First Lt. Timothy McCormick, assistant operations officer, Brigade Headquarters Group, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, drinks freshly-purified water with locals. The water was cleaned with the solar-powered water purification system assembled here, Feb. 16. The system cleans out bacteria and diseases in the water, making it safe for locals to drink.

NAW-ABAD, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines with Brigade Headquarters Group, Marine Expeditionary Brigade–Afghanistan, assembled a solar-powered water purification system here, Feb. 16, in order to provide the community with clean, drinkable water.

Cpl. David T. Bernabe, a combat engineer with Brigade Headquarters Group, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, opens solar panels on a solar-powered water purification system here, Feb 16. The water purification system can filter 60 gallons of water per minute. (Photo by: Lance Cpl. Franklin E. Mercado)

This is the first time the system is being used outside of Camp Leatherneck, said 1st Lt. Timothy McCormick, the assistant operations officer with BHG.

The system requires little to set up and is very efficient. The water purification system can filter water at a maximum rate of 60 gallons every minute.

Its ability to run with very little effort from the user makes the system simple. Because it is low maintenance and runs on solar energy, the only thing the user needs to do is change filters as they get dirty.

“The simplicity of the system makes this a great opportunity for these people to have clean water,” said McCormick. “The clean water will be rid of most of the bacteria and diseases it [typically] contains.”

Due to the contamination in the water, locals are not drinking as much water as they should, which leads to dehydration, said McCormick.
If the system is successful, it will encourage the usage of the purification system elsewhere, said McCormick.

“We filtered non-potable water through the purification system while it was on Camp Leatherneck,” said Navy Lt. j.g. Jefferson Moody, environmental health officer with MEB–Afghanistan. “The system got rid of most of the bacteria in the water and made it safe to drink.”

“Depending on how well the people are helped by the purification system, consideration will be taken to figure out where else we can set them up,” said McCormick.

DVIDS
Story by: Lance Cpl. Franklin E. Mercado

On January 11, 2010, Haiti was a cesspool. Its people were among the poorest on the planet and its government was dysfunctional in all of the traditional ways of a third world country. It had no army, and its police were supported and supervised by United Nations military forces.

Tabitha Hale is a twenty-something conservative activist. She is well known in political social media circles and is considered by many to be an up and comer.

Tabitha spent six days in early March, 2010, in Haiti working with groups associated with her church. She worked in the southern coastal community of Jacmel and in the surrounding region. I was fortunate to interview her on March 17 about her experiences.

Jacmel was in the part of the earthquake damage zone that did not receive immediate assistance. The Canadian military eventually moved in, took control of the city’s small airport and began relief efforts. Hale had nothing but praise for their efforts.

As a city, Jacmel had a tourist “zone” where the businesses and buildings were oriented to tourists, many of whom arrived by cruise ship. She found this area to be virtually leveled. The remainder of the city had a great deal of damage, but Miss Hale sometimes could not tell whether the damage was from the earthquake or was from before the quake.

The local soccer field is now a tent city, filled with refugees from the quake.

The hospital in Jacmel was damaged. The Canadian military were operating a clinic in tents on the grounds of the hospital. Across the street is an orphanage run by the Sisters of Charity.

The orphanage is spartan. The Sisters follow Mother Teresa’s rule, to take the sickest of the sick and the poorest of the poor. Hale writes:

The Sisters that run the orphanage are clearly good women. They did their job well – they kept the place pretty clean, and I think the kids were fed enough. They clearly made most of the clothes – most of the babies wore matching checked shirts, all sewn from the same fabric.

I tried for a minute to put myself in their position. They clearly didn’t have the resources or the knowledge to give extensive medical treatment. They treated for Scabies and did what they could. Babies still die all the time. There aren’t enough of them to give the babies the attention they need. The babies are mostly two to a crib, and like the little girl, there is little attention paid to anything but keeping them alive. After all, what else can you do? When you’re charged with keeping that many children alive, how can you really do anything else?

Hale did not see any large aid agencies at work during her visit. She saw, and writes about a number of small NGOs, mostly faith based, doing what they can with limited resources. She saw little sign of a Haitian government.

Roads, as we know them, were nearly non-existent. Some were, as she describes them, trails. She saw survivors living in the rubble of their homes. No one was able to remove the rubble because there was no equipment, no plan. She believes that recovery can begin only if the rubble is cleared and people have to rebuild.

Tabitha Hale’s experiences in Haiti can be found at this link. Here is her Facebook page.

Andrew Lubin is a noted journalist and writer, covering military affairs and the United States Marine Corps. He spent ten days in Haiti, from January 24 to February 2, 2010, embedded with the 22^nd MEU.

The Marines are providing earthquake relief west of Port-au-Prince along Haiti’s norther shore. Their coverage ranges for 60 kilometers from Carrefour through Leogane to Grand Goave and about 8 km. inland. The Marines have spread out into several encampments to better cover their assigned locations.

I interviewed Prof. Lubin on March 16. While his stay in Haiti was some time ago, he has kept in touch with the Marines in Haiti.

Port-au-Prince from the air on Jan 24. Photo by Andrew Lubin

Port-au-Prince from the air on Jan 24. Photo by Andrew Lubin

Lubin described the scene as “complete destruction”. Haitian authorities were either killed in the earthquake or abandoned their posts. The Marines are working with local community leaders, such as teachers, and small NGOs that have operated in the region for some time.

Earthquake damage to haitian church. Photo by Andrew Lubin

One of the NGOs that the Marines have worked with is the Star of Hope.

Prof. Lubin talked about the grassroots efforts at recovery that the Haitians are making. He found the Haitian people to be very entrepreneurial, and spoke with admiration of the various enterprises he saw being set up in the disaster zone.

He saw no sign of any Haitian government presence in the region. He saw no signs, at that time, of any of the larger aid agencies working in the region. Lubin specifically mentioned the Red Cross as having raised a lot of money but not being visible on the ground in the Leogane area.

Little or no recovery efforts had been made during his stay. The Marines used their equipment to establish bases and make necessary improvements to roads but they were not there for recovery.

Both interviewees were emphatic that Port-au-Prince is in terrible shape. Hale and Lubin were able to see the city from the air during their stays. Hale described it as a sea of blue, the tarps being distributed for temporary shelter.

The Mangine family is part of the group that Tabitha Hale worked with. They have a blog about their life in Haiti here. From March 9:

So much is broken; there seems no way to move forward. When such a huge percentage of a country’s population is now displaced, it’s as if, in spite of the already widespread death and destruction, we are tiptoeing on the edge of a cliff—or on the edge of a cracked and slanting building and we’re all just crossing our fingers that nothing else bad is going to happen. But without doubt, rainy season is coming to Haiti. With little doubt, tropical storms and hurricanes are headed to Haiti within the next few months. The misery. The disease. The landslides. The hopelessness. The mud. The death. We’ve just hit the tip of the proverbial iceberg. I don’t think that ANYONE has a plan for what’s going to happen when these inevitabilities arrive. What the heck are these people living in tents (literally, a million or more of them) going to do when the rains come? It’s a question I hear pondered often, but never answered. Because no one knows WHERE all these people—my neighbors—will go when the rains come. My faith has been stretched a lot lately. I find myself with more questions for God and less peace because I don’t have any answers.

The Catholic Church in Haiti suffered a massive blow. While I do not have numbers on the diocesan clergy, I do have information on the deaths, injuries and damages to religious orders. At least 36 priests, sisters and brothers were killed, and hundreds of students in schools.

The Livesay family work in haiti and are also blogging. March 8 post:

I wish I knew how to explain the insane number of “tent cities” there are popping up all over Port au Prince and surrounding areas. Everywhere you turn there is another large area of tents packed wall to wall. Some areas have all matching tents, you can sort of tell that the distribution happened all at once because everyone has blue or everyone has white or everyone has the same usaid tarps. On the edge of these little cities the people who did not get a tent or a nice tarp have made little make-shift tents with sheets and sticks and thin plastic bags. It is completely mind-numbing to think about these people in this housing during rainy season. I don’t know how they can possibly live like this.

Jessica Leeder is writing a blog from haiti for the Canadian paper The Globe and Mail. It’s focused on the Jacmel region. A March 15 post:

Port-au-Prince has the feel of a desperate, dangerous place that is growing steadily worse. While Jacmel has been improving by small but significant leaps, in my two visits to Port-au-Prince I’ve seen little change. While small businesses are starting to open their doors again in Jacmel – soft-drink wholesalers, a few clothiers and auto parts and grocery vendors – Port-au-Prince remains wholly destroyed. The place looks, as the Governor-General pointed out, as if it has been bombed. A persistent cloud of dust hangs over the city, and its particles get everywhere – into your eyes, your nose, your ears, your mouth.

Both times I’ve come from the place, I leave it feeling filthy and spent. It is draining to see all the destruction, the utter lack of hope. I feel sorrow for the people who remain there.

Arriving back in Jacmel after more than a month of living here, feels like coming home. Opening the car window to breathe in the air reminds me of the year I lived in New York City. I lived in an apartment on Central Park West, right next to the park (although we couldn’t afford a view!) and when I would come up out of the subway after traipsing around the projects in Brooklyn all day, the air was clean and distinctive. The same is true in Jacmel.

The fact that there’s no large industry here is bad for the economy but wonderful for the environment. The sea air is lovely and welcoming after the pollution of Port-au-Prince. And even though the streets can feel packed and frenzied – and full of rubble these days – compared with the capital city, Jacmel is a mellow little town where nobody moves too quickly and nobody ever really gets upset.

Haiti Epidemic Advisory System (HEAS) SitRep: UPDATED 13 MAR

Formal medical surveillance efforts remain operationally nascent. Informal surveillance and ground ops expanding quickly in Port-au-Prince. The ad hoc medical infrastructure largely supported by rotating medical responders (who are typically rotating every 1 to 2 weeks) and NGOs is contracting over time as international interest in Haiti declines. Forty-six NGOs have departed since the earthquake according to the UN Health Cluster. This likely represents the first responder community providing immediate trauma and recovery support. We have further identified a critical problem with logistics, where responders are unsure of where supplies are located. This is compounded by lack of efficient resource tracking at the hospitals and clinics. The implication is the medical infrastructure in Port-au-Prince is becoming more sensitive to abrupt changes in patient flow, and it portends a high probability of losing control in the context of an outbreak response during the coming rainy season.

In summary, recovery is a long way off for Haiti. It is unclear if any real efforts are being made and the utter lack of Haitian governance tells the story of the last three generations. Haiti is not a country so much as it is a place where people need our help.

Over 60 articles about the Haitian earthquake, U.S. military assistance to Haiti after the quake, American giving to earthquake relief and other related topics can be found at the link Haiti Quake 2010.

Nathional Weather Service flood risk map for Spring 2010

The National Weather Service (NWS) released a late winter / spring forecast today describing the threat of "imminent Midwest flooding", as well as flooding in the South and East. The risk map they have provided shows the highest risk to be in the Red River valley and the upper Mississippi River valley running through North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. Much of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains is at above average risk for flooding.

NWS watches and warnings

The NWS describes a Midwest snow pack that is deeper and more widespread than in 2009, with cold temperatures in the region have prevented any melting until recently. 2009 saw record flood marks set along the Red River. April 2009 saw old records for high water eclipsed in many North Dakota river communities. At that time, the National Guard and regular military joined the Coast Guard for rescues and flood relief and protection missions.

The North Dakota National Guard began mobilizing for flood operations on March 15. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has declared a state of emergency in 28 counties and has activated the Minnesota National Guard. In West Virginia, National Guard troops will be engaged in debris removal beginning March 16.

Standard homeowner’s insurance or tenant’s insurance does not cover damage from flooding. The United States offers a flood insurance program where coverage may be found, providing financial protection in the event of a flood.

After receiving his citizenship for the U.S., 2nd Lt. Aldo Grados (left) of Ica, Peru, a platoon leader with the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan., became an officer for the U.S. Army.

After three years of attending a military high school in Peru and spending a year in college for dentistry, 2nd Lt. Aldo Grados of Ica, Peru, decided to join the Peruvian navy. He was 16.

“I was very young when I joined the naval academy, actually,” he said. “I went to the academy for five years and on [Dec. 22, 1999] I graduated. I was close to 21. It was a very good experience.”

“The years that I started in the military back in Peru were in a way the United States calls ‘old school,’” he added. “The discipline [was] very, very strict and loyalty [was] one of the basic values that they [taught] you back there. If you [weren't] loyal to your peers, then that meant you [weren't] loyal to anybody not even to yourself.”

Grados’ path to the U.S. was one built by intrigue and opportunity. As an officer in Peru, Grados was afforded the privilege of attaining an international visa which gave him the chance to work in many different countries.

After working for nine months on a boat that traveled from the east coast of the United States to England, France and South America, Grados decided to take a vacation to Los Angeles.

“I’d never been [there before],” he said.

“I had some family over there and man, it was amazing,” Grados said. “I felt more freedom and that made me fall in love with [this country]. I mean I could have everything that I never had before. I’d hear [people] talk about high school and hanging out with [girls] and they would go to these parties with girls, and I was like, I was in a military high school where there were no girls. Then, they’d go to college and start talking about their senior year, and I would be like, I was in the naval academy.”

Second Lt. Aldo Grados (left) of Ica, Peru, a platoon leader with 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan., joined the Peruvian navy at the age of 16. He's shown here with his best friend at the age of 17.

After spending time in the U.S., Grados went back to Peru to inform the Peruvian navy of his decision to become a civilian and start making a living in the U.S.

“My contract was almost done with the Peruvian navy by then,” said Grados. “They wanted me to reenlist when I went back to Peru, but I talked with my uncles who were in the Peruvian navy as well and they [had] a lot of influence; so, I told them that I didn’t want to continue.

“They told me OK, you can get out, but you will get out without benefits and you will leave with the rank that you have right now which back then at that time I was supposed to be a [captain] but they just let me go as a [first lieutenant].”

In 2006, Grados got tired of the civilian life and enlisted into the U.S. Navy. While in the Navy, Grados got his U.S. citizenship and submitted a packet to become an officer.

Instead of going to Officer Candidate School for the Navy, Grados attended OCS to become an officer for the Army in January of 2009 where he also met his wife.

“We have plans to see what happens. If everything goes right and we follow the track, we’ll be OK. Sometimes you have to put the balance between your family and work,” he said.

Grados plans to join the Special Forces and make a career out of the military. He also wants to someday write a book about his experiences.

“You should never stop dreaming. A dream is beautiful because it can come true,” Grados said. “Look at me; I’m living my dream right now.”

DVIDS
Story by Spc. Shantelle Campbell

Asking who is in charge of a country is the sort of thing the State Department and the C.I.A. hire folks for. Countries are rarely run solely by their government. There are many other interested parties and Haiti is not an exception to that rule.

The complication for Haiti after the earthquake is the hundreds of outside agencies that are on the ground providing earthquake relief and reconstruction assistance. Some are charities and non-governmental organizations (NGO). Some are international and transnational agencies. And, there are military units from a number of nations that are also in the mix. Who is in charge in Haiti?

The current government of Haiti is headed by Rene Preval, former President (1996-2001) and former ally to Aristide, who was elected in 2006 with a very slim majority of the overall vote. A 30-seat Senate and a 99-member Chamber of Deputies were also elected at the same time. Municipal elections were held last in April, 2007.

There is no Haitian Armed Forces. The Haitian police are supervised by the United Nations.

The United Nations created the UN Stability Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in 2004. Prior to the quake it had an authorized strength of 7,060 troops and 2,091 civilian police.

The Haitian government lost several government buildings and many employees at all levels in the earthquake of January 12, 2010. Other employees have chosen not to return to their positions. The government is operating out of temporary quarters in the vicinity of the Port-au-Prince airport.

The number of non-governmental agencies and international aid agencies operating in Haiti at this time is not known. Some of these groups have been working in the country for decades while others are newly arrived. Much of the aid provided by various governments is being channeled by those governments through “partner” agencies, giving them a great deal of resources and power when compared to other NGOs.

In addition, the country has been divided into sectors where certain agencies have been given the lead for relief and recovery efforts in that region. Many of these sorts of decisions have been made since the earthquake in the inordinate number of meetings and conferences that have been held in Haiti, in the Dominican Republic and elsewhere.

The next large meeting related to this disaster is the International Donors’ Conference Towards a New Future for Haiti. This will be held on March 31 in New York City.

Preparation for the International Donors’ Conference thus includes broad-based consultations with key constituencies, including Haitian civil society, the Haitian Diaspora, the private sector, Haitian state and local government, non-governmental organizations, and stakeholders in the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

I believe the preceding list can be characterized as “all the usual suspects”.

I have interviewed several military officers as well as reporters who have been on the ground in Haiti since the earthquake. The Haitian Coast Guard and Haitian employees at the airport are the only civil servants that have been discussed as being on the job and a part of the relief and recovery effort. In the earthquake zone, for all intents and purposes, the government is non-existent. Outside of Port-au-Prince, little or no recovery efforts have been made.

Progress is being made by small NGOs, mostly religious in nature, who have a long history of working in Haiti. Identifying local community leaders and persons of influence has been a key aspect of U.S. military work in the country. At the grassroots, some things are being accomplished.

Over 60 articles about the Haitian earthquake, U.S. military assistance to Haiti after the quake, American giving to earthquake relief and other related topics can be found at the link Haiti Quake 2010.

An officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas, fights off one of her instructors during Sexual Assualt Unarmed Self Defense Awareness and Prevention class, held at Forward Operating Base Warrior. Photo by Pfc. Jessica Luhrs

A group of petite female Soldiers laugh as their instructors, four much larger non-commissioned officers wince in pain from self-defense techniques they just taught these female Soldiers that could ultimately save their lives.

These Soldiers, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas, were the first to participate in a trail program that focuses on teaching the Soldiers self-defense so they can better defend themselves against an attacker, according to First Sgt. John Lucas, first sergeant of HHC, of the Ready First Combat Team.

This program is a proactive attempt by the leadership of the Ready First Combat Team to teach their Soldiers to protect themselves if attacked, when they are unarmed.

During the class a very curious crowd of male and female Soldiers gathered around to observe these females learning to immobilize their attacker so that they can have enough time to get away, the importance of preserving evidence and ways to prevent an attack from happening, according to Lucas.

The brigade’s sexual assault response coordinator had some advice for the Soldiers to prevent an attack.

“You must show confidence in yourself at all times,” said Sgt. 1st Class Gerald Meineke, the SARC. “Walk with your head high and you will not be looked at as a victim.”

The junior-enlisted Soldiers that participated in the program were also given a very lethal weapon that would scare off any attacker, according the Lucas.

This weapon was a flashlight and it is the new best friend of the Soldiers participating in the class.
With this the Soldiers can blind, hit and gather evidence, such as DNA or even identification, from their attacker.

Overall the instructors said they were very impressed with the Soldiers and that they were very quickly picking up on moves that gives them an advantage over an attacker that can be much larger than them.

The plan for this class is for it to be held more regularly and have it be mandatory for all females of the Ready First Combat Team, to show that sexual assault has no place at Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq.

Until the classes are scheduled the instructors have urged their students to go out and teach other Soldiers what they had learned and to also practice the techniques often so they do not lose the skill.

DVIDS
Story by Pfc. Jessica Luhrs

Shown are the remains of a cathedral in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, left unrecognizable by the violent earthquake that devastated the city on 12 January. 15/Jan/2010. Port-au-Prince, Haiti. UN Photo/Marco Dormino

The earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010 did a great deal of damage, to the government and to the people of Haiti.

Map of assessed damage and population movements after Haiti earthquake. Click for larger image.

The Presidential Palace in Port-au-Prince was a symbol of national pride for many Haitians. It validated their nations as an equal to others.

A U.S. helicopter prepares to land on the lawn of Haiti's Presidential Palace in Port-au-Prince -- left in a state of near-collapse after the earthquake. 22/Jan/2010. Port-au-Prince, Haiti. UN Photo/Marco Dormino

The earthquake on January 12, 2010, damaged a great number of government buildings, destroying some, and making governance far more difficult for the Haitians.

Men work to seal the entrance of the Ministry of Public Works, left severely damaged by the powerful earthquake that rocked Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on 12 January. 14/Jan/2010. Port-au-Prince, Haiti. UN Photo/Logan Abassi

A man injured by Port-au-Prince's powerful earthquake observes the Haitian Government Taxation building, reduced to a heap of rubble. 14/Jan/2010. Port-au-Prince, Haiti. UN Photo/Logan Abassi

The Haitian National Penitentiary was damaged and up to 2,000 inmates may have escaped.

The Haitian National Penitentiary stands burnt and empty following a powerful earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince on 12 January. 14/Jan/2010. Port-au-Prince, Haiti. UN Photo/Logan Abassi

The United Nations, its peacekeeping force and aid agencies, suffered losses as their building partially collapsed.

An aerial view of the United Nations' headquarters in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in unrecognizable condition after the devastating earthquake. 13/Jan/2010. Port-au-Prince, Haiti. UN Photo/Logan Abassi

The morgue at Port-au-Prince’s General Hospital was overwhelmed.

Hundreds of dead, victims of Haiti's catastrophic earthquake, are laid in front of the morgue of Port-au-Prince's General Hospital. 14/Jan/2010. Port-au-Prince, Haiti. UN Photo/Logan Abassi

• Leogane was 80-90% destroyed.
• Jacmel was 50-60% destroyed.
• Gressier was 40-50% destroyed.
• Carrefour was 40-50% destroyed.
• Petit Goave was 15% destroyed.

Haiti has one international airport, in NE Port-au-Prince. The air traffic control tower at that airport was damaged beyond repair. There are smaller airports, with the ones in Jacmel and Cap-Haitien being the most significant. The United States inserted an Air Force Special Operations team on January 13 which secured the airport and began air traffic control operations. that was followed by additional trained personnel and the arrival, on January 21, of a mobile air traffic control system.

Port-au-Prince airport on January 16 2010. US Air Force photo

A Federal Aviation Administration mobile air traffic control tower is being loaded on to a Russian owned Antonov An-124 aircraft bound for the Port Au Prince Airport. The tower will serve as the main tower for the airport. Reservists from the 914th Maintenance Squadron, Niagara Falls, N.Y., and the 73rd Aerial Port Squadron assist with the approach shoring. (Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Chance Babin)

The country’s seaport, in Port-au-Prince suffered a great deal of damage. A significant leak from oil storage facilities also occurred.

US experts examine Haiti port damages

Port-au-Prince harbor damage. Click on the image for a larger photo

According to the European Union:

• Bodies recovered and buried (minimum estimate) – 222,570
• Extracted alive from the rubble by int. rescue teams – 211
• People with immediate need for shelter – ± 1, 300,000
• Total number of people affected in some way – ± 3,500,000

Additional photos of the damage from the earthquake in Haiti can be found at this link.

Over 60 articles about the Haitian earthquake, U.S. military assistance to Haiti after the quake, American giving to earthquake relief and other related topics can be found at the link Haiti Quake 2010.

Soldiers from Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment emplace an Unattended Ground Sensor during a nighttime operation Feb. 25. The sensors allow the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement to track potential smugglers and their routes, making sure their illegal cargo does not enter Iraq. Photo by Cody Harding

The border between Iraq and Iran is heavily guarded, with numerous forts on both sides. However, illegal weapons and other dangerous items are still carried into Iraq by smugglers who supply extremists fighting against the Iraqi government.

The Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement is tasked with dealing with security and interdicting smuggling along the border. With the national elections approaching, its job becomes even more important to the security of the voters across the country.

With tactical and technological assistance from A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, the DBE’s 3rd Battalion, 7th Brigade keeps a watch on the border with Iran in Wasit Province.

Spc. Paul Gauthier, a Cavalry Scout with “Assassin” Troop, said that working with the Iraqis is vital in protecting the border with Iran.

“There’s been talk of a lot of smuggling,” he said. “So we’re working with the Iraqis to try to minimize and cut down on all of the corruption and smuggling that’s going on.”

First Lt. Allan Keefer, A Troop, has patrolled the area several times and said that the Iraqi border guards in the area have been willing to train themselves and work with A Troop.

“They’re well trained; we’ve had a lot of previous MiT [Military Transition] Teams and U.S Border Enforcement agents here,” said Keefer. “So they’re trained on the individual tasks well. We’re working with them now so they can do their collective tasks.”

Gauthier, a Honey Brook, Pa. native, said that working with the Iraqis on stopping smuggling has been a great experience.

“They’re great to get along with,” said Gauthier. “They’re easy to talk to, they’re willing to learn, and it’s been going great so far.”

Keefer, from Mercersburg, Pa., shared similar sentiments.

“The Iraqis that are working on the border are getting better every day,” he said. “Their capabilities aren’t quite where ours are, but they’re using what they have and they’re doing a good job with it. Of course they can always get better.”

“We’ve denied a lot of terrain to the smugglers by dismounted patrols and different systems we use,” Keefer said. “And we’ve done that all with the Iraqis.”

DVIDS
Story by Cody Harding

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Frederick Do of Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment briefs his Soldiers before heading out to inspect Iraqi Guard Towers Feb. 25. The towers, which are used by the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement to help stop smuggling, are placed near the Iraqi border by the DBE. Photo by Cody Harding

The Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement, the Government of Iraq’s primary force for border security and the interdiction of smuggling, continues to keep an eye on the border with Iran.

They pursue and catch smugglers who attempt to cross the border with weapons, drugs or other means of harming the Iraqi people.

With help from A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, the Iraqi border guards of 3rd Battalion, 7th Brigade, Department of Border Enforcement, have added a new watchtower along Iraq’s border with Iran. The new tower will help trained observers crack down on smuggling and reduce the presence of insurgents.

Sgt. Steven Glatfelter, a non-commissioned officer with 1st Platoon “Assassin” Troop, said that working with the Iraqi DBE is a good mission for the unit.

“It’s like working with any Iraqis,” he said. “There’s challenges like language, but they’re eager to learn and they like working with us. They’re very friendly and engaging.”

The two-story tower, emplaced on the boundary between the 7th Brigade and 8th Brigade of the DBE, was placed in the area due to intelligence suggesting the area to be a possible smuggling route, said Capt. Travis Trammell, Assassin Troop commander.

The experience of working with the DBE is a new one for Assassin Troop, who have worked with the Iraqi Police and Army in the past, but not with the DBE, said Trammell.

“The tactics and techniques of the DBE are somewhat foreign to the troops”, he said. “But it has given them an opportunity to learn and they’ve enjoyed it. It’s an interesting setup that the DBE have and it’s something to see.”

Glatfelter, who is from Kinsers, Pa., said that he has seen substantial improvement in the border guards since his two previous tours in Iraq in 2005 and 2007.

“First time we were here, they were just following our lead”, he said. “It was a fledgling military force we were working with, and now they run the show. We are here now as an advise and assist brigade and that’s what we’re doing.”

DVIDS
Story by Cody Harding

A grizzly scene marks the road to mass graves where hundreds of bodies have been deposited in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which claimed countless lives. 15/Jan/2010. Port-au-Prince, Haiti. UN Photo/Logan Abassi

Haiti has always been a nation of extremes. The grinding poverty of nearly all its people contrasted with the wealth displayed by the elite. The voodoo rituals performed in huts compared to High Mass at the cathedral in Port-au-Prince. The bare, unforested hills displayed behind the green trees around the enclaves of the rich.

An SH-60F Sea Hawk helicopter flies over the mountains of Haiti to deliver supplies to those affected by the earthquake on other parts of the island. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker

A boy silently prays in front of Port-au-Prince's Presidential Palace where thousands of Haitians have flocked to observe a three-day mourning for the countless lives lost in the earthquake that struck their country one month ago, on 12 January. 13/Feb/2010. Port-au-Prince, Haiti. UN Photo/Sophia Paris.

A Haitian boy plays in the bay while Sailors from the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) perform an assessment of the area. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker

An aerial view of a tent city for displaced Haitians. U.S. Navy photo by Air crewman 2nd Class Shawn Cossins

Information Systems Technician 1st Class Christine Perez, left, from Elgin, Texas, Chief Navy Counselor Nicole Lozano, center, from Salt Lake City, and Seaman Nicole Worthy, from Vallejo, Calif., comfort a crying baby after a medical examination at Killick Haitian Coast Guard Base. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Martine Cuaron

An aerial view of the damage to the town of Leogane after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused severe damage in and around Port-au-Prince, Haiti Jan. 12. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Theodore W. Ritchie

A neighborhood is in ruins in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince following the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the region on Jan. 12, 2010. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristopher Wilson

Haitian citizens remain in the street afraid or unable to return to their homes. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Candice Villarreal

A man walks through the ruins of downtown Port-au-Prince, left ravaged by Haiti's earthquake. 23/Jan/2010. Port-au-Prince, Haiti. UN Photo/Marco Dormino

U.S. Navy photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jay M. Chu

At just before 5 p.m. local time on January 12, 2010, the Port-au-Prince region of the island nation of Haiti suffered an earthquake that measured 7.0 on the Richter scale. The quake generated tsunami waves reaching as far as the U.S. Virgin islands.

USGS: The quake occurred along the boundary separating the Caribbean plate and the North America plate. There were at least 59 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater and sixteen over 5.0.

USGS map of six weeks of Haiti quake aftershocks

At about the six week mark, the USAID working with the Haitian government and other groups put together a map illustrating the severity of the shaking from the earthquake, the damage assessment in various communities and the internal movement of population.

Map of assessed damage and population movements after Haiti earthquake. Click for larger image.

USAID says the following about Haiti:

Haiti is a semi-arid, mountainous country with densely populated coastal plains, river valleys, and a large elevated plateau.  The country’s greatest assets are the more than 9 million resilient Haitians, limited but diverse agricultural resources, and a potential garment export industry.  One of the world’s poorest countries and recently suffering an estimated $900 million in hurricane-related damages, Haiti is defined as a low-income chronic food deficit country by the World Bank, only able to produce less than half of food needs (43 percent in 2008).

Under the leadership of President René Préval, economic growth was 2.5 percent in 2006, but dropped to 1.3 percent in 2008. Many challenges remain, including:

• 54 percent of Haitians live on less than $1/day (UNDP HDR 2007) while illiteracy is estimated at 44 percent;
• Unemployment rate in the formal sector is between 70-80 percent;
• 46 percent of Haitians do not have sustainable access to potable water (UNDP HDR 2007);
• Haiti ranks 154 of 177 countries in the UN’s Human Development Index.

The hardest hit community is Leogane. Here is a map showing the preliminary damage survey. Some 80% of the town was damaged or destroyed.

damage assessment for Leogane Haiti through February 2010. Click for a larger image.

In a series of articles this week, we will look at Haiti, the relief effort at this time, and what the future might bring to that poor nation. With the emphasis shifting from earthquake disaster relief to reconstruction, it is a good time to examine the changes that Haiti may see and the things that will remain the same.

There will be link-rich content, photos, and some finger pointing.

Over 60 articles about the Haitian earthquake, U.S. military assistance to Haiti after the quake, American giving to earthquake relief and other related topics can be found at the link Haiti Quake 2010.

Singer Kaya Jones performs for the Soldiers assigned to Contingency Operating Station Endeavor, Iraq, Feb. 24. Jones, a former member of the Pussycat Dolls, signed autographs and posed for pictures after her performance. Photo by Spc. Ben Hutto

Kaya Jones is presented with a combat shirt following her performance for the Soldiers assigned to Contingency Operating Station Endeavor, Iraq, Feb. 24. Photo by Spc. Ben Hutto

Former Pussycat Doll Kaya Jones sings. Photo by Spc. Ben Hutto

Former Pussycat Doll, Kaya Jones entertained the Soldiers assigned to Contingency Operating Station Endeavor, Iraq, Feb. 24.

Jones and her dance team danced and sang for an appreciative audience for over an hour, before signing autographs and posing for pictures with their audience.

“We love you,” said Jones. “We miss you back home. We thank you for what you are doing out here.”

Jones also gave away free music from her new album and spent time interacting with the troops at the COS Endeavor dining facility during lunch.

“It was a pleasure to perform for all of you guys,” said Jones.

Soldiers cheered throughout the show, encouraging the singer and talking her into an encore.

“It was fun to get a break, hang out and cut loose a little bit,” said Spc. Dillon Fisher, Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. “She was very talented.”

Fisher was one of three Soldiers who got to compete in a dance-off on stage with Jones’s dance team.

“Even though I didn’t win, I think everyone knows who was the best dancer up there,” said Fisher with a smile. “I’m not saying I was robbed, but I have no idea how I didn’t win.”

DVIDS
Story by Spc. Ben Hutto

1st Lt Bergan Flannigan of Tupper Lake wears the Purple Heart she was awarded after losing her leg while on patrol last month in Afghanistan. Shown with her at Craig Joint Theater Hospital in Afghanistan are her husband, 1st Lt. Thomas Flannigan, left, and Col. John F. Garrity. Army photo

Tupper Lake is a small upstate New York community in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. The drive to this community proceeds through paths where the sky is blocked out by the mountains on either side of the road. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful regions of the United States.

Industry is scarce in Tupper Lake and many jobs involve tourism and winter sports such as skiing. About 4,500 people live in the village. The local “central” school has 600 students in grades 7-12 and 600 in the elementary grades.

Twins Bergan and Bethany Arsenault graduated from the high school in 2004. Bergan chose to attend one of the top military academies in the country, Norwich University, where she met her future husband, Tom Flannigan.

Tom and Bergan Flannigan in Afghanistan

Her call sign is Spartan 6. His is Warlord 5.

Bergan and Thomas Flannigan met at Norwich University, a military school in Northfield, Vt. As a sophomore, he served as corporal in her freshman platoon. Their flirtation started the following summer, when he was at airborne school.

They married in 2007, just before her senior year, by which time Thomas was already commissioned as a second lieutenant.

Thomas, a 25-year-old from Topsham, Vt., is now the executive officer, the No. 2, in the 293rd MP Co. He’s slender and quiet, with a tuft of sandy-brown hair and close-shaved temples.

Bergan, 24, from Tupper Lake, N.Y., commands the company’s 38 person-strong Spartan Platoon, which patrols commercial neighborhoods in central Kandahar. In front of her soldiers, Thomas refers to his wife as the “P.L.”—platoon leader—or the “Six,” since unit commanders are always given that code number in radio communications.

On February 24, 2010, while on patrol, Lt. Bergan Flannigan was wounded by an IED blast. She lost part of her right leg and suffered other injuries. Flannigan is currently recovering at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. Her parents are there to be with her and her husband has had his orders changed so that he can be with her, as well.

The people of Tupper Lake are conducting fund raisers to provide for the family.

• Purple Heart presentation from YouTube
• Tupper Lake Facebook page
• Slideshow of pics from the presentation
• Boston Maggie’s coverage

Left to right, roller derby teammates Army Sgt. Karli Wahkahquah, Army 1st Lt. Kristin Sloan and Army 1st Lt. Jessica duMonceaux, all members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard, proudly show off their dainty, powder blue Thunderbirds -- symbolic of the parent 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team under which they serve. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. 1st Class Darren D. Heusel)

Some Soldiers will do almost anything to stay in shape.

Three Soldiers from the Oklahoma Army National Guard are lacing up their roller skates, strapping on elbow and knee pads and taking to the rink as members of the Oklahoma City Red Dirt Rebellion Rollergirls.

For those new to the sport, this isn’t the roller derby of the 1970s, when practically every move was choreographed as in professional wrestling.

No, this is the real deal — as evidenced by the bruised and battered bodies of 1st Lt. Jessica duMonceau, 1st Lt. Kristin Sloan and Sgt. Karli Wahkahquah.

All are members of the military intelligence community and became interested in roller derby after attending an evening contest between the Oklahoma City Red Dirt Rebellion and a team from Amarillo.

“We all went to our first bout together, and Kristin and I looked at Karli and said, ‘We have to do this!’” said duMonceau, who attended high school in Foley, Minn., before moving to Oklahoma City six years ago. “We can be pretty persuasive like that sometimes.”

Wahkahquah said it has been at least 10 years since she donned a pair of roller skates, but she was up to the challenge.

“I’m sure I must have looked like a baby giraffe on skates out there at first,” said Wahkahquah, who also hails from Oklahoma City. “There were a lot of bumps and bruises initially, but it’s proven to be a lot of fun.”

Sloan, a native of Mustang, Okla., said one of the clinchers for her was when “Energizer Honey,” a member of the Red Dirt Rebellion, was sent flying over the railing, landed on her feet and got right back into the action without ever batting an eyelash.

“She jumped right up like she knew what she was doing,” Sloan recalled. “The crowd went wild, and we knew right then this was the sport for us.”

Founded in July 2007 by a group of women with previous flat-track experience, the Red Dirt Rebellion Rollergirls are members of Oklahoma’s only all-female banked-track roller derby league.

While flat-track roller derby has taken the nation by storm in recent years, the Red Dirt Rebellion is one of only 11 elite banked-track roller derby teams in the country.

In its heyday, roller derby was one of the most popular sports broadcast on TV. The late 1970s brought viewers professional wrestling-style derby with mixed teams, heated fist fights and dramatic moves.

Then, as if overnight, roller derby disappeared from public view, only to re-emerge 20 years later with a totally revamped attitude. You won’t often see men on the derby track any more, unless they’re sporting a black-and-white striped jersey and a whistle.

You also won’t see any overly dramatic “scripted” behavior on the rink. What you will see are short skirts, fishnet stockings, tattoos and smash-mouth roller derby action.

All the hits, spills, falls and breaks are real, and they’re revered in the roller derby community.

Named after the infamous “red dirt” of Oklahoma and their wild “rebellious” spirits, members of the Red Dirt Rebellion Rollergirls come from all different lifestyles and backgrounds, from graphic designers and nurses, to stay-at-home moms and soldiers.

The ladies get together at least three nights a week, and for a few bone-crushing hours, they fly around the track hurling themselves at each other as they participate in their own version of ultimate fighting.

They like to have fun, and they like to play rough, as their motto, “Skate Fast and Kick Butt,” states. Once the ladies step onto the rink, they immediately transform into their “alter egos.”

Wahkahquah, or “Rolling Death,” as she is known by her Red Dirt Rebellion sisters, bulldozes her way through a crowded pack of five girls as she makes her way for the “jammer.”

Sloan, or “Bruise Clues” as she is known in roller derby circles, finds the gap through the pack and darts in and out as she bursts her way through, dodging opposing “blockers” as they lunge at her.

The jammers, duMonceau or “La Fleur de Mort” among them, claw their way through what seems like a school of piranhas, while the blockers seek to catch an opposing skater off guard and send her skidding across the floor.

Belly flops, bruised jaws, bloody noses and twisted ankles come with the territory. But these ladies say, “Bring it on!”

After an intense bout, the skaters may seek treatment for their wounds. But, you won’t see a single unhappy skater in the bunch. They’ll limp out with a grin on their face and glints of roller derby glory in their eyes, eager to live on and to fight another day.

“There are definitely some dedicated people on our team,” duMonceaux said.

What makes the trio so successful on the banked track is the same tenacious attitude and “can-do” spirit that helps them thrive and survive in the Guard.

“For me, the organization and the planning are huge,” said Sloan. “There was no real structure when we first got started. We used troop-leading procedures to make it go a lot smoother.”

Wahkahquah said she noticed the team’s method of notifying people about an upcoming practice or bout was broken when she first was involved. One person was contacting everyone on the team, and it was taking hours to get people notified. So she instituted a procedure similar to a military recall roster to help speed up the process.

“Now, all is well,” she said. “Roller derby has definitely taught me to be a better leader. When we first got here, it was like herding cats. Now, it’s like herding sheep. It’s a lot more organized.”

“I’m definitely developing my communication skills,” duMonceau said. “I’m very direct these days and that helps transition over to the Guard.”

The women all claim to have been standout athletes in high school. All said roller derby has helped them elevate their physical fitness.

“We’re guaranteed at least three practices per week, even more than that, if we have a ’bout’ coming up,” Wahkahquah said.

Sloan said their experience has helped with recruiting as well.

Sporting a baby blue Thunderbird on their right shoulder that’s symbolic of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team with which they serve, Sloan said some of the other women will come up to them and ask about the National Guard.

Choosing the perfect roller derby nickname is important, the women said, because it becomes registered and is theirs forever. “Someone can call and ask to create a version of your name, but they have to get your permission,” Wahkahquah said.

Wahkahquah’s last name in Comanche means “riding death.” So, in keeping with the Native American theme, she chose “Rolling Death” as her alter ego.

In French, duMonceaux’s name means “the mound.” So, she “just went a little darker,” as she put it, with “La Fleur de Mort,” which means “the flower of death.”

Sloan said the nickname she arrived at, “Bruise Clues,” is probably the least exciting of the three.

“That’s just the one I ended up liking,” she shrugged. “It was an original.”

As for the reaction the Guardsmen get from people when they discover they are members of the Red Dirt Rebellion, they said most people at first don’t realize Oklahoma has a team.

Second, they said, people will ask, “Is that real?”

“I tell them everything about it is definitely real,” Wahkahquah said, pointing to the bruises on her left arm.

Meanwhile, the Guard members are slated to deploy to Afghanistan next year. Yet, the women will have each other to lean on, just as duMonceaux and Wahkahquah did when they were deployed together to Afghanistan in 2002.

“We’re all pretty tight,” said Wahkahquah. “We pretty much became mutual friends after that first deployment. We like to mountain bike, rock climb — just about anything you might consider extreme.”

Some might consider roller derby extreme. But for Oklahoma’s Guard trio, sustaining a few more bumps and bruises in the rugged, mountainous terrain of Afghanistan might just make them feel right at home.

DVIDS
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Darren D. Heusel

Lt. Col. Kyle Lear, the deputy commanding officer of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, presents Gen. Khatol Mohammadzai, the first female parachutist and general in the Afghan national army, with the title of honorary Sky Soldier. Photo by Spc. Daniel D. Haun

While many countries celebrated the economic, social and political achievements in honor of Women’s International Day, Logar province hosted two historic firsts to highlight the many accomplishments of women in Afghanistan, March 8.

The first event in celebration of WID was a visit to Forward Operating Base Shank by the only serving woman general in the Afghan national army and the first female parachutist, Gen. Khatol Mohammadzai.

Keeping in theme with the special day of promoting continual progress for women, Mohammadzai took this opportunity to speak to women Soldiers, highlight their contribution and also encourage Afghan women to do the same.

International Women’s Day, March 8, is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, it is a national holiday. Mohammadzai, the first female parachutist and general in the Afghan national army, spent the day speaking to the Task Force Bayonet command group and women of the Logar province.

She recognized the vital roles that women possess in the military.

“The whole world knows the military females are real heroes, they left their families behind and came to Afghanistan or to any other country, and are working shoulder to shoulder, and side by side their male counterparts,” she said.

Mohammadzai said that women must work to empower other women.

“These women [Soldiers] can make other women braver, and tell them what they do. Just as you made me brave today, and convinced me to come to come to Logar province, you can convince other ladies to come to the military and work with their male counterparts. Women can work alongside males in the community,” she said.

Mohammadzai spoke of unity and the female Afghan community.

She said that her journey to success was not paved without obstacles and her own fears.

“Becoming a general, especially in Afghanistan as a female, is not an easy thing. I wanted to work hard and show other Afghan females that a woman can be a general,” she said.

But the event would not have been complete, without Mohammadzai sharing her first flight as a parachutist with the ‘Sky Soldiers’.

“The first time I jumped, I screamed so hard, thinking that the parachute was just there, not moving anywhere,” she said. “There was nobody there to help me, and I thought I was just standing there not moving. I was so lightweight that all of my fellow parachutists were already on the ground and I was still in this sky. When I reached the ground it was so comfortable. I didn’t tell my family, but when my mom found out she was crying and screaming, asking what kind of job I had chosen.”

Mohammadzai said she hasn’t look back since and has continued to pushed forward.

The second event, celebrating WID’s and also a historic first took place not far from Mohadmmadzai’s visit, in the women’s center of the Pul-E-Alam district, where more than 100 women attended, including Gov. Lodin of Logar province.

“What was unique was having a girl read the Koran to open the ceremony,” said U.S. Army Capt. Ramona Fastow, Task Force Bayonet’s women’s affairs coordinator. “Literacy rate for women [in Afghanistan] is about 14 to 15 percent. The fact that this girl can read and have the support of her family to get up, read [in public], gives other women hope.”

By the time, the Afghan-led event started there was only standing room available.

Many women were excited to celebrate this day, but some wanted to see more changes and voice other concerns that would improve the future of Afghanistan for women.

“It’s a good event, hopeful for the women of Afghanistan,” said a woman from the Baraki Barak district. “[Compared to when the Taliban ruled], now there’s more freedom. We can go outside.”

Another Afghan woman, from the Juyak district said that she would like to see more vocational programs, child-care and children’s programs on the radio stations.

This event not only celebrated WID, but allowed women from various parts of Afghanistan to come together as one voice and share ideas to improve Afghanistan, Fastow said.

Celebrated globally March 8, WID highlights and promotes continual progress in the economic, political and social achievements of women in the past, present and future.

“Even though we are away from each other, I am in Kabul and you are in Logar, we are not far away in our hearts,” she said. “I am part of your body, as one of your hands. When you need me, I’ll be here to help.”

You have to work diligently in this community, she said.

“Becoming a general, especially in Afghanistan as a female, is not an easy thing. I wanted to do this, I wanted to work hard for it and show the other Afghan females that a female can be a general in this community,” she said.

This diligence is required not only as a commanding officer, but also as a parachutist, said Mohammadzai.

“As a parachutist, or as a jumper, you have to be a storm, you have to be an earthquake, you have to be something that can move the whole world with your jump,” she said. “We have all proved ourselves in the sky as parachutists.”

Mohammadzai said her first experience with parachuting was not without anxiety.

“Every time I was jumping, my mom could not sit in the house. She would go crazy running and walking around, praying to god for my safety. At the time I didn’t understand because I didn’t have kids. Now that I have kids I understand both the pain in life, and how sweet kids are,” said Mohammadzai.

Mohammadzai thanked her mother for playing such a vital role in her life.

“It was the prayer of my parents, my mom, that made me reach what I am today,” she said.

Prayer and hard work pushed her forward, she said.

“I had to work very hard; sometimes I was even scared for my life. I still went ahead and did it,” she said.

Mohammadzai said she grew brave because of all her hard work.

“If you receive, or get, or achieve something difficult, then you are so proud and always happy. If you get something easily, then you are always looking to the ground, you don’t think that you worked hard for it, you just got it. I’m so proud and I can talk to anybody bravely because I worked hard,” she said.

Mohammadzai left with parting words igniting a call to action for the women present.

“We should work to make our male co-workers understand that women can do something like this,” said Mohammadzai.

“I know males and females because I’ve worked with both and understand,” she said. “The reality is that women deserve more respect then what they are given.”

DVIDS
Story by Spc. Daniel D. Haun

I’ve done a lot of hard things in my life, but this one takes the cake – well, OK not cake anymore.

I have a special saying for people who eat cake but I keep a close hold of that so I don’t offend anyone. Before deploying recently, I wrote two articles about fitness that were published here on the Marauder Online.

I e-mailed them to one of my friends to read. She liked them, but her first reaction was, “Well, what if someone says to you, ‘Who do you think you are? What makes you an expert?’”.

I guess I’d never considered that reaction, but I have since given it a great deal of thought. And trust me, when you go on super-long run Sundays, you have a ton of time for thinking.

I’ve never had a problem telling my story to anyone who asks how long I’ve been into fitness. But putting it into writing and pulling this picture out of its secret hiding spot is a level of sharing I never thought I’d get to.

Few have seen it, and even fewer around me knew me when I looked like this. As you can see, I was fat.

When Master Sgt. Sarah Frankenhoff was pregnant with her son she gained exactly 100 pounds. At her peak she weighed 236 pounds.

When I was pregnant with my son I gained exactly 100 pounds. At my peak I weighed 236 pounds. There’s just no good excuse for that. No one needs to gain that much weight when they’re pregnant. I was in a bad relationship and turned to food. It was the beginning of my obsession with food. It was so bad that the girls working at the local fast food joints wanted me to bring in my baby once he was born.

Yeah, we were that close.

After my son was born, I lost almost all the weight, only to start the great weight flux that I maintained for a solid nine years. I had gotten back down to 130 pounds at one point, but would get back up to as high as 180 then pull some off again. Two and a half years ago I finally decided that I was done with the reindeer games. I was tired of being a chubby girl.

That’s when I saw a couple of fitness magazines. The images and stories within them were the catalyst for me to say, “I can do that.” So I ran, and ran, and ran and ran. My goals got bigger as I got thinner and leaner.

Losing the weight isn’t necessarily going to make you like what you see. There are still a lot of times I step on the scale and cringe. It has to do with hitting the perfect weight, or more accurately, “the number” that signifies that perfect weight. That number is different for everyone. I remember seeing a girl who I thought looked perfect, and I asked her how much she weighed.

And so my association to “the” number became thinking that if I weighed that much, then I would finally think I look good.

I’ve learned the hard way that my body won’t give me the return I want at that weight. I want to be able to push myself through every training session so that I know at mile 80 on the bike and a marathon looming over me I have the ability to finish.

With a higher body-fat percentage, my endurance level is so much higher. Now, that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t still like to see that number (I think it’s a girl thing). It’s just another internal battle I’ll always struggle with.

So what inspired me to publicly humiliate myself on a global level by telling my story on the Marauder Online? I saw the advertisement in the gym for the “biggest loser competition” on base.

Ask anyone who knows me – I’ll give up any spare moment I have and talk someone’s ear off if they even so much as look like they want to question me about how they could lose weight and get fitter.

But it always ends the same way. My biggest pieces of advice are always the same, and I’m going to give it to you straight.

· Don’t start something you’re not prepared to stick with. Setting goals and not achieving them, or even coming close to achieving them, is a hard hit to take. “You gotta have buy-in. It’s 100 percent or nothing.”

· Losing weight is 80 percent diet, 20 percent exercise. You have to watch what you are shoveling down your yap. That’s right, party people. It’s time to put the pizza, burgers, fries and beer down. There’s a time and place for celebration, and it ain’t every night!

· Fad diets, low-carb lifestyles and fitness sold in a bottle are stupid ways to try and get to where you want to be. They just don’t work. Period.

· Find a workout partner. Use each other for support and motivation. I absolutely love knowing someone feels as miserable as me when I’m training!

What does work is getting off the couch. Put down that bag of chips and get out there and move. Find something you like to do. The fitness center offers a great variety of group classes to get involved in that have participants of every level.

US Air Force
Commentary by Master Sgt. Sarah Frankenhoff
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

Editor’s note: Master Sgt. Sarah Frankenhoff is the 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office superintendent. She’s an endurance athlete who competes in marathons and triathlons. Her most recent event was Ironman UK which consisted of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike and a 26.2-mile run.