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1 Page 1 of 10 Login Get your own Posterous» troopscoop s posterous «Back to blog April 17, 2010 Daily Afghan-Iraq Update/4-17 Dear Interested Reader, Chief WO 2 Jeremy Piasecki builds Olympic dreams. Marines depart Iraq early to mentor ANA at Camp Leatherneck. Gen. McChrystal patrols with Czech PRT. Militants detained, weapons seized. Iraq: Traditional building makes comeback. Troops bring books to Baghdad schools. 66th MP Co training a friendly force of IP. Isolated troops get MEDEVAC training at JSS Chilat. Joanna Viewed 151 times Favorited 0 times AFGHANISTAN STORIES: DVIDS Chief WO 2 Jeremy Piasecki Builds Olympic Dreams By Lance Cpl. Megan Sindelar Dozens of spectators gather around the outside of the pool, all wanting to see the newly formed water polo team practice, April 7, in Camp Shorabak. A joint effort is being made between Marines and the ANA, to initiate the first water polo team throughout Helmand prov., in order to continue to improve morale, bridge cultural gaps and to create local heroes, in support of the ISAF. CAMP LEATHERNECK Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jeremy Piasecki, the readiness and reports officer with 2nd MEB-A, created and coached Afghanistan's first water polo team in Pol-e- Charki, from June to Sept. 2008, and has been the coach for the national team since Oct Piasecki had no plans to begin another water polo team when he began this deployment to Afghanistan in November 2009, but after about 3 months a friend came to him and informed him about the pool that had been built in Camp Shorabak about a year ago. Piasecki moved forward in his vision, and created the second water polo team. Piasecki said the team was officially formed about a month ago and their first practice was, March 13. He juggled his job and coaching the team at the same time, working hours that no one would want, but the ANA greatly took to him, and what he was trying to do. "This is the first team that the soldiers and officers are willing to participate in," said Col. Ahmad. He describes the physical and moral benefits with great excitement. "At first I couldn't do more than 6 push-ups. Now I can do more than 30," exclaimed Ahmed.

2 Page 2 of 10 Water polo is gaining popularity around the region, and many more want to join, but the facilities cannot support them just yet. They do, however, attend practices, and the spectators line the outside of the pool, all trying to find places to see and take photos of their fellow soldiers playing this Olympic sport. Piasecki said most of the soldiers have never swam in a pool before, so it's a great experience for them, as well as giving others an incentive to train. "This is a concept they can take back to their local villages, and want to start their own leagues; not necessarily water polo, but any sport," said Piasecki. He singlehandedly created the provincial team in Pol-e-Charki and Camp Shorabak, as well as the national team in Kabul. As he's getting ready to head home, Piasecki has taken care of every pivotal part necessary to keep this sport going without him. He planned to bring the national team to the U.S. for about 10 months, and coordinated for the Afghan's lodging, food, facilities and competitions. He has found teachers who will teach them basic classes, and how to read and write in their own language, as well as other languages of countries that they may visit to conduct their training. He's planning on taking them to places that they've never seen or heard of before, such as zoos and museums. The team will be able to speak at schools, and be able to tell their story to Americans who've never had the opportunity to really see how the Afghan people are. He wants to create heroes, expand worldly education and to build cultural bridges. Ahmad said that he will keep pushing this sport as well as other programs and is trying to build proper places for training as well as a new, more reliable swimming pool. "The Marines encourage us and we're very happy," said Ahmad. "I appreciate the USA." Maj. Bartosz Lesniewicz, foreign disclosure officer with 2nd MEB-A, and 1st Sgt. Shreef, of Shorabak Garrison ANA spend the first part of their water polo practice stretching to get loose before entering the pool. The newly created ANA water polo team, with coaches Maj. Bartosz Lesniewicz and Chief Warrent Officer 2 Jeremy Piasecki take team photos. DVIDS Marines Depart Iraq Early to Mentor ANA Story by Sgt. Heidi Agostini

3 Page 3 of 10 Sgt. Daniel Scannell, a motarman assigned to the embedded mentoring team for the ANA, watches closesly as an Afghan soldier fires his M-16 on the rifle range, March 27. The team is responsible for mentoring and training the ANA to function on their own to take over security in Helmand prov. CAMP LEATHERNECK Closely monitoring the situation were Marines assigned to the ett for a newly activated Corps of the ANA, based at Camp Leatherneck. The mentoring group, comprised of active and reserve duty Marines from 3rd Bn, 24th Marines and Combat Logistics Bn 46, was sent from their deployment in Al Asad, Iraq to Afghanistan to help form part of the new ANA Corps. The Marines filled a critical gap on short notice, with 13 Marines with varying military occupational specialties. Some of the Marines mentored the Afghan bn in fields outside their military occupational specialty. KC-130 pilot, Capt. Eric Brown, officer-in-charge of the mentoring team, fulfilled a spot meant for a combat arms maj. Prior to landing in Afghanistan, Brown was the forward air controller for 3/24. Lance Cpl. Daniel Gierling fulfilled the job of 2 captains. Although an intel specialist by trade, Gierling was tasked to train the entire kandak (bn) on communications as well. "It wasn't easy," smiled Gierling. "Most of the Afghan soldiers are illiterate, and they don't all speak just one language. So I had to figure out how I was going to teach them using translators. I had the interpreters relay everything I said to the class, but it was time consuming. Some of the soldiers spoke languages that my interpreters didn't know." Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Sheppard, who originally deployed to Iraq as an individual augment assigned to the detention center, was transferred to Afghanistan to serve as the mentoring team ops and EO. The task wasn't easy for the Marines. The ratio between Marines and the men they mentored was 50 to 1. The team would stay up late after training to plan where each Marine and interpreter would be at the following day. "It was very challenging," said Brown. "We had to plan which company was going to do what, and which Marine and interpreter would be best for that mission. Sometimes I had one Marine for 3 companies, and sometimes I had one Marine per co." Their days were long, filled with frustration and challenges, but were equally rewarding. The largest challenge the Marines faced was the language barrier. Armed with 5 interpreters who had never spoken to Americans before, the mentoring team had to clean up their English. The Marines did their best to maintain composure, amidst the frustrations of negligent discharges, soldiers who would go on unauthorized absence, and no sense of time. A large amount of their success is invested in personal relationships with the Afghans. "We give our heart and soul to this job, and they can see it. We were never the limiting factor, and the soldiers sensed that," said Brown. Maj. Yasin, an Afghan soldier with 22 years of military experience, appreciates the mentors' patience, and said that the respect is mutual. Although he would like to see more Marines on the team, Yasin said he is grateful for the mentors. Fellow Afghan officer, Maj. Alkozay, is content with the training and mentoring. He is receptive to his trainers, and hopes his soldiers are successful on the battlefield.

4 Page 4 of 10 The bn will soon be evaluated on their performance. Once the soldiers are certified, they'll join RCT 2, and be partnered with Marine combat units. Sgt. Daniel Scannell, a motorman assigned to the mentoring team, corrects an Afghan soldier on the proper handling of his M-16. Capt. Eric Brown shares a friendly moment with an ANA logistics officer, affectionately known as 'Nitro.' Sgt. Daniel Scannell clears out a jam in a rifle belonging to an Afghan soldier. Maj. Yasin corrects 2 of his soldiers while at the rifle range. CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center ISAF commander patrols with Czech PRT By Army Pfc. Michael Sword

5 Page 5 of 10 ISAF cmdr, Gen. Stanley McChrystal; Col. Rudolf Honzak, cmdr of the Logar PRT from the Czech Republic; and Matyas Zrno, head of the civilian element of the PRT (from left to right), talk on their way to the ANP training compound at FOB Shank, April 9. McChrystal was at FOB Shank to visit with the Logar PRT, and see some of the projects the PRT are currently working on. LOGAR PROVINCE After arriving to FOB Shank, McChrystal greeted and gave coins to a group of 20 troops from the PRT, met with ANP trainees, and watched a demonstration of the ANP training obstacle course, before being taken to view some of the PRT s ongoing projects in the prov. The op was in control of the Czech PRT, whose troops provided security for McChrystal, the ISAF command sgt maj; Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Hall; and Army Lt. Col. Kyle Lear, dep. cmdr of the 173rd Abn BCT, who were among the only American Soldiers present. It was an honor for us to provide his security on our own, said Czech Army Capt. Peter Siler, PAO for the Czech PRT. Members of the PRT, including Czech Army Col. Honzak, cmdr of the Czech PRT, briefed McChrystal on some of their ongoing projects in Tanghjy Waghjan, including an ANP checkpoint that was reconstructed last year, and 3 road bridges. The bridges not only provide a road between the ANP checkpoint and an ANA/ANP outpost on a nearby hill, but also improve travel between the nearby villages, said Jan Pejril, the dep. chief of the civilian element of the PRT. Upon returning to FOB Shank, McChrystal thanked the members of the Czech PRT, military and civilian, for their work in Logar, and helping to improve security and quality of life for the people of the prov. He also appreciated the cooperation between the Czech civilians, troops and the Soldiers of TF Bayonet. It was a big honor for us to have the ISAF commander here, said Zrno. Gen. McChrystal, shakes the hand of an ANP recruit.

6 Page 6 of 10 DVIDS Troops Detain Militants, Find Weapons (An ISAF Joint Command News Release) GHAZNI PROVINCE - Afghan-ASAF pursuing a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator, detained 2 suspected militants, April 14. April 13, an ANA patrol in the Muqer district, found a homemade bomb consisting of 2 RPGs, a 72 mm artillery shell, and homemade explosives. PAKTIA PROVINCE - Orgun district April 13, a combined force detained a few suspected militants for further questioning, after a search prompted by intel info. KABUL PROVINCE - Afghan forces in Bagrami district found 34 RPGs, April 13. HELMAND PROVINCE - In Nad-e Ali district, April 13, an Afghan civilian turned in a homemade bomb containing more than 10-lbs of explosives to members of the ISAF. PAKTIKA PROVINCE - In Zarghun Shahr district April 13, an Afghan patrol found a bomb made from mm artillery rounds. An ISAF EOD team destroyed it. IRAQI STORIES: USF-I Traditional Iraqi building makes comeback By Maj. Eric Russell, and C. Brandt Smith, Jr. Local contractors construct the main reed arches of a marsh Arab mudhif. The house is a blend of adobe and reed building materials, used frequently by marsh Arabs in SE Iraq. Construction of the model adobe house was coordinated with TF Pathfinder and the Dhi Qar PRT. COB ADDER Local architecture plays an important role in the culture of the marsh Arabs of southern Iraq. No structure captures the lifestyle and traditions of the region more than the mudhif, a traditional structure making a comeback in modern construction, thanks to a little outside help. First built in the marshes of what is now southern Iraq over 5,000 years ago, the mudhif is a unique local meeting place constructed entirely of reeds, straw and other natural materials. Over time, the building process hasn't changed greatly. The design of the mudhif reflects local traditions. For instance, there're always an odd number of reed pillars in the mudhif, allowing the host of a meeting to sit along one side wall with an equal number of guests to his right and left. This ensures that the tribal shaykh remains at the center of decision-making when conducting business, and reinforces his position of prestige in the area.

7 Page 7 of 10 Building on this traditional form of construction, Soldiers with TF Pathfinder embarked on a program to incorporate local building materials and techniques, into present-day construction projects. In a military-sponsored training program entitled "The Modernization of the Traditional Marsh Arab Mudhif," local builders used readily available, and generally free, raw materials, along with ancient building techniques to construct a model adobe house in Chubayish City. The ancient and the modern meet in this single location--a marsh reed home outfitted with electricity, running water and conveniences, that usher in an architectural concept found throughout the 4th BCT, 1st AR Div's operating environment. The use of inexpensive marsh reeds, whether as mats or support columns, a soil foundation, and modern adobe bricks, are the basic elements needed to build the houses, promoting sustainability, and allowing locals to replicate the buildings without much expenditures on construction materials. "The concept and design of the house are intended to showcase the cultural significance of the mudhifs and reed huts, that have been used in the area since recorded history, bearing in mind the climate of the area," explained Maj. Eric Russell, an Army engr and ops officer for TF Pathfinder. "Each of the houses has a modern service module that includes a bathroom and a kitchen." There is a tremendous need for housing projects in the Marshlands to accommodate returning refugees, as well as the growing population of villages and cities in and around the marshes. A new govt system is in place with the tender shoots of democracy beginning to emerge from this desert-dwelling nation. Like this mudhif, an ancient structure rebuilt to reflect modernization, the people of Iraq are embracing a new time and place in the world. Local contractors construct the inner walls, using reeds gathered from marshlands near the Euphrates River. USF-I Troops bring books to Baghdad schools By Spc. Jared Eastman

8 Page 8 of 10 An IFP carries boxes of books for distribution to Baghdad s Fursan Primary School, during a delivery conducted by the ISF and B Troop, 5th Sqdrn, 7th Cav Regt, April 11, BAGHDAD Three schools in the Iraqi capital received a special visit recently, welcoming both Iraq and U.S. forces delivering a slew of books for the eager children. "Today we went on a book drop mission to try and give the Iraqi schools English-Arabic books," said Sgt. Alexander Hudson. "The benefit is that the Iraqis see the U.S. and ISF working together to help Iraq as a whole." With the atmosphere of a bring-your-child-to-work-day, Soldiers found the situation reversed, and sat with Iraqi school kids, and rehearsed vocabulary. Their whole-hearted attempts caused laughter amongst the children. "I feel like this is an important mission," said Spc. James Shapiro, of B Troop. "As this is my first deployment, I was expecting a lot more firefights, but stuff like this is important. It not only shows the Iraqi kids that we care about them and their future, but it also helps give them an education." Soldiers and ISF members alike carried in the Arabic Scholastic books to each headmaster's office. Members of the school thanked the ISF and U.S. Soldiers profusely, for providing the books. For the scouts of the sqdrn, this was a scenario that required both security and friendly behavior. "All my guys are professionals, and they're trained," said Hudson. "That's my focal point. When we go out let's say for a book drop our discipline level is so high that we can hold our weapons down. You don't always have to be in an offensive position, but we're always watching our sectors. You can greet and smile, but you are always on guard." Hudson, who's been on 4 deployments, 3 to Iraq, pinpointed the changes he has seen in the nation. "I was here when the war started, and for the first elections, so, I've seen a lot of differences. We used to have IEDs popping off all the time. You really don't see that stuff as much here," he said. Hudson's viewpoints have passed on to Shapiro, who could be seen pulling security, playing with children and hauling books into the mission. "I think this transition from combat to assisting ops is important, because this country will finally stabilize, and there'll be less violent actions against one another," said Shapiro. "If we can help stabilize the nation, younger generations will have a better life." For a brief moment in a once war-torn country, a glimpse of the future brought nothing but smiles to Iraqi youth. "It was heartwarming to see the kids' smiles," said Shapiro. "I get a feeling of accomplishment out of these missions. When I can go and see a result like that, I know that this deployment was worth it to me." An Iraqi girl looks out a window from the Arbed Primary School in Baghdad.

9 Page 9 of 10 USF-I MP training a friendly force of Iraqi Police By Pvt. Zach Zuber Children from the Jalula neighborhood in Diyala talk with IP as they patrol the community, April 14, With guidance from 3rd Plt, 66th MP Co, the IP force is showing a greater presence in the communities they serve. DIYALA A new training program here at FOB Cobra has the 66th MP Co encouraging IP from the surrounding areas to have a stronger presence. A series of shops spanning multiple blocks, are visited by thousands of patrons each day looking for items, ranging from fresh fish to new clothing styles. In a bustling environment like this, it s easy for situations to arise needing the attention of the IP. The 66th MP, attached to the 3rd Stryker BCT, 2nd ID, is fostering the desire the IP have to get out and mingle with the population. "The underlying premise of the class is to get these guys out there, and be the main independent SECFOR at the community level," said 1st Lt. Alicia Mienko, 3rd plt leader. "The IA has done a great job of securing Iraq; now it's time for the police to take over, and transition from combat ops to stability ops." As the IP walk through the markets, they talk to anyone with a question or concern. During this time, the IP were able to resolve a conflict between 2 merchants, and make friends with local children. "The other day at the market I saw a sgt pick up a small child, and while he was holding him, I could tell it was something the people weren't used to," said Spc. Ryan Greenzwieg, a driver for 3rd Plt. "That made the child happy, and the expression on the parents' faces showed they were glad to see him taking interest." USF-I Isolated Iraqi troops get MEDEVAC training By Sgt. 1st Class Jimmy Moore Sgt. Carey Atkins, a UH-60 Black Hawk crew chief assigned to Co C, 3rd Bn, 238th Aviation Regt, waves an Iraqi Dept of Border Enforcement litter team up to load a mock casualty, during recent MEDEVAC training. The DBE is advised by Border Transition Team Phoenix, attached to 4th BCT, 1st AR Div. JSS CHILAT In a war zone, the ability to quickly transport injured personnel for treatment is critical for all, but especially for those serving at remote forts along the Iran-Iraq border in northern Maysan prov.

10 Page 10 of 10 To that end, members of U.S. Border Transition Team Phoenix (BTT), and the flight crew and medics of Co C, recently assisted their Iraqi medical partners by providing basic MEDEVAC training. Sgt. 1st Class Jimmy Moore, BTT Phoenix medic, assisted in the teaching of several techniques, including 9-line MEDEVAC transmission, litter carries and improvised litter construction. Moore, a veteran of multiple combat tours, emphasized the importance of remaining calm during emergency situations. One of the main training objectives was to familiarize Iraqi DBE Soldiers with both hot and cold helicopter loading procedures, so that the first time they're exposed to working under a hot rotor system, is not in a combat situation. This training opportunity also gave the DBE a chance to learn verbal commands and hand-and -arm signals. This training is very important because normal communication is not possible under a turning rotor system. The UH-60 Black Hawk MEDEVAC procedures are much the same as the procedures for the IqAF's UH-1 helicopter. "The aviation crew assisted them on how to set up landing zones, guide the helicopters in, and how to load patients, but the Iraqi's lead the training," said Staff Sgt. Kevin Ferrell, a flight medic with the unit. The team said that the best part of the training was the fact that 2 Iraqi medics, recent graduates of the MoD Medical Train-the-Trainer Course in Taji, were training their own Soldiers with minimal help from U.S. forces. Comments (0) Leave a comment... To leave a comment on this posterous, please login by clicking one of the following.