March 19, 2007 www.cfc-a.centcom.mil Black belt exam tests students’ skills - Pages 8-9 Page 2 Freedom Watch March 19, 2007 designed to briefly highlight current graphs with fans. topics General Moseley feels are The NFL is continuing this off-sea- important to America's Airmen. son its legacy of more than 40 years of "The issues on my scope are ones sending players overseas to visit that keep me up at night," said troops. This year's trip is a 12-day tour Moseley. "(These are) ones your senior of several bases in Iraq and leaders are working to make sure our Afghanistan. Airmen are the best organized, trained and equipped military force in the Navy Air Force world." Officials announce selections The Chief's Scope, available on Air to senior master sergeant Force Link's homepage, www.af.mil, will feature a consistently updated list- RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, ing of topics General Moseley wants Texas - Air Force officials have select- to highlight to Airmen. ed 1,282 master sergeants for promo- tion to senior master sergeant. The promotion list was released Army publicly at 9 a.m. CDT March 14, and the complete list is available on the Air Force Personnel Center web site. Photo by Navy Mass Communication The board, which convened here Specialist 2nd Class Adam R. Cole Dock landing ship USS Harpers Feb. 5 to 23, considered 14,626 master Ferry (LSD 49) is the backdrop sergeants, for an 8.77 percent select of a Japanese shrine honoring rate. Last year's selection rate was 8.63 service members lost in the percent. Battle of Iwo Jima. The average score for those select- ed was 663.89, with an average time in Sailors, Marines honor Iwo grade and time in service of 4.50 and Jima veterans in visit 20.53 years respectively. The average Photo by Army Spc. Laura M. Bigenho IWO JIMA, Japan - Sailors and Sgt. 1st Class James Deal, 3rd score was based on the following point Marines from Sasebo-based USS Infantry Regiment (The Old averages: Guard) chats with Kansas City Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) and embarked -- 134.99 for enlisted performance Chiefs' guard Will Shields. Okinawa-based 1st Marine Aircraft reports; Shields joined Alge Crumpler, Wing (MAW) got a rare chance to see -- 32.88 for time in grade; Shelton Quarles and Ben Watson firsthand the island of the historic -- 21.52 for time in service; on a 12-day trek through the World War II battle during a visit here -- 21.12 for decorations; Middle East, made possible by March 13-14. -- 65.42 for Air Force supervisory USO. They came here to provide direct examination; support for the 62nd Commemoration -- 387.97 for board score. NFL players visit Victory of the Battle of Iwo Jima. Score notices are available on the troops The commemoration was held to virtual military personnel flight, or CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Troops honor the veterans of both nations vMPF, and Air Force Portal. Those here packed the MWR facility com- and celebrate the unity that currently selected will be promoted to senior monly known as "Area 51" to meet exists between the United States and master sergeant beginning in April. some of their favorite NFL players Japan. About 20 veterans from each March 6. country and their family members What's on the Chief's Scope? Tight ends Alge Crumpler of the shared in what was a day of reverence- WASHINGTON - Air Force Chief Atlanta Falcons and Benjamin Watson minded speeches, wreath laying and a of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley of the New England Patriots, line- 21-gun salute. Unity of the nations launched a new Web feature March 14 backer Shelton Quarles of the Tampa was further displayed in the joint cere- to tell Airmen what is of special inter- Bay Buccaneers, and guard Will monial color guard and ceremonial est to them. Shields of the Kansas City Chiefs military band. Known as "The Chief's Scope," it is signed autographs and took photo- March 19, 2007 Freedom Watch Page 3 55 COVER 44 Republic of Korea marine Cpl. Ji-Sang Park, Korean Medical Group, breaks 10 boards with his head during the ROK marine demonstration exercise during the 2nd Tae Kwon Do Promotion Examination held at the Enduring Faith Chapel on Bagram Airfield March 13. (Photo by Photo by Senior Airman Andrea Wright Senior Airman Brian Stives) Senior Airman David Gipson, 451st Air Expeditionary Group Photo by Senior Airman Andrea Wright Contents Communications Squadron, Airman 1st Class Michelle Scott, punches down a telephone 73rd Expeditionary Air Control line in a 110 block, setting Squadron, monitors the "kill box" PAGE 2 up service for someone. in an operations module. Defense Digest Villagers in the PAGE 4 Khenj district Airmen of COMM go above and beyond help unload bags of ready- 1133 PAGE 5 to-mix cement. 73rd EACS helps keep an eye on the skies The cement was PAGE 6 used to repair a retaining wall Postal team links deployed Soldiers to home that protects a PAGE 7 mosque. Coalition forces make roads safer PAGE 8-9 Taekwondo shouts ring across Bagram Airfield PAGE 10 Photo by Air Force Capt. Chris White ANG director visits deployed ‘Citizen Soldiers’ PAGE 12 U.S. Army combat 82nd Airborne Division, ANA launch ‘Operation Achilles’ engineers from A in Southern Afghanistan Company, 27th Engineering Battalion, PAGE 13 20th Engineering Panjshir PRT turns best practice into Afghan favorite Brigade (Airborne) PAGE 14 devise a plan to keep an armored bulldozer Combat engineers rescue bulldozer in distress from falling off a cliff PAGE 15 into the Pech River in 1144 Eastern Afghanistan. ANA, Coalition plans course ahead Photo by Army Spc. Jon H. Arguello Freedom Watch is a weekly publication of Freedom Watch Staff Combined Joint Task Force-82. Commander - Air Force Maj. CJTF-82 Commander Maj. Gen. David M. Rodriguez John Bryan RC East Public Affairs Officer Lt. Col. David A. Accetta Superintendent - Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Richard Simonsen Freedom Watch, a Department of Defense publication, is published each NCOIC - Air Force Staff Sgt. Monday by the American Forces Network - Afghanistan Print Section at Matt Lichtenberg Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Printed circulation is 5,000 copies per week. Editor/Print Chief - Air Force Senior Airman In accordance with DoD Instruction 5120.4, this DoD newspaper is an Brian Stives authorized publication for members of the U.S. military overseas. Staff Writer - Air Force Senior Airman Contents of the Freedom Watch are not necessarily the official view of, or Andrea Wright endorsed by, the U.S. government or the Department of Defense. Deadline for submissions is 0730 Zulu each Friday. All submissions are subject to editing by the AFN-A Print Section, located in Bldg. 415, Room Visit the CJTF-82 website at 205, Bagram Airfield. We can be reached at DSN 318-231-3338. www.cfc-a.centcom.mil Page 4 Freedom Watch NEWS March 19, 2007 Airmen of COMM go above and beyond Story and photo By Senior Airman Andrea Wright American Forces Network - Afghanistan KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The Communications Airmen stationed at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, were originally assigned there to serve the 73rd Expeditionary Air Control Squadron by providing them with "data, voice, wireless and information management services" said Air Force Maj. Gordon Richards, 451st Air Expeditionary Group Communications flight com- mander. However, their area of responsibil- ity has expanded exponentially. Senior Airman David Gipson, 73rd Expeditionary Air Control Squadron "Our mission has grown beyond communications satellite maintainer, performs routine maintenance that considerably. We provide all of on a portable emergency maintenance notification system at the communications support for the Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Air Force personnel here on Kandahar Airfield," said Richards, a tions that are part of the 451st AEG," ing water getting into the lines, these Pittsburgh native. said Richards. Airmen have a lot to keep up on daily. Considering the U.S. Air Force only With all of their additional duties, a "The environment in this area is makes up four percent of the base typical day for one of the 18 commu- very, very hard on equipment," said populace, this may not seem like such nications Airman is between 14 and Richards. a big feat. But that 15 hours long. But A work order can be as simple as a four percent occu- they never lose two minute check on a circuit or pied by Airmen “Without the services sight of their pri- extend for a week or more at a time. makes up a huge mary mission. "By us taking that burden off the piece of the opera- we provide to the 73rd "Without the Army, we're able to provide a better tional pie on EACS they wouldn’t be services we pro- service to the Air Force personnel and Kandahar Airfield. able to deliver the air- vide to the 73rd the Army is able to divert its resources From Predators EACS they would- toward the Army personnel. So it's a and Desert Hawks borne assets to the war n't be able to nice balancing act," said Richards. to air control and fighter on the ground to deliver the air- Even though the mission is hectic combat search and borne assets to the and the work day is long, Richards and rescue, these com- support them.” war fighter on the his team of Airmen feel a great sense munications ground to support of accomplishment at the end of the Airmen have it - Air Force Maj. Gordon Richards them," said day. covered. 451st Air Expeditionary Group Richards.