January Spartan Times

8/3/2019 January Spartan Times

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Titans take control of Sarkari

Karez

Page 2

Sykes’ Regulars replace PaleRiders

Page 4

The ‘King of Scrounge’ helps

Soldiers

Page 6

The Sykes’ Regulars: A brief

history Page 8

Spartans fly by 4,000 flight

hours

Page 9

From Trash to Treasure

Page 10

Faces from Home

Page 11

Wrestling Tournament Brings

Zharay District Together

Page 13

Four-Legged CatamountsPage 15

From Business Suits to Combat

Boots

Page 16

Outreach shura held in

Maiwand

Page 18

Faces of the Spartans

Page 20

Clinic treats 7,000 patients

Page 21

Culvert Denial: Keeping the

roads safe in the eastern

Maiwand District

Page 22

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Spartan Soldiers and Families,

Entering into 2012, Task Force Spartan is “on the cusp of irreversible

momentum” in Zharay and Maiwand Districts of Kandahar Province. In

the 10 months our task force has been operating in the birthplace of theTaliban, we are seeing gains that will ultimately defeat the enemy in this

area, as well as returning the Afghan people to “Afghan normalcy.” The

unrelenting drive and strength of Spartan Soldiers, even at this point in the

deployment, continues to capitalize on the past year’s successes.

We are seeing the return of Afghan families to their villages and farm

elds, in an area that used to be the forefront of the Taliban’s focus.

Community pressure is a virtual weapons system, and families are taking

back their communities by joining the local police forces and turning in

weapons caches and homemade explosive material in record numbers.Reports we receive from interviewing these families indicate they are becoming increasingly more

condent and trustworthy in both the Afghan security forces and local government. Our Soldiers con-tinue to partner with the Afghan Army and Police, along with district government ofcials, to provide

critically-needed services and security to the residents living here. The positive turnaround in these

families’ condence levels is noticeable.

Just a month ago, after a hugely successful grassroots effort by Chosin Soldiers in Nalgham, Task

Force Spartan hosted a district-wide wrestling tournament near the Zharay District Center that drew

over 1,000 people in attendance. The district governor told the crowd that, “Today broke the back

of the Taliban,” and that people no longer lived in fear of intimidation or repercussions. In Senjaray,

Catamount Soldiers invited children out to the rst kite-ying festival – an event that attracted nearly

200 children, who were noticeably excited to be running around enjoying themselves. These events

are revisiting normal life for Afghans, who can see a brighter future ahead.

Driving on Highway-1, it is easy to see the positive changes taking place everywhere we look.

Solar lights and mile markers now line the road, guiding motorists to their destination. Large Afghan

ags and murals unify families behind the rich history and nationalism of Afghanistan. Vehicle in-

spection stations are scanning and inspecting thousands of vehicles daily, severely limiting the illegal

trafcking of weapons and drugs between Helmand and Kandahar Provinces.

With less than two months to go however, we are not letting up on the gas pedal. Throughout

February, we will be continuing two major offensive operations that will keep the enemy in “panic

mode,” while stiing their funding sources. These operations should seal the gains, and set our suc-

cessors from the 82nd Airborne Division up for success.

Much of our mission success would not be possible without the tremendous support of Spartan

Families and North Country organizations. Whether it is donating school supply kits and birthingsupplies for Operation Education and Operation Spartan Stork, or the continued support we receive

through care packages and Adopt-a-Platoon sponsorships, we owe a sincere “thank you” to those back

home who have our backs. We look forward to saying “thank you” in person soon for your support.

You should be proud of the actions your Spartans are doing everyday on the battleeld.

We are Winning!

With Your Shield, Or On It!

Climb To Glory! All The Way!

COL Patrick Frank

Spartan-6



Spartan Times

The Soldiers of 2nd Battalion,

34th Armor Regiment “Dread-

naught,” passed responsibility of

Forward Operating Base Sarkari

Karez and the surrounding battle

space to the Soldiers of 3rd Squad-

ron, 71st Cavalry Regiment “Ti-

tans,” Dec. 23.

In a traditional transfer of

authority ceremony, the departingunit forms up behind the guidon,

or unit colors. In the ceremony, the

outgoing unit cases their colors,

symbolizing the end of their time in

Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. Christopher J. Kidd,

commander of 2-34 Armor, and

Command Sgt. Maj. John McD-

wyer, command sergeant major

Titans take control of Sarkari Karez

of 2-34 Armor, cased the unit’s

colors in the ceremony. After 2-34

Armor’s colors were cased, 3-71

Cavalry ofcially assumed com-

mand of Sarkari Karez.

The outgoing unit, 2-34 Armor,

has a rich history and can trace its

origins to October 1941 at Fort

Knox, Kentucky. The 34th Armor

Regiment was initially assigned tothe 5th Armored Division, and in

seceding years has been activated

and deactivated to t the needs

of the nation. The Dreadnaughts

fought on the battleelds of Eu-

rope, in the jungles of Vietnam,

the desert sands of Iraq and most

recently on the perilous elds of

Maiwand District, Kandahar Prov-

ince, Afghanistan.

“The Dreadnaught mark on

history was achieved over nine

months in Maiwand, the battalion

immediately established security,”

said Col. Patrick D. Frank, com-

mander of 3rd Brigade Combat

Team, 10th Mountain Division,

Task Force Spartan.

From May 15 to December 23,2-34 Armor has worked closely

with TF Spartan, to clear the Mai-

wand District of insurgents and

stabilize the Afghan people. Now,

their role in the counter insurgency

ght has come to an end.

Titans continued on page 3.

Lt. Col. Christopher Kidd, commander of 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment (left), and Command Sgt. Maj. John McDwyer

command sergeant major of 2-34 Armor (right), prepare to case the unit colors in a transfer of authority ceremony with 3rd

Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, at Forward Operating Base Sarkari Karez, Dec. 23.





Spartan Times

Sykes’ Regulars replace Pale Riders

Lt. Col. Mike Katona (left), commander of 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, and Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Cook

(right), command sergeant major of 4-4 Cavalry, case the unit guidon at the Transfer of Authority Ceremony, held at Forward

Operating Base Pasab, Afghanistan, Jan. 3. By casing the unit colors they have ofcially transferred authority to Soldiers in

5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment and ended their deployment.

“Sykes’ Regulars” Soldiers with

the 5th Battalion, 20th InfantryRegiment, assumed command of

one of the most kinetic areas in Af-

ghanistan Jan. 3, from 4th Squad-

ron, 4th Cavalry Regiment “Pale

Riders,” at Forward Operating

Base Pasab, Kandahar Province,

Afghanistan.

The Pale Riders fell under

Combined Task Force Spartan,

which is currently deployed to the

birthplace of the Taliban in south-

ern Afghanistan. Over the past ten

months, Soldiers of 4-4 Cavalry

have adapted their ghting tech-

niques to t the mission in Zharay

District, Afghanistan. Through

multiple Air Assaults, dismounted

combat operations and a successful

partnership with Afghan National

Army Soldiers, the Pale Riders

have made tremendous changes in

the Afghans’ way of life.“What was originally a heavy

(cavalry) squadron, adapted, over-

came and transformed into a light,

agile, and lethal combined arms

team,” Lt. Col. Mike Katona, com-

mander of the Pale Riders said.

In a traditional transfer of au-

thority ceremony, the units form up

behind the unit guidon. The outgo-

ing commander and command ser-

geant major then case their colors,

and the incoming commander and

command sergeant major uncase

their unit colors.

Katona and Command Sgt. Maj.

Charles Cook, command sergeant

major of the Pale Rider cased their

unit colors, ofcially relinquish-

ing authority to Soldiers in 5-20th

Infantry, and ofcially ending their

deployment.

“I know that Lt. Col. Soika andCommand Sgt. Maj. Dallas will

take the ght to the next level, and

I look forward to seeing the suc-

cesses of the (Sykes’) Regulars,”

said Katona.

Lt. Col. Steven Soika, com-

mander of the Sykes’ Regulars, and

Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Dal-

las, command sergeant major of

the Sykes’ Regulars, uncased their

unit colors and ofcially assumed

authority of the Pale Riders’ former

battle space.

After the TOA ceremony, the

Soldiers of 4-4 Cavalry will re-

turn to Fort Riley, Kansas, and

be reunited with their friends and

family.

Continued on page 5.



Spartan Times

Lt. Col. Steven Soika (left), commander of 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment and Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Dallas

(right), command sergeant major of 5-20 Infantry, uncase the unit guidon, ofcially assuming responsibility of Zharay District

from 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment at the Transfer of Authority Ceremony held on Forward Operating Base Pasab.

Sykes’ Regulars continued.

The responsibility of the Zharay

District and the surrounding battle

space now belongs to the Soldiersof 5-20th Infantry.

Sykes’ Regulars Soldiers have

a rich history of answering the na-

tion’s call to arms. They have been

in nearly every major conict since

the unit was created by President

Abraham Lincoln in 1861. Since

the unit’s formation, Soldiers of

5-20 Infantry have fought valiantly

in the Civil War, the Indian Wars,

the War with Spain, the Philip- pine–American War, World War

II, Vietnam, and in Operation Iraqi

Freedom.

“This unit has gone to Iraq three

times, this will be our rst Afghani-

stan deployment, and it will be a

high learning curve for everybody,”

said Maj. Joseph Richey, the Ex-

ecutive Ofcer of 5-20 Infantry. “I

think we will adapt ne. We have

a lot of Soldiers, so I think we be

able to both provide security, like

4-4 (CAV) and partner a little bit

more extensively.”“I want to publicly thank our

brothers of 4-4 CAV for paving the

way to success with unrelenting

pressure on enemy forces, the forc-

es that desire the continued sub-

jugation of the Afghan populace,”

said Soika at the TOA ceremony.

For the next year, Soldiers in5-20th Infantry will work to contin-

ue to improve the Zharay District

and defeat the insurgents.

Soldiers stand behind their unit guidons at the Transfer of Authority ceremony at

Forward Operating Base Pasab, Jan. 3.



Spartan Times

Jim Juczak, also known around

the North Country as the “King of

Scrounge,” is an expert in renew-

able energy, saving money and

making something amazing out of

nothing. He spent more than 20years teaching everything from for-

eign languages to shop class, and

he has been on the staff at Cornell

University. For the past 90 days, he

has been nding new and inventive

ways to help the Afghan people in

Kandahar Province, Afghanistan by

working side by side with Soldiers

in 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat

Team, Task Force Spartan.

At home in the North Country,

Juczak lives on his farm, in a mort-

gage free home that he, his wife

and some of his friends built out of

recycled objects. His home and the

surrounding homes on his property

are run off of renewable energy and

the majority of the food used by

the residents of the community is

produced on the farm.

“We live at a place that we built,it’s called ‘Woodhenge’,” he said.

“It’s the intentional community that

we set up.”

In the North Country, Juczak

spends his time spreading his

knowledge of an economically and

environmentally friendly lifestyle

with local students and fellow free-

thinkers.

“I run an intentional commu-

nity; I teach people how to buildself-reliant systems around them-

selves including energy systems. I

write, and I lecture,” he said.

Juczak says that the inspiration

to begin his lifestyle of frugality

and self-reliance came from one

of his students. About 20 years

ago, he was teaching a shop class,

when one of his students asked

The ‘King of Scrounge’ helps Soldiers

him what he was doing to be less

wasteful and more environmentally

conscious. Since then, Juczak has

worked to act on his beliefs that

self-reliance and thrift are impor-

tant.“I decided to put my money

where my mouth is, if I tell people

I eat a lot of my own, home grown

food, I do it,” Juczak said proudly.

While the TF Spartan Soldiers

were preparing for their year-long

deployment to the Zharay and Mai-

wand Districts in Kandahar Prov-

ince, Afghanistan, Capt. Kimberly

Duenow, ofcer in charge of the

Spartan Agricultural Team, beganto look for ways to train her Sol-

diers on as many different agricul-

tural topics as possible. She found

Juczak through a partnership with

Cornell University and TF Spartan.

“The captain showed up at my

ofce one day and said ‘I heard you

know something about renewable

energy,” Juczak said. “I offered to

do lessons for her team, and they

started to show up for two to four

hour lessons at the cooperative

extension.”

The Spartan agricultural team

began training with Juczak andthe other instructors at the Cornell

Cooperative Extension.

“I did everything from food

preservation to how to set up solar

systems, wind systems, that kind of

stuff,” Juczak said.

Juczak’s enthusiasm and skill

stood out to the Soldiers. After

going through the training with

her team, Duenow realized that

Juczak was an incredibly valuableasset to the TF Spartan agricultural

mission. She and other TF Spartan

ofcers discussed deployment with

Juczak, and he expressed his will-

ingness to help out on the deploy-

ment.


Jim Juczak (center) teaches locals in the Zharay District Center about renewable

energy and using junk to make efcient household items. One of the most useful

items he built was a fuel-efcient stove made out of bricks.



Spartan TimesScrounge continued.

“Jim was really enthusiastic and

had expressed his interest in want-

ing to come out and help us more

and deploy,” said Duenow.

Since Juczak had such a vast

wealth of knowledge that would beincredibly useful to local Afghans,

TF Spartan invited him to deploy

with them to Kandahar Province,

Afghanistan. Juczak decided to

come to TF Spartan and spend 90

days in the ght with the Soldiers.

Juczak came to Forward Oper -

ating Base Pasab having no idea

what to expect from a military

base, Soldiers and Afghanistan.

According to him, he was expect-ing the living conditions to be

considerably more austere and the

Soldiers more impetuous than what

he came to nd.

“I don’t have any military

experience, so moving into a tent

with ten enlisted men has been a

riot,” he said. “It is nothing like I

thought it would be; they are much

shyer and much more polite than I

thought they would be.”

While he has been at FOB

Pasab, he has helped the agriculture

team teach locals about various

forms of renewable energy and has

taught many locals how to build

valuable and useful equipment out

of next to nothing.

“Jim is great because he is so

resourceful and with our limited

budget and funding he has beena huge asset to us,” said Duenow.

“He is a very resourceful, handy

guy who has helped out with pretty

much everything.”

Juczak has worked with the

Spartan Agricultural Team to teach

classes at the Zharay District Cen-

ter. The classes have been a fun and

successful way to educate locals

on energy efciency and ingenu-

ity. One of the projects that stood

out the most was the fuel efcient

stove Juczak taught locals how to

build.

“He has been training local

Afghans on fuel efcient stoves to

minimize the amount of wood that(is used),” said Duenow.

He has also had a hand in Opera-

tion Stork, which is a TF Spartan

initiative to help decrease infant

mortality rates through education,

and the distribution of birthing kits,

containing a few basic medical and

household supplies to assist in safe

home births.

“The birthing kits are a good

idea, anytime you can do some-thing good and save a life with

something (like) a package, it is a

good thing,” he said.

Jim did not just help assemble

the birthing kits; he got his family

involved with Operation Stork.

“Upon hearing about the birth-

ing kits, his family decided that

this year they wouldn’t exchange

Christmas gifts, they decided that

they would just nd ways to bring

in donations,” Duenow said.

Many times over the past three

months, the civil affairs or agricul-

tural teams took Juczak out into

the Zharay district to get his opin-

ions on the most effective way to

clean out irrigation channels, clear

trees out of a road, or how to build

energy efcient items for local

Afghans.Although Juczak has been

outside the FOB multiple times, he

has never been afraid. He says that

he can tell his wife with condence

that he is being well protected by

the Soldiers that he has worked

with and that he has lived with for

the past 90 days.

“Wilson is my gun,” Juczak said

of Spc. David Wilson, a Soldier

on the Spartan agricultural team

and an infantryman. “They didn’t

issue me a gun but they issued me a

Wilson!”

Juczak has also helped Soldiers

interact with local Afghan contrac-

tors and get better deals on con-tracts. He says that many times, an

engineer or builder will present a

contract that is written in superu-

ous technical jargon in the hopes of

confusing customers and nagling

more money out of the job.

“I have made my salary here

getting projects canceled where

the bids were ten times what they

should be for what they got,”

Juczak said jokingly. “A lot of times an engineer will couch it (a

contract) in terms they hope no one

understands, or they hope no one

looks at it in detail.”

Juczak’s 90 days with TF Spar -

tan ended the turn of the New Year,

but that does not mean that is the

last the Soldiers will see of him.

The bond Juczak has made with

TF Spartan Soldiers ensures that he

always has a place in the Spartan

Brigade.

Jim Juczak (center) teaches locals in the

Zharay District Center about renewable

energy and using junk to make efcient

household items.



Spartan Times

“Sykes’ Regulars” Soldiers with

the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry

Regiment, assumed command of

one of the most kinetic areas in

Afghanistan, where they began the

next chapter of their storied legacyin every war that the U.S. has

fought since the American Civil

War.

The battalion replaced the 4th

Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment in

Zharay district, Kandahar province,

Afghanistan.

“Sykes’ Regulars” Soldiers have

a rich history in answering the na-

tion’s call to arms. They have been

in nearly every major conict since

the unit was created by President

Abraham Lincoln in 1861.

Since the unit’s formation, Sol-

diers of 5-20 Infantry have fought

valiantly in the Civil War, the In-

dian Wars, the War with Spain, the

Philippine–American War, World

War II, Vietnam, and in Operation

Iraqi Freedom.

“This unit has gone to Iraqthree times, this will be our rst Af -

ghanistan deployment, and it will

be a high learning curve for every-

body,” said Maj. Joseph Richey, the

Executive Ofcer of 5-20 Infantry.

“I think we will adapt ne. We

have a lot of Soldiers, so I think we

be able to both provide security,

like 4-4 (CAV) is, and partner a

little bit more extensively.”

While the “Sykes’ Regulars” havenever been to Afghanistan, their

Soldiers have trained tirelessly in

preparation for this deployment,

and are aware of the task at hand.

Kandahar province is the most

kinetic area in Afghanistan, and is

often referred to as “the birthplace

of the Taliban,” where its founder,

Mullah Omar, started the move-

The Sykes’ Regulars: A brief historyment. Insurgents see Zharay district

as the symbolic heartland of the

Taliban, and often request addi-

tional ghters from throughout the

region to assist in the ght.

While many units in Afghani-stan are focusing on their mentor-

ship of Afghan security forces, and

stabilizing the local governments,

the Soldiers of 5-20 Infantry will

have to ght to defeat the insur -

gents and secure the local popula-

tion.

“We trained up and focused a lot

on the non-kinetic aspect of it, on

partnering with the (Afghan Na-

tional Security Forces) and build-

ing their capability,” Richey said.

Soldiers initially focused their

efforts towards partnership and

training, but then received orders to

deploy to Kandahar. Soon thereaf-

ter, the unit refocused their training

to more battle drill-type specic

exercises.

The extensive training ensures

Soldiers are ready and able totackle the challenges of Kandahar

province.

Their mission will not only be

ghting the insurgency or working

with the Afghan security forces and

stabilizing the Afghan government,

but the true counterinsurgency ght

is nding the proper balance be-

tween the two, and Sykes’ Regularsare ready for that task.

“I think we will bring a lot more

people than 4-4 Cav has, and I

think with that we may be able to

stabilize the area a little bit more,

reduce the violence a little bit and

maybe transition into (building) the

capability of the government and

the security forces,” Richey said.

The next several months will

not be easy for the Soldiers and

Families of 5-20 Infantry, but

through the same determination

and valor displayed by their Sol-

diers of the past, the Sykes’ Regu-

lars will accomplish their mission

in Zharay district. They will add to

the rich history of the battalion.

“We go back a ways,” Richey

said of the unit’s history with a

smile. “The Soldiers want to repre-sent the unit well, and the unit has

a lot of camaraderie.”

photo by Spc. Kristina Truluck

Soldiers in 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment patrol in Zharay District.



Spartan Times

Soldiers in the Tactical Un-

manned Aerial Systems platoon,

3rd Brigade Special Troops Bat-

talion have surpassed 4,000 hours

of unmanned aerial vehicle ight.

This is a signicant number of hours for any company, but B

Company reached 4,000 ight

hours in only eight months. Many

companies will only reach an aver-

age of 2,500 hours in a 12 month

period.

“It was a lot of work, especially

with the amount of operators we

have,” said Spc. Matthew Cooper

UAS operator, B Company, 3rd

BSTB. “We have been ying non-stop; at least 21 hours a day.”

The operators are not solely

responsible for reaching this

milestone, an average shift has

about ve Soldiers that are quali-

ed to operate the aircraft, as well

as various maintenance Soldiers.

The company is equipped with

four unmanned aircraft, as well as

equipment on the ground to operate

and maintain the UAS.

“The systems require an average

amount of maintenance, including

regular inspections by crew chiefs

and operators,” said Warrant Of -

cer Marilyn Payano, a UAS Tech

3rd BSTB. “An operator and main-

tainer for the aerial vehicles require

six to seven months of training in

order to effectively operate and

maintain the aircraft.”Every Soldier undergoes exten-

sive preliminary training to become

one of the operators or maintainers;

the Soldiers never stop learning

how to use their equipment on the

battleeld.

“Once qualied, crewmembers

are required to undergo biannual

evaluations as well as notice evalu-

Spartans fy by 4,000 fight hours

Brig. Gen. Kenneth Dahl, deputy commanding general for support, 10th MountainDivision, visits Solider in the Unmanned Aerial Systems platoon.

ations to ensure prociency in their

ability to accomplish their assigned

duties,” Payano said.

While the B Company Soldiers are

deployed to Forward Operating

Base Pasab, they are working tire-

lessly to do their jobs and help the

Spartan mission.

“I did about 100 hours in onemonth, and pretty much everyone

hit that,” Cooper said. “This is my

rst deployment, so I don’t have

anything else to compare it to, but

it has denitely superseded what

I thought I was going to get,” he

continued. “I thought I was only

going to get 300 ight hours this

year and I am already pushing

600.”

UAS Soldiers bring a uniqueskill set to the ght in Kandahar

Province, Afghanistan. With their

aircraft, they can provide an almost

constant overview of the battleeld.

“Our system provides near real

time full motion video to allow

commanders to be able to keep

‘eyes’ on the ground Soldiers and

any potential threats that could af-

fect their operations,” Payano said.

Surveillance of the battleeld helps

to provide a more comprehensive

view of the ground. UAS operators

can identify improvised explosive

devices before Soldiers on the

ground can see it, they can iden-

tify the direction of an attack and

they can help pursue eeing enemycombatants.

“Our specialty lies in the ability

to conduct large area searches for

enemy activity over an extended

period of time,” Payano said.

The video produced by the air-

craft can be in full color or in infra-

red, which provides more visibility

of the battleeld in low light condi-

tions so insurgents can be pursued

and intercepted, even at night.UAS Soldiers have been ex-

tremely busy ghting their portion

of the counter insurgency ght.

When they passed 4,000 ight

hours at the beginning of Decem-

ber, hardly anyone noticed.

“It’s just another day for us, we

are just trying to get the job done

and get home,” Cooper said.



Spartan Times

By Capt. Daniel V. Nosse

4-25 Field Artillery

For Soldiers with 4th Battalion,

25th Field Artillery Regiment’s

Golf Company, “Be Silent and Act”means complete the mission with-

out complaint.

Outside of their normal mis-

sions, the Soldiers of Golf Forward

Support Company worked on the

new Afghan National Police sta-

tion early each morning and late

into the night, providing an opera-

tional and even visual impact to

the security improvements along

Highway 1 in the Wolfpack’s areaof operations. The improvements

being made were a positive sign

to the thousands of motorists and

families who use the Highway 1 on

a daily basis.

“Improvements such as these

are going to spread into other ar-

eas,” said Col. Patrick Frank, Com-

mander of Combined Task Force

Spartan. “Highway 1 is visible

throughout Afghanistan.”

This past August, wrecked and

burned-out vehicles lined the high-

way’s shoulders, and the dilapidat-

ed police station was an embarrass-

ment for the Afghan security forces

manning the building. Now it is a

source of pride and progress for

CTF Spartan, and a visible afrma-

tion of the security improvements

within Zharay district.Golf Forward Support Compa-

ny’s renovation of the police patrol

station at Watch Tower Speaker

was completed in the end of Oc-

tober. Previously, the patrol sta-

tion was in disarray. Trash littered

the ground, concertina wire hung

everywhere, barrier walls were

cracked, and insufcient watch

From Trash to Treasure

towers around the station’s perim-

eter were all noticed by passersby.

In helping with the progress, Al-

pha Company, 710th Brigade Sup-

port Battalion rst dispatched sev-

eral patrols between the Maiwand

and Zharay districts, to remove

wreckage littering the roadside. Al-

pha Company Soldiers loaded the

ruined vehicles onto their line-haul

assets and turned them into a local

contractor for disposal.

While that was taking place,

Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion,

34th Armor Regiment worked on

a partnership with the local ANPofcers, headquartered in a station

known as Watch Tower Speaker.

They conducted joint security

patrols and set up checkpoints to

register motorcycles along the

Wolfpack’s stretch of Highway 1.

Working around the clock to

renovate the patrol station, Golf

Company Soldiers installed three

containerized units under a new

roof, to serve as the new patrol

station ofces. The buildings were

surrounded with a graveled parking

area, new barrier walls, and a new

Entry Control Point. The Soldiers

emplaced suitable guard tow-

ers around the facility, while also

building two checkpoint stations on

the highway. Their work turned an

eyesore into a usable facility that

the police ofcers could take pride.

The efforts within the Wolfpack

Area of Operations have made

noticeable improvements, while

contributing to the overall improve-ments in security throughout the

Spartan’s area. The police patrol

station’s renovation contributes to

the pride and credibility of the loca

police forces, and while coupled

with the joint patrols, it helps lend

legitimacy to efforts in increasing

security.

courtesy photo

Soldiers with 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment’s Golf Company build

the new Afghan National Police station along Highway 1.



FACES FROM HOME



FACES FROM HOME



Spartan Times

Hundreds of Afghan men and

their children gathered at the Zha-

ray District Center, Dec. 24, for

a wrestling tournament hosted by

Niaz Sarhadi, the Zharay District

Governor and Soldiers in Task

Force Spartan.

Wrestling has been a national pastime in Afghanistan for centu-

ries. However, under the 30 years

of Taliban control, Phelwani was

forbidden.

Phelwani is a traditional Persian

wrestling style that is popular in

countries like Afghanistan, India

and Pakistan. It is a belt style of

wrestling with a catch-hold starting

concept. In a Phelwani competi-

Wrestling Tournament Brings Zharay

District Together“Today We Broke the Back of the Taliban.”

Afghan wrestlers compete in the tournament held at the Zharay District Center, Dec. 24. People from nearly every village in

the Zharay District came to the tournament hosted by the Zharay District Governor, and Soldiers in Task Force Spartan.

tion, two Phelwan, or wrestlers,

wrap their arm around a sash tied

to their opponent’s waist. The rst

wrestler to bring their opponent to

their back is deemed the winner

by a panel of judges. Typically, the

wrestlers will face an individual

opponent for two rounds in the ring before moving on to the next op-

ponent.

In preparation for the tourna-

ment, TF Spartan Soldiers cleared

an area directly outside of the

Zharay District Center and built

a wrestling arena. The walls were

decorated with paintings and each

village had a specic area to sit and

represent their wrestlers.

“We planned it over the course

of about three weeks, and it took

about 15 different staff sections

across the brigade to include our

Afghan counterparts,” said Maj.

Kirby Dennis, the operations of-

cer for 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry

Regiment. “So, there was a lot of set-up and preparation. In terms of

the aesthetic quality, we did some

painting around the area, we got

the eld set, we got ags set up.”

One of the biggest challenges

in organizing the tournament was

spreading the word to the local

population.




Spartan TimesWrestling continued.

“Most importantly it was about

messaging to the Afghan people

and the shura leaders so they could

bring their Phelwan in to have a

day of fun,” Dennis said of the

tournament’s organization.The tournament was a tremen-

dous success; it was not only an

incredible gathering where Afghans

and TF Spartan Soldiers had a good

time together, it was also a historic

event. The fact that hundreds of

locals gathered in a public arena

to cheer on Afghan athletes shows

that the Taliban has been defeated.

Afghans are beginning to show

condence in their government andin the Afghan National Security

Forces.

“The word has denitely gotten

out and we (had) wrestlers from all

across the district,” Dennis said.

“This is just one more thing that

the enemy has to go up against, the

Coalition Forces, ANSF and our

civilian leadership in the Afghan

communities are able to come

together and return a sense of

normalcy to the community, that is

something the enemy cannot do,”

he continued.

“(It is) very deeply ingrained in

their culture,” Dennis said of the

signicance of the wrestling tour -

nament to Afghans.

At the tournament, an Afghan

drummer played traditional Afghan

songs, and many of the attendees

participated in traditional Afghan

dancing.

Afghan Phelwans were not the

only ones to participate in the tour-nament; two Soldiers in TF Spartan

competed against the Afghans and

several Afghan boys held little

matches of their own in the arena.

“It was fun to get out there and

do something that was a lot differ-

ent than anything I had ever done

before,” said Spc. David Wilson, an

infantryman in Headquarters and

Headquarters Company, 3rd Infan-

try Brigade Combat Team.

Wilson competed in two rounds

with an Afghan Phelwan and was

thrown to the ground both times.

The other TF Spartan Soldier to

compete was also defeated. The

Afghans cheered wildly when they

won over the Americans.

“I think it was a good event for

the Afghans because it brings them

together in something they like do-

ing,” said Wilson.

This was the second wrestling

tournament that has been hosted

by Zharay District leaders and TFSpartan Soldiers and it will not be

the last.

“We are going to continue to

organize these types of events in

the future,” Dennis said.

Afghan men participate at traditional Afghan Dance at a wrestling tournament held at the Zharay District Center, Dec. 24.

People from nearly every village in the Zharay District came to the tournament hosted by the Zharay District Governor, and

Soldiers in Task Force Spartan.



Spartan Times

Four-Legged CatamountsBy SGT Larry L. Hayes

2-87 InfantryThe job of locating Improvised

Explosive Devices in the War on

Terror is going to the Dogs, and it’s

a good thing too.The Catamounts are being

helped by some four-legged friends

while out on patrol. The Tactical

Explosive Detection Dog and Mili-

tary Working Dog Teams are out

on the ground with the Catamount

Soldiers to provide an extra bit of

help in locating IED’s so that Sol-

diers can mitigate the risk of injury

and death.The journey from household pet

to bomb-detection hero begins in

Europe, where most of the dogs are

purchased. They are then trained

for up to 117 days on basic com-

mands, detection and patrolling at

the Dog Training School on Lack-

land Air Force Base.

The dog handlers themselves

also have to go through three

months of training in order to work with the dogs.

They are taught everything they

need to know to handle the dogs

they will become close partners

and friends with. The Soldier must

learn how to control and care for

the dogs while deployed. The train-

ing is standard so that a handler

and can work with whatever dog he

is in charge of handling, and vice

versa.

The handlers also make sure to

take good care of their dogs. K-9

tradition is that the dog himself is

one rank above the handler.

Once handler and dog make the

cut, they are on their way to Af-

ghanistan to meet each other for the

rst time, and the training is put to

the test.

On ground in Afghanistan, the

new team has to be certied before

they can be sent out on missions.

This certication will be done

over and over again throughout

the deployment to ensure that both

are mission capable. For the dogsit’s made to be a game, almost like

‘Hide and Seek,’ but the handlers

know the risk involved and the

consequences and rewards for be-

ing well-trained and ready to go at

all times. Their job is a very impor-

tant one, and can be the difference

between life and death.

Although, a dog team’s deploy-

ment is especially dangerous, when

you ask a handler ‘what’s it like to

deploy with a dog’ they all express

the same joy. This joy is shared

with whatever company they hap-

pen to be with for a period of time.

The morale boost a dog has on

soldiers can be measured by the

looks on their face. It gives the

soldiers a chance to forget about

their surroundings for a little while

and remember what it’s like to just

be someone playing with their own

pet. The Soldiers in the companies

are also appreciative to have such

an asset on the ground with them

during patrols.

The dog teams add an extraamount of security when out on a

mission for the unit they are with.

They give an extra advantage to

the detection of explosives that

are hidden on the battleeld. The

dogs have the capability of locating

what is hidden from the naked eye

and their handlers are very astute

in noticing the changes and subtle

disruptions in the surrounding area.

So, the combination of dog and

handler provide a very formidable

foe of the dangerous IED.

In short, MWD and T.E.D.D.

Teams are an invaluable asset to

the Catamounts as well as an inte-

gral part of the Catamount Family.

photo by Sgt. Larry Hayes-

Soldiers and their dogs pose for a picture in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.The

Tactical Explosive Detection Dog and Military Working Dog Teams are out on the

ground with the Catamount Soldiers to provide an extra bit of help in the eld.



Spartan Times

From Business Suits to Combat Boots

Maj. Charles Djou sits at his desk in the Task Force Spartan legal ofce on For-

ward Operating Base Pasab.

One in four Congress mem-

bers has previously served in the

United States military; however,

very few congressmen leave public

ofce to serve in the armed forces.

Maj. Charles Djou, the former U.S. representative to Hawaii’s

1st Congressional District, did just

that. He is currently deployed with

the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat

Team, 10th Mountain Division

(Task Force Spartan) in Kandahar

province, Afghanistan, as a Judge

Advocate General.

Djou has always been patriotic

and eager to serve his country in

any way he could. Even from anearly age, he was involved with

public service.

“When I was 16 years old,

before I could even vote, I decided

that I was interested in politics and

I volunteered for a woman named

Patricia Saiki,” he said. “I didn’t

do anything fancy. I was a stamp

licker, that was back in the time

when you still had to lick stamps.”

His passion for the political

process caught the attention of

the congresswoman, and after his

many years of volunteering for

Rep. Saiki, he went on to represent

Hawaii’s 1st Congressional Dis-

trict, as she did 20 years earlier.

“She got me involved in politics

in the state of Hawaii and one of

the amazing things for me, I think

one of the amazing things aboutour nation, is that 24 years after

I volunteered as a pimple-faced

16-year-old licking stamps, (Rep.)

Pat Saiki served as the honor-

ary chair of my campaign for the

United States Congress, and I went

on to hold in the United States

Congress, the very seat that I was a

stamp-licker for,” Maj. Djou said.

Prior to his career as a politi-

cian, Djou earned his bachelor’s

degree in business, as well as a law

degree.

“After I graduated law school,

I joined a big fancy law rm in

Honolulu. I practiced law for about

ve years with that law rm,” he

said.

It was Djou’s passion for poli-

tics that led him to run for the Ha-

waii State Legislature in 1998.

“So frequently, Republicans

don’t challenge Democrats in

elections,” he said of the driv-

ing force behind his rst political

campaign. “In 1998, there was a

seat in the Hawaii Statehouse, and

the Democrat was going to win

merely by ling her election pa- pers, because there was going to

be no Republican running for that

seat. So, I thought I should put my

money where my mouth is, and

after years and years of volunteer-

ing for (Rep.) Pat Saiki, I decided I

would put my name in the ring,” he

continued.

While his rst attempt at run-

ning for public ofce was unsuc-

cessful, he was not deterred.

“I was defeated in 1998, (but)

because I have a thick skull, I tried

again in 2000, and I was elected

to the Statehouse,” Djou said. “I

served one two year term there.”

As a state representative, Djou

proved to be the right candidate

and a motivated politician.

“I was very fortunate as a

freshman in the Statehouse. My

colleagues …selected me the

Republican oor leader, which is

very unusual as a freshman,” he

said. “But unfortunately my seat

was re-districted out of existence,

so in 2002, I switched from the

statehouse to the Honolulu City

Council.”There were several contributing

factors that lead Maj. Djou to serve

in the United States Army.

“It’s something that I nd (is) an

honorable profession,” he said of

military service. “It is another form

of public service, and I have always

believed in public service.”




Spartan Times

Courtesy photo

Maj. Charles Djou, a Judge Advocate General attached to Task Force Spartan,

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, prepares to go on a mission in

Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

Djou continued. Djou’s patriotism and dedica-

tion to serving his country comes

partially from his parents’ back-

grounds as refugees that found a

better life in America. His father

ed from the communist revolution

in China and his mother from theturmoil in Vietnam.

“My father ed China as a refu-

gee after the Communist Revolu-

tion in 1949, which followed the

Japanese occupation in 1940,” he

said. “And I think it is from that

understanding of my father’s side

of my family that I have an inter-

est in freedom, I have an interest in

defending freedom. “

His heritage contributed to his patriotism and commitment to the

American ideal that all people have

a right to life, liberty and the pur-

suit of happiness.

“It is through the Vietnam War

and the engagement in Southeast

Asia that my mom was able to

come to the United States and

become an American citizen,” he

said. “So, it is that kind of family

background that I think attracted

me to the military. In college I had

been in ROTC, but I graduated

from college in 1992, right in the

peak of the drawdown.”

National tragedy is what ulti-

mately led the politician to com-

bat. After the terrorist attacks on

Sept. 11, 2001, Djou answered the

nation’s call and joined the Army

Reserve.“After September 11, I decided

I was still young, I was still able

bodied and I could still contribute,

so I took a direct commission into

the Army Reserve,” Maj. Djou

said.

In the Reserves, Djou is a judge

advocate with the 22nd Legal Sup-

port Organization, and was recently

attached to Task Force Spartan

for their deployment to Kandahar

province, Afghanistan.

“In garrison each brigade is

given two JAGs, but when brigades

deploy they are given three JAGs

instead of two, and the third is

always either a Guard or Reserve

JAG,” Djou said.

Djou’s deployment is quitesimilar to other Soldiers. He still

misses his family, sleeping in and

eating pizza.

“It’s a sacrice. I think when

you put people in harm’s way, it is

a sacrice not from each individual

Soldier, but it is a sacrice made by

the Soldier’s Families. The burden

of defending our nation does not

just rest on the Soldiers’ shoulders,

but also on the spouses and chil-

dren,” Djou said.

Despite the sacrice, Djou

believes in the Task Force Spartan

mission of stabilizing the Afghan

government and security forces.

“I think we are making tremen-

dous progress, this is exactly what

our nation should be doing. I think we are pushing back the Taliban,

we are trying to stabilize this na-

tion,” he said. “I think the work

here by Task Force Spartan is noth-

ing short of outstanding.”

Djou compares the commitment

of Spartan Soldiers to the actions of

Soldiers in other foreign wars.




Spartan Times

Over 80 local residents living in

northern Maiwand district of Kan-

dahar province, Afghanistan, gath-

ered at the DeMaiwand mosque,

Jan. 10, for an outreach shura

hosted by newly-appointed District

Governor Salih Mohammad.

Governor Mohammad is a

relatively new and extremely ac-

tive leader in the Maiwand district,

and as a local representative of the

Afghan government, he makes it a

point to be actively engaged with

the district’s citizens, through regu-

lar shuras and even press confer-

ences.

“The (District Governor) isengaged, and eager. He works well

with (International Security Assis-

tance Forces), and has done more

in two months that the previous DG

accomplished in nine months,” said

Maj. Del Boyer, a member of the

Task Force Spartan Stability Tran-

sition Team. “So far he has con-

ducted ve outreach shuras like the

one he conducted in DeMaiwand.”

The shura was held to discuss

security and progress in the village

of DeMaiwand, a remote village in

the Ghorak Mountains of Maiwand.

At the shura, village men were

given the chance to come face-to-

face with their district leaders, as

well as Brig. Gen. Niaz Murtaza,

the commander of the 3rd Brigade,

205th Afghan Army Corps, and ask

questions about what the leadersare doing to improve their area.

Afghan National Security

Forces and ISAF are building a

new strong point at DeMaiwand to

help push the insurgents away from

the people and provide the village

with more security. A strong point

is compound where a platoon-sized

element will operate, which pro-

Outreach shura held in Maiwand

vides security and accessibility for

nearby Afghan residents.

“It will enable a police presence

in a known Taliban thoroughfare,

(where) there has been no ANSF presence in that area,” said Boyer.

“It will be manned by Afghan

National Army, Afghan National

Police and ISAF to start, with

the intention of turning it over to

ANSF.”

At the DeMaiwand shura, the

Afghan soldiers distributed hand-

crank radios and a mosque refur-

bishment kit for the Shrine of the

400 Martyrs, which is located near

the village. The kit contains prayer

rugs, small furniture, and even

paint for the mosque’s exterior.Prior to the shura, Governor

Mohammed and Brig. Gen. Murta-

za visited an Afghan police station

in Hutal where they conducted a

press conference with media from

Kandahar City.


Local Afghan men carry the Afghan ag to the shura hosted by District

Governor Salih Mohammad (right), Jan. 10.



Spartan Times

District Governor Salih Mohammad speaks with the villagers at the DeMaiwand

mosque at an outreach shura, Jan. 10.

Maiwand continued.

“Media engagements like the

one the DG held are critical to

informing the greater public in

Maiwand,” Boyer said. “In addi-

tion, it allows the DG an opportuni-

ty to engage the public and conrm

the commitment of (the Afghan

government), as well as informingthem of projects and opportunities

that are taking place in Maiwand.”

At the press conference, the

governor spoke about the secu-

rity gains that have been made in

Maiwand district. He also spoke

of the need for more schools, and

for farmers to nd crops to grow in

place of poppy. The governor asked

that coalition forces continue to

assist him in transitioning farmersaway from growing poppy.

“We are going to partner with

the governor and his security forces

to ensure additional progress in

Maiwand,” said Col. Patrick D.

Frank, commander of Task Force

Spartan, at the press conference.

Col. Frank responded to the gov-

ernor’s concerns and informed the

media and the Afghan leaders pres-

ent of the plans already in place

to continue to further develop the

district and to work with the lo-

cal famers to eradicate poppy and

grow legal crops.“We are providing wheat seed

for the farmers and we are provid-

ing them with alternate means

other than poppy,” said Frank, of

the efforts being made by Afghan

and coalition security forces to

stop farmers from growing illegal

poppy.

DeMaiwand was relatively

untouched by Afghan and coalition

forces’ presence until recently, butthe leaders of the district are work-

ing diligently to improve the area

through partnership and engage-

ments with the villagers.

Djou continued.“It is because our nation’s good-

ness and what we did in Vietnam

and what we did Southeast Asia,

that my mother was able to come to

the United States, and I have every

condence that whatever happens

here, we are doing the right thing,”Djou said.

While his experiences and chal-

lenges may be similar to any other

deployed Soldier’s, the fact that he

is in Afghanistan has a different

meaning than many others who are

deployed today.

“I voted in favor of Operation

Enduring Freedom. I nd it a little

interesting that I am probably the

only person that can say that I vot-ed myself here!” Maj. Djou said.

Ultimately, he is proud to be of

service to his country in any way

that he can, whether it be making

the laws for the state of Hawaii, or

providing legal counsel to deployed

Soldiers.

“I really, truly believe that the

greatness of the United States of

America and the American people,

is in part, that a child of a refugee,

could be given the privilege of

writing the law of the land of the

most powerful nation on Earth,”

Djou said.

In the tradition of deployed

Soldiers, the rst thing that comes

to mind when he thinks about what

he will do when he redeploys is his

family and food.

“I actually am looking forwardto getting a good pizza!” Djou said

with a laugh. “In all seriousness,

I very much am looking forward

to spending more time with my

family, I am never ever, ever again

going to take for granted holding

my wife’s hand or hugging my

children.”



Faces of the Spartans



Spartan Times

Clinic treats 7,000 patientsOver 7,000 patients have been

treated at the level two clinic,

located on Forward Operating Base

Pasab.

“On a day to day basis, we have

sick call for both U.S. Soldiers andthen we have sick call for the Af-

ghan National Army Soldiers, we

see some degree of local nationals,

but that is generally the life threat-

ening injuries,” said Maj. Paige

Waterman, the ofcer in charge of

the level two clinic on FOB Pasab.

The level two clinic is prepared

to handle just about every type

of illness and trauma, except for

surgery. The clinic has a trauma

bay, ex-ray capabilities, a dentist,

a physical therapist, and several

medics and doctors that are quali-

ed to treat their patients.

“In terms of U.S., we are not

seeing as much trauma here, one

it is getting colder so there is less

across the board, and two the more

serious injuries ys over us to a

level three where they can get thesurgical care they can’t get here,”

Waterman said.

Spartan Soldiers and Afghan

National Army Soldiers can come

to the clinic for medical care in the

morning and afternoon hours on a

daily basis.

“We see routine sick-call issues,

we see the disease non-battle stuff,

then of course we see the injuries

that are not battle related,” Water-man said.

The medics that work at the clinic

say that they enjoy the work that

they do; they love knowing that

they help people.

“It is gratifying, it is really

nice to see someone walking after

injuring themselves, or after some-

one injures them, it is good to see

them moving around, healthy and

intact,” said Spc. Ryan Bautista, a

medic at the level two clinic.

When ANA Soldiers come to

the clinic, they are generally ac-

companied by the ANA medics.The Spartan medics use it as a

chance to train the ANA medics to

treat their own Soldiers.

“It’s nice to see that everyone is

getting treated the same way, and

honestly I do the same thing for an

Afghan person as I would do for a

US person,” Waterman said.

The joint environment at the

clinic is contributing to a joint

environment on the battleeld.

While Afghan and U.S. troops are

both being provided with the high-

est quality medical care, the ANA

medics are learning everything they

can.

“We try to involve the ANA

medics when they come in,” Wa-

terman said. “We try to talk them

through (what to do) we are trying

to teach them to watch us the rsttime, and the second time they will

do it themselves so they can be

independent.”

Due to language barriers and

differing educational backgrounds,

training can be difcult. However,

the ANA medics are extremely

willing to learn, and adapt well to

the training they receive.

“It’s a lot of work because they

don’t have the same educational

backgrounds Americans do, thereare some challenges we face when

working with the Afghan medics,

but we get it done none the less, we

try our best,” Bautista said.

Civilians in the area are also

medically evacuated to the clinic

for trauma care, where they are

treated by Spartan and ANA med-

ics.

“We had a bus full of children

that we treated a few months back,

it was gratifying to be able to help

lend a hand and get those kids

patched up,” Bautista said.

Each shift has enough medics to

handle nearly every type of situa-

tion.

“Typically we have at least 5

on shift at a time and they work 12

hour shifts, so that leaves some that

are off or on details,” Watermansaid.

The clinic reached 7,000 pa-

tients at the beginning of Decem-

ber. Since then, they have already

treated more than 500 U.S., ANA

and Afghan civilians.

Command Sgt. Maj. Bryant Lambert, command sergeant major of the 82nd

Airborne Division, (center) inspects the level two clinic trauma bay on Forward

Operating Base Pasab.



Spartan Times

By Capt. Edward Park


Throughout history, roads have

been essential for the developmentof any country. We look back into

the past during the Roman state

where roads were used for regular

trade and communication. We can

look to our homes and realize the

importance and impact the Inter-

state Highway System has in the

United States.

Afghanistan has a main highway

that directly impacts the lives of allthe country’s people. This highway

links villages and towns and allows

the people of one village to com-

municate with the people of anoth-

er town. Farmers and businessmen

use this road to transport goods and

trade for economic development.

At the same time, Afghanistan

National Security Forces use this

highway to move and supply their

units.People traveling across the

region stop by the bazaar and the

gas stations along the highway to

refuel or to buy food. Land along

the highway is great for small busi-

nesses and for the economy.

However, the insurgents con-

tinue to disrupt the way of life for

the Afghanistan people and try

to hinder economic growth and

security in the area by targeting the

roads. Typically, the insurgents

insert explosive materials or bombs

inside the numerous culverts un-

derneath the country’s busiest road

to prevent economic growth and

hinder the response time for the

Afghanistan police and army.

Since arriving to Afghanistan

in March 2011, Soldiers of Head-

Culvert Denial: Keeping the roads safe

in the eastern Maiwand Districtquarters and Headquarters Battery

(Hawkeye), 4th Battalion, 25th

Field Artillery Regiment (Wolf-

pack) have worked tirelessly toimprove the security for the people

of Afghanistan and their fellow

Soldiers of Combined Task Force

Wolfpack. The Hawkeye Battery

partnered with the Afghan National

Police, Afghan National Army and

Afghanistan Civil Order Police

have adopted a 6.5 mile stretch

of the main highway in eastern

Maiwand District of Kandahar Province to keep it safe. Afghan

National Security Forces and the

Hawkeye Battery have patrolled

this highway daily to ensure it is

safe for all trafc. The Hawk -

eye Battery recently completed a

project to protect all the culverts in

Combined Task Force Wolfpack’s

stretch of the highway.

In the past, culverts were

blocked completely to prevent

bombs from being emplaced at the

cost of not allowing water and de-

bris to pass underneath the roads.

With the assistance of the local people, specially designed cages

and basic military wire obstacles

have been emplaced around cul-

verts on both sides to ensure that

the busy highway is safe to travel

on while remaining environmen-

tally friendly and still allowing

water to pass underneath the

roads. This has ensured the safety

of the Afghan people, ANSF andInternational Security Assistance

Forces traveling along Combined

Task Force Wolfpack’s area of the

highway. Thanks to the teamwork,

perseverance and dedicated ef-

forts of the Hawkeye Battery, the

culverts in the area are no longer

a target for the insurgents, and the

people of Afghanistan and ANSF

can move through the area without

difculty.

courtesy photo

Soldiers x concertina wire surrounding a culvert while doing improvements to

Highway 1.



Spartan Times

ContributorsCapt. Kevin Sandell-

PAO OIC

Staff Sgt Bruce Petitt-PAO NCOIC, Broadcast Journalist

Sgt Patrick Guerra-Broadcast Journalist

SGT Melissa Stewart-Print Journalist/Layout and Design

Capt. Edward Park-


SGT Larry L. Hayes-2-87 Infantry

Capt. Daniel V. Nosse-4-25 Field Artillery

SPC Kristina Trueluck-Combat Camera



Documents

January Spartan Times