Sgt. Stryker here. I’ve been putting a lot of information out about the various places where US troops are deployed. Sometimes, though, the story is in what’s behind the news. That is, the ‘truth’ lies beyond a collection of facts. So, being the person I am, I want to start injecting more of me and my experiences, my views on life, into this blog. I want to hear from you, my readers! I mean, the younger people in my life tell me that’s what blogs are all about – communicating with your audience. If you haven’t noticed, you can comment on the posts. I want to hear from you. Leave a comment. Let me know what you’re thinking.

And pictures, I can’t forget to tell you about the pictures – even the ‘moving pictures.’ Smile. Maybe you’ll like listening to me and my thoughts. Anyway, I want to start including *more* photos and videos on this site. Hopefully some of the pics will inspire you to leave a comment. (Are you noticing a trend here yet?) They say pictures are worth thousands of words, so I guess you can expect to see less text and more ‘words’ on the site. If a picture moves you, leave a comment. If a real word I write upsets you in anyway (or has you thinking, “hell, yeah!”) leave me one of those comment things. Hell, if I can communicate on the Internet, surely you can.

My next post will contain more information (just the big stuff) and more thoughts from me. Let this be my ‘hello’ to the world ‘column.’ In the meantime, enjoy some great photos of the US military in action around the world.

‘Red Dragons’ Shake Up Forward Operating Base Warrior While Calibrating Paladins

Flames erupt from the end of the barrel of a M109A6 self-propelled 155-mm Howitzer, also known as Paladin, as it fires a round on Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq. This is the first time this particular Paladin has been fired in Iraq and it is being calibrated to ensure it can hit its target every time. Photo by Pvt. Justin Naylor \

Military Police Start First District Level SWAT Team

Spc. W Eric Mraz, 3rd Platoon, 527th Military Police Company, shows Afghan national police officer “Jimmy” how to walk with your weapon as part of the Special Tactics and Training course at Forward Operating Base Bostick, March 21. The experimentally program is aimed at providing local ANP stations with SWAT-like teams. Photo by Sgt. matthew moeller

USS Annapolis in Arctic

Members of the Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station clear ice from the hatch of the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Annapolis after the sub broke through the ice while participating in Ice Exercise 2009 in the Arctic Ocean. Annapolis and the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Helena are participating in ICEX to operate and train in the challenging and unique environment that characterizes the Arctic region. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Tiffini Jones

Patrol in Haswa, Iraq

Sons of Iraq watch the convoy of U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Platoon, Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Calvary Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, attempt to locate refugees in need of aid in the Shaka 4 area north of Haswah, Iraq on March 20. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Wendy Wyman

Military Police Start First District Level SWAT Team

(From left to right) “Dean, Snake, Jimmy, Goolie and Rock” practice reacting to enemy fire as part of their Special Tactics and Training course at Forward Operating Base Bostick, March 21. The program’s aim is to develop a local SWAT-style team called the Special Tactics Team for the ANP’s Nari station in Konar province, Afghanistan. Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller

Iraqi Kids Receive New Wheelchairs: Iraqi National Police, U.S. Paratroopers Team Up for Delivery in Rusafa

Capt. Jesse Stewart, commander of Troop C, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, carries a disabled Iraqi girl, March 23, in the Rusafa District of eastern Baghdad. The girl’s mother carried her daughter for two miles before almost collapsing near the wheelchair distribution site. Photo by Sgt. Isaac Wendt

Signaling the Landing

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jack Terry signals a pilot from the “Dragon Whales” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 to fly away during a vertical replenishment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is underway for a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the ongoing rotation of foward-deployed forces to support maritime security operations and operate in international waters across the globe. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Rafael Medina

Baghdad Patrol

An Iraqi flag flies over Baghdad, Iraq, at an Iraqi police station, March 13, 2009. Photo by Sgt. Kani Ronningen

USS Chancellorsville Activity

The guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville is underway beside the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan before a fueling at sea. Ronald Reagan and Carrier Air Wing 14 are underway conducting a sustainment exercise in the Pacific Ocean. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Gary Prill

IED Training at Camp Diwaniyah

A small training charge is detonated as Iraqi soldiers from the 8th Division, Iraqi Army, drive through the Improvised Explosive Device lane during reaction to IED drills on Camp Diwaniyah, Iraq, March 24, 2009. A small explosive is used to provide realism in the soldier’s training. Photo by Senior Airman Eric Harris

Sgt. Stryker signing out.

Deadly Needles in a Haystack
Sgt. Robert Solesbee, a native of Corona, Calif., assigned to 710th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 3rd Ordnance Battalion, 71st Ordnance Group, glances around at his surroundings, looking for potentially dangerous ordnance among the scrap metal at the Sheik Khalid scrap yard March 18.
Photo by Spc. Laura Johnson

Mail Must be Addressed to Specific Servicemembers + Military Updates

Sgt. Stryker here. The military is asking people not to send them mail labeled to “Any Servicemember.” “Mail to ‘Any Servicemember/Any Wounded-Recovering Warrior,’ deposited into a collection box and erroneously accepted at a United States Postal Service post office will not be delivered,” Military Postal Service Agency officials said recently in a news release. This restriction applies to all classes and types of mail addressed to Any Servicemember.

The Defense Department suspended the “Any Servicemember” and “Operation Dear Abby” programs in 2001 following the terrorist attacks. The policy was adopted as a way to bolster force protection.

“Even though these programs may provide an excellent means of support to deployed personnel and wounded-recovering warriors, they also provide an avenue to introduce hate mail and hazardous substances or materials into the mail system,” MPSA officials said in the release.

The Dear Abby program, founded by the newspaper advice columnist, delivered mail to U.S. service members overseas during the holiday season for 17 years. “Any Servicemember” mail grew out of operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Since shortly after the start of recent operations in the Middle East, many grassroots organizations have made sure servicemembers know they’re remembered. Those interested in writing to servicemembers can visit the Defense Department’s Community Relations Web site and click the “Citizen Support” link on the right side of the page to find groups that support troops with letters.

Michael Phelps Leads Team at Basic Training Command

Olympic gold medalist and U.S. National Swim Team member Michael Phelps leads his teammates back after being sent to get wet in the surf at Basic Training Command at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. Getting wet in the cold Pacific water is a formal remediation used by instructors at Basic Training Command. This is one of several physically demanding evolutions the team went through as they experienced a morning in the life of a Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL student.

Photo by Anderson Bomjardin

According to U.S. military news releases, Afghan and coalition forces killed five militants and detained four suspected militants early March 22, 2009 in Kondoz (or Kunduz) province during an operation targeting a terrorist network in northern Afghanistan.

In coordination with local Afghan police, Afghan and coalition forces conducted an assault of a compound near the Afghan-Tajik border. During the initial assault of the compound, forces encountered enemy combatants in the courtyard. One militant was killed while another surrendered and was detained.

When the forces called out for non-combatants to exit buildings on the compound, they were engaged with small arms fire. Forces returned fire and cleared the buildings on the compound, resulting in four militants killed and three suspected militants detained. Forces found multiple AK-47 assault rifles and chest racks on the compound and removed them. No women or children were present in the targeted attacks according to troops on the ground.

Meanwhile, preparations continue for an influx of troops to Southern Afghanistan. The military is currently working hard at Kandahar Air Field to accommodate increases in the number of personnel being deployed to the International Security Assistance Force Regional Command-South area of operation. The increases are part of the expansion of U.S. troops that was signed into action last month by United States President Barack Obama.

The 25th Naval Construction Regiment, re-commissioned last year, deployed to Afghanistan from Gulfport, Miss., in February. The NCR relieved the outgoing 1st NCR. The last time the 25th NCR deployed was for a brief six-month period immediately after the Invasion of Normandy during WWII.

“It’s quite a historical regiment to work for,” said Capt. Jeffrey Borowy, 25th NCR commodore. “We’ve been preparing for this deployment for over a year now, and everyone here is quite enthusiastic to be here and do a good job.”

The 25th NCR consists of two battalions each in charge of different projects at RC-South. Those include levelling projects at KAF for helicopter operations as well as expansion projects for troop accommodations around Camp Bastion.

Borowy, an engineering officer of 23 years, explained that the 25th NCR will work in conjunction with various U.S. Army engineer battalions as well as civilian contractors to support the expansion of troops expected to arrive before the end of the spring.

“The Army will do most of the planning for our projects and we’ll get out there and build,” he said. “The only challenge we see is getting the materials in a timely manner because we tend to work fast and furious.”

According to Borowy, the regiment will also coordinate contracts with the local Afghan community in construction projects. “It’s just one thing we can do while we’re here,” he explained. “Offering the means to bolster the local economy by offering job opportunities is just as important as the fight against insurgency.”

Will things begin to move forward in Southern Afghanistan with a little more concentrated effort? Time will tell, but the plan is solid. This is Sgt. Stryker signing out.