DoD. African-Americans Have Legacy of Military Service, Sacrifice

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2 DoD African-Americans Have Legacy of Military Service, Sacrifice American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON Since the birth of America, African-Americans have been fighting alongside their countrymen as the United States has struggled for freedom and peace at home and abroad. African-American soldiers fought in every war the U.S. has participated in, including the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the current War on Terror. African-Americans distinguished themselves in the Boston Massacre, the Battle of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill. In the Civil War, African-Americans made up 163 units of the Union Army, more served in the Union Navy. African-Americans were used for labor by the Confederate forces. In 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis signed a bill authorizing the enlistment of slaves. African-American soldiers proved themselves early in the war. In 1863, when the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers, commanded by Gen. James G. Blunt, ran into a Confederate force in what is now Oklahoma. After a two-hour engagement, the Confederate soldiers retreated. The 1st Kansas advanced to within fifty paces of the Confederate line and exchanged fire for 20 minutes until the Confederates broke and ran. After the battle, Blunt wrote, I never saw such fighting as was done by the negro regiment. The question that negroes will fight is settled; besides they make better solders in every respect than any troops I have ever had under my command. Fifteen African-American soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during the Civil War, and another seven African-American sailors were honored for their heroism. In 1866, federal legislation was passed allowing African-Americans to enlist in the regular Army, and by 1869, the Army had four all-african-american units: the 9th and 10th Cavalry and 24th and 25th Infantry regiments. It was these African-American units that fought in the Indian Wars of , the Spanish-American War, the Philippines Insurrection and Gen. John Pershing s punitive expedition into Mexico in These units were dubbed Buffalo Soldiers by the Indians they fought. It is thought that this nickname was given out of respect for the African-Americans fierce fighting ability and naturally curly hair. The term Buffalo Soldiers became a generic term for all African-American soldiers for many years. The first African-American general in the U.S. Army was Benjamin O. Davis, of Washington, D.C. Davis entered the military on July 13, 1898 as a temporary first lieutenant of the 8th United States Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered out on March 6, 1899, and on June 18, 1899 he enlisted as a private in Troop 1, 9th Cavalry, of the regular Army. He served as corporal and squadron sergeant major, and on Feb. 2, 1901, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of cavalry in the regular Army. Davis reached the rank of brigadier general on Oct. 25, During his career, Davis served with the 9th and 10th Cavalry; was a professor of military science and tactics at Wilberforce University, Ohio, and Tuskegee, Ala.; served as a brigade commander in the 2nd Cavalry Division and served as an assistant to the inspector general in Washington, D.C. Davis son, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., was the fourth African-American graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and the nation s second African-American general. Although the U.S. forces remained segregated throughout World War I, many African-Americans volunteered and fought with U.S. forces. By the end of the war, more than 350,000 African-Americans served in the conflict, 1,400 were commissioned officers. Several African-American units distinguished themselves during World War I. One of the most famous units was the 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the Harlem Hellfighters. One hundred seventy-one members of the 396th were awarded the Legion of Merit medal. Cpl. Freddie Stowers, of 371st Infantry Regiment, was posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor in 1991, making him the only African-American to be so honored for actions in World War I. Stowers led an assault on German trenches in France and continued to lead his men after being wounded twice. In World War II, more than 2.5 million African-Americans registered for service, but only 1 million actually served. It was during World War II that the famed Tuskegee Airmen served. Named the 332nd Fighter Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps, the Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military pilots. The 332nd s most notable mission was escorting bombing raids into Austria, Hungary, Poland and Germany. The pilots flew more than 15,000 sorties and were awarded several Silver Stars, 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, eight Purple Hearts, 14 Bronze Stars, and 744 Air Medals. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, integrating the armed forces and eliminating racial discrimination in federal employment. Segregation in the military officially ended in The Korean War and Vietnam War both saw many great accomplishments by African-Americans. In the Korean War, Jesse L. Brown, the first African-American U.S. Navy aviator, was killed when his plane was shot down during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. The Navy honored Brown by naming a ship after him - the USS Jesse L. Brown. During the Vietnam War, 20 African-Americans were awarded the Medal of Honor, including the first living African-American to receive the Medal of Honor since the Mexican-American War, the first African-American Marine to receive the medal and the first African-American commissioned officer to receive the medal. When the U.S. and its allies pushed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein s forces out of Kuwait, the senior officer in the U.S. military was Army Gen. Colin L. Powell, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell later served as secretary of state in President George W. Bush s administration. February is African-American History Month, celebrating the contributions African-Americans made to the U.S. over the years. (Information for this article was taken from several military, government and civilian sources.) 2 Freedom Watch Magazine

3 Freedom Watch Staff Commander Air Force Lt. Col. Thomas Davis Superintendent Air Force Master Sgt. Collen McGee Print NCOIC Air Force Staff Sgt. Ian Carrier Editor Air Force Staff Sgt. Marc Nickens Staff Writer Senior Airman Stephen Ocenosak Freedom Watch 4 Feb. 25, 2008 Bombs away! Air Force team aids ANP with UXO disposal Visit the CJTF-82 Web site at Freedom Watch is a weekly publication of Combined Joint Task Force-82. CJTF-82 Commander Army Maj. Gen. David M. Rodriguez RC East Public Affairs Officer Army Lt. Col. David A. Accetta Freedom Watch, a Department of Defense publication, is published each Monday by the American Forces Network Afghanistan Print Section, Bldg. 415, Room 205 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Printed circulation is 5,000 copies per week. In accordance with DoD Instruction , this DoD newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military overseas. Contents of the Freedom Watch are not necessarily the official view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government or the Department of Defense. Deadline for submissions is noon local each Friday. All submissions are subject to editing by the AFN-A Print Section. We can be reached at DSN Getting the job done ANA Commandos capture key Taliban IED facilitator King of battle TF King, ANA conduct joint artillery training in Nuristan A three point landing Red Horse team improves flightline operations Gas em up Refuelers keep Bayonnet moving What a guy Army Vice Chief of Staff visits TF Destiny Soldiers It s your money Combat troops may still get stimulus checks COVER: Staff Sgt. Levesque Lucas, 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group structural craftsman, builds concrete forms during construction on a barrier arresting kit on the flightline here Feb. 13. Levesque is from 819th RED HORSE Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester) BACK COVER: Petty Officer 2nd Class David Crabb of Navy Embedded Training Team 3-205th Garrison, throws a hand grenade during weapons familiarization training. Crabb is part of a 14-man team that mentors the Afghan National Army s Shorbak garrison in Helmand Province. (U.S. Navy Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David M. Votroubek) Freedom Watch Magazine 3

4 Air Force team aids ANP with UXO disposal By Tech. Sgt. James Law 455 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs KAPISA PROVINCE, Afghanistan Team members from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal, 755th Air Expeditionary Group, assisted Kohistan II district Afghanistan National Police with unexploded ordnance disposal Feb. 2. The police chief requested our assistance with removing the UXOs during our last visit, said Tech. Sgt. Francis Warren, Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team Police Technical Advisory Team noncommissioned officer in charge. Warren contacted EOD for assistance. Tech. Sgt. Steven Nidzgorski, an EOD Team leader, said UXO s and landmines pose a serious threat for locals and military personnel throughout Afghanistan. In the last six months, Nidzgorski s team responded to roughly 15 requests for similar assistance. Once on site, Nidzgorski assessed the UXOs to determine the safest method of disposal. We ll destroy them where they are at if at all possible, Nidzgorski said. Today we can t do that because of the proximity of buildings and its occupants. After close examination, the UXO s were deemed safe for transport. Nidzgorski s team loaded the UXOs onto a Joint EOD Rapid Response Vehicle for transport to a safe place for destruction. First the UXO s were taken to what appeared to be a large open area free from any people, structures or crops, Nidzgorski noticed an Afghan herding goats in the distance. Not wanting to disturb the herder, the UXOs were taken to a range near Bagram Air Base for destruction. It s good to know we re getting [UXOs] out of the way and making it safer for servicemembers and Afghan citizens, Nidzgorski said. Senior Airman Sarah Burrill carries unexploded ordnance to a Joint EOD Rapid Response Vehicle. Burrill is a member of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team that removed and destroyed UXOs gathered by the Kohistan II Afghanistan National Police. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James Law) ANSF, Coalition forces recover weapons caches in Nangarhar Story and photo Courtesy of Combined Joint Task Force - 82 Public Affairs BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan Afghan citizens readily supplied information leading to the recovery of another weapons cache in Nangarhar Province. Residents of Fateh Mina Village, Lal Por District, Nangarhar Province, discovered a suspected insurgent weapons cache in their area. Afghan National Security Forces were able to secure the area and safely remove the dozens of weapons from the cache site. Thirty rocket-propelled grenade rounds and thirty-two 82 mm mortar rounds were confiscated. Insurgents frequently use these weapons to 4 Freedom Watch Magazine attack ANSF or Coalition forces terrorizing Afghan citizens throughout the province. Residents, weary of insurgent activity near their homes and in their districts, provided information, which led to the recovery of hundreds of weapons throughout the province. In January, villagers information led to weapons recoveries in Deh Bala, Jalalabad and Khogyani Districts of Nangarhar Province bordering Pakistan. These weapons were in fair condition, said a Coalition soldier. Recovering the munitions takes away from the insurgents ability to conduct attacks in the Nangarhar Province. The citizens of Afghanistan are committed to government objectives to thwart insurgent activity in their neighborhoods, said Army Capt. Vanessa R. Bowman, Coalition spokesperson. Afghan National Security Forces will continue to take these weapons out of the hands of insurgents and make the area safer for residents. Villagers information led to the recovery of a suspected insurgent weapons cache in Fateh Mina Village, Lal Por District, Nangarhar Province. (U.S. Army Photo)

5 ANA Commandos capture key Taliban IED facilitator Courtesy of Combined Joint Task Force - 82 Public Affairs BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan Afghan National Army Commandos from the 203rd Kandak, assisted by Coalition forces, captured a key insurgent facilitator in Khowst Province. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan s Ministry of Defense announced that ANA forces captured known Taliban commander, Nasimulla, during a combined operation in the Dand Faqiran area of Yaqubi District. Nasimulla is suspected of being a key Taliban facilitator responsible for several attacks against Afghan National Security Forces using improvised explosive devices. He is also suspected of commanding an IED emplacement cell based in the Sabari District and travels throughout Khowst and Paktika Provinces to conduct attacks against government forces and civilians. Taliban insurgents have changed their tactics away from direct attacks against Afghan forces, explained Army Capt. Vanessa R. Bowman, a Coalition spokesperson. Now, insurgents are turning to IED attacks. This places the civilian population directly in danger, especially when they place explosives along highly traveled roadways. Capturing Nasimulla will help reduce IED attacks in Khowst and Paktika making the area safer for all residents, Bowman said. Afghan National Police in Shkin arrested three men suspected of facilitating IED operations near the Pakistan border in the Bermel District of Paktika Province Feb. 6. Earlier that day, a villager alerted ANP officers of suspicious materials near a bridge in Kakkhel. Upon investigation, the officers found three IEDs consisting of a 107 mm rocket and an anti-tank mine. The munitions were covered by dirt and placed in the roadway near a family home. ANSF performed flawlessly during this operation, said Bowman. From planning, to execution, to their professional actions on the objective, the Commandos of the 203rd Kandak are working to secure this area of Eastern Afghanistan and making it safe for villagers. This operation shows that the ANSF is keeping the pressure on insurgents, Bowman added. Detaining Nasimulla, and taking a large cache of weapons, ammunition and IED-making material, will help citizens of the area feel safer. Afghan National Army Commandos from the 203rd Kandak enter a suspected insurgent safehouse during security operations in Khowst Province, Afghanistan. A key Taliban commander suspected of being of responsible for several attacks against Afghan National Security Forces was captured. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Michael D. Carter) Coalition forces disrupt Taliban command and control networks Courtesy of Combined Joint Task Force - 82 Public Affairs BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Several armed insurgents were killed and nine armed individuals were detained during two separate Coalition forces operations disrupting Taliban command and control networks. Coalition forces conducted an operation in the Tarin Kowt District of Oruzgan Province targeting a Taliban leader responsible for conducting anti-government activities in the area. Coalition forces targeted a group of insurgents on motorcycles associated with the Taliban leader. Coalition forces employed accurate, aerial-delivered conventional munitions, which destroyed the motorcycles and killed a number of insurgents. In a follow-on assessment, Coalition forces performed a search of compounds in the district targeting the Oruzganbased Taliban leader and his associates hiding in the area. A number of armed insurgents were killed with small-arms fire while Coalition forces searched the compound. Several AK- 47s, ammunition vests and grenades were recovered to prevent their use by enemy forces. Coalition forces detained three armed individuals during the search. The detainees will be questioned on their involvement in Taliban operations, as well as, other illegal activities. As a precautionary measure, Coalition forces temporarily delayed a vehicle headed toward the area to protect the occupants from any hostile acts during the operation. The vehicle and occupants were released without incident at the conclusion of the operation. Afghan and Coalition forces also searched compounds for a Taliban leader with links to foreign-fighter facilitators in Qalat District, Zabul Province. Afghan and Coalition forces found and detained six individuals including one identified as the targeted Taliban leader during the operation. The detainees will be questioned on their involvement in Taliban operations and other activities. Coalition forces continued degradation of insurgent networks is paving the way for the Afghan people to chart the future course of their country, said Army Capt. Vanessa R. Bowman, Coalition forces spokesperson. Freedom Watch Magazine 5

6 TF King, ANA conduct joint artillery training in Nuristan By Spc. Gregory J. Argentieri 173rd ABCT Public Affairs NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan Paratroopers from 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, began training the Afghan National Army on artillery in February at Forward Operating Base Kalagush here. Approximately 30 ANA artillerymen, assigned to the Field Artillery Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 201st Corps, will learn to operate and fire the modern M mm Howitzer by their U.S. Army artillery counterparts from 2nd Platoon, Alpha Battery, 4-319th AFAR. One important focus area, for the ANA artillery training, is to become fully capable and proficient in indirect fire in support of their troops on the ground. Indirect artillery fire is critical for the success of the fight in the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan. Everybody knows the ANA soldiers volunteer, so these soldiers are very interested in artillery and are determined to use this opportunity to learn from the U.S. Soldiers, said ANA 1st Lt. Abdul Nasir Ahmadi, field artillery company commander from Kabul. These are not new soldiers. They have been with the ANA for four or five years and have had lots of training. The difference now is we have cooperation with the U.S. Soldiers, Ahmadi said. This is important because, hopefully, in the future, we will have a M198 howitzer. Currently the ANA uses the D-30 Russian howitzer. I really enjoyed shooting and I want to have lots of training on the howitzer, said ANA Artillery crew chief, Sgt. 1st Class Falak Naz, from Jalalabad. I have learned different kinds of ammunitions, rounds, fuses and how to direct fire the howitzer. Working side-by-side with the ANA provides U.S. Soldiers with more than just a training opportunity. It also fosters a better understanding of the overall mission and the importance of Operation Enduring Freedom. When I first started working with them I wasn t sure exactly what they would know and, with the language barrier, how difficult it would be to communicate with them, said Army Staff Sgt. James F. Natiello from Aston, Pa., section chief, 2nd Platoon, Alpha Battery, 4-319th AFAR. They came with interpreters and after working with them, I found out across the board, artillery is artillery. I think it s just a matter of going from one gun to another. It s good to know these guys are here and they have experience, said Natiello. It gives us confidence in the Afghans to take care of themselves after we leave. The Alpha Battery Soldiers are happy to share their experience with their Afghan counterparts. We are helping them learn better techniques on handling and loading ammunition, our safety requirements and the things we do to stay safe, said Army Staff Sgt. Trenton R. Farris from Abilene, Texas, 1st section chief for 2nd Platoon, Alpha Battery, 4-319th AFAR. Their motivation and attention to detail is much higher than we anticipated. This ANA artillery unit is highly disciplined. It gives me hope for the future as far as them being able to take 6 Freedom Watch Magazine over in their role as artillery for their country. Artillery section chief, Army Sgt. 1st Class Wade A. Hunter, from Queens, N.Y., 2nd Platoon, Alpha Battery, 4-319th AFAR, agrees that the training is important for the Afghans to properly defend their own country. As an artilleryman, artillery is the King of Battle, said Hunter. This is something you want to be skilled at, something you want to invest in. Artillery is an effective means of defending yourself from the bad guys. For me, this training is pretty exciting, said Hunter. It s exciting enough training fellow servicemembers, but doing partnership training with someone from a different country and see how they do business, you feel like you re making a difference. The impact, the camaraderie, being exposed to another culture and getting a chance to impart your skills and knowledge, it s a good feeling. No matter what country they are from, artillerymen share a unique love for their job. When we were briefed on this mission, command told us these are our artillery brothers coming to train with us, said Hunter. I didn t understand what they meant until the ANA got here. Through this training alone, no matter what nationality you re from, no matter your cultural background, artillerymen are pretty much the same. The artillery company shows the same attitude when it comes to shooting or motivation. Their excitement for the mission is good to see. They do speak a different language but when it comes to body language and attitude, artillerymen are the same. An Afghan National Army artilleryman peers through the firing tube as part of a hands-on training session on the M198 howitzer at Forward Operating Base Kalagush in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan. Paratroopers from 2nd Platoon, Alpha Battery 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, conducted the joint training session. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Gregory J. Argentieri)

7 Afghan ministries, Coalition forces work on epidemic response By Senior Airman James Bolinger CJTF-82 Public Affairs BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan Emergency response to an epidemic, natural disaster or national security threat is a key responsibility of a sufficient government. Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan leaders joined key Coalition and civilian emergency medical response agencies and began coordinating an epidemic response plan. Afghan leaders joined their Coalition counterparts to finish writing the disease outbreak response plan. The outbreak response plan establishes the rules and responsibilities of Afghan Ministries in the event an outbreak of Avian Influenza or Anthrax virus occurs. The response plan lays out the responsibilities of our government if a radiological hazard or zoonotic [communicable disease from animals to humans under natural conditions] epidemic were to occur, said Dr. Bashir Noormal, director general of Afghan Public Health Institute, Ministry of Public Health. Food and water-borne illnesses are also a threat to Afghan people, especially during the summer months. Though the threat of a radiological hazard in Afghanistan is low, the country has several neighbors with nuclear capability and Noormal said Afghans may need to respond to an event near the country s borders. Zoonotic diseases are a severe threat to the people here. In rural areas, Afghans live close to farm animals. Therefore, diseases carried by the animals can be easily transmitted to humans. According to Noormal, there have been no cases of Avian Influenza affecting humans in Afghanistan. However, unregulated poultry imported from Pakistan could possibly be infected and the large wild fowl populations that migrate across the country twice-a-year are threats to the population. Food and water-borne illnesses are a serious issue, said Noormal. They cause diarrheal problems especially in children under five years old, causing many deaths. The government must be prepared to respond to these circumstances and this plan is one step toward that goal, said Noormal. Despite several meetings, the government is several months away from a finalized plan that will be approved by all involved Afghan ministries, said Navy Lt. Pam Klepac-Tulensru, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, Command Surgeon, Plan Operations medical planner. Once the plan is finalized, Coalition forces will assist in several table-top exercises to test the reaction of the ministries to an outbreak. Disease outbreak plans are always a work in progress, Klepac-Tulensru said. We re here to assist the MoPH design a plan. They re the lead agency and have presented this product through the other ministries for approval. Representatives from the Afghan Ministry of Public Health, the Ministries of Defense, Women s Affairs, Education and Transportation were present. Members from CSTC-A, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, U.S. Agency for International Development, Combined Joint Task Force-82 and Johns Hopkins University also attended. ANA, Coalition forces evaluate villagers needs in Oruzgan Courtesy of Combined Joint Task Force - 82 Public Affairs BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan Soldiers from the Afghan National Army s 201st Kandak, assisted by Coalition forces, visited elders in the village of Tangay, Tarin Kowt District, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan. The soldiers were conducting a security patrol through the Tiri Rud valley when they stopped to meet with village elders and determine the needs of the residents. Even before entering the village, children greeted the ANA and Coalition soldiers with smiles, waves and laughter. After a few minutes of chatting with the children, ANA soldiers met with village elders who welcomed the group into their village. The elders were eager to talk about security in the area near the Tangay Pass in central Afghanistan. The elders said the area is fairly secure, thanks to frequent Afghan National Police patrols. Security is the priority, said a village elder. Afghanistan has been at war for 30 years. All we want is peace. Villagers also pointed out that, while the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has directly aided Tangay residents with food and other supplies, more help is needed. The elder explained melting snow causes the Tiri Rud river to Afghan National Army soldiers stand with children of Tangay, Tarin Kowt District, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo) flood in the spring. After the floods, there are months of drought throughout the summer. Elders said the flood and drought cycle wreaks havoc on crops. Security and economic development are important, not only to the elders, but to all residents in the area. Tangay Pass is home to more than 200 families and the Tangay Pass Boys School. Increased security is making a difference, said Army Capt. Vanessa R. Bowman, Coalition force spokesperson. The government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is committed to increasing security throughout the country and meeting the needs of its citizens. Freedom Watch Magazine 7

8 RED HORSE team improves flightline operations By Tech. Sgt. James Law 455 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan Airmen assigned to the 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group is nearing the completion of installing a barrier arresting kit on the flightline here. The BAK 12 is an emergency stopping system for tail-hook equipped aircraft when they have in-flight emergencies and they don t have hydraulics or brakes, said Tech. Sgt. Barry Snyder Jr., power production craftsman and project manager. It s similar to the one on an aircraft carrier that stops the aircraft. The system can also be used to assist pilots during aircraft departures if they encounter a problem requiring them to abort takeoff and come to a quick stop, Snyder added. The BAK system here will stop a plane within 900-1,200 feet, depending on aircraft speed and weight said Snyder. The biggest obstacle we ve faced installing the BAK 12 has been the weather, said Snyder. We can t let the concrete freeze because it will compromise it s strength then we ll have to rip it all out and pour it again. This barrier arresting kit 12-series is the second of two installed here to replace mobile aircraft arresting systems. The first BAK 12 was installed on the opposite end of the flight line in November One of the advantages to having the permanent system [BAK 12] over the mobile system is the permanent system doesn t have to be moved, Snyder said. The mobile systems are mounted on the ground surface, and must be moved every year unless there is a waiver, said Snyder. The soil can buckle and break after prolonged use and cause the braking system to come loose. Because the BAK 12 is in the ground, it s also safer because there isn t an obstruction to hit in the event an aircraft runs off the runway. The BAK 12 installation is scheduled to be completed in March. Members of the 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group work construction on a new barrier arresting kit. Once the BAK 12 is finished, it will be used to stop aircraft with tail hooks that have hydraulics or brake problems. The BAK 12 system is scheduled to be complete by March. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester) 8 Freedom Watch Magazine

9 Senior Airman Steven Moss, 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group structural journeyman, and Staff Sgt. Jorge Zequeira, 1st Expeditionary REDHORSE Group power production journeyman, pump cement while working construction on a barrier arresting kit. Once the BAK 12 is finished, it will be used to stop aircraft with tail hooks that have hydraulics or brake problems. Moss (left) is from 819th RED HORSE Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., and Zequeira s home unit is the 11th Civil Engineering Squadron at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester) Staff Sgt. Levesque Lucas, 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group structural craftsman, builds c o n c r e t e forms during construction on a barrier arresting kit on the flightline. Levesque is from 819th RED HORSE S q u a d r o n, M a l m s t r o m Air Force Base, Mont. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester) Freedom Watch Magazine 9

10 Refuelers keep Bayonnet moving By Army Sgt. Nathan Bowen 173rd ABCT Public Affairs NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - If The Fuel Don t Flow, The Army Don t Go reads a large sign at Forward Operating Base Fenty s fuel point. On a base that uses 4,000 to 6,000 gallons of fuel per day just to maintain operations, not including the vehicles and aircraft that require refueling for several missions a day, that statement isn t bragging, it s a fact. Soldiers from Alpha Company, 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), are in charge of operating the fuel point and making sure the tanks never run dry, on or off base. If we re not supplying the fuel, then this place wouldn t run said Army Sgt. Edward Waugh, Fuel Accountability noncommissioned officer. Every vehicle that comes through here [FOB Fenty] will get fuel from us. The fuel point receives the bulk of its fuel from Pakistan, the rest from Bagram and Kabul. At full capacity, the fuel point can hold 210,000 gallons of diesel. A few weeks ago, due to political unrest in Pakistan, gas was running low and the FOB was down to less than 60,000 gallons. When the dust settled and the fuel started flowing again, the fuelers worked overtime testing and downloading fuel to get everything back to capacity. The fuel that comes onto FOB Fenty is tested for quality before it goes into a fuel tank. Army Sgt. Kerron Joel, a Heavy Wheeled Vehicle Operator knows what can happen if dirty fuel slips into the system. We re trying to get rid of any foreign objects in the fuel such as welding rods, plastic, rubber, water even Styrofoam cups, said Joel. We don t want to issue fuel that may cause aircraft to go down due to a clogged fuel line or vehicles to stop operating properly. Everyday, fuel point personnel in-process trucks waiting at the FOB s front gate. They spend about half an hour to an hour per truck testing and downloading the fuel. The work may seem Paratroopers from the 173rd Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) top off the tank of a fork lift at the Forward Operating Base Fenty refueling point. (U.S. Army photo) Pfc. Carlos Santiago, Alpha Company, 173rd Brigade Support Battalion (Airborne), dumps diesel fuel into a waste bin after testing it at the Forward Operating Base Fenty fuel point in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo) We don t want to issue fuel that may cause aircraft to go down due to a clogged fuel line or vehicles to stop operating properly -Army Sgt. Kerron Joel repetitive, but it has benefits. You meet different people everyday, said Army Sgt. Glory Tataw, Fuel Supply Specialist referring to the steady influx of convoys that arrive to fill up before heading out on missions. Tataw also likes how everyone at the fuel point brings their individual skills together to work as a team. When they are not engaged in a specific task, they spend time cross-training each other on their jobs preparing everyone to take on greater responsibility. Soldiers like Army Pfc s. Carlos Santiago and Robert Alvarez, both Petroleum Supply Specialists, benefit from NCO s who are proficient at their jobs and also know the jobs of the Soldier to their left and right. When the time came early in the deployment to move the fuel point, they all had input on how the new one would be set up and built to provide the best service. The fuel point has supplied more than 3 million gallons of fuel to Soldiers of Task Force Bayonet and the civilians who support it. That number may double by the end of the deployment, increasing the load when spring begins and missions become more frequent, according to Waugh. Until August, when the task force is expected to redeploy, they ll keep the fuel flowing so TF Bayonet can keep going. 10 Freedom Watch Magazine

11 Army Vice Chief of Staff visits Task Force Destiny Soldiers Story and photo by Army Spc. George Welcome 101st CAB Public Affairs BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Army Vice Chief of Staff, Gen. Richard A. Cody visited the Soldiers of Task Force Destiny on Feb. 9 to conduct a mass re-enlistment and awards ceremony. Cody had breakfast at the aviation dining facility with a select group of Soldiers, representing each unit in the Task Force. He praised the Soldiers for serving their country during a time of combat. You should be extremely proud of what you are doing, said Cody. You are the very best our country has to offer. After fielding Soldiers questions, Cody was presented with a Task Force sweatshirt by TF Destiny commander Col. James Richardson. Soldiers love General Cody, Richardson said. They respect him because he believes in taking care of the Soldiers. During the ceremony, two Soldiers were promoted, 33 reenlisted and 8 soldiers received awards ranging from the Army Commendation Medal to the Army Achievement Medal. Gen. Richard A. Cody, Army Vice Chief of Staff speaks to Soldiers about the importance of their service during a time of continuous conflict. Cody visited the Soldiers of Task Force Destiny, in Afghanistan. 66th MPs train Afghan police in Nangarhar Story and photo by Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Aird 173rd ABCT Public Affairs NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Soldiers from 66th Military Police Company out of Ft. Lewis, Wash., spent 21 days doing a round robin training cycle to help their fellow policemen in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. Afghan National Police in Shinwar District were taught hasty and full vehicle searches. The class was part of a larger training cycle to help refresh and reiterate basic police skills. The initial two-week course taught basic skills, but the 66th MPs were conducting follow-up training to expand on the initial two-week training. Most of the stuff we re teaching them isn t new, we re just making it easier to learn, said Army Staff Sgt. Russell Miller, a squad leader in the 66th MP Company. ANP officers were taught thorough, hands-on techniques. They acted out scenarios ensuring each policeman learned the valuable skills being taught by their American counterparts. Miller, from Eugene, Ore., taught first responder, logistics, rifle marksmanship, weapon safety, ethics, IED awareness, applying handcuffs, personnel and building searches, crime scene management, rules of law and combatives. ANP leaders were also taught how to conduct battle tracking, response measures, patrol debriefs, logistical and personnel systems. This is good training, said Nawarullah, an ANP officer from Shinwar District. The 66th MP Company also gave recognition for outstanding effort or accomplishments. The top shooters got goggles, said Miller. We also gave out certificates of achievement for outstanding effort. I love being a policeman, said Nawarullah. I do it for my country. Army Spc. Brian Willard, a Florida native with the 66th MP Company out of Ft. Lewis, Wash., looks at the engine compartment during a mock vehicle search in a class of Shinwar District policemen in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. Freedom Watch Magazine 11

12 Combat troops may still get stimulus checks By Rick Maze Staff writer, Military Times $1200 per couple Troops in combat zones who do not pay federal income taxes still would be eligible for tax rebates under the economic stimulus package being worked out in plus $300 per child Congress. The House version of the stimulus bill, supported by the White House, includes so-called recovery rebates $600 per person and $1,200 per couple that would be sent by the Treasury Department to every American who earned at least $3,000 in The rebate would increase by $300 for each dependent child. The Senate version of the bill would pay less, at $500 per tax- payer and $1,000 per couple, also with $300 per child, also with a requirement of $3,000 in earned income to qualify. Both bills include a clause that counts untaxed income earned in a combat zone as if it is taxed income for the purposes of qualifying for the recovery rebate. Still undetermined is what would happen to disabled veterans with less than $3,000 in earned income. The House bill would not give them a rebate, but the Senate Finance Committee proposes authorizing a special pay, which would come as an allowance from the Department of Veterans Affairs, equal to the payment other people would receive from the Treasury Department. Next defense budget includes 3.4 percent raise for 2009; military advocacy groups want more By William H. McMichael Staff writer, Military Times The Bush administration is seeking a 3.4 percent raise for all service members next year the minimum that could be requested under federal law and an amount that advocacy groups are already saying is too small. The proposed raise, part of the White House s 2009 defense budget request to be unveiled today, would equal the average growth in private-sector wages in 2007, as measured by the Department of Labor s Employment Cost Index, or ECI. As such, it would be the minimum raise allowable under current law. Military pay is tied by law to the ECI, which tracks quarterly changes in compensation for most private-sector and all state and local government employees. The proposed 2009 raise is almost equal to the 3.5 percent increase for this year that was finalized Jan. 28, when Bush signed the revised 2008 Defense Authorization Act. However, by merely matching private-sector wage growth, the proposed 2009 military raise would not continue to close a so-called pay gap that some say exists between military and civilian compensation. The gap has supposedly existed since 1982, the second year of two massive pay increases under President Reagan that marked the last time rough parity is thought to have existed between military and civilian wages. The gap peaked at 13.5 percent in 1999, but in this decade, a series of raises slightly above the annual increase in the ECI has narrowed the gap considerably. For 2008, the administration originally proposed a pay raise of 3 percent, which would have matched the ECI increase for The Pentagon argued that five consecutive years of robust increases had effectively eliminated any remaining gap. But Congress eventually decided on a 3.5 percent raise for this year, in a nod to the idea that a gap still exists. According to military advocacy groups, the 2008 raise that took effect a few weeks ago has reduced the pay gap to about 3.4 percent. Some advocates are already preparing to urge Congress to boost the administration s proposed raise for For example, the Military Coalition, an umbrella group of more than 30 military and veterans associations, said it hopes Congress will rally around a 3.9 percent pay raise, a half-percentage point above the Bush request, which would continue to slowly close the pay gap. EagleCash 12 Freedom Watch Magazine

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14 Photos From the Field LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan- Sergeant 1st Class Brian Simmons instructs Lt. Cmdr. Eric Week of Navy Embedded Training Team 3-205th Garrison on how to load an M203 grenade launcher during weapons familiarization training. Both work out of Forward Operating Base Tombstone in Helmand Province. (U.S. Navy Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David M. Votroubek) Have a photo you d like to see in Freedom Watch Afghanistan? freedomwatch@swa.army.mil

15 Mohammad Rafiq Zazai poses during a mission with an Airman from the 203 thunder corps Camp Lightinig Gardez, Afghanistan. Zazai, an interpreter, has been working with the U.S. Army for over two years. (U.S. Air Force photo) An Afghan child gives a smile and a thumbs up. (Photo courtesy of Romanian photographer Florin Ghioca) Freedom Watch Magazine 15

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