Weekly Report, August 27, 2011

The following content summarizes a week’s worth of activity from Regional Command Southwest, commanded by Maj. Gen. John Toolan and covering Helmand and Nimroz Provinces, . The content was created by Marine Corps Combat Correspondents, Combat Camera and personnel with UK media operations under Task Force Helmand. Feel free to forward our stories to family, friends and loved ones supporting those who are deployed.

Featured Stories

Afghan forces find biggest ever haul of bomb-making chemical

Afghan forces, supported by British troops, have uncovered more than

four tonnes of illegal fertiliser, which is used by insurgents to make homemade explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). (more)

A UK Military Operations news article

‘No plan survives contact with the enemy:’ 2nd MAW (Fwd) adjusts, reacts to aviation demands of war in Afghanistan CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- Somewhere in the darkness, beyond the barbed wire and concrete walls of Camp Leatherneck an improvised explosive device detonates, killing one Marine and injuring another. (more)

By Cpl. Brian Adam Jones, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward)

Pushing through the shadow of the insurgency MARJAH DISTRICT, Afghanistan – “There are no [insurgents] here.” “He says they aren’t here.” The -speaking interpreter translates as he looks from an older man to Lance Cpl. Andrew Wurster, a squad

leader with 4th Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine

Regiment. (more)

Story by Cpl. James Clark, Regimental Combat Team 1

| Regional Command Southwest Roundup 1

RCT-5 sweeps through counter IED training CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Regimental Combat Team 5 Marines and sailors recently completed counter improvised explosive device training here, Aug. 21. (more)

By Staff Sgt. Andrew Miller, Regimental Combat team 5

Youth Shuras: Breaking the trend in Sangin

FORWARDING OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan - More than 85

children from around Sangin attended the Sangin Youth Outreach Shura held by Female Engagement Teams assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, at Forward Operating Base Jackson, Aug. 17. (more)

By Cpl. Benjamin Crilly, Regimental Combat Team 8

Marines train Afghan police to handle special tactics missions

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marine Corps instructors at the Joint

Sustainment Academy Southwest at Camp Leatherneck, , are in the process of training an elite group of Afghan Uniformed Police in a first-of-its-kind training program. (more) (multimedia)

By MC1 Gino Flores, Regional Command Southwest

Lone Star Battalion Marines, ANA escort governor CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, provided transportation for Daoud Mohammad, the Washir district governor, and soldiers from the 215th Corps, during shuras, or meetings, with local Afghans outside of Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Aug. 19. (more) (multimedia)

By Cpl. Katherine Keleher, Regional Command Southwest

| Regional Command Southwest Roundup 2

Muslim chaplain ministers at Camp Leatherneck during Ramadan CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The month of Ramadan is observed by Muslims all over the world as a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God and practice self-sacrifice. During this occasion, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours. (more) (video)

By Cpl. Bryan Nygaard, Regional Command Southwest

Coalition, Afghan leaders share iftar meal at Camp Leatherneck CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Senior Afghan provincial and military officials from Helmand and Nimroz provinces attended an iftar dinner hosted by Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, commanding general, Regional Command Southwest, to break their daily fast during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Aug. 20, at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province. (more)

By MC2 Jonathan Chandler, Regional Command Southwest

Faith sustains Afghan soldiers during Ramadan DISTRICT, Afghanistan — Without food, water or relief from 120-plus degree temperatures, an Afghan National Army soldier patrols with his Marine counterparts. He is observing Ramadan, a month-long Islamic holiday in which Muslims fast during daylight hours. (more) By Cpl. Colby Brown, Regimental Combat Team 1

Memorial honoring the fallen , Afghanistan — More than 100 Marines from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment gathered at Combat Outpost Rankel to honor the life of Cpl. Nicholas S. Ott during a memorial service here, Aug. 17. Ott made the ultimate sacrifice while supporting counterinsurgency operations here, Aug. 10. (more)

By Cpl. Colby Brown, Regimental Combat Team 1

| Regional Command Southwest Roundup 3

Aye aye, son: Marine outranks dad in Afghanistan CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Matthew R. Johnson spent his formative years following in his stepfather’s footsteps. But today as both Johnson and his stepfather serve in Afghanistan, the roles have been somewhat reversed. (more)

Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington, 2nd Marine Air Wing (Forward)

Iron Horses stampede insurgency COMBAT OUTPOST SHIR GHAZAY, Afghanistan - Waves of rounds fly back and forth between the two forces. Marines move in pairs and continue to suppress the enemy while insurgents answer back with harassing fire. (more) (video)

By Cpl. Marco Mancha, 2nd Marine Division

Division Marines run, row, cycle for wounded vets CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Day-shift workers in 2nd Marine Division’s (Forward) intelligence section wait until nightfall to squeeze in their cardio. They are tired from working all day, but they have committed to a goal of running hundreds of miles in a mere six months and aren’t going to get there by sleeping. (more)

nd By Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde, 2 Marine Division

Engineers enhance security along Route 606 HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – One of the most trafficked roads in the country, Route 606, consists of 218 kilometers of paved road and connects Farah, Herat and provinces, while winding its way into Iran. (more)

By Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego, 2nd Marine Logistics Group

| Regional Command Southwest Roundup 4

Mastiff protects engineer team from Helmand IED blast A group of soldiers whose task it is to clear routes in Helmand

province of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) recently emerged

from their Mastiff armoured vehicle unscathed when a device exploded underneath it. (more)

A UK Military Operations News Article

Afghan Police lead their first air assault in Helmand

The Afghan Uniform Police (AUP) have taken part in their first helicopter assault operation in Helmand province, alongside soldiers from 1st Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES). (more)

A UK Military Operations News Article

Improved Groin Armor Arrives on Front Lines CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Video describing the fielding of new groin protection pieces to Marine Corps units in Helmand province. (video)

By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Ross, Regional Command Southwest

For additional stories from RC(SW) visit:

Regional Command Southwest 2nd Marine Division RCT-1 RCT-8 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing 2nd Marine Logistics Group Task Force Helmand Task Force Helmand on Facebook Task Force Belleau Wood on Facebook FaceBook

| Regional Command Southwest Roundup 5