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Museum reviews: Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester, NY

Rochester, NY’s failed fast ferry: What went wrong?

The geography of Rochester, NY

Places to volunteer in Rochester, NY

A guide to grocery stores in Rochester, NY

These articles were published at Helium.

Georgian soldiers can be found fighting alongside U.S. Marines on the frontlines of the Afghanistan. But to ensure both parties work well together on the battlefield requires practice conducted on the training grounds.

Marines from Anti-Terrorism Battalion based in Rochester, N.Y., and Black Sea Rotational Force 11, alongside soldiers from the Georgian 4th Infantry Brigade practiced Military Operations in an Urban Terrain (MOUT) during Exercise Agile Spirit 2011. Agile Spirit is designed to increase interoperability between the forces by exchanging and enhancing each country’s capacity in counterinsurgency (COIN) and peacekeeping (PKO) operations, including: small unit tactics, convoy operations and counter-improvised explosive device training.

“Because of our partnership in Afghanistan, and in order to work with us and support our mission, the [Georgian soldiers] have to be able to move and do what we do or at least understand it,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel Bauer, an infantryman with Black Sea Rotational Force 11 and an Elk Grove, Calif., native.

In Overseas Contingency Operations, Marines conduct COIN operations in which they encounter enemies holed-up in small towns and villages. The urban environment presents challenges to troop safety and mission accomplishment because the enemy has cover and concealment in the buildings in towns and villages.

The interoperability training between the Georgians and the Marines focused on overcoming MOUT challenges by sharing proven tactics and techniques among each other and practicing them numerous times.

The Marines and Georgians began their training with lessons from instructors on principles of MOUT and different techniques for room clearing. The instructors drew diagrams and gave demonstrations while translators echoed their messages to the students.

The students showed their interest in the subject with frequent questions.

With almost 1,000 troops contributing in Operation Enduring Freedom in Helmand province, room-clearing techniques, MOUT and COIN training can really help while fighting on the frontlines alongside U.S. Marines.

Following the classes, the Marines and Georgians teamed up to apply the lessons they were taught.

Instructors observed as mixed teams of Marines and Georgians entered buildings and cleared rooms. They looked for application of basic techniques and principles. The instructors occasionally stopped the teams to point out any missed steps or mistakes and explained the reasons for applying specific techniques.

“We utilize techniques to make sure we are as safe as possible inside a house,” said Gunnery Sgt. Charles Evers, an infantryman with Black Sea Rotational Force 11 and a Lewiston, Idaho, native.

Sgt. Spencer McAvoy, a squad leader with Company A, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, clears a room with Georgian soldiers July 19 during Exercise Agile Spirit 2011. Photo by Cpl. Nana Dannsaappiah

With each round, the teams were clearing rooms with fewer mistakes, and the instructors didn’t have to interrupt and explain as many times.

After several times maneuvering through the buildings, the teams were moving through faster and smoothly by communicating and synching their movements.

The smiles on their faces overshadowed the sweat running down their foreheads as they gave each other thumbs ups and traded “kudos” after practicing clearing rooms several times, gaining more comfort.

“They are doing good and understanding proper room clearing tactics and techniques,” said Cpl. Nicholas Ediss, a fire team leader with the BSRF-11, and a Reno, Nev., native.

“It’s a great first time because even with the language barrier, we are able to work together.

The Marines and the Georgian Armed Forces will be training alongside each other for the next two weeks of Agile Spirit. This type of training and interoperability is a stepping stone to the success of the joint missions that are currently being conducted in Afghanistan.

Black Sea Rotational Force 11 is a rotational deployment of Marines to the Black Sea, Balkan and Caucasus regions to work with partner and allied nations to help build their military capacity, promote stability throughout the region, and build enduring partnerships with 13 nations throughout Eastern Europe.

DVIDS
Story by Cpl. Nana Dannsaappiah

Sgt. James Quatro enlisted in the 105th Military Police Company, New York Army National Guard, to be a part of something greater than himself.

Answering the call of duty, the military policeman recently deployed to Iraq, attached to Task Force Shield, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, in support of Operation New Dawn.

His mission involves advising and training Iraqi Security Forces in U.S. Division – North, helping to make the ISF a sustainable force for their country.

“Since I was little, I always wanted to be a soldier,” said Quatro, a native of Rochester, N.Y. “My grandfather served in Korea, and I wanted to honor him.”

Quatro trains his Iraqi counterparts on tactics to increase their overall proficiency as policemen, including counter-improvised explosive device procedures and rifle fundamentals.

“Weapons have always been my strong point, and I enjoy teaching,” said Quatro, who said he is knowledgeable on a wide variety of weapon systems.

Sgt. James Quatro -right-, a military policeman assigned to 105th Military Police Company, Task Force Shield, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, instructs Iraqi Police assigned to the 2nd and 4th Emergency Response Battalions, how to stand properly when firing their AK-47 rifles. Quatro, a native of Rochester, N.Y., also trained the policemen on how to assemble and disassemble the weapon, and basic rifle marksmanship. Photo by Spc. Angel Turner

Since arriving in Iraq, Quatro conducted two iterations of AK-47 training to help Iraqi emergency response battalions become proficient on their rifles.

“We build our relationship with ISF through this training,” said 1st Lt. Joshua Bode, a platoon leader assigned to 105th MP Company.

Serving as a team leader, Quatro is the primary instructor in his squad and is an asset to the squad and company, Bode added.

“Sgt. Quatro is an outstanding soldier and a well-disciplined [non-commissioned officer],” said Bode, a native of Buffalo, N.Y. “It’s great to be able to watch how well [Iraqi policemen] respond to his training, and you can see how well they implement what he trains when they conduct their range.”

DVIDS

Munir Muthana may have been having a bad day. He was full of beer and enjoying the company of a transvestite. Life can bring little problems like that.

When it was all over, though, Munir’s bad day turned into an arrest and five counts of second-degree assault, driving while intoxicated, and reckless driving. RocNow

Howie at the Jawa Report wonders if it is a case of Sudden Jihad syndrome. This is where a Muslim suddenly begins to try to kill, maim and mangle innocent people around him whose only crime is that they are American.

Muslims engaging in acts of violence is nothing new. Muslims in Rochester being linked to terror is nothing new. Muslims getting drunk and hanging with transvestites is, well, nothing new.

The reality is that the most faithful Muslims in America are those who have just been arrested. Drinking, hookers, strip clubs and computer pr0n all are forgotten as the Muslim in question discovers his faith.

In his statement to police, he said he drank six cans of Budweiser in an hour. Then he started using swear words, cussing police and government. He said, “Ben Franklin was stupid. He should have made it so you *expletives* can’t swerve the law. The Muslims will fix this country.”

When bail was being set at $20,000, the prosecutor said that Muthana has ties to Yemen.

WHEC TV

Muthana is accused of intentionally droving into several pedestrians in the parking lot area of the Sunoco gas station at 700 S. Plymouth Ave. striking a bicyclist, two pedestrians and then ramming his vehicle into a parked car, which in turn hit another pedestrian and pushing her under the parked car, according court documents.

Then Muthana allegedly fled from police officers who were trying to stop him and led them on a chase throughout the southwest part of the city. The chase ended when the vehicle Muthana was allegedly driving rammed into a civilian’s vehicle on near the intersection of Brooks Avenue and Genesee Street before coming to stop and taken into custody by police.

Democrat & Chronicle

Frankly, I think this is a case of merely being dumb and ugly in public. Munir probably has connections in the old country but he’s no jihadi, just a jerk.

He shouldn’t have dissed Ben Franklin.

In an open-air factory on the outskirts of northeast Baghdad, Iraqi workers diligently polish mosaic tiles with buffers, spraying water in circular, cascading waves. An Iraqi teenager sweeps the water toward a drainage ditch with a determined look on his face as the workers’ machines drone on noisily. The owner of the factory, a distinguished Iraqi man with salt and pepper hair, strides toward the wrought iron gate of his factory. With open arms and a wide, beaming smile, he greets American Soldiers and Iraqi federal police officers at the entry gate.

The factory owner, Kaled Waead al-Hahed, is happy to see the Soldiers because, being a member of the Factory Owners Association, he knows they are here to help.

By visiting with Iraqi factory owners, July 30, members of the 1479th Civil Affairs Company, embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team and 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, furthered the mission of improving economic growth in the area.

The FOA is a council formed and funded by coalition forces to organize the factory owners in the area, explained Staff Sgt. John O’Leary, an Army Reserve civil affairs specialist from Tewksbury, Mass.

The association is receiving help from CF, but will ultimately be Iraqi organized, controlled and funded, he added.

“Eventually, the owners will pay dues, get training, meet important social contacts, and receive training on new equipment and new machines,” explained O’Leary, assigned to the 1479th CA Co., 450th CA Bn., 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “They may not see immediate effects, but the factory owners can tell it’s beneficial for them in the long run.”

According to Blake Keller, an industrial advisor assigned to Baghdad ePRT 3, the local factory owners will elect officers to represent them on the council, provide training in managing and marketing and lobby the Government of Iraq for resources.

Currently, the association is applying to be a Non-Government Organization and already has the support of the majority of the factory owners operating in the area, revealed Keller, a native of Rochester, N.Y.

“I think anytime [Iraqis] are working and getting paid, they’re happy and then we know they’re not doing bad stuff,” said O’Leary.

“What the Americans are doing is very good for the people here,” added 2nd Lt. Juwad Kadhem Mossa, an executive officer for the 2nd Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Federal Police Division. “A lot of people don’t have jobs and the factories help when the coalition forces give them economic help.”

Juwad and his fellow policemen patrol the neighborhood daily and he asserts that their relationship with CF – his policemen providing security and the Americans creating a council to stimulate the economy – is a win-win situation for the area.

“When the people don’t have jobs or work, then the terrorists will prey on them by giving them money to do bad things,” explained Juwad. “But if they have jobs, with the help of the factories, then security will be better.”

Staff Sgt. Robert Mosqueda, a cavalry scout section leader from Mission, Texas, agreed with Juwad.

“This council keeps us involved with the community – if there were no factories than there would be no jobs, so the workers would get money from [terrorists],” added Mosqueda, assigned to 1st Sqdn., 7th Cav. Regt., 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div.

In order to make the association a success, it has derived its business model from an American system to provide the owners with support and other benefits, explained Mosqueda.

“Sometimes people will stop us during missions and say, ‘Hey, I have two sons and I need work,’” continued Mosqueda. “We’ll push them toward the factories and the FOA, so it’s Iraqis helping Iraqis and all we did was point them in the right direction and sorta market for their businesses.”

“I learn a lot from the coalition forces when they work with the community,” said a stern-faced Juwad. “The Americans respect the human rights of the people because before, the Iraqi army under Saddam, didn’t care about the people and their rights.”

The civil affairs Soldiers and cavalry scouts patrolling this area have genuine concern for the locals here and their future, according to Mosqueda. That’s why ideas like the factory owners association can be successful in helping locals find work and keeping the area secure.

“The security situation is good now and they will build more houses in the future,” said a grinning Kaled wearing a starched, white-collared shirt. “And of course, they will need more of my tiles to build their houses.”

DVIDS
Story by Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell