Building the Romanian Forces roll future on Highway 1 Trade training school assembles skillsets in Uruzgan n Operation Achilles n International Women’s Day n How surgery changes local boy’s life n News and features from every RC In this month’s Mirror May 2007 Romanian armored per- 4 News sonnel carriers enter n Update on Operation Achilles Highway 1 in Zabul. Cover Photo by Catalin Ovreiu n COMISAF Media Roundtable Carpathian 5 NATO & HQ ISAF Hawks secure n News at press time Zabul ........... 6 RC-Captial turn to page 8. n Erdem takes command Celebrating Women’s 7 RC-South Day in Qalat (RC-S) n Achilles spurs development Homeward-bound Royal Marines make last charge 8 Romanian Forces n Feature on security role in Qalat and Kandahar 10 Passing on skills n Trade training gives Afghans knowledge to build future 12 Down south n ISAF troops pass out more than candy to local children n Qalat holds Women’s Day 13 Nursing students n Zabul graduates nursing aids/students Women in Qalat, Zabul province, celebrate International Women’s Day with song March n Canines remain top asset in 8. Photo by Captain Kevin G. Tuttle force protection For more on the festivities ........... turn to page 12. 2 May 2007 ISAF MIRROR Contents 14 ANAP training n ISAF troops provide instruction in Uruzgan The ISAF Mirror is a HQ ISAF Public Information product. Articles, where n Australian reconstruction team possible, have been kept in their origi- nal form. Opinions expressed are those completes tour of the writers and do not necessarily reflect official NATO, JFC HQ Brunssum or ISAF policy. Photo credits are attrib- uted to the authors of the submission, 15 RC-West unless otherwise stated. Submissions can be e-mailed to: n Farah gets new education center; [email protected] new commander Articles should be in MS Word format (Arial), photos should be at least 4.5cm 16 Waheed’s surgery and 300 dpi resolution. The ISAF Mir- ror is published monthly and aims to n Boy finally smiles after skin grafting be available by the first Friday of the month. n New medical center going up For more information, please call the 17 PRT school donations editor at 0799 511230. The electronic version of this magazine n Heat stress and you can be downloaded online at: www.nato.int/isaf 18 RC-East EDITORIAL STAFF n ISAF, Mehtar Lam PRT help flood Lieutenant Colonel Maria Carl Chief, Public Information victims Technical Sgt. James Fisher 19 Celebrating Now Ruz Editor n Volleyball tourney brings in new year Technical Sgt. Michael Voss Assistant Editor n Officials confer on Laghman projects Sgt. Ruud Mol 20 RC-North Photographer n Tornadoes come to Mazar-e Sharif n OMLT gets new commander Back 21 ANA leads MEDCAP cover n Soldiers go to remote area to help Afghans Villagers in Pol e Khomri. Photo by Sgt. Ruud 20 Compass points Mol n A new portrait for women in RO Forces 3 NATO and HQ ISAF COMISAF holds OP Achilles update: press roundtable 82nd Captures Taliban commander By Technical Sgt. Michael Voss By Sgt. Tony J. Spain es. The 82nd has played a key role in the ISAF Public Information Office U.S. NCE Public Affairs ongoing operation. International Security and Assist- ance Force Commander General Dan KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghani- “Our Paratroopers coordinated a con- McNeill held his first Afghan media en- stan -- At the request of the Islamic Re- voy and night air assault in the Ghorak public of Afghanistan’s government, sol- Valley of the Helmand Province,” said 1st gagement April 10. diers from NATO’s International Security Lieutenant Mathew Catalono. ISAF X Commander’s first media Assistance Force and the Afghan National “The main effort is actually the British; roundtable discussion gave the Afghan Security Forces launched a major opera- we are a supporting effort to help isolate people a face to go with the NATO vi- tion targeting Taliban and drug traffickers and prevent Taliban from escaping,” added sion for Afghanistan. in southern Afghanistan March 6. Along Captain Tom Reinner. He shared experiences of his visits with the RC-South commander’s promise, “This is the largest multi-national com- to the Provincial Reconstruction Teams “Operation Achilles” has been focused on bined ANSF and ISAF operation launched in the North. He described in detail the bringing stability to the region. to date and it signifies the beginning of beauty of the land and cooperation be- “Operations will focus on improving a planned offensive to bring security to tween the Government of Afghanistan security in areas where Taliban extremist, northern Helmand and set the conditions and ISAF. foreign terrorists and narco-traffickers are for meaningful development that will fun- McNeill detailed ISAF’s use of PRT’s trying to destabilize the government of damentally improve the quality of life for to assist the people rebuild the country Afghanistan,” said Major General Ton Van Afghans in the area,” said Van Loon. after decades of war have left much of Loon. Although Achilles’ focus is on improv- the infrastructure in shambles. “We also intend to empower village ing security conditions, its overreaching “There are currently 25 PRT’s in the elders to take charge of their communities purpose is to assist the government of Af- country,” said the 30 year veteran. “It is as they have been doing so in other parts ghanistan to begin reconstruction and eco- my suggestion to NATO that we have of southern Afghanistan, without the influ- nomic development in the area. one PRT in every province in Afghani- ence of Taliban extremists,” he said. “Strategically, our goal is to enable the stan.” The multi-national force operating in Afghan government to begin the Kajaki “We work hard so that our recon- the northern region of the Helmand prov- Project,” said Van Loon,. struction and security efforts go hand ince involves 5,500 soldiers, including 1,000 Van Loon noted the Kajaki multi-pur- and hand,” said the ISAF commander. soldiers from the Afghan National Security pose dam and power house will improve A prime example of this is the suc- Force and up to 1000 Paratroopers from the water supply for local communities, re- cess of the Kajaki Dam, added the the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. habilitate irrigation systems for farmlands, General. While many objectives have already as well as provide sufficient electrical power Using ISAF forces to secure the area been met, including driving the Taliban out for residents, industries and commerce. around the Dam provides engineers of many areas where they were had previ- On Wednesday, soldiers from the Af- the opportunity to examine mechani- sously attemtped to terrorize local residents ghan National Security Force captured a cal problems, install a new hydro-elec- and stage attacks on ANSF and ISAF Forc- high-ranking Taliban commander and sui- tric generator and up the plant’s electric cide bomb attack facilitator during the sec- production from five to 51 kilowatts. ond day of “Operation Achilles.” COMISAF then turned the forum “Operations will Mullah Mahmood, was arrested at an over to the more than 20 members of focus on improving ANSF check point as he tried to escape the local press. With confidence in the dressed in a burka, a veil worn by Islamic success of the ISAF mission he took in security in areas women here. each question, and fired back answers where Taliban “The capture of this senior Taliban and examples of how the ISAF and Af- ghanistan relationship are turning the extremists, foreign extremist is another indicator that a more normal life is returning to the Zahre and corner against the insurgents. terrorists and narco- Panjwaii districts, and is a testament to the “Just like I and the others who work traffickers are trying great work the ANA is achieving,” said Van at ISAF do our jobs for this country Loon. everyday, so must the people of Af- to destabilize the “Yesterday’s security crackdown in Pan- ghanistan,” he said. government of jwaii is an example of the ultimate goals of He left the journalists with a meta- “Operation Achilles.” With stability pro- phor of an ISAF solider with a shovel in Afghanistan.” vided by the ANA, much needed recon- one hand and an assault weapon in the --Major General Ton VanLoon struction will commence for the people of other: “Either will defeat the enemy,” he 9 southern Afghanistan,” he added. said. “Which would you prefer he uses? Sometimes, it may require both.” 4 ISAF MIRROR May 2007 News at press time NATO & HQ gan province for at least two years. It will NAC visits operate in direct support of ISAF ele- ISAF troops ments. Its role will be to enhance provincial security by disrupting Taliban extremists’ Afghanistan command and control and supply routes. foil ambush These forces will operate under an Austral- From staff reports ian commander working within the ISAF KANDAHAR – ISAF forces in Hel- framework. mand Province attacked and destroyed a NATO officials welcomed the new group of Taliban extremists April 18. The contribution, which underlines Australia’s band were attempting to setup an ambush continuing commitment to supporting the in the area to the North East of Sangin. Afghan government’s efforts to deliver a The attempted ambush involved more stable future for its people. than 20 insurgents supported by 4 vehicles. ISAF forces engaged the insurgents using a combination of troops, helicopters and US, NATO sign close air support. “Since the start of Operation Achil- les, ISAF and ANSF troops have engaged sign KAF memo Taliban extremist forces on more than 250 From staff reports occasions and these operations have been KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – The NAC officals arrive at Kabul successful in eroding the enemy’s ability to NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency International Airport April 16.