Sgt. Stryker here with a serious topic – IED – improvised explosive devices. These can be some of the meanest weapons in the enemy’s arsenal. Made from anything (and everything), they’re easily disguised so that coalition troops in Afghanistan (and the country on the other side of Iran) still have problems with them. This cowardly weapon has claimed the lives of countless civilians as well.

Four suspected Taliban insurgents were captured Tuesday August 11, 2009, during a search by Afghan national army and International Security Assistance Forces after receiving a tip from an Afghan civilian in the Sayed Abad district of Wardak province in eastern Afghanistan.

Task Force Spartan received information from a local civilian and, under the lead of the ANA, searched a location in the Tangi Valley, resulting in the capture of two insurgents notorious for improvised explosive device production, and two alleged accomplices.

The two insurgents are suspected of being involved in several IED attacks on ANSF and ISAF troops in the past, including multiple IED attacks in the Sayed Abad district of Wardak province in June 2009.
The insurgents were found in the house along with IED making materials.

Among the IED making materials was a large amount of coiled copper wire commonly used for IEDs. Tests on the four individuals resulted in positive readings for handling explosive materials. The suspects were turned over to the custody of the Afghan government.

“These suspected insurgents were taken into custody with the help of local Afghans, willing to help rid their village of those who wish to harm their people. This is a good example of locals helping locals, and taking responsibility for their own safety,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Steven Osterholzer, spokesman for Task Force Spartan.

The Afghan civilian who provided the tip was rewarded through the United States Department of Defense Rewards Program. This program, which began in 2003, encourages local Afghans to work with ANSF and ISAF in ensuring the stability and security of Afghanistan by offering rewards based on tips and information on insurgents and insurgent activity.

The DoD Rewards program has seen an increase in use, resulting in a 200 percent increase in the location and removal of weapons caches and insurgent activity from last year throughout Regional Command-East.

ISAF is a key component of the international community’s engagement in Afghanistan, assisting the Afghan authorities in providing security and stability and creating the conditions for reconstruction and development.

A 200% increase. That’s newsworthy, I think. What about you?

RIP Walter Cronkite.

Sgt. Stryker Out.

22nd MEU Lima Company Dismounts in Desert During Sustainment Training

Marines with Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, set up security at a training area near Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Aug. 10. The 22nd MEU is ashore conducting sustainment training in Kuwait and is currently serving as the theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command. Photo by Cpl. Justin Martinez

A Marine with Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, posts security on a staircase in a training area near Camp Buehring, Kuwait Aug. 10. The 22nd MEU is ashore conducting sustainment training in Kuwait and is currently serving as the theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command. Photo by Cpl. Justin Martinez

Marines with Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct dismounted patrolling on a training area near Camp Buehring, Kuwait Aug. 10. The 22nd MEU is ashore conducting sustainment training in Kuwait and is currently serving as the theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command.

30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team Soldiers on Patrol

U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Matthew Haggerty, left, a platoon leader from Greenville, N.C., Sgt. 1st Class Robbie Irwin, a platoon sergeant from Tabor City, N.C., and Spc. Joey Hucks, a team leader from Lumberton, N.C., all members of B Company, 120th Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, ask a local farmer about recent enemy activity in the area. Photo by Sgt. Robert Jordan

No one likes when it happens, least of all me, but friendly fire sometimes happens. And not just from the US military. For example, Several Afghan national police were wounded when two AH-64 Apache helicopters responded to small arms fire from insurgents in the early morning hours in Ghazni province on August 8, 2009.

The ANP wounded were treated by International Security Assistance Force service members. One has been released from treatment. Four ANP are still being treated, including one who is in critical condition, and three who are in stable condition. The incident is currently under investigation.

The thing is, the ISAF is a key component of the international community’s engagement in Afghanistan, assisting the Afghan authorities in providing security and stability and creating the conditions for reconstruction and development. Because of this, it’s important that they are given every benefit of the doubt.

I don’t know. Like I said, it’s a horrible thing that you don’t want to happen, and you should investigate it as much as possible, but the war goes on and the goals still need to be met. Am I sounding too harsh? I don’t know, maybe I’m getting bitter in my old age. Haha. What do you think?

Just a day before, three International Security Assistance Force service members were killed yesterday when their patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device and then attacked by insurgents with small arms fire. The patrol responded to the attack but three service members died in the engagement.

This is tragic, but the battle in Afghanistan continues. There are going to be losses – friendly fire losses, collateral damage losses, and losses of high quality US troops. The thing is, there is progress being made on BOTH sides of Iran. That’s right, I said it again. And I’m going to keep saying it. Do I know the future? No, but I can look to the sky and see when it’s getting ready to rain.

Sgt. Stryker out.

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Endeavour Activity

The ANDE-2 Pollux spherical spacecraft is deployed from Space Shuttle Endeavour on July 30 by the Internal Cargo Unit.

Romanian Navy at School

Romanian Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Gheorge Marin fires an M-240B machine gun during a visit the Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School. Marin is the Romanian military equivalent to the U.S. chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Kathryn Whittenberger

BEEF Moves to New Pasture

The 474th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron has been comprised of Airmen from the West Virginia Air National Guard. During their tour at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, they were responsible for sustaining Camp Justice and the Expeditionary Legal Complex in support of Joint Task Force Guantanamo. The squadron completed a successful six-month tour July 30. JTF Guantanamo conducts safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detainees, including those convicted by military commission and those ordered released by a court. The JTF conducts intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination for the protection of detainees and personnel working in JTF Guantanamo facilities and in support of the War on Terror. JTF Guantanamo provides support to the Office of Military Commissions, to law enforcement and to war crimes investigations. The JTF conducts planning for and, on order, responds to Caribbean mass migration operations. Photo by Spc. Carlynn Knaak

Hey, Sgt. Stryker here. Hope I haven’t run some of you off with my sometimes harsh words. You have to know where I’m coming from. I don’t want to talk about it too much at the moment. There’s too much else to talk about. Take August 5, 2009 in Afghanistan. International security forces killed five insurgents at approximately 10:30 p.m. in southern Afghanistan.

Here’s the story coming out of the area. ISAF forces observed five armed, fighting-aged males for nearly one hour near Senjaray in Zhari District of Kandahar province. The insurgents were observed emplacing command-wire improvised explosive devices along a road. The men were positively identified as insurgents and they were fired on by an ISAF helicopter using a missile and machine-gun fire. No other people were present in the area at the time of the engagement.

This is a clear cut action. It’s not something you want to do, but it’s something the US military, the coalition, needs to do, you know? There’s just so many bad guys still on the loose in that country. The battle continues against hunger and poverty in the country of Afghanistan (aka the country on the east side of Iran…) Any way you look at it, there’s a lot to do – whether militarily or to help the people of Afghanistan.

I can assure you of this – the US Military has what it takes to get the job done over there. We’re just getting warmed up in a lot of ways. As the weather begins to shift over the next few months, I bet you see a lot of interesting activity in that country. I expect battles to heat up even more as the enemy is rooted out while the people are helped at the same time. This one two combo worked in Iraq and it’s going to work in Afghanistan over time. It wasn’t a big priority when Iraq was in full swing, but now the sights can be trained on the country.

Sgt. Stryker out.
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2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment Mortar Team Blasts Away at Forward Operating Base Kalagush

Soldiers with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division fire a 120 mm mortar at the hills surrounding Forward Operating Base Kalagush, Aug. 2. The Task Force Mountain Warrior Soldiers have been increasing operations in their area in order to disrupt insurgents before the country’s second national elections, scheduled for the end of August. Photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller

Securing Baghdad’s Belt

Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger, the commanding general for Multi-National Division – Baghdad, picks his way through reeds on the bank of an island in northeast Baghdad, Aug. 3. Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell

Pulling Into Rio

A Sailor aboard the amphibious assault ship pre-commissioning unit Makin Island mans the rails while the ship pulls into Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Makin Island departed Pascagoula, Miss., July 10 and is circumnavigating South America, via the Strait of Magellan, to its new homeport at San Diego. Makin Island is scheduled to also make port visits in Chile and Peru to support U.S. Southern Command objectives for enhanced maritime security and to share methods and training. Makin Island is scheduled to be commissioned in October. Photo by Seaman Michael Barton

Iraqi Police Patrol With U.S. in Kirkuk

U.S. Army Pfc. Eloy Martinez, from Dallas, Texas, assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, pulls security during a joint patrol mission in Kirkuk, Iraq, Aug. 2. Photo by Spc. Canaan Radcliffe

Well, they found him. Finally. It’s done, though. Remains found last month in Iraq’s Anbar province are those of Navy Capt. Michael Scott Speicher. If you remember, he was shot down flying a combat mission in an F/A-18 Hornet on January 17, 1991. His fate (until now) had been uncertain.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Captain Speicher’s family for the ultimate sacrifice he made for his country,” Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said. “I am also extremely grateful to all those who have worked so tirelessly over the last 18 years to bring Captain Speicher home.”

“Our Navy will never give up looking for a shipmate, regardless of how long or how difficult that search may be,” said Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations. “We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Captain Speicher and his family for the sacrifice they have made for our nation and the example of strength they have set for all of us.”

In early July, an Iraqi civilian told Marines he knew two people who recalled an American jet crashing and the remains of the pilot being buried. One of those people said he was present when Bedouins found Speicher dead and buried his remains. The Iraqis led Marines to the site, and the Marines searched the area. Remains were recovered over several days during the past week and were flown to Dover Air Force Base, Del., for scientific identification by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology’s Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner.

The recovered remains include bones and skeletal fragments. Positive identification was made by comparing Speicher’s dental records with the jawbone recovered at the site. The teeth are a match, both visually and radiographically, officials said.

This puts a sad tale to rest. As it does, notice how well the military worked to find the remains of on of their own – one of our own.

Sgt. Stryker out.

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USS George Washington Activity

Sailors assigned to the supply department of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington attach a cargo net to an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the Island Knights of Helicopter Combat Squadron 25 during a vertical replenishment. George Washington is underway supporting security and stability in the western Pacific Ocean during her inaugural deployment from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. Photo by Seaman Adam K. Thomas

Iraqi Hueys

An Iraqi air force pilot performs a pre-flight check on a UH-1H Huey helicopter before going on a joint mission over Iraq at Forward Operating Base Diamondback in Mosul, Iraq, July 31. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Carmichael Yepez

First Lady Visits Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group

First Lady Michelle Obama greets the families of Sailors returning from deployments with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group and the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort. Photo by Desiree Green

Action in Afghanistan

U.S. Army Pvt. Adam Eggers, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, loads his M4 rifle during a live fire range on Camp Blessing, Afghanistan, July 27, 2009. Photo by Spc. Evan Marcy

While US officials are starting to call for even more troops to head to Afghanistan, you can bet there’s a lot of smart military people looking at all the successes in Iraq and planning to implement some of the same measures in Afghanistan. If you step back and look at the big picture, it really makes sense to take care of the bigger hornet’s nest first. Now that Iraq is slowly becoming more stable (every day it seems), the focus can be turned to the country on the other side of Iran – aka Afghanistan. This entire region is important for many reasons.

Speaking of Afghanistan, if you didn’t hear, last week an International Security Assistance Force convoy, in southern Afghanistan, struck an improvised explosive device resulting in the wounding of soldiers. When helicopters arrived to evacuate the wounded soldiers the insurgents opened fire on the medical evacuation operation, damaging one of the helicopters.

An attack on clearly marked evacuation aircraft is in clear violation of international accords for the protection of medical personnel. One helicopter left the scene with all the wounded personnel while the damaged helicopter remains on the ground.

That’s the types of things troops over there are having to deal with. While violence still happens in Iraq, it can be said that violence is happening everywhere in the world. Wherever it happens, though, the US military is there to help keep the peace.

Will Afghanistan see the same success as Iraq? While only time will tell, there’s good odds that if the lessons learned in Iraq – where the bad guys threw their worst at the US and weren’t able to prevail – are applied to Afghanistan (and Pakistan while we’re on the subject)… well, then the sky’s the limit as to the amount of progress that can be made in that part of the world.

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment. Sgt. Stryker out.

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Targeting the Enemy

U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Matthew Meggs, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, checks his compass to ensure his units direction of travel while, conducting an air assault mission in support of Operation Champion Sword, July 28. Champion Sword is a joint operation involving Afghan national security forces and International Security Assistance Forces focused on specific militant targets and safe havens within Sabari and Terezai districts of Khost province in eastern Afghanistan. Photo by Spc. Christopher Nicholas

Paratroopers Assess Security, Concerns of Citizens in Salman Pak

Capt. Dallas Cheatham of Fayetteville, N.C., talks to an Iraqi worker about the progress made in cleaning the streets in the small farming town of Salman Pak during a foot patrol, July 30, in the Ma’dain region, located outside of southeastern Baghdad. The foot patrol allowed paratroopers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad to check on the area’s security and answer any concerns the local populace may have. Cheatham serves as the commanding officer for Company B.

First Lady Welcomes Sailors Home, Thanks Families

First lady Michelle Obama salutes during the singing of the national anthem at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., July 31. The first lady spoke at an event marking the homecoming of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the USNS Comfort from recent deployments. Photo by Gina Wollman

Paratroopers Assess Security, Concerns of Citizens in Salman Pak

A U.S. Army humvee stops on a road in the small town of Salman Pak, Iraq, in order for an Iraqi shepherd to guide his flock of goats across the road during a combined combat patrol, July 30, in the Ma’dain region, located outside of southeastern Baghdad. Paratroopers assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, and their Iraqi partners patrolled along the road in order to prevent the emplacement of improvised explosive devices and help keep local motorists and pedestrians safe along the canal road. Photo by Pvt. Jared N. Gehmann

Sgt Stryker here with news of more and more engagements (and victories – big victories) in Afghanistan. As I’ve said, it’s gonna take time, but things are moving forward. In an operation July 26, 2009, a joint Afghan and coalition force searched a compound in Khost province believed to be frequented by an insurgent known for coordinating attacks against troops as part of the Haqqani terrorist network.

After intelligence indicated militant activity at a compound near the village of Majles, north of the city of Khost, the joint force searched the area and detained seven suspects, including the wanted man. No Afghan, international security forces or civilian casualties were reported during the incident. This is very good news and shows the degree of professionalism shown by US troops in the region.

During operations July 25, 2009 in Afghanistan, a joint security force searched a compound in the remote reaches of Paktika province in an effort to disrupt Haqqani command and control, communications, and supply lines in the region. The joint team searched the compound in the Deela District of Paktika, about 95 miles southwest of Gardez, after intelligence indicated militant activity. Combined forces detained five suspects in the raid.

July 24, 2009 Afghanistan operations:

* A joint force seized a weapons cache in Nangarhar province as part of the ongoing effort to disrupt Taliban operations, particularly suicide-bomber and homemade-bombing attacks against Afghan national army and international security units in the region. In a raid, troops killed several enemy combatants and detained eight others.

* Combined forces searched a suspected militant compound in Paktia province in an effort to disrupt Haqqani financial and logistical support lines extending from the Khost-Gardez Pass and into the country. The joint force detained seven suspects in the operation.

* A joint Afghan and international security force detained an unreported number of suspected enemy fighters during a search of a compound in Kandahar province that also yielded incriminating photographs. Three Afghan security force members died and three others were wounded in the operation. An investigation into the incident has been directed.

These are just three days of some of the progress being made in Afghanistan. Say what you want, but if you don’t follow the news (wherever you can get it), you’re not going to be able to keep up with the good news flowing out of the country as the coalition does its job.

Sgt. Stryker out.

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Afghan National Police and U.S. Soldiers Visit Shah Wali Dokan

An interpreter for U.S. Army Soldiers greets a man in the village of Kowtay, Khowst province, Afghanistan, July 2009. The Soldiers were on a patrol with Afghan national police in an effort to gather intelligence information from locals. Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith

An Afghan national police sergeant speaks with people in the village of Shah Wali Dokan, Khowst province, Afghanistan, July 22. The ANP were on a patrol with U.S. Army Soldiers in an effort to gain intelligence information from locals. Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith

Afghan National Army and U.S. Troops Patrol in Midoni Village

A U.S. Army Soldier uses an interpreter to translate questions for the Afghan national army soldier to ask village members during a dismounted patrol near the village of Midoni, Khowst province, Afghanistan, July 23. The U.S. Army in Afghanistan is increasingly transferring responsibility to the Afghan national security forces. Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith

An Afghan man listens as an Afghan national army soldier asks questions to village members near Midoni, Khowst province, Afghanistan, July 23. Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith