A newly-built truck lift is demonstrated before a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Maysan Central Wheat Granary of the where a newly-built truck lift was unveiled. The hydraulic truck lift will be a valuable addition to the granary, which can hold upwards of 10,000 tons. Before the lift was built, workers had to unload grain trucks using shovels, a task that could take hours to complete. Photo by Pfc. Khori Johnson

The Maysan Provincial Reconstruction Team and Soldiers of Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, which is attached to 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd BCT, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Maysan Central Wheat Granary to unveil a newly-built truck lift.

The hydraulic truck lift will be a valuable addition to the granary, which can hold more than 10,000 tons of grain. Before the lift was built, workers had to unload grain trucks using shovels, a task that took hours to complete.

With the addition of the truck lift, unloading grain will take a fraction of the time, said 2nd Lt. Boykin Lucas, a Camden, S.C., native serving as a platoon leader and project purchasing officer with Battery A, 3rd Bn., 29th FA Regt., 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

The governor of Maysan, Muhammad Shi’a Sabar Hatim al Sudani, cut the ribbon to unveil the finished project, and the crowd on hand responded with applause and songs of celebration.

The project was a joint effort between the PRT, the Iraqi government, and the ‘Iron’ Brigade. The PRT and the GOI acquired and installed the truck lift while 3rd BCT assisted with construction.

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Story by Pfc. Khori Johnson

Members of the Maysan Provincial Reconstruction Team and a Soldier with Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division evaluate the construction of the Maysan Plastics Factory in Al Amarah

U.S. forces in southern Iraq set out to improve the quality of life and economic future of one province in their area of operations.

The Soldiers of Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, in conjunction with the Maysan Provincial Reconstruction Team are working to rebuild a plastics factory in Maysan, which will not only provide jobs but help the agricultural industry in the region.

The plastics factory is a key industrial site in the town of Al Amarah, capable of improving the quality of life of the people of Maysan province by providing jobs and everyday products in this agrarian region.

Before 2003, the factory was fully operational, providing PVC pipe to the farmers around the province. After 2003, the factory saw subsequent waves of looters who left the factory damaged beyond repair. This severely affected the supply of pipes and increased foreign importing of plastic goods, said Stephen Banks, the Maysan Provincial Reconstruction Team Leader.

Seven years later, Battery A, 3rd Bn., 29th FA Regt. and the PRT are working to replace the damaged equipment in an effort to make the factory operational again.

“The factory employs over 300 Iraqi workers,” Banks said. “This will stimulate the economy by promoting the development of ancillary business, such as delivery services and retail outlets.”Maysan is dependent on agricultural development where modern irrigation systems are crucial to farms’ success. Old methods of irrigation involve repeatedly flooding the fields from canals. PVC pipe links canals to irrigation pumps so water can be distributed in a more efficient manner, increasing crop output.

“The plastic factory will facilitate Iraqi development while decreasing the dependence of imported merchandise.” said 2nd Lt. Lucas Boykin, project purchasing officer and platoon leader, Battery A, 3rd Bn., 29th FA Regt.

Soldiers supporting this mission acknowledge the fact they are getting to assist in the reconstruction of key infrastructure in Iraq.

“These projects [show people] that U.S. forces have a genuine concern about their way of life,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jason Obermuller.

In addition to agricultural uses, the plastic piping can be used to upgrade the waste water treatment and sanitation services in Maysan. Low cost, high-quality piping will directly improve the province’s quality of life, Banks said.

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By 2nd Lt. Timothy Lewin

Las Vegas native, Spc. Mitchell Matney, a raven operator for Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 221st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, launches a Raven unmanned aerial vehicle at Combat Outpost Nagil, Laghman province, Oct. 13. The Raven is able to provide real time video feeds once in the air. Photo by Spc. Derek L. Kuhn

In Norse mythology, the all-father, Odin was a warrior god who ancient warriors beseeched for victory and protection in battle. It was said Odin had ravens that would fly over the earth each day. The ravens brought tidings of events from all corners of the earth.

Soldiers in Laghman province are also using Ravens to gather information like Odin. Though the Ravens, in essence, do the same tasks as Odin’s informants; they aren’t even birds. They are unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Raven is a portable UAV that provides Soldiers a live video feed in day or night. They also have tracking and still image capabilities.

“If we need to get eyes on something we’ll use the Raven,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Tyrone Baird, the master trainer for 1st Squadron, 221st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. “The Raven has a couple of cameras–the first is the normal day camera, but when it gets dark we switch to the thermal camera.”

Baird said, the Raven also has Global Positioning Satellite tracking capabilities.

Such tools make the Raven a valuable asset in gathering information, Baird said.

Spc. Mitchell Matney, a Raven operator for Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1-221 CAV., agrees with Baird’s assertion and explains the Raven’s usefulness.

“The Raven allows us to gather intelligence,” said Matney. “We can track targets, gather intel and scout ahead with it (the Raven).”

The Raven is renowned for its small size, which allows Soldiers to carry it into the field without encumbering its bearers.

According to Matney, the total system weighs about 40 lbs. with the UAV proper weighing about 4 lbs.

“It’s modular,” the Las Vegas native said. “You can distribute the system throughout the squad which minimizes the amount of weight each (Soldier) has to carry.”

Baird said such modularity makes the Raven ideally suited for Afghanistan’s more rugged areas because they’re able to put the Raven in flight to scope out and area instead of sending the Soldiers up the mountains to investigate. He has even witnessed first-hand the Ravens capability to save lives.

“The last time I was in Iraq,” the native of Pahrump, Nev., said, “My (Forward Operating Base) was receiving mortar fire and we sent the Raven out to find their position. The Raven found where they were. We sent out some guys. They ended capturing twelve guys and stopping them from hurting anyone.”

Being such an important tool for Soldiers in Afghanistan, the Raven still maintains a hobbyist type enthusiasm from its operators.

“The Raven is really fun to operate,” said Matney. “Flying it is kind of like playing a video game.”

Baird agrees and takes pride in making an impact while enjoying the simplicity of the Raven.

“It is definitely fun to fly,” said Baird, “but the more important thing is knowing that I am contributing many different ways with the Raven. I am proud to be able to serve my country.”

With its small size, light weight and advanced technology, the Raven is proving to be a valuable asset in the fight to secure freedom and prosperity for Afghanistan one unassuming swoop at a time.

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Story by Spc. Derek L. Kuhn

These troops are likely from the 4 BCT, 4 Infantry Division, out of Fort Hood.

Two joint International Security Assistance Force and Afghan national security forces outposts were attacked in the Nuristan province of eastern Afghanistan Saturday morning (October 3 2009).

Nuristani tribal militia launched the attacks from a local mosque and nearby village.

Coalition forces effectively repelled the attack and inflicted heavy enemy casualties while eight ISAF and two ANSF service members were killed.

“My heart goes out to the families of those we have lost and to their fellow Soldiers who remained to finish this fight,” said Col. Randy George, commander of Task Force Mountain Warrior. “This was a complex attack in a difficult area. Both the U.S. and Afghan Soldiers fought bravely together; I am extremely proud of their professionalism and bravery.”

Names will be withheld pending next of kin notification.

Coalition forces’ previously announced plans to depart the area as part of a broader realignment to protect larger population centers remain unchanged.

The sources of the conflict in the area involve complex tribal, religious and economic dynamics. Coalition forces will continue to assist in matching local resources with ANSF to bolster security and partner with local communities on development assistance if requested.

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Capt. Michelle Szczenpanek, physician assistant, Company C, 204th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, demonstrates how to put a breathing tube down an infant's throat to doctors from the Basra Women's and Children's Hospital during neonatal resuscitation training at Contingency Operating Base Basra, June 10. Szczenpanek comes from Orlando, Fla. Photo by Sgt. Rodney Foliente

The doctors and medical staff of the Warhorse Brigade conducted neonatal resuscitation training at Contingency Operating Base Basra for local doctors June 10-11.

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, offered the training and introduced new procedures and equipment that can help save infant lives and reduce the risk of babies suffering from cerebral palsy and mental retardation.

“Iraq has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world,” said Maj. Roger Brockbank, 2nd BCT surgeon, 4th Inf. Div. Recent studies also show that many instances of cerebral palsy and mental retardation may have been avoided with proper resuscitation training.

“The first few minutes of an infant’s life are critical, as the infant makes the transition from the womb to breathing in the outside world. A lot of times, simple interventions and techniques can help the infants in need of assistance, to make that transition and lead healthy lives,” continued Brockbank, who calls Colorado Springs, Colo., home.

In addition to the training, the brigade has provided training aids and equipment donated from American non-government organizations. The donated equipment and training aids included infant-sized mannequins with simulated lungs, and tools to perform a variety of resuscitation measures. The mouths, throats and lungs of the mannequins are also realistically formed, allowing staff members to train on emergencies procedures, such as inserting breathing tubes.

The training program was coordinated with the provincial government and the directors of the Basra Women’s and Children’s Hospital, said Capt. Will Smith, 2nd BCT medical operations officer, 4th Inf. Div.

“It was exciting to see the local doctors take the lead as they establish an ongoing neonatal resuscitation training program, which will result in improving their provincial healthcare capacity. I was inspired by their enthusiasm and I feel confident in the ability of the Iraqi doctors and the ministry of Health to care for their people,” said Smith, who also calls Colorado Springs home.

“We wanted to provide a training program for physicians in Basra so they can in turn, train other physicians, nurses and midwives in neonatal resuscitation techniques,” said Brockbank. “It’s been very rewarding, being able to provide a program that can continue when we move on. It will be very beneficial to the people, especially the infants born in Basra.”

The train-the-trainer program can continue to progress and escalate until the Basra Women’s and Children’s Hospital becomes a center of training for medical staff members from other hospitals as well. In Diwaniya, where the Warhorse Brigade was headquartered during the first half of its deployment, the neonatal resuscitation training program has grown and continues to meet with success, explained Brockbank.

The initial course will now help the doctors and residents to train the rest of the pediatric staff at the hospital before expanding it further, said Dr. Ghufran, a female pediatrician. She said she is optimistic that the training will lead to a healthier start for a greater number of children: her country’s future.

“This training will benefit our whole pediatric staff, so they know better how to assist the doctors and care for the babies in [case of] complications. The babies don’t depend only on the doctors for survival; they depend on the whole [medical] staff,” emphasized Ghufran.

“I became a doctor to help people and save lives. In Iraq, we have many complications in post-deliveries. Many babies end up [having] cerebral palsy, are paralyzed or die because of birth asphyxia,” said Dr. Ayssar, a pediatric resident in Basra. “This training will help us prevent these things from happening; to help [ensure] healthier futures [and] save the lives of infants.”

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Story by Sgt. Rodney Foliente