Coalition Forces Capture Provincial Taliban Commander

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

May 26, 2010 - A combined Afghan-international security force captured a Taliban operations facilitator and other suspected militants in southeastern Afghanistan last night, military officials said.

The combined forces captured the facilitator and other militants in Zabul province's Qalat district, where he has ties to several insurgent networks and is known to fund the insurgency. When the security force confronted him, he immediately surrendered and identified himself as the wanted man. No shots were fired, and no one was harmed.

In other operations in Afghanistan:

-- A combined patrol found 50 detonators, a mortar round, a mortar fuse, detonation cord, ball bearings, pressure plates, a small bag of homemade explosives, and a trigger device, in Uruzgan province's Chorah district yesterday.

-- Afghan forces working with international partners in Helmand province killed several insurgents in a firefight in Shurakay yesterday. The team was approaching a compound where a Taliban commander was believed to be when they were attacked by insurgents with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.

The combined forces surrounded the compound so Afghan special police could ensure residents could come out safely. Several occupants were detained, and several women and children were protected throughout the operation, officials said. No civilians were injured.

Lynn Thanks Offutt Airmen for Recon, Intel Support

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

May 26, 2010 - The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have pointed to the importance of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, and today Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III thanked the airmen who provide much of that data.

Lynn stopped to visit with and thank the men and women of the 55th Wing here.

The deputy met with squadron commanders in a small conference room and then moved to a huge hangar, where he addressed about 400 airmen of the wing.

Part of the unit flies RC-135 reconnaissance jets, and though the unit is based here, the crews fly from forward bases around the world, including Kadena Air Base, Japan; the Royal Air Force base at Mildenhall, England; and Souda Bay Naval Support Activity, Crete. The wing has provided intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities for all aspects of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

"The reality of what you are doing in theater is clearly saving lives," Lynn told the airmen. "You're providing the technology and connectivity and the awareness that lets those on the ground know what they are coming up against, and know it well in advance of when they see it. It gives them the opportunity to beat it." U.S. forces are taking casualties, the deputy secretary acknowledged. "But they are a fraction of what they would be without your contribution," he added.

Lynn also thanked the airmen's families and assured them that defense leaders understand that the constant deployments place strains on all families.

He thanked the maintainers who keep the wing's aging aircraft flying. The wing's crews fly specialized military versions of the Boeing 707 – the first viable commercial jet aircraft. The newest aircraft in the wing is 46 years old.

"These are not spring chickens," Lynn said of the aircraft. "The ability to keep those aircraft up and running [and] keep them doing the mission is a critical part of what you're doing."

No one really expected the wars America is in today, Lynn said. "I was in the Pentagon in the '90s as part of the defense planning [team]," he said. "What we were planning for then was ... doing Desert Storm all over again." The initial phase of the Iraq campaign was like that, he said, and American servicemembers did it extremely well.

"But it wasn't really the stressing part of what we're doing," he said. "The stressing part in the nature of the conflict is the insurgency and the duration of the conflict." The United States, he noted, has been involved in Iraq and Afghanistan longer than the country was involved in World War I and World War II together.

The deputy secretary said that no one expected this long a war with the related stresses and strains upon servicemembers, their families, their equipment and the strategies they use to fight. They are adjusting, he told the airmen, and changing the way wars are fought.

"What we are asking you to do is exceptional, and your response has been exceptional," Lynn said.

The secretary met with each airman in the hangar and then toured a nearby RC-135. The plane was full of the latest electronic gear, and the crew proudly showed off its capabilities to Lynn. The plane is one of the newer ones in the 55th Wing's fleet, having been delivered to the Air Force in 1964, and every airman on the crew was born after the aircraft was built.

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. Edwin Rivera, 28, of Waterford, Conn., died May 25 at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., of wounds sustained May 20 when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using indirect fire at Contingency Outpost Xio Haq, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry, Norwalk, Conn.

For more information, the media may contact the Connecticut National Guard public affairs office at 860-883-3268.

Trainers Provide Lessons-Learned to Deploying Troops

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

May 26, 2010 - Army Staff Sgt. Chris Kleinhans has just about seen it all during his past two-and-a-half years as a trainer/mentor at the Joint Readiness Training Center here. He has facilitated about 20 rotational training units as they performed their last critical mission rehearsal exercises before deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan. Nearly all of the most-recent rotations, including the 101st Airborne Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team that's wrapping up its training here, are headed for Afghanistan.

This current rotation, Kleinhans' last at JRTC before reporting to his next duty station, holds special significance. He's on orders for the 101st Airborne Division, and recognizes that he could well be serving in combat with the troops he's coaching here.

"It's not a matter of making you work harder at this job, but it does make it a lot more personal," he said.

Kleinhans is among a highly experienced cadre committed to ensuring units get the most out of their JRTC experience.

"The bottom line is, we are helping them achieve the readiness level they want before they go to combat," said Army Lt. Col. Val Keaveny, the JRTC brigade commander and senior trainer/mentor

"Each of us here has served in their shoes, and each of us know, or at least hope, we will serve in their shoes again," Keaveny said. "So as trainer/mentors, we are committed to helping them maximize the very short amount of time they get here."

JRTC abandoned the term "observer-controllers" about two years ago, adopting a title Keaveny said far more accurately depicts their relationship with the rotation training units.

"To observe is passive," he said. "And we don't control anything. It is their unit. What we do is focus on training them and focus on mentoring."

Trainer/mentors observe each unit's performance, coaching and teaching doctrine as they manage mock engagements, monitor safety, and conduct after-action reviews. All have deployment experience under their belts and keep well-versed in current operational doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures.

"We have all been there, and we have experienced some of the pain," said Keaveny. "And now, in a position like mine, after seeing it here for two years straight, I can help them avoid some of the pain."

But as JRTC's trainer/mentors will attest, it takes pain to save pain. So they put rotational units through the most realistic and challenging training possible, enhanced by role-players portraying Afghan leaders and citizens and a formidable opposing force that replicates a wily and ever-adapting insurgency.

Army Sgt. Darrell Blige, a trainer/mentor for the past year, remembers the challenges he'd faced going through JRTC before deploying to Afghanistan in 2007 as an 82nd Airborne Division platoon sergeant.

"They beat me down on the lanes out there," he said, referring to the mission-oriented situational training exercise lanes that provide individual and collective tasks and battle drills instruction under realistic conditions.

"But it all paid off when I got to Afghanistan," Blige said. "I see the value of making the training here as hard as it can be."

Now Blige is helping the 4th BCT Currahees' distribution platoon and forward support company fine-tune their convoy operations skills. The training focuses heavily on securing convoys against improvised explosive devices and direct attacks as the soldiers move mission-critical water, food, fuel, construction materials and ammunition.

"We replicate the challenges they will face downrange. We don't duplicate them exactly," Keaveny said.

"Some areas don't have a mortar threat today. Some areas don't have a rocket threat today. But there are certain things we always train, because conditions fluctuate as the enemy adapts to our tactics," he said. "Beyond that, we stay linked very, very closely to what is going on downrange so we can accurately replicate what they will face."

Keaveny's work with the rotational training units starts months before they arrive at this isolated western Louisiana pine forest. His team flies to the unit's home station to provide pre-rotational instruction, and enhances that with interactive DVDs, video teleconferences and other training tools.

"We use the term 'getting left of the rotation,'" Keaveny said. "We don't wait until they arrive. We start as far out as humanly possible, providing trends, best practices, classes. The list of classes is a mile long in what we provide the rotation."

From his first meeting with incoming commanders, Keaveny tells them straight up: "Here are the frictions you will face." He lists them, and then says, "Here is the best practice out of the two years I have been doing this. This is the No. 1 tactic, technique or procedure, to avoid that friction or make the most of it."

But Keaveny and his trainer-mentors also recognize there's no simple, cookie-cutter formula for every situation they'll face in Afghanistan.

"It is very easy for me to say, 'Here is the problem and here is the solution,'" he said. "The hard part is helping them achieve that capability. Getting to that is how we spend the majority of the time here."

Favoring the "human dimension," with more back-and-forth discussions than formal briefings or data charts, Keaveny strives to help rotational command groups identify strengths and weaknesses during their training rotations.

"I'll ask them, 'What frictions have we had today? And what do we need to do to make it smoother or gain more efficiency or effectiveness?'" he said.

Keaveny recognizes that it's easy while operating within a JRTC scenario "to be consumed by what is going on right now" rather than looking out at the big, strategic picture.

"So I look out ahead to identify where multiple operations will overlap, where the enemy might potentially take advantage of us, where we might have missed something because we were so consumed by what is going on right now," he said. "We try to identify those for the leadership ahead of time so we – the TMs in the unit – can work our systems to prevent that problem."

Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Cogdell, a Fort Riley, Kan., soldier augmenting JRTC's trainer/mentor staff, said he found tremendous value in the feedback he received at JRTC when his 1st Infantry Division unit conducted its training rotation for Iraq.

"I can stand back and see things a platoon sergeant doesn't see because he is in the middle of the fight," he said. "Even the most elite unit has room for improvement, and different settings make you look at things in a different way."

When he assesses what his trainer/mentors bring to the JRTC training experience, Keaveny sums it up with the sage advice that a former sergeant major trainer/mentor had provided to incoming rotational units.

"He said, 'You need to leave here with confidence in yourself, your equipment and your leadership,'" Keaveny said. "When you think about it, he was dead right. That's what we're after: confidence in those three things."

That's exactly what Sgt. Ryan McGrath, a 4th BCT soldier, said he's gaining during his JRTC rotation.

"This is some of the best training we get out here," said McGrath, as he conducted a roadside security mission under the watchful eyes of trainer/mentor Staff Sgt. Chris Ream. "They try to make it as real-life as possible out here .... It's a big part of getting us in the 'green mode,' prepped and ready for deployment."

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Monte Abshier recognizes that rotational units already have extensive training – and in many cases, deployment experience – under their belts when they arrive at JRTC.

"They already have their systems in place. What we try to get them to do is work their systems here at JRTC," he said. "JRTC gives them the opportunity to test them in a realistic environment that replicates almost everything they can expect to encounter in [the combat] theater."

Army Staff Sgt. Jason Wells, JRTC's newest trainer/mentor, ensures rotational training units learn the basics that served him well during 37 months of deployments in Iraq.

"Are they doing battle drills to standard?" Wells said. "Are they assessing casualties to standard? Are they doing situational reports? Are they keeping the commander informed?"

Wells said he also pulls rotational platoon sergeants aside to remind them of some of the easily overlooked fundamentals.

"You can't always run these guys 100 miles an hour," he explained. "An aggressive platoon isn't a bad thing. But sometimes you need to calm down, catch your breath and assess the situation. If you don't, that's what can lead you into an ambush. You can be baited into something."

Reviewing his own experience as a trainer/mentor, Kleinhans said there's tremendous gratification in helping rotational units fine-tune their systems before deploying.

"This job is great, being able to watch soldiers come here at one level, then be at a different level when they leave," he said. "It's not something that happens in leaps and bounds. It's gradual. And it isn't something we give them in the classroom. It's on the ground, employing their tactics, techniques and procedures in the most realistic environment we can give them."

Kleinhans said his experience as a trainer/mentor at Fort Polk will give him a tremendous leg up when he goes to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division.

"Being able to be an outsider looking in gives you a perspective not a lot of people get in the Army," he said. "The biggest thing people take out of this experience is learning from the mistakes they make. I get to see what people do, both right and wrong, and it gives me a lot of insights that I can put into my kit bag and take with me."

(This is the third in a series about how the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., is preparing the 101st Airborne Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team for its upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.)

Soldier Relates to Iraqis' Hopes

By Army Sgt. Neil W. McCabe
1st Infantry Division

May 26, 2010 - The struggles of the Iraqi people to build a functioning democracy have been compared to the efforts of the American people during the Revolutionary War. This connection is especially strong for Army Spc. Scott D. Warren, a military police soldier serving here, who said he is a direct descendant of Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Warren, hero in America's war for independence.

A resident of Schenectady, N.Y., and a corrections deputy for Schenectady County, Warren deployed to Iraq in August with the New York National Guard's 206th Military Police Company from Albany.

Warren spent six months as a member of the quick-reaction force at the Basra Operations Command before his reassignment here as a Humvee driver. He said that while he is happy he shares a family resemblance with the general, he only mentioned it once in school.

"One time, in the first or second grade, we were reading a book about Paul Revere," he said. "At one point in the story, Revere is ordered by Joseph Warren to ride out to Lexington and Concord to let people know the British were coming. I told my teacher that he was my great, great, great, great, great-grandfather. She went with it, but, I don't think she believed me."

In the weeks after Lexington and Concord, the British grew concerned as the Americans sought high ground overlooking the British positions in Boston, such as two hills in Charlestown: Bunker and Breed.

Although he was the senior officer present, Warren, a widower with four children, volunteered to join the defense of the new American positions as a private on the line. It was June 17, 1775, the day British naval artillery and infantry combined to dislodge the rebels from their redoubts. It also was six days after his 34th birthday.

Despite being outnumbered, the Americans repulsed the first two assaults. But late in the battle, as ammunition ran out, the decision was made to retreat.

Warren, armed with his musket as a club and his ceremonial general's sword, stayed with the rear guard, protecting the American retreat. He was shot and killed by British troops in their third and final assault.

"My Warren grandparents always told me stories about Joseph Warren, and all the people he was friends with, such as Paul Revere, George Washington, John Hancock and Sam and John Adams," Warren said.

Another close friend of Warren's, Benedict Arnold, in an act of loyalty to his fallen comrade, successfully petitioned the Continental Congress to recognize his Massachusetts commission and grant his orphans' payments at half a major general's salary until the youngest reached 21.

After the British left Boston in the spring of 1776, the general's body was recovered for a proper burial by his brother and Revere, who identified the body by dental work the silversmith had done on his late friend, said Jeffrey R. Croteau, manager of Library and Archives at the Museum of Our National Heritage in Lexington, Mass.

"There's certainly no way of knowing what bright future Warren might have had, but his star was certainly rising when he was killed," Croteau said. In the years after the infamous 1770 Boston Massacre, Warren devoted himself to the revolutionary cause, Croteau said. At the time of his death, he was the president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, and as a Freemason, he served as the grand master of the Massachusetts Provincial Grand Lodge.

"If he hadn't been killed at the battle of Breed's Hill, he would have been as well known as Paul Revere or Sam Adams," said Army Maj. Terry J. Hawn, commander of the 48th Military History Detachment, assigned to U.S. Division South's command group here. "Because he died early in the revolution, he was forgotten a little bit."

Hawn said he has read up on Warren and admires the sacrifices he made as an established doctor in Boston who completely committed himself to the American cause in the revolution's early days. "He was one of the rabble-rousers," he said.

In another twist of fate, the modern-day Warren had the opportunity to meet a descendent of the brother of 18th-century British Prime Minister Robert Walpole, who argued for ruling the American colonies with a light touch.

Serving as Queen Elizabeth II's consul-general to southern Iraq in Basra, Alice Walpole met with Warren at the British consulate here.

"In my job, I often hear comments - some of them supportive, some envious, some sneering - about the 'special relationship' that exists between Britain and the United States," Walpole said. "My own view is that it is indeed a very special, and precious, relationship, and I hope that it will endure over the coming centuries, even as our countries continue to develop into splendid multicultural communities far distant from those little bands of essentially Englishmen facing each other across the Atlantic in the late 18th century."

Today's Warren said he feels a connection between the early days of the United States and the struggle of the Iraqi people to build their own democracy.

"I've been out there with them on both [the quick-response force] and with the police transition team," he said. "They are always smiling and going out of their way to be friendly."

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Champagne, 1st Infantry Division and U.S. Division South command sergeant major, echoed the sentiment.

"As the Iraqis are forming their new government, we as Americans must remember that over 236 years ago, our Continental Congress endured the same fate," Champagne said. "Dr. Joseph Warren co-wrote the 'Suffolk Resolves' with Samuel Adams in 1774. In the Suffolk Resolves, Warren and Adams stated, 'On the fortitude, on the wisdom and on the exertions of this important day, is suspended the fate of this new world, and of unborn millions.'"

Champagne pointed out how the recent national elections in Iraq and the important decisions made there also will determine the future fate of unborn millions.

Warren's family legacy "has come full turn," the sergeant major said. "Warren's selfless service, like [that of] his forefather, Dr. Joseph Warren, is allowing the Iraqis the ability to choose their freedoms."

Warren's thoughts on the subject mirror those of thousands of veterans and their families.

"I really hope it works out for them," he said, "so our coming out here was worth it."

Man Admits Attempting to Use a Weapon of Mass Destruction to Bomb Skyscraper in Downtown Dallas

May 26, 2010 - Hosam Maher Husein Smadi pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn to a felony offense related to his attempted bombing of a downtown Dallas skyscraper in September 2009, announced David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas, and Robert E. Casey Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Field Division.

Smadi, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Under the terms of the plea agreement, however, Smadi faces a sentence of 30 years in prison, if the court accepts the plea. Judge Lynn has set a sentencing date of Aug. 20, 2010.

"Today’s guilty plea underscores the continuing threat we face from lone actors who, although not members of any international terrorist organization, are willing to carry out acts of violence in this country to further the terrorist cause. I applaud the many agents, analysts and prosecutors responsible for this successful investigation and prosecution," said Assistant Attorney General Kris.

"I commend the FBI, the lawyers and support staff in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Counterterrorism section at the Department of Justice for their excellent work in bringing this case closer to a successful conclusion," said U.S. Attorney Jacks.

"The facts disclosed today and Smadi’s plea make it clear his intention was to kill American citizens. I want to commend the work of the FBI’s North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force investigators and the prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, who worked countless hours to bring this investigation closer to its conclusion and to protect the community in their execution of the FBI’s Counterterrorism strategy to detect, penetrate, and disrupt acts of terrorism in the United States," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Casey.

According to documents filed, on Sept. 24, 2009, Smadi knowingly took possession of a truck that contained a weapon of mass destruction, specifically a destructive device or bomb. The truck with the bomb inside was a vehicle borne improvised explosive device. Smadi believed that this was an active weapon of mass destruction, and while it was inert when Smadi took possession of it, it was a readily-convertible weapon of mass destruction.

Smadi knowingly drove the truck containing the bomb to Fountain Place, a 60-story public office building located at 1445 Ross Avenue in Dallas, and parked it in the public parking garage under the building. After parking the truck, Smadi activated a timer connected to the device, locked the truck and walked away. Smadi walked out of the parking garage, crossed the street and got into a car with an undercover law enforcement agent. They drove a safe distance away and prepared to watch the explosion. Smadi, who believed the bomb would explode and cause extensive damage, used a cell phone to remotely activate the device.

The case is being investigated by the FBI in conjunction with members of the FBI-sponsored North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson and Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerri Sims are prosecuting.

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc. Christopher R. Barton, 22, of Concord, N.C., died May 24 in Khowst province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

For more information related to this release, the media may contact the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) public affairs office at 270-798-3025.

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Maj. Ronald W. Culver Jr., 44, of Shreveport, La., died May 24 in Numaniyah, Iraq, when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, Shreveport, La.

For further information on this soldier, contact the Louisiana National Guard public affairs office at 1-866-275-8176.

Realistic Scenarios Prep Troops for Afghanistan Duty

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

May 25, 2010 - The day kicked off here late last week as a celebration in the fictional Afghan village of Sangari. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the reopening of the municipal center, headquarters for the provisional governor, the regional police commissioner and local police chief, as well as a public works service office. U.S. forces – the 101st Airborne Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team, pulling a month-long training rotation here at the Joint Readiness Training Center – arrived hours before the late-morning ceremony, along with their Afghan army and national police counterparts.

The "Currahee" Brigade focused on the same tactics, techniques and procedures they'll apply when they deploy to Afghanistan in the coming months as part of the troop surge there.

Working shoulder to shoulder with their Afghan counterparts, they set up checkpoints at three roads leading to the tiny village – one of 22 dotting the training center, all built to resemble real-life Afghan villages. They set up a perimeter around the village, taking pains to remain as far in the background as possible so the Afghan forces could take the lead.

Army Lt. Col. Donn Hill, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, discussed the security plan for the event with his Afghan army counterpart – an Afghan role player supporting the exercise.

"It looks like a good turnout," Hill said, speaking through an interpreter as he surveyed the villagers dressed in authentic Middle Eastern clothing as they gathered in front of the municipal center, awaiting the ceremony under the hot Louisiana sunshine.

"I know my people's biggest concern is a suicide bomber," Hill told the Afghan commander, whose role-playing Afghan troops and police manned the forward security line.

A CH-47 Chinook helicopter swirled the air as it landed nearby, depositing more role players depicting provincial reconstruction team leaders who had come to attend the ceremony. The provincial governor arrived next, along with an Afghan army general and U.S. Army Col. Sean Jenkins, the 4th Brigade commander.

No one realized that Army Spc. Kevin Pemberton of the Joint Readiness Training Center's opposing force lurked inconspicuously among the crowd. A member of the 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry "Geronimo" Regiment, for the past 15 months, Pemberton has carried out the full range of "Red Force" roles against rotational units training here. He's emplaced simulated improvised explosive devices, launched small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade attacks on coalition troops and has set up complex ambush attacks, among other insurgent tactics.

For the municipal dedication ceremony, he carried an Afghan citizenship card identifying him as "Zabidullah Nafi'e Hamet Mahsud." And beneath his flowing dishdasha robe, he concealed a suicide vest rigged with five bricks of C4 explosives and a detonator tucked into his pocket.

Pemberton's plan was to wait until the ceremony concluded and the crowd started to disperse to detonate. It would reduce civilian casualties, he explained, and more importantly, serve as the ultimate counterpoint to any message of assurance offered during the ceremony.

The local religious leader kicked off the ceremony, chanting verses from the Quran before the Afghan leaders took their turns at the podium set directly in front of the municipal building.

Some in the crowd became unruly, complaining they couldn't hear what was taking place, and pushed closer toward the building. The Afghan security forces initially tried to hold the security line, then reluctantly relented to allow the crowd to move in closer.

After the Afghan leaders addressed the crowd, Jenkins took his place at the podium, hailing the reopening of the municipal center as "another example of successful development" in Sangar province, calling it the result of the security the Afghan army and national police have provided the people of Sangari. He credited the close partnership among Afghan forces, coalition forces and the Sangari people for making it possible.

Just as the officials cut the ribbon and the crowd started to return to their homes and shops, Pemberton made his move to storm the municipal center. The Afghan soldiers and police tried to stop him, and he detonated – an action made more realistic, thanks to a fire marker who sent up an air cluster generating smoke and noise.

Chaos erupted among the crowd, as screaming men and women fled the area. Left lying behind, along with Pemberton, were 12 mock casualties – six Afghan soldiers, four Afghan police officers and two civilians.

The Currahee Brigade responded instantly, with squad and platoon leaders moving their soldiers into position. Then, as if remembering that the Afghans were to be in the lead, they readjusted toward the rear, providing backup.

Meanwhile, Army medics ran toward the scene, checking the pockets of each role player on the ground for a card that, for the exercise, designating the extent of their injuries. The triage quickly completed, Pfc. Christina Piatt tended to one patient as Spc. Tyler Westlund and Spc. Anthony Stein loaded another onto a litter to be evacuated from the site.

More disruptions rang out amid the chaos, signs of a coordinated strike. Simulated rockets crashed down in the distance. Insurgent forces engaged U.S. and Afghan forces manning the control points into the village. An enemy sniper fired shots from the top floor of the local hotel.

Two OH-58D Kiowa Warrior reconnaissance helicopters circled overhead, and an A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" soared high overhead, dropping flares simulating close-air support.

As the scenario concluded, the Currahee soldiers headed toward their command outpost, a plywood structure ringed with concrete barriers and wrapped in concertina wire. After they cleared their weapons, they filed into the building to catch their breath and await an after-action review.

Army Staff Sgt. Jason Wells, a Joint Readiness Training Center trainer-mentor who had carefully watched every detail of the operation as it unfolded, followed behind.

"Suicide bombers are particularly tough," he said. "But they could have done a better job of crowd control. It's one of the things they'll learn here."

Wells never has deployed to Afghanistan, but he has spent 37 months in Iraq, including the initial invasion in 2003, when he served with the 101st Airborne Division's 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment.

As the "new guy" with just two months on the center's trainer-mentor staff, he said, he sees tremendous value in the training deploying troops get here.

"If you know you are going into this type of situation, you need to get trained for it," he said. "If you're not ready and you go in messed up, you are going to get messed up."

(This is the second article in a series about how the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., is preparing the 101st Airborne Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team for its upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.)

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Amilcar H. Gonzalez, 26, of Miami, Fla., died May 21 in Ash Shura, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

For more information media may contact the Fort Stewart public affairs office at 912-767-2479 or 912-435-9879.

DOD Announces Units for Upcoming Rotation in Iraq

May 25, 2010 - The Department of Defense announced today the alert of replacement forces scheduled to deploy in support of Operation New Dawn. Effective Sept. 1, 2010, the U.S. mission in Iraq is renamed from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn to coincide with U.S. forces' shift to an advisory, assistance, training, and equipping role. The alert announcement involves one infantry brigade from the Army National Guard consisting of approximately 2,700 personnel.

Specific unit alerted for Operation New Dawn is:

1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard

The unit will replace a redeploying unit, with no increase in overall force levels. They are currently scheduled to begin their deployment in the summer of 2011 and are receiving alert orders now in order to provide the maximum time to complete preparations. It also provides a greater measure of predictability for family members and flexibility for employers to plan for military service of their employees.

DoD will continue to announce major unit deployments as they are identified and those units are alerted. For information on the supporting unit for this deployment, please contact Minnesota Army National Guard Public Affairs at 651-268-8961.

Forces Kill Key Terrorist in Afghanistan Firefight

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2010 - A combined Afghan-international security force killed a key al-Qaida leader and several other enemy fighters in a fierce gun battle in Afghanistan's Paktia province this morning, military officials reported.

The al-Qaida leader was the target in the operation, officials said.

The combined force went to a compound in a rural area in the Zormat district after intelligence information verified militant activity. As the assault force approached the compound, it came under heavy fire and killed several attackers with return fire.

Armed men ran from the compound and fired upon pursuing members of the combined force, who returned fire and killed them.

During a search of the compound, the assault force found a Chinese recoilless rifle with 25 rounds of ammunition, multiple rocket-propelled-grenade launchers and rounds, 20 mortar rounds and multiple automatic rifles and grenades. The assault force also protected several women and children from harm, officials said.

In other recent operations in Afghanistan:

-- An Afghan-international security force destroyed a roadside-bomb factory and detained a suspected insurgent in Kandahar province last night. Precision weapons were used to destroy the building.

-- A Taliban bomb-attack facilitator and another insurgent were captured by an Afghan-international security force in the Barak district of Logar province last night.

-- An International Security Assistance Force patrol found a freshly dug weapons cache at a construction site in Nimroz province's Khash Rod district yesterday. The cache consisted of a number of mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank and anti-personnel mines and artillery shells.

-- An Afghan-international force found 58 152 mm artillery shells in Nimroz province's Shindand district yesterday.

-- Afghan forces with ISAF partners in Helmand province arrested a Taliban fighter known to have taken part in attacks against ISAF forces and to have recruited for the Taliban in a combined operation May 23. Afghan Special Police ensured all occupants left the compound safely. Several men were detained, and the combined force seized a small amount of narcotics and an assault rifle. Several women and children were protected throughout the operation, in which no civilians were injured, officials said.



In other news, Afghan army commandos, advised and assisted by U.S. special operations forces, conducted combat and humanitarian operations in Zabul province's Arghandab district May 23.

While entering the farming village of Garnay, the combined force was engaged by and killed two insurgent fighters. A search of the insurgents and their motorcycle saddle bags yielded five assault rifle ammunition magazines, 150 rounds of machine gun ammunition and two hand grenades.

A further search of the village resulted in discovery of three motorcycles with saddle bags containing seven assault-rifle magazines, three tactical vests and bomb-making materials.

In a separate location, Afghan soldiers, assisted by U.S. special operations forces, entered the farming village of Bolan, located southeast of Garnay and received small-arms fire from multiple locations. The combined force continued to receive small-arms fire sporadically throughout the day.

During a search of the village, Afghan soldiers found a cache containing an infantry rifle, 200 rounds of ammunition and various bomb-making materials.

No civilian injuries or collateral damage were reported during these operations, officials said.

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc. Jason D. Fingar, 24, of Columbia, Mo., died May 22 in Durai, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his military vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

For more information, the media may contact the Joint Base Lewis-McChord public affairs office at 253-967-0147 or 253-967-0152.

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Stanley J. Sokolowski, III, 26, of Ocean, N.J. died May 20 in Kirkuk, Iraq, in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

For more information, the media may contact the Fort Bliss public affairs office at 915-568-4505.

Airmen neutralize threat to Bagram Airfield

by Staff Sgt. Richard Williams
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

5/24/2010 - BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Members of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, with assistance from Soldiers and Marines, repelled an early morning attack May 19 here.

The attack began with indirect fire that caused no significant damage, said Lt. Col. James Lowe, the 455th ESFS commander.

Indirect fire is the use of rocket-propelled grenades, mortars or other explosive devices to engage an area.

"We started receiving small-arms fire and our perimeter security teams identified movements at several points along the perimeter fence," he said.

Once the Airmen gained positive identification on enemy positions, they engaged the enemy to neutralize any threats on the installation, he added.

The base was attacked from several positions as small teams of enemy combatants began to throw grenades, launch rocket-propelled grenades and continued small-arms fire toward the perimeter, Colonel Lowe said.

"I had just got on post in my tower," said Airman 1st Class Garrett Zeising, of the 455th ESFS. Once his changeover was complete, he assumed post and began a visual scan of the area.

Airman Zeising said he had been in his tower on the south side of the airfield for about five minutes when he heard an explosion.

"When I heard the explosion it was a small one and I thought it was an IDF attack," he said.

He stepped onto the catwalk of his tower and began to scan the area to look for a point of origin, but did not see the initial explosion. As he proceeded back into his tower to grab his radio, Airman Zeising said he noticed some suspicious personnel.

"Two individuals were walking along the perimeter in (Army combat uniforms)," he said. "As they were walking, one raised a rifle and began firing."

Once he saw the individuals firing, Airman Zeising said he proceeded out to engage them and noticed two more individuals in the distance.

"Once I started engaging, they moved to a covered position out of sight. I ran inside, grabbed my radio and when I was trying to call in, they reappeared and began to shoot randomly and throw grenades."

As Airman Zeising engaged the enemy, a support element of 455th ESFS Airmen and Soldiers from a quick reaction force moved to his position in support.

He neutralized two enemy combatants and when the other units arrived, the other enemy combatants were eliminated.

On the western perimeter another enemy team was trying to breach security, Colonel Lowe said.

"They engaged our towers trying to pin our Airmen down while other individuals tried to come over the barriers."

"We received two indirect fire attacks and I felt my tower shake a little bit," said Airman 1st Class Keegan Donnelly, of the 455th ESFS. "We then heard another area of the base was taking small-arms fire and were told to do what we needed to do to neutralize any threats."

Airman Donnelly, who was located on the western perimeter of the airfield, began to scan the area around his tower and noticed two individuals behind barriers outside his location.

"I noticed the individuals about 50 meters off one of our other towers and I called it in," Airman Donnelly said. "One of our mounted patrols comes across the radio and says two Marines are going to walk along the inside of the wire and do a sweep."

Seconds after the radio transmission is passed to Airman Donnelly, the Marines came under fire. His tower came under fire as well as the area around his position, he said.

"I immediately dropped to a knee and began to return fire," Airman Donnelly said.

As Airman Donnelly and other servicemembers in the area were engaging enemy combatants, joint terminal attack controllers called in Army helicopters to engage enemy positions along the perimeter as well.

In the end, the joint defense effort, led by 455th ESFS Airmen, eliminated more than 16 enemy combatants with minimal injuries to U.S. forces, Colonel Lowe said.

As the initial attacks on the perimeter began, many off-duty ESFS members began to gather, said Chief Master Sgt. Allen Graves.

"The response was exceptional. Initially, we pushed around 20 Defenders to areas along the perimeter. All told, we sent more than 90 off-duty Airmen out to support our Airmen in the towers and on patrol."

Chief Graves said they didn't even have time to recall anyone.

"The Airmen knew what their responsibility was and showed up with the 'Put me in coach' and 'Where do you need me' mentality,'" he said.

"Our Airmen executed the defense of the base with speed and discipline. They led the fight, working together with our sister services and coalition forces to ensure the security of the airfield," said Col. Jack Briggs II, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander.

"I didn't expect to see what I saw," Airman Donnelly said. "I am proud of everything we did. We have trained for these situations and when the time came it all just kicked in and I did what I had to do."

"I could not be more proud of our Airmen," Colonel Briggs said. "I am lucky to be serving alongside our outstanding Airmen who accomplish extraordinary things every day, especially our Defenders."

Forces Capture Taliban Commander in Kandahar

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

May 24, 2010 - Afghan and international forces captured a Taliban commander in Kandahar, Afghanistan, last night, the second Taliban leader seized in the region in recent days, military officials reported.

An Afghan-international security force captured the man and several insurgents in the village of Kukaran after intelligence indicated insurgent activity there. The commander is believed to be responsible for leading Taliban fighters in southern Arghandab, coordinating attacks on coalition forces and distributing rockets, improvised explosive devices, small arms and ammunition to fighters throughout the area.

A combined Afghan-international force captured another Taliban commander northwest of Kandahar City on May 22. The man, who surrendered immediately when confronted, is believed to be responsible for ambushing coalition forces and other attacks in the southern Arghandab and Dand districts.

In other news from Afghanistan:

-- A combined security force seized materials used to build improvised explosive devices following the search of a compound in the Chahar Darah district of Kunduz province last night.

-- In Logar province last night, a combined force detained several suspected insurgents and seized a weapons cache following a search of a compound in Charkh district. The cache included several rocket-propelled grenades, multiple automatic rifles, ammunition, grenades and notes on how to conduct suicide bombings.

-- In Zabul province last night, a combined force searched a compound in the Shah Joy district and detained a suspected militant for further questioning.

-- In Helmand province yesterday, a combined patrol was given permission to search a mosque in Musa Qal'ah district where they seized a cache consisting of multiple AK-47s, 200 pounds of homemade explosives, pressure plates and a pro-Taliban painting. The cache was removed from the mosque and destroyed.

-- Also in the Musa Qal'ah district yesterday, a combined patrol found a cache consisting of 550 pounds of opium and two AK-47s with loaded magazines. Two people were detained for further questioning.

-- In western Afghanistan's Farah province yesterday, a combined patrol confiscated a large weapons cache in a cave and tunnel complex in the Saji Valley. The cache contained two complete 82 mm mortar systems with extra tube and 34 mortar rounds, a 14.5 mm anti-aircraft gun with 200 rounds and three spare barrels, two 82 mm recoilless rifle rounds, seven RPGs, 175 mortar fuses, 14.5 mm and 12.7 mm ammunition, and small-arms ammunition.

- In the Kajaki district of Helmand province yesterday, an international patrol found a weapons cache consisting of two grenades, two mines, six smoke bombs and various explosive components. The cache will be destroyed.

- In the Washer district of Helmand province yesterday, a combined patrol discovered a weapons cache containing more than 1,200 machine gun rounds, three 82 mm mortars and four 120 mm mortars. The cache was destroyed.

In May 21 operations:

-- In Helmand province, a combined force detained several suspected insurgents while searching a series of buildings in Lashkar Gah district.

-- A combined force detained a suspected insurgent in Zabul while searching a compound in Sha Joy district.

-- An international patrol discovered a weapons cache in the Pul-e Khumri district of Baghlan province. Recent heavy rains uncovered the previously buried munitions discovered by local children. The cache, consisting of 20 82 mm grenades, 15 mines and seven artillery rounds, was destroyed.

-- An international patrol discovered a weapons cache consisting of four 82 mm rockets, a machine gun and a rocket-propelled grenade in the Panjwa'i district of Kandahar province. The cache was destroyed.

-- A combined force destroyed an explosives factory with a precision air strike in Kandahar. The combined force was approaching a compound in a farming area in Zharay district when they discovered the area was heavily mined to protect the building. Once inside, the force discovered a high explosives factory used by insurgents to produce IEDs and mines. The security force called in the strike, which destroyed the building. No Afghan citizens were harmed during the operation.

-- In the Bala Baluk district of Farah province, an international patrol found eight detonation devices that link several charges to one initiator, four pressure-plate initiation devices, 20 meters of detonation cord, five remote control initiation devices and 40 battery packs. The cache was confiscated to prevent its use in IEDs.

-- In the Murghab district of Badghis province, a combined patrol found two pressure-plate IEDs. The devices were destroyed in place.

-- In the Garm Ser district of Helmand province, an ISAF patrol found two bags of ammonium nitrate, a common ingredient in IEDs. The material was confiscated and destroyed.

-- In the Now Zad district of Helmand province, a combined patrol found two IEDs, each with 10 pounds of homemade explosives. The devices were designed to detonate when stepped on. An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the devices.

101st 'Currahee' Brigade Prepares for Afghanistan Deployment

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

May 24, 2010 - FORT POLK, La., May 24, 2010—For troops seeking the most realistic training experience possible before deploying to Afghanistan, most wouldn't expect to find it within the pine forests of western Louisiana. But here at the Joint Readiness Training Center, that's exactly what the 101st Airborne Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team is realizing, as it goes through a rehearsal exercise designed to build on its strengths and identify any shortcomings before the deployment.

The 4th BCT "Currahee" arrived here earlier this month. It is wrapping up a demanding training regime that Army Col. Sean Jenkins, the brigade commander, is counting on to ensure mission success in Afghanistan.

"This is our last big training exercise," Jenkins said, before the 4th BCT deploys to eastern Afghanistan as part of the 30,000-troop surge force there.

The 4th BCT will be the last of five 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagle" brigades to deploy to Afghanistan. As Army Maj. Gen. John F. Campbell, the division's commander, was casing the division colors back at Fort Campbell, Ky., Jenkins' troopers were focusing on the skills they'll need when they arrive in eastern Afghanistan.

About 60 percent of Jenkins' soldiers will be returning to the same area of Afghanistan they served in a year and a half ago – a big plus in Jenkins' book.

"It's an incredible advantage," he said. "It takes some of the home-court advantage away from the enemy."

The Currahee brigade had built strong relationships with their Afghan counterparts during the past deployment that Jenkins plans to reinforce in the months ahead. He was struck how deeply the bonds run when several of the brigade's former Afghan military counterparts paid a visit to Fort Campbell.

"They knew them by name," he said. "And I'm not just talking about our guys knowing their names, but them knowing our soldiers, too. "I think it's a great advantage when you can build upon what you left 17 months ago."

The biggest change since the brigade's last deployment is President Barack Obama's Afghanistan strategy, being implemented on the ground under the leadership of Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal.

"I think the goal is the same: a stable, secure Afghanistan where the people have confidence in [and] support the government of Afghanistan," Jenkins said.

And McChrystal's revised tactical directives, issued last July, place an emphasis on protecting innocent civilians while confronting the insurgency.

"It really comes down to the allocation of your resources – your most precious being people – and how you apply the [counterinsurgency] strategy," Jenkins said. "I don't look at it as ... limitations or constraints. It is actually a benefit. You are getting after that same goal without violating the culture.

"You are honoring the culture of Afghanistan and you are ... showing the people that, 'See? We can do this,'" he said. "We can bring agriculture to your region. We can bring medical. We can bring education without violating the culture."

Another big change since the Currahee Brigade's last deployment is the emphasis on increasingly moving Afghan national security forces into the lead.

The 101st will be largely responsible for training and mentoring Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police forces. And exercising a "combined action" strategy initiated by the 82nd Airborne Division, they'll embed with their Afghan counterparts.

"As we do things forward, everything is [going to be] combined action," Jenkins said. "Everything this brigade will do, there will be an Afghan lead. So if we are out on patrol, there are Afghans there with us. We have planned it together. We have rehearsed it together, and we are going to execute it together.

"If someone needs to go into a house, the first one in the house is [going to be] an Afghan," he continued. "The first voice [one] hears is Afghan."

That focus has been paramount in the training plan the 4th BCT worked out with the JRTC cadre months before its arrival at Fort Polk.

The Currahee have been keeping their eyes on what Jenkins calls the "big six." It's an extensive array of capabilities he considers critical to battlefield success: physical fitness, marksmanship, battle drills, medical skills training, driving and, reflecting an area of Army-wide emphasis, resilience.

The brigade's "Toccoa Tough" program -- named for the Georgia town where the storied unit that came to be known during World War II as the "Band of Brothers" was founded in 1942 -- emphasizes mental as well as physical resilience for soldiers and their families, Jenkins explained.

Now at JRTC, the brigade is hammering away at those and other capabilities, with an emphasis on company-, troop- and battery-level operations difficult to conduct within the confines of its home station.

JRTC's extensive training space – 200,000 acres that includes live-fire ranges, situational training exercise lanes and 22 mock Afghan villages -- provide the perfect venue for fine-tuning those skills that will be critical in Afghanistan.

Operating under the watchful eyes of trainer-mentors from the JRTC cadre, the soldiers are working shoulder-to-shoulder with role players serving as Afghan security forces as they confront a wily opposing force well-practiced in insurgent tactics.

They interact with the local population, also portrayed by role-players, ever attempting to sway the "hedgers" and fence-sitters and bolster support for the coalition, and more importantly, the Afghan government and national security forces.

"It is not us, [going] forward," Jenkins said. "It is them seeing the legitimate government of Afghanistan [and them seeing that the] Afghan national security forces are legitimate, and that they are the ones doing it. We are just helping them do it. We give them some backing. We give them some training. But like we have seen in other areas of the world, they have got [to be the ones to do it.]"

Jenkins expressed that commitment in the Pashtun language during a mock news conference integrated into a JRTC training scenario. The brigade will stand "shohna ba shohna" – shoulder to shoulder – with the Afghan national security forces to provide a security environment that "will allow the Afghan people to live their daily lives without fear of insurgents," he said.

"The Currahee's number-one priority is to assist the Afghan people and do everything in our power to improve their quality of life," Jenkins said.

Speaking to his Afghan military counterpart, role-played by an Afghan national, Jenkins pledged his brigade's support and assistance to the mission. "We are proud to be part of your mission," he said, emphasizing the word "your."

"And we will support you in your mission to provide the people a better way of life," he added.

After the mock news conference, Jenkins expressed confidence that the Afghan national security forces ultimately will be up to the task of assuming full responsibility for their country's security.

"Many of them are phenomenal," Jenkins said. "They are incredibly competent people, incredibly competent officers." Many Afghan noncommissioned officers, he noted, are graduates of the sergeant's major academy.

Jenkins said he recognizes the importance the U.S. leadership is placing on what happens in Afghanistan during the next six months. And he has no doubt that his own soldiers are up to the task ahead.

"Mission accomplishment is something you are taught from day one," Jenkins said. "And I think they are going to look at it and say, 'OK, here's the challenge. Let's go out and get after it.'"

Editors Note: This is the first in a series about how the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., is preparing the 101st Airborne Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team for its upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

U.S. Navy Destroyer Locates Pirated Vessel

By From a Combined Maritime Forces, Public Affairs News Release
American Forces Press Service

May 24, 2010 - The USS McFaul, a U.S. Navy Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, located the pirated M/V Iceberg I off the coast of Somalia with up to 50 pirates and more than 20 crew members on board.

The Panamanian-flagged vessel had last been seen off Garacaad, a Somali town and known pirate haven. The Iceberg's exact location was unknown until the McFaul made a positive identification of the pirated ship on May 19.

The ship initially communicated to the McFaul that it had not been pirated and instead was off course for its next port-of-call due to mechanical difficulties. Visual identification was at first confusing, because the name on the vessel's hull read, "Sea Express." Further investigation showed that the name of the ship had been crudely painted over.

After the McFaul requested to board the ship to check on the health and safety of the crew, the Iceberg radioed that they had been taken hostage, noting that the pirates on board were heavily armed.

The McFaul continued to shadow the ship for more than 36 hours, before the Iceberg reversed its course toward the Somali coast.

"We cannot be sure what the pirates plan was if they had not been interrupted. The vessel may have been on its way to either assist other pirates in distress, or look for another merchant vessel to attack," said Republic of Korea Rear Adm. Beom Rim Lee, commanding officer of Combined Task Force 151, the Combined Maritime Forces' counter-piracy task force that operates in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin.

"First and foremost, our responsibility is to ensure the safety of the crew. Given the report of heavily armed pirates on board, it was more prudent to monitor the ship's movement, rather than attempt a rescue," said Commander Ronald W. Toland, Jr., the McFaul's commanding officer. "My crew executed their instructions perfectly and I'm proud of each and every one of them."

Successful pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin decreased by 40 percent in 2009, increased in part to the presence of coalition warships and also by the use of best management practices by the shipping industry. These practices include the use of razor wire, 24-hour watches, fire hoses and high-speed maneuvers by vessels transiting throughout the area.

CTF 151 is a multinational task force established by CMF in January 2009 to conduct counter-piracy operations. CMF patrols more than 2.5 million square miles of international waters to conduct both integrated and coordinated operations to increase regional security and prosperity.

Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Philip P. Clark, 19, of Gainesville, Fla., died May 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the II Marine Division public affairs office at 910-449-9925.

Corruption in Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan

Kevin L. Perkins
Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Statement Before the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan

May 24, 2010 - Good morning, Co-chair Thibault, Co-Chair Shays, and members of the commission. I am pleased to be here with you today to discuss the FBI’s efforts to combat international contract corruption.

Since the inception of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2002, the United States government has privatized hundreds of functions that were conducted by military personnel in previous contingency operations and, in the process, has spent over $770 billion on private contractors. These contractors provide services and supplies as well as logistical and tactical support to the U.S. military in both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the reconstruction efforts of these two countries. While the vast majority of these contractors are legitimate, the FBI and its partners have also seen the emergence of complex and wide-ranging contractor fraud schemes in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.

Specifically, the majority of International Contract Corruption Task Force investigations involve two principal characters: U.S. contracting officers (both uniform and civilian) and government contractors. As is the case in most white-collar crimes, the primary motivating force is greed. The illegal conduct predominantly involves the illegal payment of bribes/kickbacks in exchange for government contracts and theft of government property such as diesel fuel.

To combat these and other fraud schemes, the Criminal Investigative Division of the FBI established the International Contract Corruption Initiative (ICCI) in November 2005. The mission of ICCI was to evaluate the extent of the crime problem, engage with other law enforcement agencies designated with oversight, develop a strategy to address the problem, and provide support to field offices conducting related corruption and fraud investigations.

The ICCI quickly revealed that the crime problem was immense and that it would take a coordinated approach to tackle the issue effectively. In 2006, after consulting with U.S. Department of Justice and other law enforcement agencies tasked with investigating fraud related to the war, reconstruction, and humanitarian efforts, we joined our partners in standing up the International Contract Corruption Task Force (ICCTF). Participants initially included: Department of Defense Inspector General - Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Department of State, Office of Inspector General (DOS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), U.S. Agency for International Development - Office of Inspector General (USAID), and U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division - Major Procurement Fraud Unit (Army CID/MPFU).

In early 2009, three additional agencies joined the ICCTF—Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI), Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), and Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS). The ICCTF works closely with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and DOJ’s National Procurement Fraud Task Force.

Joint Operations Center

To further interagency cooperation and coordination, we worked together once again to establish a Joint Operations Center (JOC) in 2007. The JOC, staffed by representatives from all nine ICCTF agencies and co-located in FBI space, goes along way in ensuring de-confliction of cases. The FBI’s International Corruption Unit (ICU) unit chief manages the daily administration of the JOC. The Board of Governors (BOGs), comprised of executive managers from each of the task force agencies, oversee both the ICCTF and JOC, to ensure standardization of operation and real-time sharing of information. Agency representatives work shoulder to shoulder, de-conflicting investigations, sharing intelligence, and supporting operations overseas. Task force agents are currently investigating nearly 300 joint cases in the U.S. and overseas which are directly supported by the JOC.

The FBI has also committed seven supervisory special agents, four intelligence analysts, two management and program analysts, and two administrative support personnel to the JOC in support of the ICCTF mission. Other ICCTF agencies have committed a total of eight intelligence analysts to the JOC, as well as a special agent from each agency to serve as that agencies’ JOC representative. JOC personnel collect and disseminate intelligence to ICCTF agencies, FBI field offices, and the intelligence community at large in furtherance of the intelligence cycle and in support of ICCTF field operations. To date, JOC analysts have responded to more than 300 requests for assistance (RFAs), provided direct support to top priority ICCTF cases, and initiated proactive intelligence assessments to identify trends and patterns.

Coordination with DOJ and the National Procurement Fraud Task Force

DOJ has established a coordinated and unified approach to combating procurement fraud, including fraud relating to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and reconstruction efforts in those countries. DOJ has devoted an array of resources and expertise to this important mission. The Antitrust Division, the Civil Division, and numerous U.S. Attorneys’ Offices have devoted substantial resources and coordinated their efforts with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Public Integrity Section, Office of International Affairs Section, and the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section.

DOJ has been working closely with the ICCTF and the JOC to investigate and prosecute procurement fraud relating to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the rebuilding of those countries.

In an arrangement that ensures the maximum degree of coordination, the Director of the National Procurement Fraud Task Force serves as a primary point of contact for both the JOC and the ICCTF. He provides guidance to law enforcement agents during the early stages of their investigations, and assists the agents in identifying the best venue to prosecute cases. In addition, the Director tracks all prosecutions of contract fraud cases associated with the wars and rebuilding efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In addition to the efforts undertaken by the Department’s Criminal, Civil, and Antitrust Divisions, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country also have brought numerous warzone cases. Among them are many high-profile and sophisticated procurement fraud cases, such as those handled by the LOGCAP Working Group in the Central District of Illinois, and the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York, among others.

As of May 2010, the Department had brought criminal charges against approximately 100 individuals and six companies for public corruption and government fraud relating to wars and reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, in addition to civil claims brought or settled against a number of contractors.

FBI TDY Program in Support of ICCTF

Since June 2007, FBI agents have been deployed on 120-day temporary duty (TDY) rotations to conduct investigations in support of the ICCTF mission. The FBI currently deploys 35-40 agents per year to locations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. These agents work with other ICCTF partners to initiate and conduct investigations. FBI agents in theater report to the FBI legat and coordinate operations with the FBI’s International Operations Division (IOD). In cooperation with IOD, an assistant legal attaché (ALAT) position was created to oversee the ICCTF mission in Iraq and recently, a similar ALAT position was created to oversee the ICCTF mission in Kuwait. In June of this year, the FBI will deploy a senior-level agent to Afghanistan for a one-year assignment; the FBI anticipates that this position will eventually be converted into a third ICCTF ALAT slot.

International Corruption Unit

The International Corruption Unit (ICU) was created in 2008 to oversee the increasing number of corruption and fraud investigations with an international nexus requiring extensive coordination with FBI field offices, legal attaché offices, U.S. federal agencies, and the law enforcement agencies of host countries. Specifically, the ICU oversees ICCTF matters, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigations, and antitrust investigations. These violations all have an international nexus and are therefore housed within the ICU, which has developed strong liaison relationships with law enforcement entities around the world. The ICU, which also initiates exchange programs with overseas law enforcement partners, is contemplating expansion of its mission into other theaters of operation, such as Pakistan and the continent of Africa.

Since its formation, the ICU has overseen all fraud and corruption cases related to the OCO. This includes all fraud against the U.S. government where the illegal conduct occurred outside the United States and involves United States persons or funds. Since 2004, the ICCTF has initiated nearly 700 investigations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait. To date for FY 2010, the ICCTF has 273 pending cases. Only seven months into the fiscal year (FY), the ICCTF has already generated 80 percent of the prior year’s case load. In FY 2009 alone, the ICCTF obtained over $3.3 million in forfeitures/seizures, over $1 million in fines/penalties, and over $1.1 million in restitution. To date in FY 2010, the ICCTF has obtained over $47 million in restitution, and $1 million in forfeitures/seizures.

Successes

Working closely with our partners, sharing information and leveraging all available resources and expertise, the FBI has made significant strides in the area of international corruption. Clearly, there is more work to be done but through a coordinated approach we have become more nimble in our efforts and more able to combat the most egregious offenders.

In December 2009, a former U.S. Army contracting officer was sentenced to over 17 years for his participation in a bribery and money laundering scheme related to bribes paid for contracts awarded in support of the Iraq war. Major John Lee Cockerham, Jr. (U.S. Army) was a former contracting officer responsible for soliciting and reviewing bids for Department of Defense contracts in support of operations in the Middle East, including Operation Iraqi Freedom. The contracts were for the purchase of various products and services, including bottled water destined for soldiers serving in Kuwait and Iraq. The investigation determined Cockerham received favors, cash, and items of value from contractors in exchange for favorable treatment and consideration on contracts awarded in Iraq and Kuwait. Once he agreed to take money in exchange for awarding contracts, John Cockerham directed the contractors to pay his wife, her sister, and others to hide the fact that contractors were paying bribes. His wife has since been sentenced to 41 months in prison. Her sister received 70 months for her role in the scheme. The total restitution orders included more than $14 million.

In January 2010, Michael Wheeler, a former lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for his participation in a wide-ranging bribery conspiracy involving the U.S. government, the Republic of Iraq and the Coalition Provisional Authority - South Central Region (CPA-SC) in Al-Hillah, Iraq.

Specifically, Wheeler conspired from December 2003 to December 2005 with at least three others to rig bids on contracts being awarded by the CPA-SC so that more than 20 contracts—worth approximately $8 million—were awarded to a co-conspirator. That individual, in turn, provided Wheeler and several other co-conspirators with more than $1 million in cash, SUVs, sports cars, a motorcycle, jewelry, computers, business class airline tickets, liquor, and promises of future employment.

In March of this year, Michel Jamil was sentenced to 40 months in prison for his participation in a scheme to steal approximately 10 million gallons of fuel from the U.S. Army in Iraq. In his guilty plea, Jamil admitted that he and two of his co-conspirators arranged for the creation of a false memorandum for record (MFR) authorizing individuals, purportedly on behalf of a company serving as a contractor to the U.S. government, to draw fuel from the Victory Bulk Fuel Point (VBFP), Camp Liberty, Iraq, which was owned and operated by the United States. The VBFP supplies aviation and diesel fuel to both military units and U.S. government contractors operating in and around the Victory Base Complex. Jamil admitted that he and his co-conspirators used false MFRs to steal large quantities of fuel from the U.S. Army for subsequent sale on the black market. Jamil admitted that he escorted the trucks to retrieve fuel from the VBFP using false MFRs on approximately 10 to 15 occasions. As a result of the scheme, Jamil received between $75,000 and $87,500 in personal profits.

Unfortunately, these cases represent a small sample of the cases our ICCTF team investigates each and every day. Together, though, we will continue root out the most egregious offenders.

Co-chair Thibault, Co-Chair Shays, and members of the commission, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you on this important issue. I am now happy to answer any questions.