Detainee Transfer Announced

The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of Nabil Said Hadjarab and Mutia Sadiq Ahmad Sayyab from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Government of Algeria.

As directed by the President's Jan. 22, 2009, executive order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of this case. As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, these men were approved for transfer by consensus of the six departments and agencies comprising the task force. In accordance with Congressionally-mandated reporting requirements, the administration informed Congress of its intent to transfer these individuals.

         

The United States is grateful to the Government of Algeria for its willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. The United States coordinated with the Government of Algeria to ensure these transfers took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures.

Today, 164 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.

Army Casualty

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

1st Lt. Jason Togi, 24, of Pago Pago, American Samoa, died Aug. 26, in Hasan Karez, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

For more information, media may contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at 254-287-9993 or 254-287-0106.

Army Casualty

Army Casualty

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

Sgt. 1st Class Ricardo D. Young, 34, of Rosston, Ark., died Aug. 28, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 307th Engineer Battalion (Combat/Airborne), 20th Engineer Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C.

For more information the media may contact the XVIII Airborne Corps public affairs office at 910-489-2774.

Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died Aug. 23 in Haft Asiab, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device during combat operations. Both soldiers were assigned to 2nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, White Sands Missile Range,New Mexico.

Killed were:

Spc. Kenneth Clifford Alvarez, 23, of Santa Maria, Calif., and

Pvt. Jonathon Michael Dean Hostetter, 20, of Humphreys, Mo.

For more information, media may contact the White Sands Missile Range public affairs office at 575-678-1134, during business hours. After business hours, call 575-993-0585.

Bagram joint airdrop inspectors ensure ground troops receive supplies

by Staff Sgt. Stephenie Wade
455th Air Expeditionary Wing

8/22/2013 - BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- What do rubber bands, string and parachutes have in common?

They are all components of an airdrop bundle inspected by the only two qualified Joint Airdrop Inspectors assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron here.

Airdrops provide ground members in isolated locations of Afghanistan with food, fuel and supplies daily. Prior to an airdrop taking place, there are three members who must ensure the cargo is loaded properly in order for an airdrop to successfully occur. The U.S. Army Combined Joint Task Force riggers, who load the cargo onto the aircraft, attach ties and static lines securing it to the aircraft. The JAI inspector whose job is to inspect the riggers work, and the aircraft's loadmaster who confirms the JAI's performed an inspection. The three signatures are important because if an incident does occurs during an airdrop, there will be three members who can help explain the reasoning.

"Once the airdrop cargo is loaded on a C-17 and C-130(J) here, we are in charge of inspecting it," said Staff Sgt. Kevin Johnson, NCO in charge JAI office deployed from Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Wash. "Attention to detail is very important. We make sure the correct parachute is being used according to the cargos weight and the static lines that deploy the shoots are connected to anchor cables securing it to the aircraft. If static lines are not connected properly, a malfunction could occur during the airdrop causing the parachute not to deploy resulting and destroying the dropped cargo."

There are two types of inspections JAI's have to perform. A before loading inspection to ensure cargo is aircraft ready and rigged in accordance with proper rigging procedures and an after inspection of the cargo once it's been completely loaded on the aircraft.

"In a deployed environment we inspect more cargo bundles compared to home station," said Johnson, native of Wiesbaden, Germany. "We inspect the max capacity an aircraft can fit for one drop, which is 40 bundles on a C-17, 20 on a C-130J and 16 on a C-130. It is easier to do both inspections if it's needed on the aircraft."

At home station both members perform JAI and loadmaster duties but they are both limited to the aircraft on their base. Johnson works with C-17's daily and Larue C-130's. While deployed they are both teaching each other about the different Air Mobility Command aircraft used to perform airdrop missions.

"I like learning about the different aircraft's platforms," said Senior Airman Shaun Larue JAI journeyman, deployed from Pope Air Force Base, N.C. "Here I've had the opportunity to learn about C-130 and J models. They are different when it comes to the air drop inspection checklist."

The two Airmen work day and night inspecting cargo. The most they have inspected in one day was three aircraft in one night. Each inspection takes about two hours to complete. The JAI's are the last set of eyes on the cargo before it is in the air.

"When we sign the checklist we are ensuring the airdrop will occur smoothly," said Larue, native of Dayton, Ohio. "Our mission is important because we make sure the ground members get the supplies they need in good condition."

Face of Defense: Soldier Racks Up Miles in Afghanistan

By Army Sgt. Jessi Ann McCormick
122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

TARIN KOT, Afghanistan, Aug. 21, 2013 – Growing up on a farm in Weston, Ohio, Army Spc. Michelle Renay Metzger enjoyed getting dirty and working with farm machinery.

Army Spc. Michelle Renay Metzger applies grease to her vehicle at Multinational Base Tarin Kot in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province, Aug. 12, 2013. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jessi Ann McCormick   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

A graduate of McComb High School in McComb, Ohio, and current junior at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, Metzger said she enjoys sports and four-wheeling, and was drawn to the military in high school.

 

“I joined the National Guard to better myself in general and have a better appreciation of life,” she explained.
Metzger completed basic training in April 2010 at Fort Jackson, S.C. From there, she attended advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., to become a motor transport operator.

“When given the definition of what a motor transport operator was, I couldn’t wait to learn about armored vehicles that had survived improvised explosive device blasts and traversed some of the harshest terrain in the world,” Metzger said. “I am always learning something new about the trucks, whether it is a new device that has been incorporated into the truck or learning how to replace the brake pads.”

Metzger has been deployed with the Ohio Army National Guard’s 1487th Transportation Company since January as a mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle driver. Her daily job includes basic maintenance on the vehicle, such as checking and adding fluids and inspecting the engine, tires and windows. She also is expected to keep her training current on navigation and communication systems, and must keep a strict inventory.

As an MRAP driver, Metzger said, she keeps a log of every mile she’s driven. Her mileage for the deployment now stands at about 3,000.

When she returns home, Metzger said, she plans to help her father with the harvest on her family’s farm while also attending dental hygiene school.

Metzger says the military has presented her with a great sense of accomplishment. While others have told her in the past that she couldn’t join the military, couldn’t drive a gun truck, or couldn’t handle a deployment, she said, she overcame the odds and completed her goals.
“I want my niece and my future children to look up to me in a way that I look up to women in the military,” she said.

Army Casualty

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

Master Sgt. George A. Bannar Jr., 37, of Orange, Va., died Aug. 20, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.

For more information, media may contact the Fort Bragg Special Operations Command public affairs office at 910-689-6187.

317th AG deploys in support of AFRICOM

by Airman 1st Class Peter Thompson
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

8/20/2013 - DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- 317th Airlift Group C-130Js, aircrews and maintainers departed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 10, in support of U.S. Africa Command at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

More than 20 Airmen from the 39th Airlift Squadron will integrate with units from the 37th Airlift Squadron of Ramstein, to stand in alert postures and prepare for any taskings AFRICOM might have.

"While we are there, we will provide standby services to support AFRICOM in building defense capabilities, responding to crisis, and deterring and defeating foreign threats for the betterment of the United States," said Lt. Col. Michael Brock, 39th Airlift Squadron commander. "We are bringing all of our capabilities with us; airland, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation. Whatever they need us to do, we will be ready."

This is the first time in two years that the 317th AG has supported AFRICOM. Most recently, in early 2011, the group provided one of their first C-130Js in support of operations in North Africa.

Leadership at the airlift squadron views the deployment as a learning opportunity they wouldn't have available to them at other deployed locations.

"Most of our deployments are to Southwest Asia, so we haven't had much experience in Africa or Europe as a unit," Brock said. "We are going to learn in a new environment. We can come back, digest what we've learned and apply it in the future, so we can be more prepared for missions when we are called upon."

The 39th AS had already begun expanding training skills in preparation for a separate overseas tour when they received notice of this deployment. They have focused training missions on enhancing competency in flying single and multiple aircraft formations with numerous mission capabilities.

"We have been preparing for months now and we've innovated the way we train," Brock said. "This deployment is going to be different from what we are used to. We have to be prepared for anything and everything."

"For this deployment, we will focus more on mission planning and executing missions that are high priority," said Maj. Trevor Hall, 317th AG mission commander.

The mission may be different but the goal is still the same, Brock said.

"No matter where we deploy, we provide outstanding Airmen to aid in projecting global power by providing global reach for America."