1

TABEL OF CONTENTS:

P. 1 & 6-7: Kandahar Regional Military Hospital

P. 2-3: From our leaders

P.4-5: Keystone 9 expedites parts delivery to ANA

P. 8: ANA’s 215th Corps move into new Forward Supply De-pot

P. 9: Featured coalition P. 9: Featured coalition P. 9: Featured coalition

partnerpartnerpartner

P. 10: ANA takes over opera-tions at Chimtallah National Ammunition Depot

P. 11: ANSF participates in pilot class for contracting

P. 12-13: Coalition members organize film festival to build morale

P. 16-17: From Trash to Treas-ures; massive cleanup

P. 18-19: Around the battle-field

P. 20: Camp Eggers remem-bers 9/11

Inter nal newslet ter for our ser vice member s and famil ies . . .

Volume 1 , Issue 5

The SPO Times is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The SPO Times are not necessarily the official

views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, or the Department of the Army. The commanding officer for NTM-A DCOM SPO is Brig. Gen.

Clark W. LeMasters Jr. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO Public Affairs

Officer. Contact information: monika.comeaux@afghan.swa.army.mil, DSN: 318-237-0470, Cell: 070-681-8709.

September 2012 THE SPO-TIMES

Kandahar Regional Military Hospital: the premier trauma care center in Afghanistan

Story by Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO PAO

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – While child mortality rates or aver-age life expectancy in Afghanistan may come as a shock to the Western world, there are bright spots in the country’s health care system that affect entire regions. One of these bright spots is the Afghan National Army’s Re-gional Military Hospital in Kandahar. See ANA HOSPITAL on p. 6-7

A nurse tends to an Afghan National Army soldier Aug. 20., in the Kandahar Regional Medical

Hospital. Although only 177 of the 237 Tashkill (authorization document) positions are filled it

is considered the premier trauma care center. Photo by U.S. Army Capt. Monika Comeaux

2

DCOM-SPO Team,

I have a few very important things to share with you all this month.

As the month of September comes to end, gives us an opportunity to share some

memories and look forward to October. One key event of September was the Pre-

Deployment Site Survey (PDSS) for the 16th Sustain Brigade out of Germany; they

came here with a motivated team between 8-10 folks to include their Commander and

Command Sergeant Major to see how the DCOM-SPO operate on a daily basis. We

shared our daily activities, took them on a few road trips, talked about some challenges

and best of all, the way ahead. The 16th Sustain Brigade is ready to get into the rotation

of this mission, but must wait their time. The Current DCOM-SPO/13ESC, still has

plenty of work to do.

I was honored to witness hundreds of Afghan Seniors NCO sharing a dinner meal

as they prepared for their Annual Sergeant Major of the Army Conference. The Non-

Commissioned Officer Corps of Afghanistan is on their way to build an excellent

team; as I do Battle Field Circulations to the different Regions and communicate with

my Afghan counterparts, they share lots of the same concerns as our service members;

they are honored to serve their country, want to make a better life for themselves, and

they have thoughts on how to make their system work; have trouble getting the infor-

mation to the top as we do on occasions. Green on blue is a terminology normally used

for an incident that involves an act of violent of an Afghan Soldier/Policeman against a coalition or friendly force. I can tell you that

green on blue doesn’t include the professionals I just spoke about; folks that commit green on blue, aren’t part of the Afghan and

coalition team that wants to see a country of greatness.

Our coalition partners are a main effort in the development of the Afghan Soldier, police and play a significant role in all areas

of leadership. I want to express how very proud I am of your accomplishments in DCOM-SPO! You all make doing more with less

look easy, each and every day. We have downsized due to surge recovery, eliminated some billets and despite challenges you are all

performing wonderfully. Your laser focus on training up our Afghan partners has not waivered one bit.

It’s very satisfying to see how many convoys are now planned, and conducted by our Afghan National Security Forces

(ANSF) partners. It is heartwarming to look at the photos of Afghan service school graduations, or go to yet another forward support

depot or training facility turnover! You may not see the big picture at your level, but I can assure you that your work is appreciated

and you are contributing to the success of this mission. Without you, we would not be able to achieve our goals as an organization!

I need you to remain alert and focused on our goals. Keep in mind the reasons we are here and do not allow the actions of a few

taint your opinion about the people of Afghanistan as a whole! Check and double check everything. Make sure that as you conduct

training programs, you are abiding by all safety and security measures. Do not become complacent. I need everyone to remain alert

and aware of your surroundings, even as you are setting foot on the aircraft that will take you home.

If you are close to redeployment, make sure the person who replaces you has all the tools in hand to continue operations. A

seamless transition is paramount to maintain the momentum we have achieved. Think about things you must share with them; try to

remember things you wish you were told when you took over the mission! Make sure you establish solid continuity books, and ex-

amples of the work you do on a day to day basis. If you have the name of the individual replacing you, be sure to contact them and

be a reliable sponsor as they transition into theater. This should be no different than being an assigned sponsor for someone stateside!

If you are just arriving to this AOR, remember it’s about work and balance ”everyday”; work out, eat, rest, make friends, use

the MWR facilities and keep in touch with your family. Have a plan for what you are trying to accomplish during this deployment,

have a plan for what you will do once you leave here. Have some fun. Do follow your football team! Do participate in fantasy foot-

ball! And if you are one of our coalition brothers, do follow soccer, cricket or whatever it is the national sport in your country. Do

not isolate yourself from what is going on in the world, keep up with the news.

I once again wanted to express my gratitude to those who support us from home. The Team here in theater and the folks back

home keeps us strong. Deployments help to put into perspective of those things that are important and help to focus on wanting them

again. Please continue to keep the communication open. We may be apart, but we can be part of the process of whatever is going on

when given the opportunity. Keep the photos, home videos, and any special moments coming for us to stay up to date of what’s go-

ing on in our family and town.

It’s an honor to service beside people who are here for a cause greater then themselves, no matter what your reason. You don’t

have to be here, it was your choice.

I am very proud of our DCOM-SPO team, keep up the good work!

CSM Terry E. Parham Sr., DCOM-SPO CSM

From our leadership

3

DCOM-SPO Team,

Your hard work continues to make impacts. Now that the Force

Manning Level reductions or "Surge Reductions" are complete I ask each

of you to gather with the sections and relook the missions you are per-

forming. We've spent a great deal of effort on DCOM-SPO priorities

across each of the sections, but with fewer people these reviews are very

important. Make sure your priorities are accurate.

The Staff is working hard to define what the DCOM-SPO will look

like out through FY 13. This effort is called BASEORD 13, and it is also

important that you understand this planning effort, which is led by the

DCOM-SPO J5. We are basing our manning levels on the dates, we plan

to transition logistics nodes and functions. Transition dates are based on

BASEORD 13 planning, the Mid Year Azimuth Check and to lesser de-

gree our monthly Logistics Assessment and the Unified Transition Plan.

Ask questions and make sure you sections priorities and manning levels

for the next year are correct.

Logistics Capabilities Assessment Tool (LCAT). As I mentioned last month the Logistics Common Oper-

ating Picture (LCOP) has developed into an extremely useful method to assess our progress in developing lo-

gistics capabilities. You must understand it. We changed our assessment approach in September, and are now

focusing on the plans to "fix" issues; those areas assessed at "RED" or "AMBER" rating on the LCAT. Now

the RSC teams lay out their plans to provide training, advising, or other resources they need help with to get an

issue fixed. Training and advising are the primary area that can be applied quickly to fix shortfalls. All the

training efforts are managed by the J3, so if you are working on something that has the word "training" in it-

you need to get with the J3.

As many of you know the 13th ESC members of DCOM-SPO will redeploy around the first week in De-

cember and our numbers will be replaced by the 16th Sustainment Brigade. Our goal is to develop a good road

map for the incoming members of DCOM-SPO. As discussed above- this will include a well defined list of

priorities and good explanations of everything you are working on. This will be a larger than normal change in

people- so we must spend time cleaning up our records, history files, SOPs and prepare for a relief in place.

As part of the close out of 13th ESC, we will conduct another Commander's Conference on 28-29 November

so the new team can meet our Commanders and vice a versa. As you look at your individual area of concen-

tration, I ask you to focus on simple and clear instructions to help the new members of the team quickly under-

stand your responsibilities and practices.

Thanks again for the hard work and if you have questions or something is not clear- Please Ask!

“Shohna-ba-Shohna!" شاهنه به شاهنه

BG Clark LeMasters

DCOM-SPO/13th ESC Commander

NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan

DCOM-SPO/13th ESC

4

Operation Keystone 9 expedites parts Operation Keystone 9 expedites parts Operation Keystone 9 expedites parts

delivery for Afghan National Armydelivery for Afghan National Armydelivery for Afghan National Army

By Army Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOMBy Army Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOMBy Army Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM---SPO PAOSPO PAOSPO PAO

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan – A

handful of service members as-

signed to the Deputy Commander

of Support Operations under

NATO Training Mission-

Afghanistan have planned and

are executing an operation known

as Keystone 9.

This operation, which started

in July of 2012 and is expected

to run until late October, rapidly

processes repair parts and dis-

tributes these parts to Afghan

National Army units.

“Operation Keystone 9 is a

mission designed to expedite the

delivery of critical Class IX repair

parts to the theater in support of

the ANA combat operations,”

said Lt. Cmdr. Trey Scudder, the

senior mentor for the Second

Forward Support Depot ( under

Regional Logistics Support Com-

mand-Kandahar) supporting the

ANA and also the deputy for Lo-

gistics Training Advisory Team

South. “A secondary mission of

the operation is to clear out the

global backlog of Class IX repair

parts destined for the ANA …

filling the Authorized Stockage

List for each of the ANA Corps

thereby giving the ANA a base-

line from which to support their

respective maintenance com-

panies,” Scudder added.

The concept is multifold,

said Chief Warrant Officer 2

Dempster D. Upshaw, a supply

technician who manages Class

IX parts within DCOM-SPO. In-

stead of all parts arriving from

New Cumberland… and from

Thailand going through Kabul

some are now flown into Kan-

dahar where they are prioritized,

sorted and pushed out.

“It is saving time by elimi-

nating the Depot 0 warehouse

(the national-level Class IX re-

pair parts depot)…and essen-

tially doing a ‘direct delivery’ of

parts and supplies to the front

doorsteps of the customers…

These parts hit home to the ac-

tion level directly,” Upshaw said.

DCOM-SPO receives notifi-

cation of inbound parts approxi-

mately 48 hours before they ar-

rive to Kandahar. It allows Up-

shaw to have a look at what is on

the particular aircraft and match

up against on hand supplies and

shortages.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Greg Pierce, a member of the Coalition Forces Sorting Facility team

in Regional Support Command-South guides a forklift in Kandahar, Afghanistan, as it

downloads cargo June 10 at a yard used to temporarily sort and prioritize incoming and outgo-

ing shipments of critical repair parts for the Afghan National Army. Photo by U.S. Navy Lt. Cdr.

Trey Scudder, RSC-South Logistics Training and Advisory Team deputy

See KEYSTONE 9 next page

5

Once they arrive at Kandahar Air Field, incoming parts are

all signed for by a coalition representative. All parts are con-

voyed to the Coalition Forces Sorting Facility that they all af-

fectionately refer to as the “Yard.” Here service members sort

the parts. “The hard work displayed by a very small team

comprised of five Marines, one Sailor, three Airmen and seven

Army service members is a true testament to the merits of

joint service missions. The level of enthusiasm displayed by

the troops involved in this mission literally breathed life back

into the ANA repair parts system” said Scudder.

Once parts are sorted, Scudder’s team arranges for

transportation by either ANA transportation assets to nearby

locations or coalition assets to remote locations. By simply

bypassing the logjam in Kabul, Scudder thinks that several

weeks are shaved off the traditional processing time.

Operation Keystone 9 is a temporary solution, allowing

ANA units to receive repair parts in the midst of the fighting

season and also allowing Depot 0 to clear up their backlog

and conduct personnel training, before all parts are routed

through them again, starting late September.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Austin Eckert, a member of

the Coalition Forces Sorting Facility team in Re-

gional Support Command-South checks date on a

shipping box of spare parts against his inventory

listing July 10, 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Photo by U.S. Navy Lt. Cdr. Trey Scudder, RSC-

South Logistics Training and Advisory Team deputy

KEYSTONE 9

Afghan National Army soldiers carry a simulated casualty played by an ANA soldier into the triage area during an ANA

mass casualty exercise at the 215th Maiwand Corps' clinic on Camp Shorabak, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept.

9, 2012. The exercise was held to help the ANA medical staff on Camp Shorabak organize and fine tune their mass

casualty treatment plans. U.S. Army photo by Bill Putnam

6

ANA HOSPITAL continued

Here, the wards are kept cool by air conditioning systems, patients lay in clean beds, most covered with colorful sheets and the medical staff, housekeeping and administration works around the clock to care for those in need. Not only do they treat combat injuries, they also assist civilians and following interna-tional healthcare norms, they also provide assistance to in-jured insurgents. “A lot of what you see here is what we have done internally in the Afghan system our-selves,” said ANA Brig. Gen. Sayed Azim Hussaini, the hospi-tal commander, through an in-terpreter. Azim has been a doc-tor serving his country for 28 years. He learned medicine in Kabul and prior to taking com-mand of this facility, he com-manded the ANA Regional Medical Hospital in Herat. The facility recently in-creased the number of emer-gency room beds from three to nine, intensive care unit beds from four to seven, and doubled the number of total beds from 50 to 100 to accommodate general admission patients, said Dr. Mohammad Sadiq, Chief of the Medical Staff and general sur-gery specialist. “The RMH here in Kandahar is probably the most advanced and efficient hospital in the en-tire Afghanistan,” Azim said. He and his coworkers continuously try to improve the facility and the efficiency of care. He greatly contributes the hospitals suc-cess to his devoted employees. “I am very proud of my staff,” Azim said. They are very disciplined and organized. Each

and every one of them are tak-ing care of the patients…Nothing can be done by one person. I appreciate my team here and everything we do is teamwork. A commander with-out a team is not a commander; I am a commander because I have a team,” said Azim hum-bly. Recently his team and the Afghan Air Force distinguished themselves with conducting the first four all-Afghan organized and Afghan-led MEDEVAC mis-sions from KRMH, although Azim admits that the routine MEDEVAC process still needs some work. Other areas where they need to improve, Azim said, are getting medical supplies to the

Class VIII medical supply ware-house and the hospital faster and they would also need more surgical subspecialists. “What is unique here is how the Afghan providers do so much under such difficult cir-cumstances. The providers are generalists and do amazing things…while they lack in sub-specialties, they make up for it in just practical experience,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John P. Savage, a medical adviser working with Azim and his team in Regional Support Command-South, under NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan.

Dr. Mohammad Sadiq, the chief of medical staff and general surgery specialists gives a tour

of the Afghan National Army’s Kandahar Regional Military Hospital to a visiting NATO group

Aug. 20, 2012. The facility is considered a premier trauma care center in Afghanistan. The

hospital receives visits from a NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan mentor team from Regional

Support-Command South on a regular basis. Photo by U.S. Army Capt. Monika Comeaux,

DCOM-SPO PAO

See ANA HOSPITAL next page

7

KRMH treats 20 percent of the total ANA battle injuries and sup-port 27 percent of all intensive care unit admissions for the ANA that occur in the entire coun-try of Afghanistan. The hospital aver-ages 650 hospital bed days per month, said Sadiq. The hospital staff assists with the ANA’s Combat Medic Training, Combat Physician As-sistant Program, and Biomedical Equipment Repair Training Pro-gram as well conducts their own staff training to improve the number of trained medical pro-fessionals within the ANA. Its Afghan physician-taught physi-

cian’s assistance class is half way through its 13-month dura-tion and is predicted to graduate approximately 50, said Sadiq. The NTM-A trainers, to in-

clude Savage are very optimistic

about the hospital and have a

high opinion about the quality of

services provided there. “The

staff is extremely

committed, an effec-

tive organization,

working with very

limited resources,

that I would trust

with my own life,”

said Savage.

“If I was injured

on that compound,

the 20 minutes it

would take to call

and get a U.S. heli-

copter to come and

get me, is 20 minutes I would

not want to wait. I would trust

the staff out there to be able to

take care of me. There is no

U.S. community based hospital

that could do what they regularly

do for trauma or mass casualty

response,” said Savage.

ANA HOSPITAL

The medical staff of the Afghan National Army’s Kandahar Regional Military

Hospital, who were on duty Aug. 20, 2012, pose for a photo in one of the

hallways of the hospital. Photo by Capt. Monika Comeux, DCOM-SPO PAO

RSC-Capital ANP ENG turns over a completed project

to Afghan Uniformed Police at Istal i f The Korem Ebad Construction

Company, the Istalif District Gover-

nor, 1st Lt. Kyle Staron, Regional

Support Command –Capital Af-

ghan National Police Engineer

Project Manager (wearing glasses),

and other members of RSC-Capital

watch as ANA Lt. Col Hashim, Is-

talif District Deputy Commander,

cuts the ceremonial green ribbon

to officially turn over the facility

Sept. 1. Istalif is a village about 18

miles northwest of Kabul, Afghani-

stan. The project consisted of a

combined barracks, latrine,

shower, shave, and washing facil-

ity, a power plant, dining facility,

well house and site work valued at

$790,000. The new compound

will be used to house AUP and

allow the ANP to grow to meet its

new Tashkill requirements and

future demands in serving and

protecting the Afghan people.

Cutline by U S Army Capt. Andew

D. Wilkerson,

Photo by Dan Dergance

8

CAMP SHORABAK, Af-

ghanistan – The 215th Maiwand

Corps cut the ribbon on a major

facility that will increase their

logistical ability to supply their

soldiers for operations Sept. 5.

The Corps’ Regional Logis-

tics Supply Center took over a

set of 23 barracks, offices and

warehouse buildings during a

ceremony in the site’s new din-

ing facility attended by officers

and soldiers from the ANA and

their advisors from Regional

Support Command Southwest,

NATO Training Mission and the

1st Marine Expeditionary Force

(Forward).

Afghan National Army Maj.

Gen. Hotak, the commander of

the ANA’s Army Support Com-

mand, thanked (through an inter-

preter) NATO Training Mission-

Afghanistan and Regional Com-

mand-Southwest for their help in

building the facility.

“I’m very happy to be here par-

ticipating in this ceremony,” Hotak

said during his speech. “On behalf of

the (Ministry of Defense) I’d like to

thank you for building this facility.”

Logistics plays a very important

role in supplying an Army, Hotak con-

tinued. “It doesn’t matter how units are

fighting if they don’t have strong logis-

tics they won’t perform well,” he said.

“In history of the ANA we’ve

never had such a facility. I’d like to

thank you from the bottom of my

heart,” Hotak said. “Since we have

such a great facility that will actually

increase what we do.”

During the ceremony, U.S. Ma-

rine Corps 1st Lt. Joe Strumolo said he

was happy everything during the cere-

mony went smoothly. He was planning

the next step in the move from the

FSD’s current facilities to the new site.

Strumolo, an adviser to the 215th

Maiwand Corps RLSC, said the ANA

in the RLSC planned the entire event.

“You’re a little nervous but they

executed the way they were supposed

to,” Strumolo said. “They planned and

executed that entire event.”

Strumolo said how everything

related to how the Maiwand Corps

fights will be stored in the warehouses

and, like Hotak said during the cere-

mony, the ANA are grateful for the

site.

“How the kandaks fight, eat and

treat the wounded comes from those

buildings,” Strumolo said.

“They’re very grateful,” Strumolo

said. He also said few of the ANA sol-

diers have told their advisers they un-

derstand what it will take to maintain

the buildings.

“’We want to make you proud, we

want to make your country proud’ and

they want to use this to support their

brothers fighting,” Strumolo said.

“They understand if they don’t take

care of these buildings their ability to

do that goes down.”

The ANA have started moving

into the buildings and they should be

fully up and running in the next month

or so, Strumolo said.

“That’s everyone living and work-

ing out of the new buildings,” he said.

The FSD is part one of a three-

part build to increase the Corps’ logis-

tics, Strumolo said. An ammunition

bunker complex and a new set of vehi-

cle maintenance buildings will be fin-

ished in the next few months.

Building upkeep will be done by

75 ANA soldiers trained in plumbing,

wiring and even cooking equipment

maintenance, Strumolo said.

Regional Support CommandRegional Support CommandRegional Support Command---West West West

Change of CommandChange of CommandChange of Command

ANA’s 215ANA’s 215ANA’s 215ththth Corps move into new Forward Supply DepotCorps move into new Forward Supply DepotCorps move into new Forward Supply Depot By Bill Putnam, Regional Support CommandBy Bill Putnam, Regional Support CommandBy Bill Putnam, Regional Support Command---Southwest Public Affairs Specialist Southwest Public Affairs Specialist Southwest Public Affairs Specialist

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Clark LeMasters, right, the deputy commander of Support Operations, NATO

Training Mission Afghanistan, and Afghan National Army Maj. Gen. Hotak, the commander of the

ANA's Army Support Command, cut the ribbon to open the 215th Maiwand Corps' Forward Supply

Depot at Camp Shorabak, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2012. The FSD will supply the

Afghan National Army's 215th Maiwand Corps in Helmand and Nimrouz provinces. U.S. Army

photo by Bill Putnam

9

Regional Support CommandRegional Support CommandRegional Support Command---West West West

Change of CommandChange of CommandChange of Command

SEPTEMBER’S SEPTEMBER’S SEPTEMBER’S FE ATU RE DFE ATU RE DFE ATU RE D COAL I T I ONCOAL I T I ONCOAL I T I ON PPPART N ERART N ERART N ER

AAAD RI AND RI AND RI AN D IM AD IM AD IM A FFFROMROMROM RRROM AN I AOM AN I AOM AN I A

A moment with Capt. Dima By LS2. Ronald Pitts, Regional Support Command-South/NTM-A Public Affairs Specialist

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan— Deployments present service members with unique experiences, which include meeting coali-tion partners like Capt. Adrian Dima of the Roma-nian Gendarmerie, who is assigned to Regional Support Command-South as the Romanian Gen-darmerie liaison officer (LNO). Dima arrived in Afghanistan from the city of Bacau, in the eastern part of Romania in “early May along with the 3rd Romanian Contigent.” His team is the third group of Romanian Gendarmerie’s to serve as part of NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and are here on a six-month rotation helping work with the Afghan National Police at their various training sites in Southern Afghanistan. Dima personally brings 18 ½ years of experience with him. Romanian Gendarmerie members selected for duty in Afghanistan must “pass certain test, and examinations to include psychological, physical, medical, theoretical, and practical,” said Dima. The Gendarmerie sounds like a unique name so I asked Dima to explain what it is. The Roma-nian Gendarmerie is a “police force dedicated to combating violent crimes, crowd and riot control, security of high profile events (sporting events, pub-lic celebrations) as well as international police as-sistance.” The description seems to fit the Gendar-merie well for their mission here in Afghanistan helping the ANP, since much of what the Gendar-merie specializes in are still ongoing challenges here in Afghanistan. Even though this is Dima’s first deployment to Afghanistan, this is not his first deployment overall.

“I have two prior deployments to Kosovo.” There “we helped with crowd and riot control, guarded court houses and civil service centers, manned cer-tain high profile checkpoints, protected certain facili-ties along the new border separating Kosovo and Serbia, and provided escort of war criminals,” Dima said. What the Gendarmerie does back in Romania compared to here in Afghanistan is quite different. “Back in Romania I provided training to my subordi-nates, but I also do police work. In Afghanistan I am an LNO between my other Romanian colleagues and I also help with training the ANP by providing the proper programs of instruction and ensuring they are being adhered to,” said Dima. Working in Afghanistan has presented a unique opportunity to work with coalition forces for Dima, primarily with US forces at RSC-South. “It has been a great experience for me, I love working with members of other countries. I also find working in the international environment appealing due to learning new things, meeting new people, and us-ing my own personal experiences to help with the mission here,” said Dima. Being in the Gendarmerie presents opportuni-ties to travel, and after this assignment is over Dima would like to continue serving his country, visiting remote locations. “I would go anywhere in the world if it was in the interest of the Romanian Gendarme-rie, Romania or other international institutions Ro-mania is part of. However, being that I have been to Europe and Asia, I would like to go to Africa and help the people there,” said Dima in conclusion.

10

KABUL, Afghanistan – Representatives from

the Afghan National Army assumed the responsibili-

ties of operating the Chimtallah National Ammunition

Depot Sept. 16, during a ceremony that took place at a

newly built bunker.

Brig. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters, Deputy Com-

mander of Support Operations, NATO-Training Mis-

sion-Afghanistan represented the coalition during the

official signing of the transition documents, and Brig.

Gen. Abdul Basir, ANA logistics commander, at-

tended and signed the paperwork representing the Af-

ghan Ministry of Defense.

The staff at the depot, with the help of ammuni-

tion mentors and trainers from Regional Support Com-

mand-Capital, trained for months to prepare them-

selves for properly operating the facility, said Air

Force Master Sgt. Candice D. James, the senior mu-

nitions advisor from RSC-C. Oversight from the

trainers however will not come to a screeching halt,

she added. “We will support them for the next 101

days,” James said. “If they have any questions, we

will help them out.”

James has worked closely with the ANA staff

during the past ten months, to bring the transition

process to fruition. The ceremony actually occurred

just one day before she was scheduled to depart from

Afghanistan, and she was very happy that she was

able to be a part of such an important milestone

event.

“I started with the bare minimum and worked

my way up,” said James. “They have come a long

way; they can do this, they have great leadership. I

am very proud to pass this on to them and let them

run their own facility,” she said.

Afghan National Army Col. Ghulam Quadir Na-

siri, the ammunition director of the ANA’s Logistics

Command thanked coalition partners for their help

with the facility during his speech. “Everything you

see here today happened with the help of the coali-

tion,” he said.

Basir followed suit, praising the coalition part-

ners not only for what they have done for the Chim-

tallah Ammunition Depot, but also for expanding

ANA fuel storage capacity in the Kabul region and

assisting with the medical supply warehouse and

other warehouses in the national capital area. “This

ceremony today represents the hard work and dedi-

cation of the Afghan soldiers at the Chimtallah Am-

munition Depot, and the hard work and dedication of

the mentors and advisors of RSC-Capital,” said Le-

Masters during the ceremony. The buildings are just

the shell, it is teamwork and dedication what makes

this facility function, he said.

Basir thanked the coalition and the US taxpay-

ers in particular, for their help to his country. “The

US is spending taxpayer’s money on developing the

ANA, but on the grand scale of things, it is one na-

tion, the United States, helping out another, Af-

ghanistan, and we are very thankful for this help.”

ANA takes over operations at Chimtallah ANA takes over operations at Chimtallah ANA takes over operations at Chimtallah National Ammunition DepotNational Ammunition DepotNational Ammunition Depot

By Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOMBy Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOMBy Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM---SPO/NTMSPO/NTMSPO/NTM---A PAOA PAOA PAO

Brig. Gen. Abdul Basir, the commander Afghan National Army's Logis-

tics Command, signs transition paperwork assuming responsibilities

for the Chimtallah National Ammunition Depot Sept. 16, in Kabul,

Afghanistan as his Ammunition Director, Col. Ghulam Qadir Nasiri

looks on from the background. It took months and months of hard

work from both sides to arrive to this historic mile marker and transi-

tion over the modern storage facility. The trainers and mentors will

continue to look on and provide support, with lesser and lesser roles.

U.S. Army photo by Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO/NTM-A PAO

11

KABUL, Afghanistan – The Op-

erational Contracting Section under the

Deputy Command of Support Opera-

tions in NATO Training Mission-

Afghanistan held a contracting class

for ANSF personnel, Sept. 8 –12 at the

Afghan National Army’s Logistics

Command.

The class was the first of its kind

for the Afghan partners, allowing the

instructors to obtain valuable feedback

on the Contract Acquisition Advisory

Team (CAAT) program of instruction

(POI) developed by the DCOM-SPO

and acquisition advisers from the Dep-

uty Commands of Police and Army

under NTM-A.

In February of 2012, an adviser in

the Afghan Ministry of Defense Ac-

quisition Technology and Logistics

Directorate identified the issue of not

having enough transparency in the Af-

ghan contracting systems, said U.S.

Army Master Sgt. Saalih K. Muzakkir,

the senior enlisted adviser for DCOM-

SPO’s CAAT training team. As a re-

sult, he received instructions to de-

velop a POI for a contracting overview

class.

“Each class represented a differ-

ent aspect of the procurement process,”

said Muzakkir. “We contacted the Af-

ghan Ministries of Interior and De-

fense and asked them to send some

qualified participants to the class, and

at the end we had between seven and

12 participants each day, learning the

contracting process from identifying

the need for a service or item all the

way up to supervising the contract

once it is awarded.”

“I am very pleased that I got to

participate in this training,” said Af-

ghan National Army Junior Capt. Ab-

dul Karim Muttaki through an inter-

preter. He added that he is happy that

the U.S. is transitioning more to the

Afghan National Army and he was

eager to participate in the training to

learn how to handle future tasks. “I am

a logistician in my unit, that is why I

was chosen,” Muttaki said. His unit

expects him to share his experiences

with others in his section once he re-

turns to them.

“I have a lot of experience in con-

tracting already,” said Mr. Nazim, a

civilian employee of the MoD. “What I

was able to gain from this class was

something unique and new to me. I am

going to be able to go back to my of-

fice, implement things I learned here

and I will become a much better con-

tracting officer,” Nazim said.

Afghan National Police Sgt.

Ahmadzai Quadratullah was also

happy that he was given the opportu-

nity to participate in the class. He ex-

pressed his thanks, starting off his by

saying, “If you will allow me please, I

would like to thank the instructors for

the class.” He, too, is a logistician who

is looking forward to using his newly

acquired knowledge.

“We are forward looking and for-

ward thinking… and want to improve

ourselves” said Nazim. “We are keen

on implementing everything we

learned here from A to Z.”

Nazim said he was very pleased

with the subjects covered in the class.

“We started identifying the needs,

went through authorities and toward

the end discussed the laws and ethical

rules governing contracting,” he said.

Muzakkir thinks their training was

well-received. He found his students

energetic and enthusiastic. They were

“really open to the ideas and concepts

we were presenting.” Muzakkir hopes

that the training they provide in a small

way will be beneficial to the Afghan

people and economy, moving the

country forward, building a better Af-

ghanistan.

Afghan National Security Forces participate Afghan National Security Forces participate Afghan National Security Forces participate in pilot class for contractingin pilot class for contractingin pilot class for contracting

By Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOMBy Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOMBy Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM---SPO/NTMSPO/NTMSPO/NTM---A PAOA PAOA PAO

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Saalih K. Muzakkir, the senior enlisted advisor for the Contract Acquisi-

tion Advisory Team in Deputy Command of Support Operations under NATO Training Mission-

Afghanistan shows the financial regulations pertaining to contracting and acquisitions to

participants of a contracting class test-run Sept. 12 at the Afghan National Army's Logistics

Command in Kabul, Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO

12

Coalition members organize film festival to build morale By Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO/NTM-A PAO

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan – Mem-

bers of the headquarters element of Dep-

uty Commander of Support Operations

under NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan

held a film festival to boost morale on

Sept. 2.

The idea for the festival came from the

Cannes Film Festival, an annual interna-

tional event that takes place in a scenic

seaside town in the South of France.

Brig. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters Jr.,

DCOM-SPO, set strict rules for the entries.

Film clips had to be in good taste, and

were judged on costume and scenery, spe-

cial effects, the number of staff members

participating, acting abilities, and the ac-

curacy of re-enactment. The audience also

gave some input by clapping up a storm

for the popular vote scores. Festival organ-

izers showed the original movie clip before

playing their three to five minute re-

enactment piece.

Participants welcomed the film festival.

“I think it builds good cohesion and it’s a

good distraction from all the work we

currently have going on,” said U.S. Army

Sgt. Irene Lopez, a human resources spe-

cialist with the personnel section (J1) of

DCOM-SPO.

The re-enactments showed included

the following movies: ‘The Wizard of Oz,’

‘Talladega Nights,’ ‘Monty Python and the

Holy Grail,’ ‘Office Space,’ ‘The Color Pur-

ple’ and ‘We Were Soldiers.’

“We chose to re-enact ‘Talladega

Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,’ because

it is a favorite of several people in the J3

(current operations) shop,” said U.S. Army

Maj. Joshua Johnson, the officer in charge

of the logistics common operating picture

within J3. We also thought it would be

easy to re-enact the “baby-Jesus” prayer

around the table scene, said Johnson, who

played Cal, Ricky’s best friend and team-

mate from the movie.

Lopez and her office chose to re-enact

‘The Wizard of Oz’ scene where Dorothy is

welcomed to munchkin land. Lopez said

they just recently received their first coali-

tion forces co-worker from Belgium, and

the section found it fitting to do this part

of the movie to welcome their new addi-

tion.

Being in a deployed environment, one

13

Coalition members organize film festival to build morale By Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO/NTM-A PAO

has to be inventive when it comes to cos-

tumes and props for a movie shoot. Actors

were seen wearing anything from trash

bag tutus to wigs made out of mop heads.

“For the costumes, we used different

levels of the physical fitness uniform and

winter gear to imitate the different NAS-

CAR jackets,” said Johnson. “We then

printed off some brand name logos and

taped them to our outfits to represent

sponsors.”

Johnson also explained that his crew

did several takes and then edited the best

scenes into one fluid

movie “to highlight

the incredible acting

abilities of our su-

perior staff.”

The first four

best performances

received winner’s

cups that are re-

awarded each

month to the sec-

tions that distin-

guish themselves in

the current month’s

morale building event. The fourth place

cup went to J5 (future operations), the

third place cup to LogOps (logistics opera-

tions), the second place to the combined

efforts of the J3 (current operations) and

J2 (intelligence) sections and the winner of

this months challenge is the combined staff

sections of J1 (personnel), J4 (logistics),

J8 (resource management) and the secre-

tary of joint staffs.

“I am very glad that we won, because

we put a lot of effort into it,” said Lopez

in conclusion.

The winners of the Deputy Commander of Support Operations Film Festival pose for a photo with their

trophy at the Camp Eggers clamshell Sept. 2. The winning team came from the personnel, logistics, re-

source management and secretary of the joint staff sections of DCOM-SPO. They entered the contest with

their re-enactment of ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ Photo by U.S. Army Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO PAO

14

RLSCRLSCRLSC---SE Keeps 203rd Thunder Corps RollingSE Keeps 203rd Thunder Corps RollingSE Keeps 203rd Thunder Corps Rolling

By Maj. Scott C. Hammond, Regional Logistics Support Command Southeast Senior AdvisorBy Maj. Scott C. Hammond, Regional Logistics Support Command Southeast Senior AdvisorBy Maj. Scott C. Hammond, Regional Logistics Support Command Southeast Senior Advisor

FORWARD OPERATING BASE (FOB)

THUNDER, Afghanistan – On June 20, the Regional

Logistics Support Command-Southeast (RLSC-SE)

Maintenance Company (Tolai) began moving into

their new motor pool on FOB Thunder and by July 3,

they had moved in and were anxious to begin repair-

ing RLSC-SE vehicles.

Since April 23, the RLSC-SE has completed 19

CLPs (Combat Logistics Patrols), distributing supplies

to the 203rd Corps’ four remote brigades of the Afghan

National Army at FOB Parsa in Khost Province (1st

BDE), Sherana in Paktika Province (2nd BDE), FOBs

Vulcan and Sultan in Ghazni Province (3rd BDE) and

FOB Shank in Logar Province (4th BDE). One hun-

dred percent of these CLPs were completed by the

RLSC-SE without coalition forces assistance. In all,

since completing their first convoy on April 23, the

RLSC-SE has logged over 795,700 miles, travelling

through the heart of the country.

“What is the first thing that needs to be accom-

plished in Afghanistan to sustain the fight?” asked

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Kenneth Hood, the non-

commissioned officer senior advisor to the RLSC-SE

recently. “It’s a great maintenance program. The rea-

son why I say this is because the RLSC-SE has run 19

combat logistics patrols without any interruption, so

that has allowed the combat soldiers to perform their

jobs and win,” Hood added.

Throughout July and Aug., the RLSC-SE Mainte-

nance Company has continued to maintain their own

fleet of ‘Internationals’ (seven-ton cargo trucks),

Humvees and Rangers, thereby enabling the sustain-

ment of the 203rd Corps through distribution convoys.

Moreover, despite the waiting for the first 60 of the

132 authorized civilian mechanics to fill positions,

RLSC-SE began completing maintenance on 203rd

Corps vehicles on Aug. 25. This is the first step

in the process of turning over general support level

maintenance from contractors to RLSC-SE Mainte-

nance Company. It represents a huge milestone for

the RLSC-SE, as well as the combat logistics for the

Afghan National Army as a whole.

“In the past four weeks, we have completed 25

vehicle maintenance work orders for the 203rd Corps,”

said ANA Capt. Zebullah the RLSC-SE Maintenance

Company commander.

U.S. Army Capt. Randal W. Myers, the RLSC-SE

Support Operations mentor shared that “The RLSC-

SE is eager and ready to start repairing even more ve-

hicles in order to strengthen the 203rd Corps and the

Afghan National Army!”

Regional Logistics Support Command – Southeast Maintenance Com-

pany commander Capt. Zebullah supervises his mechanics as they

repair a 203rd Corps Ford Ranger at the Regional Logistics Support

Command – Southeast - Gardez Motor Pool. Sept. 3rd. U.S. Army

photo by Capt. Randy Myers

15

Regional Support Command-Southwest

conducts quick reaction drills

By Bill Putnam, RSC-SW PAO

RIGHT: U.S. Army Spc. Bryan Hergesell, left, talks with Sgt. Der-

rick Miller on how to draw his M9 Beretta pistol during a Quick

Reaction Drill range at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Province,

Afghanistan, Sept. 19, 2012. Hergesell is an infantryman with

Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 167th Infantry Regiment, Ala-

bama National Guard, and a police officer in Alabama when not

mobilized. Moore is a logistics advisor with Regional Logistics

Center, Regional Support Command Southwest, NATO Training

Mission Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Bill Putnam

LEFT: U.S. Army Maj. Dave Woods shoots his

M9 Beretta pistol during a Quick Reaction

Drill range at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand

Province, Afghanistan, Sept. 20, 2012.

Woods is the officer in charge of the Re-

gional Logistics Center, Regional Support

Command Southwest, NATO Training Mis-

sion Afghanistan. The range was conducted

to make sure NTM-A personnel were trained

and prepared to react to active shooter sce-

narios that could occur during their advisory

mission to the Afghans. Service members

went through dry fires before shooting

rounds during their combat shoot drills at

targets from varied distances. U.S. Army

photo by Bill Putnam

RIGHT: Service members po-

lice up brass shells at a range

after conducting quick reac-

tion drills at Camp Leather-

neck, Helmand Province, Af-

ghanistan Sept. 20, 2012.

Participants went through

possible scenarios. The two-

day event culminated in a

stress-shooting lane where

service members had to run

to walls and change maga-

zines then acquire targets at

different distances . U.S. Army

photo by Bill Putnam

16

ANSF trains side by side to learn ANSF trains side by side to learn ANSF trains side by side to learn maintenance skillsmaintenance skillsmaintenance skills

By US Air Force Maj. By US Air Force Maj. By US Air Force Maj. Matthew Berridge , 4Matthew Berridge , 4Matthew Berridge , 4ththth RLSC Senior Maintenance Advisor RLSC Senior Maintenance Advisor RLSC Senior Maintenance Advisor

CAMP SHAHEEN, Mazar-e-Sharif - Who says that the Af-ghan Ministry of Interior and Af-ghan Ministry of Defense can’t work together? The Soldiers of the 4

th Regional Logistics Sup-

port Command and the police of the 6

th Brigade, Afghan National

Civil Order Police (ANCOP) are proving all the ‘ney’-sayers wrong. These Soldiers and Po-licemen are learning, side by side, how to be mechanics while training in an Afghan National Army third line maintenance unit.

This trial program was the culmination of a series of meet-ings between ANCOP mentors and the Logistics Training Advi-

sory Team – North during the month of Ramadan. ANCOP has no formal training program for its mechanics and its opera-tions were suffering from a lack of vehicles. The team decided to broach the subject with the 4

th

RLSC Maintenance Company commander to determine the feasibility of mixing police with soldiers. ANA Major Milang thought it was a good idea and allowed us to bring the police into the EMS shop for training with ANA soldiers. The class arrived on the first day after Eid, and we held our breath and watched.

Before the class started, some mentors were concerned

about possible friction between the two organizations. Our hur-dle was easily cleared by AN-COP themselves; when the lieu-tenant in charge broke the team up and placed each ANCOP with a team of ANA.

This is the way they have worked for the past three weeks, and the only way to tell them apart is by their uniforms. They laugh and joke together on break, the sit together in class, about the only place they don’t sit together is lunch; allowing ANCOP to go to the dining facil-ity is one of a small number of administrative hurdles we are still fighting through.

As this trial program contin-

ues into its fourth week we can

only be amazed at the ability of

the soldiers and police to merge

into one team. At the floor me-

chanic level these guys are the

same, just trying to learn how to

do a job. The ANA Maintenance

Company XO stated that the

ANCOP have progressed rap-

idly, starting with no real abilities

to now being able to change oil,

rotate tires and some other ba-

sic services.

In two weeks we will evalu-

ate the program to see if we can

add additional ANCOPs to the

program, and turn our equip-

ment maintenance site into a

true joint training center.

US Air Force Maj. Matthew Berridge and US Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Morris, both Regional

Logistics Support Command maintenance advisors pose for a group shot with Afghan Na-

tional Army and Afghan National Civil Order Police personnel at Camp Shaheen, in Mazar-e-

Sharif, Regional Support Command-North in early September, 2012. Courtesy Photo

17

Soldiers from 13th ESC celebrate unit’s 47th Soldiers from 13th ESC celebrate unit’s 47th Soldiers from 13th ESC celebrate unit’s 47th

birthday in Afghanistan with teammatesbirthday in Afghanistan with teammatesbirthday in Afghanistan with teammates

By Capt. Monika Comeaux, 13th ESC PAO

Command Sgt. Maj. Terry E. Parham, the senior noncommissioned officer of

Deputy Command of Support Operations and the 13th Expeditionary Sustain-

ment Command, Spc. Ariel Gallarzo, an ammunition handler and the youngest

deployed Soldier of the 13th ESC, Brig. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters, DCOM-SPO

and 13th ESC commander and Lt. Col. Ronald Jack, the chief of the Fuel and

Ammunition Assistance Team within DCOM-SPO and the oldest deployed

member of the 13th ESC, cut a cake to celebrate the 47th birthday of the

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan – Service

members from the Deputy Command of Support

Operations, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan

came together Sept. 24 to celebrate the 47th Birthday

of the 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command

here.

Although most service members serving in

DCOM-SPO were deployed individually, 136 of the

US Soldiers in the command come from the same

unit, the 13th ESC.

Participants bowed their heads while one of the

13th officers lead them in prayer, watched a short

video about the unit’s history, and Brig. Gen. Clark

W. LeMasters, DCOM-SPO and 13th ESC com-

mander gave an address before cutting the birthday

cake. “I am not here to only celebrate the heritage of

the unit that some of us deployed from; I am here to

celebrate the accomplishments of everyone in

DCOM SPO,” said LeMasters.

“We have every service except the Coast Guard

within our ranks. We have 23 troop contributing

nations within DCOM-SPO. You handle infrastruc-

ture, you handle network development, and you han-

dle logistics. Our Afghan partners are getting better

in logistics, they are getting better in sustaining

themselves,” complemented LeMasters his team.

Following traditions of military cake cutting,

the commander asked the youngest and oldest de-

ployed 13th ESC Soldiers, Spc. Ariel Gallarzo, an

ammunition handler, and Lt. Col. Ronald Jack, the

chief of the Fuel and Ammunition Assistance Team

within DCOM-SPO, to assist him and Command

Sgt. Maj. Terry E. Parham to cut the cake with a

sword.

“It was a pretty celebration; I wasn’t expecting

such a good outcome,” said Shannon K. Armant, Jr.,

the J4 (logistics) noncommissioned officer in

charge. Armant has been with the unit since July of

2011. He assisted with organizing the event, helped

with the set up and teardown. It is not easy to get a

cake in Afghanistan, but with the help of the Camp

Eggers dining facility, the unit got to celebrate with

a cake that fed all attendees and bore the unit’s col-

ors. Deployed members of the 13th ESC only have a

little over two months left before they re-unite with

the rest of the unit at Fort Hood, and if still with the

unit, all should get to celebrate the unit’s 48th birth-

day next year stateside.

Members of the 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command also held an

early birthday celebration at Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Aug. 11.. Courtesy photo

18

From around the battlefield

Camp Eggers participants cross the start line Sept. 14 during the Terry Fox run. Participants of the fundraiser had the choice be-

tween a 5K or a 10K run. The Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan, H.E. Glenn V. Davidson personally opened the run and ad-

dressed the crowds, reading a note from the sister of the late Terry Fox. Photos by U.S. Army Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO

Congratulations to Chief Warrant Officer 4 Dana Williams, who

got promoted on Sept. 4. His family participated in his promotion

ceremony via video teleconferencing.

While you were out… Command Sgt. Maj. Terry E. Parham, the 13th Expe-

ditionary Sustainment Command Gnome has paid a visit to your office.

Don’t worry, he did not take any of your coins, just wanted to see what it

feels like sitting in the chair of the senior non-commissioned officer of

the Deputy Commander of Support Operations and the 13th ESC.

19

From around the battlefield

Congratulations to Capt. Runnie Pender , who got promoted to cap-

tain on Sept. 8. Since he is a Dallas Cowboys fan, he could not leave

them out of his ceremony as depicted on the backdrop. His family

also participated via video teleconference.

Capt. Liz Reyes runs up Gator Alley on Sept. 3, during the Camp Eggers Labor Day 5K run. Reyes participates in almost every race put on by

the Morale, Welfare and Recreation team, and she often places during the runs. She won firs place amongst the ladies in this run.

Photos by US Army Capt. Monika Comeaux

Staff Sgt. Frank Bailey, the Deputy Command of Support Operations

J6 (automations specialist) participates in the 9/11 memorial run at

Camp Eggers. Running at the elevation of 5877 feet did not seem to

bother him.

20

Remembering 9/11 at Camp Eggers By Capt. Monika Comeaux, DCOM-SPO/NTM-A PAO