Another day in Afghanistan

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

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)

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

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)

 

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

 

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)

Care Packages, the good, the bad, the wish we had…

Commentary
By Air Force 2^nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Provincial Reconstruction Team-Nuristan- Public Affairs

FOB KALA GUSH, Afghanistan- Care packages are wonderful moral boosters, but often families and friends are at a loss for what to send their soldiers, sailors, Marines and airman. Today, I asked my fellow servicesmembers what some of their favorite and least favorite care package items were. Here’s what I found out.

At the top of the list of the good was, Double Stuff Oreos, a favorite among the Security Force members of PRT Nuristan. Number one bad item was baby wipes.“When Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom kicked off, we couldn’t get enough baby wipes, but at Hotel Kala Gush, as we like to call it, there are plenty of showers,” said Army Capt. John Mosby.

The best answer of items we wish we had was by Army 1st Lt. Julia Malouin, “While you can never have enough double stuff Oreo’s, it would be great to get holiday decorations once in a while. It’s easy to be completely detached from the American calendar here in Afghanistan, as well as, losing track of the day and time, so getting holiday or birthday decorations are great reminders of what’s going on back home.”

Below is the list of the good, the bad, and the wish we had.

The Good…

1. Double Stuff Oreos
2. Drinks: Koolaid, green tea, drink mixes for water, Caprisun’s, and juice boxes 
3. Name brand snacks: Pop tarts (cherry, smores, brown sugar) Milano cookies (double stuff),Cheeze Its, dried fruit, cereal bars, nut mixes, Ricecrispy treats, lunch-to-go, fruit-roll ups, gushers, cliff bars, granola, natures made granola bars, zebra pies, etc. 
4. Coffee, coffee mattee creamer (hazelnut, French vanilla, and Irish cream) 
5. Toiletries: body wash, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, etc. 
6. Entertainment: war movies, books (especially good British or American literature), magazines, the latest music, local newspapers 
7. Good candy: JollyRanchers, tootsie rolls, twizzlers, M&M’s etc. 
8. Gum 
9. Copenhagen Snuff (for people who like it) 
10. Lots of pictures of family, friends, and good looking famous people
    

The Bad

1. Baby wipes
2. Bad candy: the cheap stuff no one eats at Halloween and peeps
3. Dominos and cards (love them, but we have enough)
4. Sunflower seeds
5. Anything that will get crushed, hard, or melt in the mail
6. Hotel soap and toilet paper
7. Snacks that we have to cook, even in the microwave
8. Things people don’t like themselves
9. Beer cozies, we can’t use them!
   

The wish we had…

1. Decorations for holidays and birthdays
2. Internet and better webcams, we want it so bad!
3. College t-shirts, ECU, but I could be biased
4. Calendars
5. Posters, like Jonas brothers and Miley Cyrus (request from PRT Nuristan Security Force)
6. Romantic Comedies (also a request from PRT Nuristan Security Force)
7. Maple syrup, honey, and good peanut butter, we are always running out
8. Hangers and good boot socks
9. Chocolate, it melts, but how we miss it, especially Snickers
10. Slim Jims, jerky, and good bread
11. MONEY, this is a wish list!

PRT Nuristan’s Skipper and team return to Kala Gush from Barg-e Matal

FOB KALA GUSH, Afghanistan-Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan welcomed home Cmdr. Russell McCormack and five other team members Sept. 23 from a month long mission in Barg-e Matal, Afghanistan.

When McCormack, a Navy F-18 Super Hornet pilot, with 25 years of military service volunteered to command a PRT mission, he never imagined it would be one of the highlights of his career.
“It was exciting watching villagers vote during the elections a little after a month of when the Taliban and Anti Afghan Forces occupied the village of Barg-e Matal,” said McCormack. “I also led the best soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines American Forces has to offer and the best Afghanistan National Security Forces.”

While in Barg-e Matal, PRT Nuristan conducted many missions. Most of the missions consisted of distributing humanitarian aid like wheat, rice, beans, flower, sugar, salt and oil. McCormack and team conducted governance work, assisted the resupply of medical supplies in the Barg-e Matal medical clinic, and coordinated the creation of village’s Artillery Security Force, who was in charge of village security. 

On the small team was Petty Officer 1^st Class Jordan Parker, who is a part of the Construction Battalion in the Navy. In Barg-e Matal, his responsibilities ranged from ensuring quality assurance, quality control, and being the pay agent for the team.

Jordan said the most rewarding experience for him was, “Seeing local villagers start to rebuild their homes and businesses, as well as, see AFNS mature and take charge of their own village security.”

Despite a lot of kinetic activity by AAF, Taliban and Coalition Forces, there were no civilians injured or killed during PRT Nuristan’s month of nonstop missions to help Barg-e Matal regain independence against insurgents.

McCormack said that the biggest take away from Barg-e Matal is, “There is a need for a basic understanding for civil responsibility and self determination on the part of Afghan leadership, at the village, provincial, and national level of government.”

FOB Kala Gush, Nuristan Afghanistan- Cmdr. Russell McCormack, left and Petty Officer 1st Class Jordan Parker (SEABEE), far right, pose for a photo before flying off to Barg-e Matal. (U.S. Navy photo/Petty Officer 1st Class Jordan Parker RELEASED)