www.fortcampbellcourier.com
Fort Campbell Courier - Thursday, July 2, 2009 - 11A
middle east NEWS operations: PRT Panjshir, Afghan leaders freedom celebrate girls’ school opening
Forces conduct operations in Khost
by Capt. Stacie N. Shafran PRT Panjshir
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Haish Saidqi Girls’ School in Panjshir province resounded with laughter of children for the first time, June 23. As the little girls milled about their newly constructed eightclassroom school in Rokha District, their faces beamed with excitement as teachers scrawled the Dari alphabet across freshly blackened chalkboards. The Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team demonstrated its commitment to education by joining Haji Bahlol, Panjshir’s governor, Zulami Saheen, the province’s director of education, and other distinguished guests to celebrate the school’s grand opening. Bahlol dedicated the ceremony in honor of Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Stratton, the PRT’s commander who was killed May 26 when a suicide bomber detonated an IED. The PRT-funded school, which cost $145,000, has been under construction since last July. Residents of Rokha and the nearby villages of Shast, Pai Chinar and Molakhel formally petitioned for the school. Over the course of the academic year, more than 500 primary-school age girls will attend class here, many going to school for the first time. Although Haish Saidqi is designated as a girls’ school, a small number of boys will attend as
KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan and Coalition Forces conducted two operations in the Musa Khel District of Khost Province Saturday, targeting a key commander in one operation and searching a compound in another. Coalition Forces used precision air strikes in a remote area of the district, targeting a key Haqqani commander responsible for planning militant attacks against Coalition Forces. Intelligence sources put him in this mountainous district, approximately 45 kilometers northwest of the city of Khost. Coalition Forces observed and identified suspected militants gathering there and called for the air strikes. A patrol conducted an assessment of the area and confirmed there were no non-combatant casualties. The patrol recovered multiple weapons, including; small arms, heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades; radios and other military equipment. The items were destroyed in place. In a separate engagement, Afghan and Coalition Forces patrolled a compound near the village of Wech Paray, about 40 kilometers northwest of the city of Khost. The forces searched the area without incident and detained six suspected militants.
photo by capt. stacie n. shafran | air force
For many first graders at the newly opened eight-classroom Haish Saidqi Girls’ School, this is their first time to receive formal education. According to the Afghan Ministry of Education, there are 1.7 million girls studying in primary schools across the country.
well. In this area of Panjshir, boys and girls can attend class together until third grade. After that, classrooms must be separated by gender. “This school means a lot to the future of these girls,” said Saheen, through an interpreter. “They used to study in destroyed buildings and temporary facilities. Now they have things like good desks and blackboards.” According to the Afghan Ministry of Education, there are 1.7 million girls studying in primary schools across the country. Only 30 percent of girls reach the fifth grade, compared to 56 percent
for boys. Air Force 1st Lt. Dustin Koslowsky, a PRT engineer, has spent the past nine months overseeing the Afghan contractor and construction workers building the school. “When I initially volunteered for this assignment I was looking forward to my first opportunity to manage construction; to see this project completed and put into use so quickly is exciting and satisfying. The contractor has worked hard and I am proud to have been a part of this project.” Following the ceremony, the PRT signed responsibility for
the school over to the director of education. The PRT is facilitating 12 education projects worth $2.8 million, including nine schools, two dormitories and one multi-purpose building which will be used as a library and laboratory. Under the Taliban regime, all of Afghanistan’s schools were religious and girls were banned from attending. The revival of Afghanistan’s education system, especially the return of girls to schools, is considered to be one of the biggest accomplishments of the Afghan government since 2001.
US Forces transfer combat outpost to IA DIYALA, Iraq – Combat Outpost Mullalah in Diyala province was transferred from U.S. Forces to the 5th Iraqi Army Division June 25, signifying the progress which has been made in recent months and years in the region’s battle against terrorists and insurgents. The COP, originally established in 2005, had been the home of Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, since Sept. 2008. A major staging area for Soldiers with 2-8 FA, the outpost will continue to facilitate Coalition Forces when teaming with their Iraqi counterparts, but it will be Coalition Forces, not the Iraqis, who will be visitors while staging in Mullalah. Closing out the ceremony, Iraqi Lt. Col. Amur, 4-5 IA commander, thanked the coalition for their support and for establishing security in the region. He then promised to the audience that his battalion would continue to provide the security needed for the people of the area.
Contact information for USFOR-A public affairs USFOR-A Release KABUL, Afghanistan – Due to a recent move to a new building, the U.S. Forces Afghanistan public affairs office will temporarily only be accessible by commercial phone through the following process: When calling from outside Afghanistan,
use 93 as the country code, then dial 70 113 2000. After the dial tone, dial 237-0995. From within Afghanistan, simply dial 070 113 2000. After the dial tone, dial 2370995. All Government DSN lines are functioning as normal. Our e-mail addresses have not changed.
For your convenience, please feel free to use the Media Relations email USFOR-AMediaRelations@afghan.swa.army.mil if unable to reach our office by phone. Your patience is appreciated as we bring our office communications fully online. We’ll re-publish our commercial phone numbers once they become available.
WYATT FAMILY “We’ve Got Your Back” 2106-A Trenton Road
For more “Operations: Freedom” briefs, visit www.mnf-iraq.com, www.defenselink.mil.
Franklin Makes it Possible!
conveniently located at Wilma Rudolph Blvd. & Trenton Rd.
931-647-7677
www.wyattfamilychiropractic.com
Ask Us About Our Military Discount
SPINAL DECOMPRESSION UCING D O R T N I
Do You Suffer From ~ NECK PAIN ~ HEAD ACHES ~ BACK PAIN ~ SLIPPED DISK ~ LEG PAIN ~ ARTHRITIS ~ SHOULDER PAIN
“Franklin gave me a way to broaden my educational horizons and learn new skills – and serve my nation at the same time.” Gregory W. Binford MBA, GoArmyEd Program
To find out if non-surgical spinal decompression therapy is right for you... CALL MARK A. WYATT, D.C. TODAY
29
W A L K - I N S (& Crawl-ins) W E L C O M E !
$
WYATT FAMILY
Consultation, Examination, 2 X-rays & Report of Findings ($195 Value!)
931.647.7677 Must present coupon at time of visit. One coupon per person per visit. Not valid with any other offer. Expires 7/14/09
Multiple start dates. Apply today! Wherever you serve, Franklin serves you! Convenient online format No-cost textbooks for TA classes GoArmyEd preferred provider Military scholarship available
Franklin Makes it Possible!
Exclusive military family tuition discount
franklin.edu/go/campbell
1.877.341.6300