Thanks again Martin :)
Monday, November 23, 2009
Martin Specht, Focus Photography
Thank you Martin for telling our story. For more pictures taken by Martin Specht go to our facebook page!
Friday, November 13, 2009
PRT Nuristan Congratulates Newly Promoted Servicemembers and Award winners
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – (From left-right) Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, congratulate newly promoted servicemembers Air Force, SrA Destiney Dowdy, an Aerospace Medical Journeymen, from Russellville, Arkansas and Army Sgt. Joel Myers, Infantry, from San Antonio, Texas, November 13. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)
NURISTAN, PROVINCE, Afghanistan - (From right-left) Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan, congratulate award winners of the Army Achievement medal, Navy, OS1 Kathleen Leach, from Smithfield, Rhode Island, and Navy, HM2 Robert Dailey, from Rutherford, New Jersey, November 13. The Army Achievement Medal is awarded only in a combat area of operation, for distinguishing oneself by meritorious service or achievement. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)
NURISTAN, PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan congratulate both newly promoted servicemembers and award winners of the Army Achievement Medal, November 13. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Marine Corps ETT partner with 2-77 Field Artillery Steel Warriors to train ANA in artillery
By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Forward Operating Base Kalagush’s Marine Corps Embedded Training Team 5-5 along with Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Steel, teamed up to train Afghan National Army Soldiers on the D-30 122mm Russian howitzer, Nov. 11.
“The ANA do artillery training five times a week, along with infantry tactics and they conduct patrols to show locals that they have a government presence within their area,” said U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Bradley Brill, the team’s leader, and Sitka, Alaska native.
The artillerymen were firing at a site used by anti-Afghanistan forces to launch attacks on FOB Kalagush. It was the first time the ANA were firing a counter-fire operational mission.
“I have taken it on as my personal mission to ensure these men of the ANA are capable of doing independent firing operations,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, 2nd Bn., 77th FA Regt. commander and Mayfield, Ky. native.
The ANA went through a seven-week certification program, similar to the training that U.S. Army artillerymen receive to be certified on their weapons.
“If we can’t get them operating independently and have them do their job without us, then we’re failing our mission,” Forsyth said. “Part of our combined action plan for them is to become sound, confident artillerymen and have the ability to secure their nation.”
Once the ANA finished the certification process, the Marines and the Soldiers hopes heightened that they will be able to do their own firing missions and man their weapons 24 hours-a-day, like the Coalition Forces on FOB Kalagush do.
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Marine Sgt. Joshua Winans, from Utica, Ohio, observes as a member of the Afghan National Army verifies the coordinates of the sector of fire before loading and firing off 122mm artillery shells from a Delta 30 howitzer on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Nov. 11. The ANA were conducting a mission to shoot out a point of origin the anti-Afghan forces were using to set up rocket attacks on the FOB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Forward Operating Base Kalagush’s Marine Corps Embedded Training Team 5-5 along with Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Steel, teamed up to train Afghan National Army Soldiers on the D-30 122mm Russian howitzer, Nov. 11.
“The ANA do artillery training five times a week, along with infantry tactics and they conduct patrols to show locals that they have a government presence within their area,” said U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Bradley Brill, the team’s leader, and Sitka, Alaska native.
The artillerymen were firing at a site used by anti-Afghanistan forces to launch attacks on FOB Kalagush. It was the first time the ANA were firing a counter-fire operational mission.
“I have taken it on as my personal mission to ensure these men of the ANA are capable of doing independent firing operations,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, 2nd Bn., 77th FA Regt. commander and Mayfield, Ky. native.
The ANA went through a seven-week certification program, similar to the training that U.S. Army artillerymen receive to be certified on their weapons.
“If we can’t get them operating independently and have them do their job without us, then we’re failing our mission,” Forsyth said. “Part of our combined action plan for them is to become sound, confident artillerymen and have the ability to secure their nation.”
Once the ANA finished the certification process, the Marines and the Soldiers hopes heightened that they will be able to do their own firing missions and man their weapons 24 hours-a-day, like the Coalition Forces on FOB Kalagush do.
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Marines with the Embedded Training Team show members of the Afghan National Army how to properly load and fire 122mm Russian artillery shells from a Delta 30 howitzer on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Nov. 11. The ANA were conducting a mission to shoot out a point of origin the anti-Afghan forces were using to set up rocket attacks on the FOB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins) (RELEASED)
Happy 234th Birthday Day Uinted States Marine Corps
By Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne
FOB KALA GUSH, Afghanistan – Kala Gush Marines celebrated the Marine Corps 234th birthday with fellow their fellow Marines in Meterlam with cake, laughter, and reflection of the USMC history, November 10.
Marine Corps, Gunnery Sgt. Judah Crawford, 1st Lt. Bradley Brill, and Sgt. Joshua Winans, pose for a picture at the Marine Corps 234th Birthday in Meterlam, November 10. The Marines are with the Regional Corps Advisory Command Central, a part of the embedded training for the Afghanistan National Army, deployed on Forward Operating Base Kalagush. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)
Provincial Reconstruction Team-Nuristan- Public Affairs
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Nuristan PRT engages Tupak and Naylar villages with community self-help development projects
By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team visited Tupak and Naylar villages Nov. 7, to assess the recent community self-help projects, which included the Nuristan PRT providing fertilizer for villagers and materials for a protection wall for Tupak’s girls school.
The Nuristan PRT has created an opportunity for communities to get involved with small-scale projects. Community self-help projects are projects costing under $5,000, where the PRT will provide either the materials, funds, or both, as long as the community provides the labor. The labor for the projects is on a volunteer basis.
“I believe that these projects benefit the Nuristanis because it gives the community pride in what they do,” U.S. Navy Cmdr. Rodney Ottinger, executive officer for Nuristan PRT, from Knoxville, Tenn., said “If you have to build something yourself, you are more likely to take care of it. The same concept applies for the community self-help projects, if they build a protection wall or retaining wall, they are more likely to protect it and fight against Anti-Afghanistan Forces who may try to destroy their work.”
In Naylar, many families who were unable to afford fertilizer this crop season were given fertilizer.After elders applied for the self-help project, the Nuristan PRT provided 124 bags of fertilizers to 100 to 200 families who were in need.
“I believe the community self-help projects will be successful because it teaches the Nuristanis to work together for the good of the community,” Army Pfc. Jason Dixon, a civil affairs Soldier from Payson, Utah, said. “The people will also learn to rely on themselves instead of coalition forces, because when we leave they will have to depend on each other and their government.”
In Tupak, Nuristan PRT servicemembers provided materials for villagers to construct a protection wall around the local girls school, allowing them to study without fear of harassment by male villagers.
In order for communities to be considered for a self-help project they have to follow a list of requirements. Villages must be green, meaning they must support their local government and coalition forces, report improvised explosive devices in their area or any enemy activity to local police, villagers cannot support Taliban or enemy forces and they must push out Anti-Afghanistan Forces from their communities.
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan visited Tupak and Naylar villages in Afghanistan’s eastern Nuristan province, Nov. 7, to assess the recent community self-help projects, which included the Nuristan PRT providing fertilizer for villagers and materials for a protection wall for Tupak’s girls school. (From right to left) U.S. Army 1st Lt. Julia Malouin, civil affairs team leader and native of Manhattan, N.Y., an interpreter, Pfc. Jason Dixon, a civil affairs Soldier, from Payson, Utah, and Mohammed Yunnus, the headmaster for the Tupak’s girls school and the village leader from the Tupak village, talk about future community self-help projects that would best benefit both villages. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)
Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team visited Tupak and Naylar villages Nov. 7, to assess the recent community self-help projects, which included the Nuristan PRT providing fertilizer for villagers and materials for a protection wall for Tupak’s girls school.
The Nuristan PRT has created an opportunity for communities to get involved with small-scale projects. Community self-help projects are projects costing under $5,000, where the PRT will provide either the materials, funds, or both, as long as the community provides the labor. The labor for the projects is on a volunteer basis.
“I believe that these projects benefit the Nuristanis because it gives the community pride in what they do,” U.S. Navy Cmdr. Rodney Ottinger, executive officer for Nuristan PRT, from Knoxville, Tenn., said “If you have to build something yourself, you are more likely to take care of it. The same concept applies for the community self-help projects, if they build a protection wall or retaining wall, they are more likely to protect it and fight against Anti-Afghanistan Forces who may try to destroy their work.”
In Naylar, many families who were unable to afford fertilizer this crop season were given fertilizer.After elders applied for the self-help project, the Nuristan PRT provided 124 bags of fertilizers to 100 to 200 families who were in need.
“I believe the community self-help projects will be successful because it teaches the Nuristanis to work together for the good of the community,” Army Pfc. Jason Dixon, a civil affairs Soldier from Payson, Utah, said. “The people will also learn to rely on themselves instead of coalition forces, because when we leave they will have to depend on each other and their government.”
In Tupak, Nuristan PRT servicemembers provided materials for villagers to construct a protection wall around the local girls school, allowing them to study without fear of harassment by male villagers.
In order for communities to be considered for a self-help project they have to follow a list of requirements. Villages must be green, meaning they must support their local government and coalition forces, report improvised explosive devices in their area or any enemy activity to local police, villagers cannot support Taliban or enemy forces and they must push out Anti-Afghanistan Forces from their communities.
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army 1st Lt. Julia Malouin, a civil affairs team leader and native of Manhattan, N.Y., with the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team visits the Tupak and Naylar villages in Afghanistan’s eastern Nuristan province, Nov. 7, to assess the recent community self-help projects, which included Nuristan PRT providing fertilizer for villagers and materials for a protection wall for Tupak’s girls school. Malouin asks local villagers about the progress of the protection wall for the girl’s school. (U.S. Air Force/photo 2nd Lt Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan visited Tupak and Naylar villages in Afghanistan’s eastern Nuristan province, Nov. 7,to assess the recent community self-help projects, which included theNuristan PRT providing fertilizer for villagers and materials for a protection wall for Tupak’s girls school. U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Dailey, a corpsman from Rutherford, N.J., , looks at a young boy with an ear infection during the visit to the Tupak and Naylar villages. (U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)
Monday, November 2, 2009
U.S. SERVICEMEMBERS IN AFGHANISTAN HELP SUPPORT BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Story and photos by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Twenty-five U.S. servicemembers made the effort to help raise funds, in support of breast cancer awareness month, by participating in a 5 kilometer run around Forward Operating Base Kalagush,in Afghanistan’s eastern Nuristan province, Oct 31.
Members of the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team hosted the 5K run to help support the Save the Ta-Tas Foundation, founded in 2008, by the Save the Ta-Tas clothing brand.
U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne, Nuristan PRT public affairs officer, and Lt. j.g. Stacey Gross, PRT information operations officer, first came up with the idea when they heard of a breast cancerawareness month 5K run being held in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan.
“Lt. Gross and I were going to go to Jalalabad and do the run,” Cherne said. “Then we thought we should do it here so that everyone who wanted to participate didn’t have to leave the FOB. FOB Fenty [was] doing a 5K through the Save the Ta-Tas foundation, so I looked them up, and worked with the foundation to raise money for their foundation by giving servicemembers the option to buy Save the Ta-Tas t-shirts. The people at the foundation were very supportive and really helped us get everything we needed in a two week time frame before the run. ”
Hosting the event at the FOB was a good chance for everyone who personally knew someone affected by the disease to show their support.
“Lt. Cherne came to me with the idea for the whole event,” U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis Mobley, Nuristan PRT radio talker operator, said “I knew someone who died of breast cancer, so I wanted to give back to something that I felt was really worth the cause.”
Statistically, nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die. Approximately 1,700 men will also be diagnosed, and 450 will die. It is the second overall cause of death among women, aside from lung cancer.
The Save the Ta-Tas foundation was introduced in order to promote cancer awareness and aid in a fight to find a cure for the disease. The 5K event made it possible for 57 t-shirts to be sold from the foundation’s website, raising a total over $900, in which a third was donated to help the effort.
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Randall Maurer with 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Steel, finished first, with a time of 20:47. U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Bradley Brill and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Cory Cummings, a gunnery sergeant with2-77, finished second and third, with their times being 21:00, and 22:58, respectively.
For more information on the Save the Ta-Tas Foundation, visit www.savethetatas.com.
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. servicemembers run during the breast cancer awareness month five kilometer run, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 31. The run was held in order to promote awareness of the disease and raise money to help find a cure. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis Mobley from Valdosta, Ga., Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team radio talker operator, records runners' times during the breast cancer awareness month five kilometer run, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 31. The run was held in order to promote awareness of the disease and raise money to help find a cure. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. Brian Ferguson, Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team convoy operations officer from Annapolis, Md., runs during the breast cancer awareness month five kilometer run, on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Oct. 31. The run was held in order to promote awareness of the disease and raise money to help find a cure. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ashley Hawkins)(RELEASED)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Halloween Party
Thank you to all the people who sent candy and Halloween decorations. FOB Kala Gush ended October with a bang and lots of candy!
(U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)
(U.S. Air Force photo/ 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne) (RELEASED)
Thank you again!
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