U.S. Department of Defense Daily Digest Bulletin

Message: 1
From: U.S. Department of Defense <govdelivery@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:30:29 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Afghan Missile Strike

Afghan Missile Strike
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:10:49 -0500

The United States has yet to verify claims that a missile strike killed a top Taliban leader recently.

---

Message: 2
From: American Forces Press Service <afps@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:37:08 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: AFPS Blog: Obama Spends Birthday Focused on Vets

AFPS Blog: Obama Spends Birthday Focused on Vets
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:49:00 -0500

AFPS Blog: Obama Spends Birthday Focused on Vets By Donna Miles American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2009 - President Barack Obama strode into the Roosevelt Room at the White House on Aug. 4, uttering apologies for being late as he approached the four military journalists to shake their hands and thank them for coming to talk about veterans' issues. President Barack Obama and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki conduct a media roundtable at the White House with military reporters, Aug. 4, 2009. Participating, from left, are Leo Shane of Stars and Stripes; Tom Philpott of Military Update, Donna Miles of American Forces Press Service, and Bill McMichael of Military Times. White House photo (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. It was the president's birthday, and the fact hadn't been lost at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Reporters filing through the security gate passed a group of revelers in pointy party hats assembled outside the fence line. They called out birthday greetings to TV cameras, hoisting a larger-than-life image of the president high under the oppressive afternoon sun. Inside the White House, Obama had a full schedule of events, including lunch with the Senate Democratic caucus just before his session with me and three other military journalists. Each session, he explained as he sat across from the reporters with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki at his side, had included birthday festivities that he hadn't known about and hadn't factored into his schedule. It was shaping up to be a good birthday, he reflected. His Secret Service agents had presented him with a fishing rod. His military aides gave him a display for his military coin collection. "I'm making out," he said with a smile. "I want to see what Michelle gives me." The pleasantries exchanged and his visitors now at ease, the president explained why he'd called the session to talk about what his administration is doing to support veterans. Congress is about to take its summer recess and several major veterans conventions are coming up within the next month. "And we think we've got a great story to tell about where we are moving when it comes to how we treat our men and women who served in the United States armed forces," he said. Obama praised troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, forming "as experienced and as battle-hardened a group of veterans as we've seen in a generation, basically. "They have performed with extraordinary valor," he said, only to return home to a weakened economy brought on by the financial crisis. So rather than just "tinker around the edges" to improve VA services for them, Obama said, he opted to "take a forceful series of steps to make sure that the VA was equipped to provide the services that our veterans so richly deserve." That's the thinking behind the fiscal 2010 VA budget, with its largest funding increase in 30 years, he said. The additional $25 billion over the next five years will go a long way: "more robust" treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, new VA clinics in rural areas to make services more accessible, more claims adjudicators to reduce backlogs. Obama calls passage of the budget a big success that will enable these and other changes needed at VA to occur. They'll put VA on "a much firmer footing, moving forward," he said. "The key now is implementation, execution. For that to happen, he said, he's counting on Shinseki to make VA "a much more customer-friendly operation oriented to bringing people in, not keeping them out, and toward giving them the services they need in a cost-efficient way. Obama ran down a litany of initiatives under way, and took questions on a broad range of other VA issues. Although all four of us reporters had notes in front of us on the table, the president had none. Shinseki filled in some of the gaps, but there weren't many. The clock was ticking and the staff behind Obama, sitting along a flag-filled wall, was getting nervous. They were, again, behind schedule. Obama remained at ease, but deliberated a bit less as he responded to the last two questions. Overall, he said, he's pretty satisfied with the direction things are going as he works to make good on his campaign promises to do right by America's veterans. "Of all the things we've accomplished over the first seven months of my administration, one of the things I'm most proud of is that I really believe we have been true to our commitment to our veterans," he said. "The promises that I made during the campaign, we have followed through on. And it will provide tangible, concrete benefits to our veterans for years to come." The interview was now over, the tape recorders off, and suddenly Obama was preparing to dash off to his next appointment -- again, behind schedule. Hands were shaken and thank-yous exchanged, along with a fresh round of "happy birthdays." The president paused before returning to the Oval Office across the hallway, asking the reporters, "Tell all your readership I appreciate what they do for our country every day."

---

Message: 3
From: American Forces Press Service <afps@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:42:52 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Face of Defense: Mother, Son Bond in Afghanistan

Face of Defense: Mother, Son Bond in Afghanistan
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:34:00 -0500

Face of Defense: Mother, Son Bond in Afghanistan By Army Pfc. Andrya Hill Special to American Forces Press Service FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan, Aug. 10, 2009 - Deployed soldiers always have kissed their families goodbye and headed off to war with the expectation of learning to handle the constant heartache of missing their loved ones. However, in a rare exception, a mother and her son have found themselves assigned here together. Army Maj. Una Alderman, chief nurse officer for the 452nd Army Reserve, from Wisconsin, tends to a patient at the hospital on Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, Aug. 5, 2009. She is stationed in the same area of operations as her son, Army Staff Sgt. Seth Alderman, a military policeman with the 25th Infantry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Andrya Hill (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Army Maj. Una Alderman, chief nurse officer for the 452nd Combat Support Hospital, received deployment orders after her son already was serving in Afghanistan. "His [mailing] address said Salerno, and then I found out that was where I was going," the major said. "I just couldn't believe it." Her son, Army Staff Sgt. Seth Alderman, a military policeman with the 25th Infantry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team out of Alaska, was equally surprised. "When I came here with 4-25 in March, she was on orders waiting to deploy, but we didn't know where," he said. "When I found out she was coming here, to Salerno, I just thought 'Wow.' It was a huge surprise to both of us." Sergeant Alderman works on Combat Outpost Sabari, just a few miles from here, and travels in convoys between the two locations each month. "Having her here really gives me something to look forward to when I come to Salerno," he said. Being deployed together gives mother and son the chance to visit more frequently than they do when they're in the United States. "It is nice, because I live in Wisconsin, and Seth lives in Alaska," Major Alderman said. "We'll be able to see each other on a more regular basis here, instead of every year and a half." Both soldiers said they have tremendous support from their colleagues, and other soldiers are excited about their opportunity. "There is a lot of joking around from my soldiers, but there is also a level of respect," Sergeant Alderman said. "They think, 'Who else's mom is over here, really?'" Combat brings a level of daily danger, and with the major working in the hospital and her son working on the ground, each recognizes the risks. "I am a mom, he is my son, so I do worry," Major Alderman said, adding that despite her motherly worry, she is able to focus on her mission with help from others. "I have a lot of support from the colleagues that I work with, and we will do the job regardless," she said. Sergeant Alderman is halfway his year-long deployment, and his mother has just begun hers. They said they appreciate the time they will get to spend together, and are looking forward to a new level of camaraderie -- as fellow soldiers as well as mother and son. "I am really proud to be in the Army," Major Alderman said. "The people I am here with are just outstanding soldiers, so I think it is going to be a very good year, a very meaningful year. "Besides my children," she continued, this is probably one of the most meaningful things I'll ever do in my life, and adding that Seth is here, at least until February or March, it makes it that much better." (Army Pfc. Andrya Hill serves with the 25th Infantry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team public affairs office.)

Related Sites: U.S. Forces Afghanistan U.S. Forces Afghanistan on Twitter U.S. Forces Afghanistan on Facebook U.S. Forces Afghanistan on YouTube

Army Staff Sgt. Seth Alderman, a military police squad leader in the 25th Infantry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team, waits for his squad prior to a mission out of Combat Outpost Sabari in Afghanistan's Khost province. U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Steven Abadia Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution

---

Message: 4
From: American Forces Press Service <afps@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:10:15 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: U.S. Forces Capture Grenade Attacker in Iraq

U.S. Forces Capture Grenade Attacker in Iraq
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:54:00 -0500

U.S. Forces Capture Grenade Attacker in Iraq American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2009 - U.S. forces detained an Iraqi man who attacked a U.S. convoy with a grenade Aug. 7 in Iraq's Kirkuk province, military officials reported. The convoy was traveling from a police station to a base outside the city when the assailant attacked the convoy in the northern town of Hawijah. Soldiers responded with small-arms fire, wounding the attacker. Police transported the man to a Kirkuk hospital. Two civilians suffered minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital. A U.S. explosive ordnance team was called in when the grenade didn't detonate. Iraqi police are investigating the incident. Meanwhile, Iraqi commandos, with U.S. advisors, arrested two suspected terrorists Aug. 7 in Diyala province. The men were arrested through a warrant issued by the Central Investigative Court of Khark for allegedly attacking Diyala civilians and facilitating sectarian violence in the city. Commandos searched the suspects' home and arrested the two alleged terrorists without incident. (Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Related Sites: Multinational Corps Iraq

---

Message: 5
From: American Forces Press Service <afps@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:31:01 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Summer Recruiting Remains Strong Across Services

Summer Recruiting Remains Strong Across Services
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:27:00 -0500

Summer Recruiting Remains Strong Across Services By Donna Miles American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2009 - July was a boom month for military recruiting, with more than 15,000 young men and women entering the active-duty force, defense officials reported today. July recruiting and retention numbers released today show across-the-board successes, with a new high school graduation class among the recruitment-age population seeking career opportunities. "In tougher economic times, youth are simply more willing to discuss options with recruiters," said Bill Carr, deputy undersecretary of defense for military personnel policy. "And when they learn the facts, they see the advantages." All four services met or exceeded their July active-duty recruiting goals, officials reported. Meanwhile, the reserve components signed on almost 8,000 new members, with six components meeting or exceeding their monthly goals. Only the Army National Guard and Air National Guard fell short of their initial July projections. Officials called this an intentional measure designed to help them manage their end strength, because they're already on track to meet their annual goals. The ground forces demonstrated the strongest recruiting showings. The Army, with 6,199 active-duty accessions, topped its July goal by 2 percent. The Marine Corps exceeded its active-duty goal by 15 percent, with 3,451 new members. Both services showed solid successes in reserve-component recruiting, too. The Army Reserve signed on 1,628 soldiers, 123 percent of its monthly goal. The Marine Corps recruited 1,135 members -- 201 percent of its goal. The Army Guard added 2,562 members to its ranks, and is on a steady track to meet its annual goals, officials said. Meanwhile, both the Navy and Air Force met their July active-duty goals, signing on 3,421 and 2,654 new members, respectively. Both services' reserve components met their July goals, with 688 accessions in the Navy Reserve and 907 in the Air Force Reserve. The Air Guard signed on 832 airmen, 97 percent of its goal.

Related Sites: Defense Department News Release

---

Message: 6
From: American Forces Press Service <afps@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:20:59 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: U.S. Forces Pursue Terrorists Linked to Drug Trade

U.S. Forces Pursue Terrorists Linked to Drug Trade
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:11:00 -0500

U.S. Forces Pursue Terrorists Linked to Drug Trade By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2009 - U.S. forces are going after terrorists who feed off the drug trade in Afghanistan, a senior Defense Department spokesman said today. "There is a well-established connection between the drug trade and financing terrorism in Afghanistan," Bryan Whitman said. Whitman emphasized that U.S. forces target terrorists linked to the drug trade, not drug traffickers linked to terrorists. The difference, he said, is that counternarcotics is a law enforcement mission, and the Afghan government is in charge of that. The U.S. State Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency support Afghan authorities seeking to clamp down on drug traffickers. But some drug lords finance terrorism. Officials estimate that the Taliban receive about $80 million per year from drug networks. In some instances, Taliban groups have entered the drug trade, and in others, Taliban fighters are providing protection for drug lords, State Department officials said. The nexus between the drug lords and the Taliban creates a problem for U.S. troops conducting security and force protection. "That make them a legitimate target," Whitman said.

Related Sites: U.S. Forces Afghanistan U.S. Forces Afghanistan on Twitter U.S. Forces Afghanistan on Facebook U.S. Forces Afghanistan on YouTube

---

Message: 7
From: American Forces Press Service <afps@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:53:42 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Jones: Strategy Boosts Afghan Army, Police

Jones: Strategy Boosts Afghan Army, Police
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:45:00 -0500

Jones: Strategy Boosts Afghan Army, Police By Gerry J. Gilmore American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2009 - Ramping up the numbers of Afghan soldiers and police is part of President Barack Obama's multi-pronged Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy, National Security Advisor James L. Jones said here yesterday. On March 27, Obama announced his plan to increase U.S. support to Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat terrorist groups in the region and to provide security and a better quality of life for residents. The president also directed the deployment of 4,000 extra U.S. troops to Afghanistan to train Afghan soldiers and police. The president's Afghanistan strategy, Jones said on the CBS program "Face the Nation," looks toward an expanded Afghan military and constabulary to assume security duties eventually. The three-pronged strategy, he said, also identifies the need for U.S. and allied assistance to bolster Afghanistan's economic development and improve governance. "This strategy merges all of those three things," Jones said. "We're definitely going to � in conjunction with our allies � develop the Afghan army at a faster rate, and the Afghan police, so that we can have Afghans in charge of their own destiny in a shorter period of time." The Afghan National Army has about 90,000 troops, with plans to boost that force to about 134,000. Afghan National Police ranks are expected to increase from about 82,000 officers now to 87,000 by 2011. Before the president's strategy review, 17,000 additional U.S. troops were approved for deployment to southern Afghanistan. Some of those troops are mentoring Afghan soldiers and police, while others are confronting Taliban militants and al-Qaida terrorists. Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the senior U.S. military officer in Afghanistan and commander of NATO forces there, is working on an assessment to determine what is required to implement Obama's strategy. About 58,000 U.S. forces are in Afghanistan now, and that number is expected to increase to about 68,000 troops later this year. About 39,000 NATO troops are serving in Afghanistan. "The Defense Department will evaluate what General McChrystal has to say," Jones said, "and, in due time, it'll come up for a decision by the president." Jones also reported that "the instruments of security are being well thought out" for Afghan presidential and provincial elections scheduled Aug. 20. Obama's strategy addresses Pakistan as well as Afghanistan, Jones said, citing Pakistan's recent successes in fighting insurgents in its isolated, northwest regions and along its border with Afghanistan.

Biographies: James L. Jones Related Sites: National Security Council U.S. Forces Afghanistan NATO International Security Assistance Force Related Articles: Envoy Cites Need to Increase Afghan Security Forces President's Plan Signals U.S. Commitment to Bolster Afghan Security

---

Message: 8
From: American Forces Press Service <afps@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:44:25 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: NATO Forces Earn Support of Afghan Provincial Governor

NATO Forces Earn Support of Afghan Provincial Governor
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:37:00 -0500

NATO Forces Earn Support of Afghan Provincial Governor By Army Spc. Jaime' D. De Leon Special to American Forces Press Service LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Aug. 10, 2009 - NATO forces working to secure and develop rural areas of this eastern Afghanistan province are finding support from the provincial governor, who is urging local leaders to embrace the opportunities of working with the International Security Assistance Force. Elders of the Kherwar district of Afghanistan's Logar province voice their opinions during a July 27, 2009, meeting. Gov. Attiqullah Lodin spoke at the meeting and addressed plans to pave roads and build schools and hospitals. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jaime' De Leon (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Gov. Attiqullah Lodin spoke with the sub-governor and local elders about plans to bring a stronger government presence to the Kherwar district during a July 27 meeting. "This time is the time of opportunities," Lodin said. "Let's take these opportunities now and build a future for our children. I am telling you now, let's work together, shoulder to shoulder." Part of Lodin's plan for Kherwar involves upgrading the infrastructure. Kherwar currently has dirt roads and a district center made of metal containers and mud huts. "Kherwar is far from Logar and government," Lodin said. "If you're driving on dirt, it takes three to four hours to get to Logar. When we get the roads paved, it will take 20 minutes." His plans for development do not end with building roads. "We can build hospitals for our wives and our children," and more schools, Lodin said. But roads and buildings can't change everything. Fighting between ISAF troops and local insurgents, as well as local residents with each other, remains a problem. "If people are having problems, have them come to me," Lodin said. "Let's solve problems with talking, not guns and fighting." Lodin said he doesn't want to give up on his countrymen who are fighting, but rather wants to join them all together in the effort to improve Afghanistan. "Tell the people who are fighting to throw down their weapons and come join us," he said. "I promise I will not harm them." Lodin also made a point of letting the people of Kherwar know that ISAF is part of the solution, not the problem. In a crowd of men who are old enough to remember the 1979 Russian invasion, Lodin made a clear distinction between the former Soviet superpower and the current foreign forces. "The Russians were here to colonize and make us part of their kingdom," Lodin said. "ISAF is here as our guest, to help us. They left their brothers and sisters and children far away." He reiterated that the soldiers came to help, not hurt, the people Kherwar. With so many plans in the works, the soldiers of 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, who occupy Combat Outpost Cherokee in Kherwar, has no plans to leave any time soon. With Kherwar's security improving, the unit will maintain a presence to ensure the progress made at the meeting does not backslide. When ISAF troops moved into the Kherwar district, some local people were afraid to work with them, fearing enemy retaliation. The soldiers worried about starting missions because they knew they didn't yet have the people's trust. "We believed that Kherwar was the ultimate boogey man," said Army Lt. Col. Thomas Gukeisen, commander of Task Force Iron Titan. "But things are starting to change here, now that we have started to focus more on the area." Army Col. David B. Haight, Task Force Spartan commander, said progress is taking place. "We're executing projects," he said. "We've conducted security operations to increase security in Kherwar." The colonel noted that more than four dozen elders attended the July 27 meeting. "This leadership was willing to come in here and talk to this group [of elders] in this area with a sense of security," he said. "That couldn't have happened 90 days ago." With Afghanistan's scheduled Aug. 21 elections around the corner, reassurances of ISAF troops and the local government help to bolster the people of Afghanistan, the governor said. "I feel very proud, coming down here to meet the brave people of Kherwar," Lodin said. "The first time I came to Kherwar [as governor], people came to me with their problems. I'm glad they came to me; I want to help. The people of Kherwar have the right to voice their complaints, and I am here to back them up." (Army Spc. Jaime' D. De Leon serves in the Task Force Spartan public affairs office.)

Related Sites: U.S. Forces Afghanistan U.S. Forces Afghanistan on Twitter U.S. Forces Afghanistan on Facebook U.S. Forces Afghanistan on YouTube Combined Joint Task Force 82 NATO International Security Assistance Force

Army Capt. Jose Vasquez, commander of Cherokee Troop in the 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, greets local elders as they arrive at a meeting in Afghanistan's Logar province, July 27, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jaime' De Leon Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution

---

Message: 9
From: U.S. Department of Defense <govdelivery@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:02:02 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Hurricane Hunters

Hurricane Hunters
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:36:42 -0500

The Air Force Reserve's Hurricane Hunters flew out of Hawaii's Hickam Air Force Base into former Hurricane Felicia on Sunday.

---

Message: 10
From: U.S. Department of Defense <govdelivery@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:30:13 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Mid-Air Collision

Mid-Air Collision
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:42:32 -0500

Coast Guard vessels and police boats remain on the scene of Saturday's mid-air collision of a tourist helicopter and private plane above the Hudson River in New York City.

---

Message: 11
From: U.S. Department of Defense <govdelivery@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:30:13 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Afghan Elections

Afghan Elections
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:55:05 -0500

National Security Adviser, General James Jones, says Afghan forces will play a lead role in security operations for Afghanistan's upcoming national elections.

---

Message: 12
From: U.S. Department of Defense <govdelivery@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:30:13 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: California Wildfires

California Wildfires
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:59:59 -0500

The California National Guard is assisting firefighters extinguish a wildfire that has already burned more than 25,000 acres.

---

Message: 13
From: American Forces Press Service <afps@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:41:07 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Radio Station Gives Voice to Remote Afghan Region

Radio Station Gives Voice to Remote Afghan Region
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:23:00 -0500

Radio Station Gives Voice to Remote Afghan Region By Army Sgt. Matthew C. Moeller Special to American Forces Press Service NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Aug. 10, 2009 - NATO's International Security Assistance Force is giving voice to residents of this remote area through a radio station run by one of their own. Shaib Dad Hamdard works as a radio disc jockey in his native Nuristan province, Afghanistan, Aug. 3, 2009. The station, funded by NATO's International Security Assistance Force, offers the people of the remote mountain area a variety of news and entertainment programs. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew C. Moeller (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. When Shaib Dad Hamdard was growing up here near the Pakistan border, he dreamed of being a voice to his people. Now, with the turn of a dial and the flick of the switch, he's on air at Kalagush Radio, reaching out across the remote mountain province. And he doesn't shy away from controversy. Today's topic: the need for women's equality. "With this," the 24-year-old station manager said, motioning to the microphone, "I can educate my people. I can provide a voice to them." Broadcasting into areas so isolated -- many residents may only travel as far as the neighboring village in their lifetimes -- Kalagush Radio is "a live existence of the [outside] world," Hamdard said. For 12 hours a day, the Nuristani radio station offers news and entertainment programs that cater to the local people. Although the news stories are not always positive, they are honest. They offer a balanced look at issues affecting residents under the station's "don't take any sides" philosophy. But news is only part of the station's programming. DJs offer a variety of music, history, education, religious and social commentary shows, as well. One of Kalagush Radio's most popular shows is a daily music program that allows listeners to phone in with requests, Hamdard said. The show has received a huge response, he said. "We think of the needs of the local people, and what they want," said Hamdard, remarking on the station's success. Although ISAF funds the station, Kalagush Radio employees insist they decide what is put on the air. "Of course it is funded by the coalition forces, but I have total control over the programs," Hamdard said. "The programs are not limited to any specific groups." ISAF forces are working with Kalagush Radio to expand its broadcast schedule to 24 hours a day. They're also planning to hire several new journalists for the station, including an Afghan woman, offering a voice for what the station's crew calls a silent majority. (Army Sgt. Matthew C. Moeller serves with the 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

Related Sites: U.S. Forces Afghanistan U.S. Forces Afghanistan on Twitter U.S. Forces Afghanistan on Facebook U.S. Forces Afghanistan on YouTube Combined Joint Task Force 82 NATO International Security Assistance Force

---

Message: 14
From: U.S. Department of Defense <govdelivery@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:03:15 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Walter Reed 100th Anniversary

Walter Reed 100th Anniversary
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:37:19 -0500

Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC is celebrating its 100th year of service to the military community.

---

Message: 15
From: U.S. Department of Defense <govdelivery@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:03:15 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Helicopter Video

Helicopter Video
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:45:32 -0500

Officials released video from a coalition helicopter countering men attempting to emplace IEDs.

---

Message: 16
From: U.S. Department of Defense <govdelivery@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:30:12 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Confirmation Delayed

Confirmation Delayed
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:17:39 -0500

The confirmation of the Army's new secretary must wait for Congress to reconvene.

---

Message: 17
From: U.S. Department of Defense <govdelivery@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:30:12 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Afghan Jobs

Afghan Jobs
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:17:50 -0500

Many Afghans serving in the Afghan security forces don't serve for the money but they still need something to take care of their families.

---

Message: 18
From: American Forces Press Service <afps@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:55:11 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Potential Recruits 'Experience' Army

Potential Recruits 'Experience' Army
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:38:00 -0500

Potential Recruits 'Experience' Army By Donna Miles American Forces Press Service PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 10, 2009 - Army Sgt. Steve Compton remembers the gulp rising in his throat when he stepped inside an Army recruiting station to get information about enlisting. Every head turned his way � except that of the one recruiter Compton felt comfortable enough to approach, and who ultimately enlisted him. The Army Experience Center in Philadelphia beckons visitors inside with a blend of interactive computer game stations and simulators visitors can enjoy to their hearts' content as they learn about the Army. U.S. Army photo (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Nearly seven years later, Compton is helping to give potential recruits, and anyone else curious about the Army, a less intimidating introduction at the Army Experience Center here. More than 12,000 people have visited the one-of-a-kind facility since its doors opened almost a year ago at the Franklin Mills Mall near Northeast Philadelphia's city limits. The center is billed not as a recruiting station, but as an educational facility that offers an array of interactive computer game stations and simulators visitors can enjoy to their hearts' content. The goal, explained Capt. Jared Auchey, the company commander, is to make the center as inviting and nonthreatening as possible so people want to come in and enjoy the offerings � and learn about the Army in the process. "The bottom line is, we want people to walk away with a favorable experience about the Army," Auchey said. "If they want to join, that's great. But if they don't, we want them to look back at coming here as a positive experience." Unlike the bland recruiting station Compton remembers, the Army Experience Center beckons visitors inside. It's situated within a traditional shopping mall, just across from a restaurant that features interactive video games and an indoor skateboard park. Inviting sofas and chairs positioned around wide-screen TVs beckon mall-weary feet inside the glass-front panels. A boutique within the center sells Army T-shirts, running shorts and other paraphernalia. A snack bar sells treats. The 23 soldiers who man the center wear Army polo shirts and khaki pants rather than uniforms, and they're quick to note they have no recruiting quotas to fill. All were hand-picked for the job, and they're happy to share their own Army experiences or answer questions about Army life or opportunities with anyone who asks. But they're also happy to let visitors stroll through on their own, checking out interactive displays that show where Army bases are located worldwide, what kinds of jobs soldiers perform and how much they get paid. But the most popular attractions at the Army Experience Center are the rows of X-Box 360 video game consoles that feature Army-made as well as off-the-shelf computer games. Other big draws are life-size simulators that replicate flying a UH-60 Black Hawk or AH-64 Apache helicopter or driving a Humvee as part of a convoy delivering humanitarian supplies in a combat zone. Staff Sgt. Joshua Baggett, a soldier of seven years who jumped at the opportunity to be assigned to the Army Experience Center, calls these offerings "the wow factor." "What we have here is a really high-tech way to show the young Americans who visit here there's a lot more to the Army than they think," he said. As the games and simulations put participants through realistic combat scenarios, they also introduce key Army values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. For example, after Christopher Brooks and his wife, Jennifer, went through a Black Hawk simulation, Conway talked them through not only how they performed against the enemy, but also how they communicated and worked together as a team. Brooks, a former soldier, had a leg up on most visitors, but his wife said she learned a lot through the exercise. "We don't want people to come in here thinking that it's all about shooting things up," Auchey explained. "There's a lot more than that to being in the Army, and that's what we want people to understand after visiting here. We want them to have a taste of what it's like to be a soldier." The experience helps to clear up a lot of misconceptions about the Army in this historically Navy city that's never quite lived up to its recruiting potential. "All that a lot of the people who come in here know is what they've seen in the Hollywood movies," Compton said. "This helps change that perspective. This is valuable face time for the Army." Seventeen-year-old Joseph Staszak gets a lot of that face time, spending six to seven hours playing computer games at the center almost every day. "I don't have an X-box at home, and here I can play for free," he said. Staszak works part-time in a hospital cafeteria, but said he plans to join the Army as soon as he undergoes the knee surgery he needs to enlist. "Going into the Army is a way for me to go to college, and it offers great benefits," he said, pausing the action in a video game that takes the player through Army basic training. "And coming here is a good way to learn about all that." Not all the visitors who hang out at the center aspire to be soldiers, but Auckey said that's fine with him. Even those who choose not to join the Army will be better informed about it, and more likely to share their positive impressions with others, he said. Thirteen-year-old Sean Yaffee, for example, doesn't see himself joining the military. But he's becoming another regular at the center, where he can play the same computer games he has at home, but in the company of his buddies. Yaffee said he's learned a lot about the Army at the center. "It just tells you about the Army experience, but it doesn't pressure you," he said. "I'm really just here to have a good time." Sgt. 1st Class Monica Godfrey, who has spent 10 of her 18 Army years as a recruiter, likes the center's no-pressure approach, and what it communicates about the Army. Visitors can experience some of the concepts she said are simply too hard to put into words in a traditional recruiting office. "The Army is not all about combat," she said. "I also want people to experience the love and companionship, the esprit de corps and teamwork that's all part of being in the Army. "We want people to understand that being a soldier means someone always has your back," she added, "and that we take care of each other."

Related Sites: Army Experience Center

Visitors to the Army Experience Center in Philadelphia go through a simulation exercise using a life-size Humvee � a drill the staff says helps them better understand the Army mission as they learn about its values. U.S. Army photo Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution Rows of computer game consoles line the Army Experience Center in Philadelphia where visitors can play Army-produced as well as commercial games in a comfortable, no-pressure environment. U.S. Army photo Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution

---

Message: 19
From: American Forces Press Service <afps@subscriptions.dod.mil>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:01:25 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Partnership Works to Restore Samarra Economy

Partnership Works to Restore Samarra Economy
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:54:00 -0500

Partnership Works to Restore Samarra Economy American Forces Press Service CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq, Aug. 10, 2009 - The area around the Al Askari "Golden" Mosque of Samarra, Iraq, once thrived as an open-air market serving thousands of visitors every year. Iraqi and U.S. forces are working to guarantee security, and that means more than safety. It also means rebuilding the economy. Joined by Samarra Mayor Mahmood Khalaf Ahmed, U.S. soldiers with the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion and the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, distributed $2.5 million in small-business grants to more than 900 local store owners Aug. 3 to 5. Following the bombing of the Golden Mosque in February 2006, business plummeted. Some shops shut down due to security concerns and the placement of protective barriers around the city. "The closure of the stores around the Golden Mosque truly hurt the economy of Samarra," Ahmed said. "Many of the visitors to the city would come and shop and provide the much-needed money for the city. With these microgrants, we will be able to return being the strong, economic city that we were in previous years." The Iraqi government and U.S. forces have allocated millions of dollars in grants for small-business owners, and to those who wish to become small-businesses owners, to revitalize the economy. The grants ranged from $2,500 to $10,000. More than 900 store owners whose businesses suffered from the attack, were placed on a list by the Samarra government. The list gave in-depth information about the type of business and the amount of money each store would need. The list was given to the mayor and U.S. forces to put together a scheduled plan for payments. "The U.S. forces and the mayor of Samarra provided these microgrants right on time," Bashar Abd Al Razzaq Khalaf, a Samarra clothing store owner, explained. "This city will benefit from the reopening of many of the stores here, and cause a circular flow of funds to restore Samarra." Soldiers sat down with store owners and marveled at the strides made through the combined effort of the Iraqi government and U.S. forces. "Seeing that we were able to come to a government center in Iraq, sit down with the Iraqi people and conduct these payments in a safe and peaceful manner ... shows how far we have come," said Army Maj. Wendy Weinell, 490th Civil Affairs team leader. Army Lt. Col. Sam Whitehurst, commander of 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, spoke to a crowd of store owners prior to the payments to acknowledge the sacrifices Samarra residents have made. "We have been able to serve the people of the city due to our close relationship to the local government in Samarra," he said. "I had the pleasure of speaking to many citizens in Samarra, and have grown to know the sacrifices they have made. ... We want to recognize their sacrifices with our efforts to rebuild Samarra." Army Brig. Gen. James Nixon, Multinational Division North's deputy commanding general for operations, met with Whitehurst to explore the area around the Golden Mosque and talk to local business owners Aug 2. They met one business owner who already had received a microgrant from the government. Bassam Ahmed started a very popular chai caf� in the once-thriving merchant area. Ahmed was excited to meet with Nixon, and they talked about everything from the security of the city to how they can help improve the local economy. "The customers who visit my caf� speak mostly of the security of the city," Ahmed said. "They speak good things about what the U.S. forces have done in the city, and I am not just saying that because you are sitting here." One citizen said investing money in Samarra is one part of the solution; the other is to tear down barriers resembling war in the city. "I think removing the T-walls will be a great way to help improve the looks of the city, and help bring the community together," said Fahmoud Ahked, when asked by Whitehurst how he felt about removing the barriers from around the mosque. Bassam thanked U.S. forces for giving him a chance to start his chai business. He plans to install doors and windows so that he may continue to serve the community throughout the winter months. "The U.S. forces and the Samarra government have been operating in partnership and have identified that unemployment is a big issue in Samarra," Weinell said. "If we can start to grow the businesses even a little at a time, this will lead to more jobs and drop the unemployment rate in the city." (From a Multinational Division North news release.)

Related Sites: Multinational Corps Iraq