Local Afghan laborers lay the foundation of a new shura hall Feb. 24 in the governor's compound of the Nad'e Ali district center. The shura hall is scheduled to be completed within the next four months and will have a capacity of up to 2,000 people. Photo by Pfc. Luke Rollins

When the Royal Engineers of the 11th Light Infantry Brigade first arrived in the Nad’e Ali district center, they came to a stagnant area run down from insurgent control. The population was afraid to leave their homes. The bazaar – the center of local economic life – was little more than a ghost town. A local health clinic, built by Americans in the 1950′s, was destroyed by an insurgent decree against Western medicinal practices.

Now, the bazaar streets are full of the noises of bargaining shoppers and idling motors. Children shriek on the way to and from school. Not only has the local health clinic been rebuilt, but improved and expanded.

In the wake of Operation Moshtarak, the largest operation since the arrival of coalition forces in Afghanistan, the engineers are redoubling their efforts to bring a functioning public life to the citizens of Nad’e Ali.

The focus of current construction efforts is in the district governor’s compound, said Staff Sgt. John Marley, a member of the Nad’e Ali Military Stabilization and Support Team.

“The construction could start under the security and safety this bubble created,” said Marley, referring to a set of walls enclosing the compound.

Work on the compound includes 26 offices for departmental ministers and their staff and a shurah hall planned to hold up to 2,000 people. It is scheduled for completion within the next four months.

Staff Sgt. John Marley, a member of the Nad'e Ali Military Stabilization and Support Team, talks with local Afghans about issues at the local health clinic. The clinic, which was recently rebuilt after being destroyed during insurgent control of Nad'e Ali, now serves the region with a midwifery. Photo by Pfc. Luke Rollins

Outside the compound the effects of International Security Assistance Force-aided reconstruction yield their results, said Marley. New shops opened in the bazaar, and old shops have had concrete roofs attached. They have been regrouped by type in order to maintain public health standards. Also, the mud roads within the bazaar area have been covered in gravel for more consistent accessibility.

A new district mosque is planned for the area as well, and walls have already been built around the site.

The local residents comprise the work force for the area construction projects, said Marley. This encourages the local population to invest their time and effort in the construction and maintenance of their local infrastructure.

Soon, he said, the Afghan government will fund the construction projects within the districts. The engineers will play an intermediary role between the contractors and the local government.

As the current projects make their way toward completion, Marley said he has witnessed first hand an attitude shift on the part of the local population from apprehension to acceptance.

“Slowly, now, we are seeing the construction and all the people that are now employed, the shops are all open again, the health clinic, the children are going to school and getting taught. The local Afghans have welcomed us with open arms now, and they’re realizing now this is what all of Afghanistan should be getting and should have had for a long time.”

DVIDS
Story by Pfc. Luke Rollins

Corporal Bill (Willy) Apiata was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroism as part of the New Zealand SAS contingent in Afghanistan. Most fellows who are awarded their nation’s highest military honor would say they’ve done their best and let the other lads handle the fight.

Not Apiata.

He’s back in the ‘stan with his lads.

Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata is one of the SAS members photographed in Afghanistan, Prime Minister John Key has confirmed.

Images emerged today of members of the New Zealand Special Air Service on patrol in Kabul shortly after they were involved in a battle in the centre of the Afghan capital.

Corporal Apiata became the first New Zealander since the Second World War to be awarded the Commonwealth’s highest military award for his actions with the NZ SAS in Afghanistan.

Mr Key told reporters Corporal Apiata had volunteered to return to Afghanistan.

“We gave Willie Apiata the choice about whether to return to Afghanistan or not and he made it quite clear he did want to return and he was one of the first to return.”

Stuff.co.nz and Dominion Post

Three women from different services have come together to make a difference in the expansion and sustainment of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Naval supply officer Lt. j. g. Monica Rojas with the 30th Naval Construction Regiment, Air Force civil engineer 1st Lt. Rebecca Bucher with the 777th Expeditionary “Prime BEEF” Squadron, and Army logistics Capt. Sarah Comeau with the 45th Sustainment Brigade met each other while deployed here. The three service members have formed a bond, and now work closely in all matters regarding procurement, logistics and construction projects.

“It’s rare for all the services to work together to accomplish what we are accomplishing: expansion and growth of [Regional Command - South] in a deployed environment,” said Comeau of St. Paul, Minn. “Between the three of us, we are creating, building, and supplying both existing and new [forward operating bases] in southern Afghanistan.”

Comeau supplies FOBs with all classes of supply, orders what they need for sustainment, and ensures supplies and materiel get to the FOB in a timely manner. Shortages of supplies and equipment can hamper FOB construction during a time when U.S. operations in Afghanistan are intensifying.

The 45th Sustainment Brigade is an integral part of Joint Sustainment Command – Afghanistan, which provides command and control for units that provide a wide range of sustainment services to combat forces belonging to or sponsored by the U.S. The Prime BEEF Squadron executes projects planned by the 30th NCR at FOBs and combat outposts where subordinate units work.

“We work together in building up RC-South and sustaining our current units located in RC – South,” said Rojas of Arlington, Texas. “I am the logistics side for the regiment, Sarah is the transportation and supply side for our Army Contacts, and Becky is the Air Force officer that plans projects for the 30th NCR.”

The 30th NCR is the Seabee unit from Port Hueneme, Calif., that has overall responsibility for all FOB construction projects in RC-S.

“Each [of us] brings a separate set of experiences to the table,” said Rojas. “The fact that we are all from different services, backgrounds, and MOS’s [military occupational specialties] or designators gives a huge opportunity for growing from each other. We all have the same mission, and are in the same location, but need each other’s varying education and backgrounds in order to accomplish that mission.”

Although all three U.S. military members work in different services, they all help each other in some way on KAF, and also all know the importance of keeping fit especially while deployed.

“I’ve always loved to workout and it’s even more important to stay active while deployed,” said Bucher of O’Fallon, Ill., following the strenuous workout. “The operational tempo can become quite stressful and staying active keeps you not only fit, but alert and lets you clear your mind for at least a little while. It definitely recharges the batteries.”

The United Kingdom’s indoor soccer field at KAF is home to circuit type exercises five days a week. This particular training consists of several games ranging from tag to races and circuit training.

“It’s like Elementary Physical Education except 100 times harder,” said Comeau. “In the middle of the workout, I would’ve rather have run a marathon then finished the seemingly endless amount of sprinting and drills! But, in the end, it was definitely worth it!”

“The UK soccer gym is the perfect place to conduct circuit training,” said Rojas. “They have a new routine every week and focus on every part of the body.”

People attending the class are primarily from countries outside the United States, making it a good networking opportunity for the U.S. military on base to expand their scope of knowledge and contacts, said Rojas.

All three female officers ran the Nov. 7 Freedom Run half marathon on KAF.

DVIDS
Story by Maj. Sheldon Smith

Army Spc. Zachary Boyd, 19, who hails from Fort Worth, Texas, said he was in his sleeping quarters at Firebase Restrepo in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan’s Kunar province when the Taliban attacked, forcing him to take up a defensive position while clad only in his helmet, protective vest, a T-shirt and his pink “I Love NY” boxer shorts, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Thursday.

A wire service photographer snapped a picture of Boyd rushing into action in his undershorts and the snapshot wound up on the front pages of the Star-Telegram and The New York Times.

UPI