Warriors of the Quarter for PRT Nuristan

Congratulations to our newest Warriors of the Quarter!

Name: Mason Sullivan

Branch: USAF

Rank: SrA

Time in Service: 4

Military Occupational Specialist: Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman

Home Station: Tinker, AFB

Hometown: East Boston, Massachusetts

Responsibilities for PRT Nuristan: Combat medic for Nuristan PRT

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

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

Congratulations to ABF3 Wagner

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

Nuristan PRT Medical Team treats gunshot victim

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

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nuristan PRT Female Engagement Team holds MEDCAP for children

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

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONGRATS ON THOSE WHO RECEIVED ARMY AND NAVY ACHIEVEMENT MEDALS

CONGRATS TO OUR SERVICEMEMEBRS WHO MADE E-5!

Petty Officers 2nd Class Ring

Petty Officer 2nd Class Howard

Sgt. Veneziano

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

Bob Calvert

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you
bob

Nuristan PRT visits local villagers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you Wild West Snacks

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

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

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

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

Thanks again Wild West Snacks :)

Radio Show Talking with Heroes interviews Nuristan PRT Servicemembers

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

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ANA at Kalagush receive Completion Certificates for Delta 30 Howitzer Certification

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

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

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

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

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

Eastern Afghanistan coalition forces disarm IED

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Servicememebers get interviewed on the radio show Talking with Heroes

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

Thank you Bob Calvert for getting our story out there!

Check out the link to hear the interview.

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

Thank you for all the Christmas love

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

Thank you again!

Nuristan PRT delivers assistance to Barge Matal

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

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOB Kalagush hosts weight lifting competition

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

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