Nuristan Women celebrate International Women’s Day

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

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

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

TIME TO GO HOME!

Nuristan PRT Visits ANP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nuristan PRT Female Engagement Team Bonds with local women

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