers to build the road, and will handle all incoming projects to make sure that they are properly managed by the military contracting agency who hired the local workers.

“Our biggest job here is to work ourselves out of a job,” McCormack said. “What we are trying to do is formulate the most effective, cost efficient way to help reconstruct and rebuild this province, while teaching the people how to manage it themselves.”

The Gondalabuk-Doab road, with the help of the PRT, is expected to provide a safe, transportable route for the local villagers to be able re-establish their economy, through commerce. The road is expected to be completed within a year.

“The heart of the country is the people,” McCormack said. “The way to the heart is through its roads.”

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team engineer officer, U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Christopher Saunders from Camarillo, Calif., gives a speech during a ground breaking ceremony in the Nurgram district, Oct. 12. The ceremony was held in order to celebrate the opening project of a fourteen mile road from the Gondalabuk to Doab villages, which will provide access to better health care facilities and commerce for residents in and around the area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Cmdr. Russell McCormack of the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, from Hampstead, N.H., hands a village elder a gift during a ground breaking ceremony in the Nurgram district, Oct. 12. The ceremony was held in order to celebrate the opening project of a fourteen mile road from the Gondalabuk to Doab villages, which will provide access to better health care facilities and commerce for residents in and around the area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team engineer officer, U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Christopher Saunders from Camarillo, Calif., cuts the ribbon during a ground breaking ceremony in the Nurgram district, Oct. 12. The ceremony was held in order to celebrate the opening project of a fourteen mile road from the Gondalabuk to Doab villages, which will provide access to better health care facilities and commerce for residents in and around the area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

Happy 234 th Birthday Navy

2009-10-14T16:08:00.001+04:30

By Air Force 2^nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Provincial Reconstruction Team-Nuristan- Public Affairs

FOB KALA GUSH, Afghanistan – The Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan celebrated the Navy's 234th birthday with cake, laughter, and reflection of Navy history, Oct. 13.

NURISTAN, PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan celebrates the Navy's 234th Birthday Oct. 13 with a cake made made by Petty Officer Travis Mobley. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN, PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan celebrates the Navy's 234th Birthday Oct. 13. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

PRT NURISTAN MEDICS HELP GIVE BURN PATIENT SENSE OF HOPE

2009-10-13T20:41:00.001+04:30

By Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

PRT NURISTAN MEDICS HELP GIVE BURN PATIENT SENSE OF HOPE

By Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team medical team helped a four year-old boy from the Alishang village in Laghman province recover from second degree burns on both arms and minor burns on his face, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 6.
Afsar Khan was playing in his home, approximately three weeks prior, with his three brothers and bumped into the kitchen stove, spilling a pot of boiling water on him, causing burns on his upper body, mostly his left arm.
After a local clinic in Laghman did everything they could for the boy, his father, Noor Muhammad took him to the Nuristan PRT medical team, Dreiling said. After showing his referral at the control point, he was escorted to the PRT clinic where he was greeted by U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Destiney Dowdy, medical service journeyman from Russellville, Arkansas, ten days after the incident, on Sept. 24.
“I didn’t know how bad his burns were when Afsar and his father came into the clinic,” said Dowdy. “As soon as we took the bandages off, I was shocked at how badly his wounds were bleeding. It was a lot worse than I pictured it to be.”
“I was in my morning briefing when I got a call from Dowdy, saying that there was a patient who needed to be seen,” stated Dreiling. “The bandages weren’t taken off until I got there and I was surprised to see how bad it was. It’s not a typical injury you normally see.”
According to Dreiling, when Afsar first came into the clinic, he was constantly crying from the pain and very uncomfortable the entire time. He wasn’t used to seeing Americans, let alone servicmembers in uniform with weapons. His father was reluctant to allow the medics to treat his son, but knew he had tried all he could and was more concerned with Afsar’s well-being.

“I hope the people here put more trust in Americans because we really are here to help and our medics want to make sure that they get the medical attention they need,” Dowdy said.
Since that day, Afsar hasn’t cried at all and he looks forward to going back to the clinic every other day. He even helps to take off the bandages and holds it in place when they’re being wrapped around his arm, according to Dreiling.
“It’s certainly rewarding, as a U.S. servicemember, to be able to go to other countries and help those around us who really need it and who probably can’t afford to see a doctor,” said Dreiling. “It makes my job worthwhile and I look forward to seeing Afsar. He truly is my favorite patient.”
Most of Afsar’s wounds are healed, with the exception of his left arm, which the PRT Nuristan medics are routinely treating to make sure that he has a full recovery.
The Nuristan PRT is a joint force consisting of Navy, Air Force, and Army. The services work side by side also with the local community in order to provide structure and governance within the area of operation.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afsar Khan, a 4-year-old from the Alishang village, takes off his own bandage while getting his routine treatment on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 6. Afsar is seen by the PRT medics in order to treat his second degree burn, which occurred three weeks ago and is progressively healing. (U.S. photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, medical department head and senior medical officer from, McLean, Virginia, applies antibacterial cream to 4-year-old Alishan village native Afsar Khan's arm on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 6. Afsar is routinely seen by the PRT medics in order to treat his second degree burn, which occurred three weeks ago and is progressively healing. (U.S. photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Destiney Dowdy, medical service journeyman from Russellville, Arkansas, puts a smile on 4-year-old Alishan village native Afsar Khan's face during his routine visit to treat his left arm. Afsar is seen by the PRT medics in order to treat his second degree burn, which occurred three weeks ago and is progressively healing. (U.S. photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)

PRT Nuristan Meet with Nuristan Provincial Council and Community Leaders

2009-10-12T11:16:00.001+04:30

By Air Force 2^nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Provincial Reconstruction Team-Nuristan- Public Affairs

FOB KALA GUSH, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy CDR. Russell McCormack the Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan commander met with six newly elected members of the Provincial Council of Nuristan, and community leaders Oct. 9 to discuss PRT Nuristan’s strategy on security and development for the province.

The six members of the Provincial Council were accompanied by Senator DadMohammed, the Waygul district representative of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, and community leaders from the Wama, Waygul, Parun, Dow Ab, and Nurgarm districts. In total, 17 men came to voice their concerns about recent withdrawals of coalition forces of in Barg-e Matal and Kamdash.

A community member from Wama said, “People are with the government, we don’t want to go back in time.” A different community member said, “We don’t want to live in the stone age.” These statements show that the people of Nuristan want to work with the government of Afghanistan, it’s security forces, as well as Coalition Forces.

The council members and the community leaders fear that with Coalition Forces pulling out of certain areas and canceling infrastructure projects, the Taliban will get the upper hand. One community leader said that the Taliban use their people’s lack of education, work, and money to recruit Nuristanis to work for them and attack Coalition Forces.

“The meeting was productive because it engaged the new Provincial Council members of Nuristan of the requirements necessary for continual development including demonstrating support of Coalition Forces and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, as well as not tolerating and reporting Anti Afghanistan Forces activity in the area, ” said. McCormack

The bottom line for the Provincial Council members and community leaders is, not only do the people have to ensure security, but they must be willing to help themselves. Nuristan has many problems with their roads being washed out, snowed in and blocked by boulders. To levitate this issue, PRT Nuristan purchased road building equipment to turn over to the Department of Public Works, but there was no representative in the Nurgaram district to take over the equipment.

One of the goals for the Provincial Council members and community leaders to accomplish by the next meeting with McCormack was to find a representative to be responsible for the equipment and name a person PRT engineers can train to work the equipment.

“There is no need to throw seeds on a field full of rocks. It’s their responsibility to clear the field of rocks and ensure it is fertile ground to grow those seeds. The seeds are symbolic of Coalition Forces and American dollars,” said McCormack.

Another goal included building a better relationship with the people of Kunar. Nuristan and Kunar have had poor relations in the past, is preventing the people of Nuristan access to the road in the Chapa Dara valley of Kunar. The road is the only way for Nuristanis to reach the south and it is currently controlled by the Taliban. The objective is to let the past be the past and to create a partnership to regain control of not only the road Chapa Dara valley, but of their country as well.

Nuristan Provence, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy CDR. Russell McCormack, native from Hampstead, New Hampshire, with Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, and Kathryn Hoffman, native from Washington D.C., a Foreign Service Officer, with Department of State, hold a meeting with 17 members of the Provincial Council, Oct. 09. PRT Nuristan, Department of State and the Provincial Council identify issues has been preventing security, governance, and infrastructure in Nuristan. (U.S. Air Force photo / 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

PRT Engineers teach local Afghans self reliance

2009-10-09T16:15:00.004+04:30

Story by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Provincial Reconstruction Team-Nuristan Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Engineers assigned to Nuristan’s Provincial Reconstruction Team conducted a concrete self-help class for local Afghans at Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 8.

Held every Thursday, the self-help class, which averages 10 to 15 students a week, teaches villagers basic construction techniques they can use to improve their local communities.

“When I started the development of the classes, I looked into the Nuristan province’s state of living and sanitation issues,” U.S. Navy Lt. Christopher Saunders, who began the classes shortly after the new PRT arrived this summer, said. “I decided that the best plan of action was to have the local community do self-help projects that would teach them something to take back to their villages so they can improve their sanitation and ventilation conditions.”

The current project, headed by the PRT engineers, but taught by Afghan engineers working with the PRT at FOB Kalagush, is the construction of a pit latrine. The students learned to excavate a deep hole, and line the inner wall with brick. The students also discussed ventilation techniques, decreasing the chances of spreading infectious diseases.

“We’re hoping that in addition to the materials we provide for them to improve their villages, that they gain a better understanding of the construction we teach them, and also develop better relationships with the people from other villages that they are working here with,” Saunders said.

After the class, PRT engineers sent the Afghan villagers home with ten bags of cement to work on the projects discussed in the class. Periodically, the PRT will send the Afghan engineers to the villages to check on the students’ progress.

“I get a great deal of satisfaction when I see pictures of finished projects from the locals,” said Saunders. “It shows that they’re taking in these lessons and using what we’ve taught them to give back to their villages.”

The Nuristan PRT is a joint force consisting of U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and U.S. Navy servicemembers, whose ongoing mission is to aid in reconstruction efforts within the province.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jordan Parker of Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, from , loads cement mixer into a cement truck while Lt. j.g. Christopher Saunders supervises during the cement self-help class on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, in this photo taken Oct. 1. The self help concrete class, headed by Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan engineers, but taught by local engineers who work on the FOB, is held every Thursday and teaches locals from all over the Nuristan province various projects that they take back to their villages to help rebuild it. (Courtesy Photo)(RELEASED

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghan students of the self-help concrete class carry bags of cement out of a shed to be taken to their village in order to finish their current project on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 8. The self help concrete class, headed by Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan engineers, but taught by local engineers who work on the FOB, is held every Thursday and teaches locals from all over the Nuristan province various projects that they take back to their villages to help rebuild it. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

Team Nuristan Visits Kandah Village

2009-10-08T11:48:00.006+04:30

NURISTAN, PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy CDR. Russell McCormack, native from Hampstead, New Hampshire, with Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan and the Alingar district governor Nangali, discuss the priorities for the Rajai village, Oct 07. PRT Nuristan make routine visits to villages to discuss major priorities which include, community self-help projects to repair wash outs from floods and build retaining walls along a steep-sided watercourse for dry areas, or a wadi. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy CDR. Russell McCormack, native from Hampstead, New Hampshire, with Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan and the Alingar district governor Nangali, discuss the priorities for the Kandah village, Oct 07. PRT Nuristan make routine visits to villages to discuss major priorities which include, community self-help projects to repair wash outs from floods and build retaining walls along a steep-sided watercourse for dry areas, or a wadi. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. J.G. Stacy Gross, native from Lakeville, Minnesota, with Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, looks at one child’s English book in the Kandah village, Oct 07. PRT Nuristan make routine visits to villages to discuss major priorities which include, community self-help projects to repair wash outs from floods and build retaining walls along a steep-sided watercourse for dry areas, or a wadi. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghanistan National Police officer Zawa, of the Alingar district, shakes hands with children in the Kanda village while on patrol with the Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, Oct 7. PRT Nuristan make routine visits to villages to discuss major priorities which include, community self-help projects to repair wash outs from floods and build retaining walls along a steep-sided watercourse for dry areas, or a wadi. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army 1st Lt. Julia Malouin, native from Manhattan, New York, with Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan and the Alingar district governor Nangali, discuss the priorities for the Kanda village, Oct 07. PRT Nuristan make routine visits to villages to discuss major priorities which include, community self-help projects to repair wash outs from floods and build retaining walls along a steep-sided watercourse for dry areas, or a wadi. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy CDR. Russell McCormack, native from Hampstead, New Hampshire, with Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan and the Alingar district governor Nangali, discuss the priorities for the Kanda village, Oct 07. PRT Nuristan make routine visits to villages to discuss major priorities which include, community self-help projects to repair wash outs from floods and build retaining walls along a steep-sided watercourse for dry areas, or a wadi. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

BRINGING THE ARMY 10-MILER TO ALL NURISTAN TROOPS

2009-10-05T20:10:00.000+04:30

By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The sun had not yet risen over Forward Operating Base Kalagush in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Oct. 4, but there were Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force troops on the track, preparing themselves for a long journey, a 10-mile run.

Eighteen servicemembers from Forward Operating Base Kala Gush participated in the 10-mile shadow run, around the FOB, in support of the 25th annual Army 10-Miler, an Army tradition that is held every October at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

The Army 10-Miler is the largest ten mile race held in America. It is sponsored by U.S. Army Military District of Washington. The purpose of the run is to support all ambitions in maintaining good health, and boost interaction within the community, while still providing support for the Army.

U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Randal Maurer and 1st Lt. George Pierce, who are stationed together with the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment in Fort Carson, Colorado, decided to bring that tradition, in what is called a shadow run, to other servicemembers stationed at FOB Kala Gush.

Maurer has participated in the D.C. marathon before, and thought it would be a good idea to let other troops unfamiliar with the Army tradition, get a taste of what he believes is a genuine self-motivating, valuable experience.

“I wanted to try to better myself and to see if I could do it,” Maurer said. “I wanted to give others the opportunity to do that also.”

Pierce, who also sponsored the run for his former Army ROTC class at University of North Carolina, decided to help promote the run as soon as he got to FOB Kala Gush.

“I decided, with Lt. Maurer, to coordinate the marathon as a fun run, a morale booster,” said Peirce. “Something like this allows people to work hard and have fun at the same time. It also promotes camaraderie.”

That camaraderie was shown by Soldiers of the 2-77 to a fellow troop who was on his last two laps, and they all decided to join him and encourage him to finish it out. Everyone finished the race.

The Army 10-Mile Shadow run was a marathon that consisted of servicemembers from 2-77 FA and the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction team, which is a joint force of Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.

For more information on the Army 10-Miler, visit www.thearmytenmiler.com.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. servicemembers participate in the Army 10-mile shadow run on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, October 4. The marathon was held in honor of the annual Army 10-Miler that is held in October in Washington D.C., in support of maintaining good health, boosting interaction within the community, and providing support for the Army. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army 1st Lt. Randall Maurer, runs by a concession stand while participating in the Army 10-mile shadow run on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, October 4. The marathon was held in honor of the annual Army 10-Miler that is held in October in Washington D.C., in support of maintaining good health, boosting interaction within the community, and providing support for the Army. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Spc. Rich Kutch, Fort Collins, Colorado, reviews runners' times during the Army 10-mile shadow run on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, October 4. The marathon was held in honor of the annual Army 10-Miler that is held in October in Washington D.C., in support of maintaining good health, boosting interaction within the community, and providing support for the Army. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

October is here, a time for tricks, treats, and memories

2009-10-02T20:44:00.002+04:30

Commentary
By Air Force 2^nd Lt. Natassia Cherne
Provincial Reconstruction Team-Nuristan- Public Affairs

FOB Kala Gush, Nuristan Afghanistan – Being deployed reminds me of the movie Groundhog Day, every day is the same, so it’s hard to remember good old American holidays. Now that October is here, Halloween comes to mind, and memories of past Halloweens flood not only my memory, but the memory of Halloween for other service members as well.

I remember being eight years old and going to a haunted tent with some of the neighborhood kids. We went as a group through the tent and finally made our way to the haunted cemetery, when Jason came around the corner with his chainsaw and hockey mask, and I took off running. I rounded the corner and ran into a wire holding the tent down, that same night I also ruined my beloved Beauty and the Beast shoes. It’s a memory I will never forget and it still makes me laugh till this day.

Below are some Halloween memories of service members here in Afghanistan.

Pfc. David Loomis, security force for the Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, said his fondest childhood memory is, “When I was little kid, I dressed up like Zorro and I had a light sword, it was awesome!”

Marine Corps 1st Lt. Bradley Brill, Afghanistan National Army embedded training team leader said, “When I was 13, I chased down kids who stole another kid’s candy.” As you can see, Lt. Brill was always a motivated and dedicated Marine, even in his youth.

“One Halloween, when I was eight, I didn’t have a costume, so I took a box, wrapped it in aluminum foil, put it on my body and called myself a robot,” said Spc. Miles Sleeper, PRT Nuristan, security force.

Another memory from the past was from radio operator for the 2-77 Field Artillery Task Force Steel Warriors, Pfc. Allan Vargas, “In the sixth grade, I dressed up as Darth Vader from the movie Star Wars and the force was with me all night long because I got a whole bunch of candy!”

Not all Halloween memories are childhood ones, some of the most memorable Halloweens are ones we spend as adults.

“Last Halloween when I was going home from my deployment in Iraq, we had gotten held over in Germany and got to stay in a five star hotel and eat a five course meal for free,” said Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, PRT Nuristan, Public Affairs photographer.

Petty Officer 3rd Class, Travis Mobley, radio operator and mail clerk for PRT Nuristan said, “Last year was the first year I celebrated Halloween, I was in downtown San Diego dressed up like Stewie Griffin from Family Guy. It was great I was the only Stewie downtown and I got all the girls.”

One memory that many families can relate to is a memory from Capt. Luis Arriola, the 2-77 Field Artillery Task Force Steel Warriors Battalion communication officer, who said his fondest memory was, “When my wife, daughter and I took a ride on a horse carriage through a pumpkin patch, my wife picked out a pumpkin and my daughter said no, she wanted two other pumpkins, she picked up two big pumpkins at the same time and fell over, it was so cute!”

I asked service members at Kala Gush what are some of the best traditions of Halloween they miss, here is what they said:

* Trick-or-treating with their families
* Watching scary movies
* Going to Halloween parties
* Having an excuse to dress up
* Setting up the yard with decorations
* Haunted Houses
* Carving pumpkins
* Pumpkin and Pecan pie
* CANDY!!!!!

If anyone would like to send any candy, decorations or anything that will help to lift the spirits of our service members at FOB Kala Gush, please send it to:

Public Affairs Office
PRT Nuristan/FOB Kala Gush
APO AE 09354

A meeting in Kowtalay Village

2009-10-02T20:33:00.002+04:30

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Cmdr. Rodney Ottinger, Nuristan provincial reconstruction team executive officer, and other Nuristan PRT members meet with the Kowtalay village elders to discuss village reconstruction ideas and provide atmospherics for future operations outside of forward operating base kalagush, October 1. The Nuristan PRT routinely conducts ground assault convoys to local villages in order to identify local leadership, which helps reinforce their commitment to governance and gain support for coalition forces.

Another day in Afghanistan

2009-09-28T20:00:00.001+04:30

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Aaron Guzman, Gunnery Sgt. Judah Crawford, Cpl. Joshua Winans, and 1st Lt. Bradley Brill with the Regional Corps Advisory Command Central, a part of the embedded training for the Afghanistan National Army, pose for a picture in front of the range at Forward Operating Base Kala Gush, September 28. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

PRT Nuristan and 2-77 Field Artillery Steel Warriors partner with the people of Alingar

2009-09-28T19:40:00.004+04:30

FOB KALA GUSH, Afghanistan- Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan and the 2-77 Field Artillery Steel Warriors celebrated the end of Ramadan with an Eid shura on Sept. 27, in the Alingar district of Nuristan, Afghanistan.

In attendance with PRT Nuristan and the 2-77 was the Alingar district governor Nangali, tribal council members, and village elders. Though the shura was a celebration, it marked the beginning of a very important relationship between the people, coalition forces and Afghanistan National Security Forces.

Navy Cmdr. Russell McCormack explained, “We want to work as a silent partner to bolster up the government of Afghanistan and increase the confidence of the citizens of Afghanistan by demonstrating swift, just and predictable government.”

McCormack’s message to the district governor Nangali was, in order for PRT Nuristan to partner with the government, the safety of his team must be ensured in the Alingar district, if they want schools, clinics, canals, retaining walls, pavement, and road improvement.

The tone of the meeting was teamwork. In order for PRT Nuristan and 2-77 to successfully secure and start development in the Alingar district, they asked for help of the local people, especially in the case of notifying coalition forces of Anti Afghanistan Forces activity in the area.

“The shuras are critical for success in Afghanistan because they build rapport with the people and facilitate trust and therefore security,” said Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, the commander for the 2-77 Field Artillery Steel Warriors. “Part of the purpose of this shura was so that the elders understand their responsibility for security and not solely depend on coalition forces and ANSF.”

PRT Nuristan and 2-77 felt that the Eid shura was an essential step in building the trust between coalition forces, ANSF and the people of the Alingar district.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Village elders and tribal council leaders enjoy a meal to celebrate the end of Ramadan, Islam's holy month of fasting, in the Alingar district September 27. Cmdr. McCormack and Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan attended the meeting in order to evaluate the possibility of promoting governance within the area. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)

2-77 Field Artillery Task Force Steel Warriors give back to the local Afghanistan Community

2009-09-28T10:57:00.001+04:30

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Soldiers of the 277th Field Artillery Battalion pose before helping hand out clothing items donated by families of the brigade on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, September 27. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Army Maj. George Hammar, executive officer with the 277th Field Artillery Battalion, sorts through clothing items donated by families of the 277th before helping with handing them out to local national workers of Forward Operating Base Kalagush here, September 27. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

Ambassadors of Hollywood visit FOB Kala Gush

2009-09-28T10:46:00.000+04:30

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Actor Terry Serpico talks with soldiers during an autograph signing on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, September 26. Terry Serpico and other actors visited the forward operating base as part of the Ambassadors of Hollywood tour. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Actor Charlie Finn signs autographs for soldiers during an autograph signing on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, September 26. Charlie Finn and other actors traveled throughout the U.S. military area of operations as part of the Ambassadors of Hollywood tour. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Actress Cynthia Watros talks with Petty Officer 1st Class Jordan Parker, provincial reconstruction team engineer, during an autograph signing on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, September 26. Cynthia Watros and other actors traveled throughout the U.S. military area of operations as part of the Ambassadors of Hollywood tour. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Army Sgt. Jeremy Warwood, provincial reconstruction team security force team leader, poses with actress Brianne Davis during an autograph signing on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, September 26. Cynthia Watros traveled with other actors as part of the Ambassadors of Hollywood tour throughout the U.S. military area of operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Cynthia Watros, Terry Serpico, Charlie Finn, and Brianne Davis (left to right) pose with Army Maj. Billy Seikman, 277th Field Artillery Battalion operations officer, during an autograph signing on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, September 26. The stars visited the FOB as part of the Ambassadors of Hollywood tour throughout U.S. military area of operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)