Forces Conclude Operations Near Pakistan Border

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2011 – Afghan and coalition forces concluded operations in the Marawara district of Kunar province today after clearing out insurgent fighters near the villages of Sarowbay, Barawarlow Kalay, Shirugay, Kowtgay and the surrounding area, military officials reported.

The combined security force moved into a mountainous area near the Pakistan border to disrupt insurgent activities in the region and protect citizens who live there. More than 80 insurgents were killed in the operation.

Insurgents had been using the area to move supplies and men into Kunar province and to stage attacks on Afghan and coalition forces. The insurgents in the targeted area were tied to kidnappings, intimidation and numerous attacks throughout the province. More than 100 insurgents were engaged during the offensive operation that took place near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

"I considered the operation to be very effective bringing security and stability to the area. In cooperation with our international friends, we disrupted insurgents' safe havens,” said Afghan army Maj. Shirin Agha, public affairs officer, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 201st Corps. “Most importantly, there weren’t any civilian casualties.”

During the operations Afghan and coalition forces found numerous weapons caches, seizing several uniforms, more than 1,100 machine-gun rounds, 2,000 rounds of AK-47 rifle ammunition, more than 200 hand grenades, 33 rocket-propelled grenades, 22 recoilless-rifle rounds, nine mines, several sniper and AK-47 rifles, six heavy machine guns, six mortar rounds, improvised explosive device-making materials and Taliban propaganda.

Afghan and coalition forces also captured a radio station that had been used as part of a network that directed attacks on civilians and recruited weapons and money.

In operations yesterday:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force killed several insurgents, detained numerous suspected insurgents and discovered a weapons cache during a security operation in the Qaisar district of Faryab province. The forces disrupted a Taliban safe haven known for improvised explosive device activity and weapons cache sites near Khwaja Kinti village in the district. While conducting the search, the combined security force was attacked by insurgents. The force engaged the individuals, killing several. They also detained numerous suspected insurgents for further questioning. The force discovered and destroyed a weapons cache with two IED pressure plates, ammunition for multiple weapons systems, three 100-foot spools of detonation cord, three chest racks, multiple rocket-propelled grenade rounds, one RPG propellant, 11 RPG boosters, 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate, one main charge for an explosive, two 107 mm warheads, two 82 mm mortar rounds, and numerous vests with sniper rifle rounds sewn into the inside of the pockets.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force captured a Taliban leader and two other suspected insurgents during a raid in the Andar district of Ghazni province. The cell leader was an IED expert who maintained connections with Taliban leadership in the area.

-- An Afghan and coalition force captured a Taliban leader and detained one suspected insurgent during a security operation in Baraki Barak in Logar province. The leader facilitated IED components and coordinated attacks with other insurgent leaders in the district. Also in Baraki Barak, a separate combined force captured a Taliban facilitator and one suspected insurgent. The facilitator provided ammunition and IED materials to Taliban associates.

-- In Wardak, a combined Afghan and coalition force detained numerous insurgents while searching for a Hezb-E Islami Gulbuddin network leader in the Nerkh district. The network leader raises funds in order to plan and coordinate attacks against Afghan and coalition forces with other Hezb-E Islami Gulbuddin leaders in the district. Fifty pounds of marijuana was discovered and safely destroyed. No shots fired and no civilians harmed during the operation.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force detained numerous suspected insurgents while targeting a Taliban leader during a security operation in the Zharay district of Kandahar province. The leader acquires IED components for distribution throughout the district. He also facilitates the coordination and execution of IED attacks.

-- An ISAF patrol operating in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province discovered a weapons cache consisting of more than 200 7.62 mm rounds, 50 commercial detonators, 22 pounds of explosive chemicals, assorted transmitters, receivers and other components. The explosive materials were destroyed on site.

-- Afghan and ISAF troops repelled an insurgent attack and discovered a large narcotics cache in the Khash Rod district of Nimroz province. A combined security patrol was engaged by several insurgents with small-arms fire. The combined forces returned fire, forcing the insurgents to flee. The security patrol found a large narcotics cache consisting of 220 pounds of opium, 17 pounds of heroin, and chemicals and narcotics paraphernalia, one heavy machine gun, one AK-47 rifle, one shotgun and three full AK-47 magazines.

-- During separate clearing operations in Helmand province’s Musa Qal’ah district, two ISAF patrols observed several armed insurgents displaying hostile intent against coalition forces. After establishing positive identification, the ISAF patrols engaged the enemy positions killing the insurgents.

-- In the Nahr-e Saraj district, an Afghan army and ISAF patrol was engaged by insurgents. The combined patrol returned fire and called for air support. The air weapons team killed two insurgents.

-- In Kandahar province Afghan and ISAF troops found several weapons caches in the Arghandab district. The caches consisted of one AK-47 rifle, multiple anti-personnel mines, hand grenades, multiple automatic weapons, heavy machine guns, individual and belt ammunition and several IED-making components.

-- In the Chorah district of Uruzgan province, a combined patrol discovered a weapons cache consisting of 1,000 7.62 mm rounds, seven rocket-propelled grenade rounds and seven RPG motors.

-- In the Shindand district of Herat province, an Afghan civilian turned in a weapons cache to coalition officials. The cache consisted of 30 mortar rounds and several types of ammunition.

Face of Defense: Canadian-Born Soldier Serves as Sniper in Iraq

By Army Staff Sgt. Matt Meadows
Special to American Forces Press Service

July 10, 2008 - Looking through a rifle sight into the eyes of an enemy -- no matter how evil that enemy is or how many innocent people he has killed -- and then pulling the trigger to end that enemy's existence affects a soldier. It takes a certain type of person to perform the duties of a sniper.

Army Sgt. Murray Spence -- a 30-year-old sniper assigned to Multinational Division Baghdad with the 10th Mountain Division's Scout Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team -- is a full-blooded Sioux who was raised by German Mennonites in Canada after he was put up for adoption at birth.

"They raised me as one of their own, and I consider them my family," he said. "That's the way it is. It really helped shape me to be who I am. They were really Christian, God-fearing people, and they instilled that in me. I am very thankful for that. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here today."

Whenever Spence is not on a mission, he likes to work out at the gymnasium and to go running. When Spence says he likes to run, he is not joking. He represented Fort Polk, La., in the Army 10-miler race in Washington in October 2007. His team placed first in the active-duty military mixed division, with a time of 1 hour, 4 minutes.

Nowadays, Spence spends most of his day cleaning his "kit" -- weapons and equipment -- and getting ready to go out on missions.

"Missions shift and change every day," he explained. "It might be one thing for a day, or maybe one thing for a week or two weeks, and then again six hours before [we are scheduled to leave], we might get shifted to do something else."

He spends his time getting ready, he said, "so if I have people relying on me, then they can rely on me."

Spence said he is allowed to operate fairly independently, which took some getting used to. Although he coordinates movement with the battalion, he said, it's good to have the freedom to choose his positions during missions to take advantage of his sniper-school training. "I definitely don't just run around out there and do my own thing," he said.

Being a sniper might seem to be a lonely existence. But even though Spence operates separately from other soldiers, he does not feel he is alone or unsupported.

"I don't feel isolated at all," he said. "The Wild Boar battalion treats me pretty well, and they make sure I've got what I need [and] all the support I need. As long as I'm doing the right things for the right people at the right time, everything just falls into place. It's a pretty good system. I like it."

The life of a sniper is challenging, to say the least. But Spence has been facing and overcoming challenges since the day he was born. He served as a reservist in the Canadian military for two years, assigned to a rifle company called the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. After leaving Canadian military service, Spence tried to return, he said, but the process was taking too long, so he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He decided to become an infantry scout and earned honor graduate honors in his sniper school class.

After I got out of the Canadian army, Spence said, he thought his military days were over. "But I got into construction," he explained, "and just got bored. Somehow, I ended up here. Somehow I ended up a sniper in Iraq."

Spence overcame the sweltering August summer heat of Georgia in 2007 and the challenge of mathematics to leave the sniper school with top honors. He was 28 years old when he attended the school, years removed from high school math classes. "Getting back to the math and how to figure out calculations ... on the fly was pretty tough," he admitted, "but it was worth it."

If Spence had had a little money at the time, he might not have joined the Army. His life almost took a turn toward a much different military lifestyle.

"I toyed with the idea of joining the French Foreign Legion before I came here, actually," he said. "I was about $200 short of buying a plane ticket to Marseilles, France, and that still interests me a little bit, just for the adventure. I might have enough of the Army lifestyle after this. We'll see what happens."

Spence is more than just a long-range shooter. Army Staff Sgt. Tommy Peek, Spence's platoon sergeant from Fort Polk, said Spence has provided protection for their battalion commander while moving throughout the Wild Boar operating environment and also has helped many less-experienced soldiers.

"He is a very diverse soldier," Peek said, explaining Spence was a crew-served-weapons expert with the M-240 and 50-caliber machine guns and the Mk-19 while assigned to Company D. "All his information and guidance to the younger soldiers we had actually helped a lot in their mentorship and their understanding of the crew-served weapons systems.

"He is a cut above the rest," Peek continued. "He is not just the basic soldier. He has a lot more to offer than just long-range target acquisition."

Working with Spence is a "delight" because of his consistent professionalism and guidance to younger soldiers, which makes Peek's job much easier, he said.

Because of his Canadian birth, Spence could not be considered for Special Forces, and several attempts to go to Ranger school have not worked out for one reason or another. But whatever Spence does in his life after he leaves Iraq, it is a safe bet it will not be boring.

"So, I guess it's time to move on and see what else is out there -- something interesting, something challenging," he said. "Hopefully, [I'll] try to become an underwater welder or something like that. It's different. It's challenging. It's operating on your own a lot. It's pretty dangerous, I think."

Being on his own a lot and having to do what he does, Spence said, his religious faith is very important in sustaining him and the majority of his sniper comrades. "It helps me day to day, every day, all day," he said.

Spence's message is a simple one. He would like people to know he and other Army snipers are not heartless, hardened gunmen.

"We are not just stone-cold, steely-eyed killers without souls," he said. "We are just regular people like everybody else."

(Army Staff Sgt. Matt Meadows serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 10th Mountain Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)