Duke Dispatch Vol. 8 Blackfoot, aka Butcher Troop, squad leader proud to serve TF Duke assumes command February 2011 Duke Dispatch February 2011 Photos from operations of the 3rd Brigade Com- bat Team, 1st Infantry Division’s first month of TableOf deployment. Top Left: Photo by U.S. Army Spc. Tobey White Top Right: Photo by U.S. Army Spc. Tobey White, Middle Left: U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Matthew Lohr, Bottom Left: U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Matthew Lohr Middle Right: Contents U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ben Navratil Bottom Right: U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Barry Loo 3 Commander’s Corner 4 Voice of the CSM 5 Chaplain’s word 6 Tandan Village visit 7 TF Duke assumes command 9 Indiana Soldiers help village Staff Editor-in-chief: Contributors: 11 Warrior’s Profile Maj. Travis Dettmer Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Kretz Master Sgt. David Burgoon U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. 13 Columns Managing Editor: Barry Loo Staff Sgt. Ben Navratil U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Matthew Lohr Staff Writers and Pho- tographers Layout and Design: Staff Sgt. John Zumer Spc. Tobey White Spc. Tobey White Staff Sgt. Andrew Guffey Inspiration: Staff Sgt. Alires Price The Duke Family Looking for the Duke Brigade? Find us @ http://www.knox.army.mil/forscom/3ibct/ http://www.facebook.com/3rdBrigade1stInfantryDivison Cover photo- U.S. Army Pfc. Zachary Kampmann, an infantryman with 3rd Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, from Union, Mo., provides https://twitter.com/3rdBCT1ID security on the landing zone as the members of the Department of Women Affairs who participated in the women’s shura at Jaji Maidan, Afghanistan on Feb., 10, board a CH-47 Chinook. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Guffey, 210th MPAD) http://www.youtube.com/user/TFDukePAO/ Page 2 Duke Dispatch February 2011 Commander’s Corner Voice of the CSM By CSM Drew Pumarejo By Col. Chris Toner gains in the governance and prosperity of TF Duke professional development, there’s the even TF Duke the Afghan people and we are doing our t’s certainly been an eventful month, more important responsibilities our Duke ur Duke Brigade is firmly estab- part to continue these successes, tenuous as hasn’t it? From saying goodbye to our Brigade is entrusted with. Namely, we will lished now in eastern Afghanistan they are. Iloved ones at Fort Knox, to traveling al- be helping the Afghan people see there is an Oafter several busy weeks of inter- Uniting the people of our area against most halfway around the world to Afghani- alternative to the lawlessness and hopeless- national travel, on the job training with our oppressive, anti-Afghan government entities stan, our Duke Brigade has seen its stamina ness that defines our enemies. Pretty impor- counterparts from the 101st Airborne Divi- like the Taliban is no small task. Approxi- and mettle tested. Now that we’re safely on tant stuff when you stop and think about it. sion, the Afghan National Security Forces, mately 1.7 million people, predominately the ground in challenging conditions, and We literally have the power at our disposal, and the assumption of operational control of the Pashtun variety, occupy the nearly official owners of the responsibilities once through the sum of our collective actions, of coalition forces in Khowst and Paktya 12,000 square kilometers of AO Duke. held by Task Force Rakkasan of the 101st to help our Afghan partners improve their Provinces, as well as a portion of Ghazni For comparison sake, this is almost the in AO Duke is very mountainous which, Airborne Divison, it’s time for the rubber to lives through improved security, greater deployment, I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Province. Our mission here is crucial to the size of Connecticut in land area. Our coupled with lack of infrastructure, isolates hit the road. education and improved infrastructure Days will seem long. Nights may seem even larger international effort in Afghanistan to AO also shares roughly 230 kilometers of the majority of tribes from any formal I’d like to take a few moments in this that promote better health and economic longer. There is even the likelihood of being secure a prosperous future for the Afghan border with Pakistan, which adds a layer of government system. Effective governance month’s article to emphasize some key opportunities. It won’t be easy. Few things put in harm’s way on missions that take the people. I’d like to share a few thoughts this complication when conducting operations. across the AO in turn becomes difficult, points I believe in life worth fight to the enemy. This is the big leagues, month about key characteristics of our This border, drawn over a century ago by providing opportunities for groups like the will not only make accomplishing and now is the time to come together as operational area, an area we refer to as AO the British, separated Afghanistan from Taliban to influence the people in these our deployment I’m not going to sugarcoat it. ever are. The a team with those troops on your left and Duke, and how improving and understand- what was then considered British India, and areas, often with brutal intimidation. This more productive Days will seem long. Nights may Afghan people right. The time may come when you need to ing those factors will make all the difference effectively cut through Pashtun tribal areas, difficult terrain is also found along the and rewarding, but seem longer. have known little rely on your battle buddy for your life, so do in the success of our mission. often placing family members in two differ- also more enjoy- “ but warfare and your part now to make sure unity and cohe- Pakistan border and offers many infiltration Khowst, Paktya, and Ghazni Provinces ent countries. Needless to say, the people routes, permitting insurgents safe passage able. Hopefully -CSM Drew Pumarejo brutality over sion in your unit is where it needs to be. have long and rich histories influenced by situated along both sides of this line largely into Afghanistan where they can influence they’ll even help the last 30 years. I wrote an article several months back oppressive and brutal forces. The Soviet oc- consider the border irrelevant, and travel these isolated population centers and con- time pass a little quicker for all of us. I want They’ve” lived through the Soviet occupation about how our time at the National Train- cupation of the 1980s is well-documented, between Afghanistan and Pakistan without duct attacks against the people, government to get back to my Family in the states as of the 1980s only to endure the authoritari- ing Center would provide many valuable with the Red Army fighting and losing to trepidation. I already mentioned the Pash- officials, ANSF, and the coalition. much as the next person, maybe even more. anism of the Taliban. Meaningful and last- lessons for the deployment we now find a spirited resistance movement. Once the tuns are the dominant ethnic group in the Despite these challenges, I can tell you First things first, however, and now that ing change won’t happen for the Afghans ourselves on. Naturally, I believe that what Soviets left, internal strife helped bring the area. What I didn’t mention was there are at we’re off to a great start. The Dukes were we’re here it’s important to fulfill the mis- overnight. But realize our efforts are making I said then still holds true, especially when Taliban into power, and it took the inter- least 12 major tribes, with an estimated 100 well-prepared before arriving and it shows. sion and duties we’re entrusted with. a tremendous difference, and all of us are it comes to the many ways technology now national community responding to 9/11 to sub-tribes, making for a complex, fractured We are successfully striking the delicate bal- What’s at stake on this deployment? ready for this difficult yet rewarding task. can help ease the burden of separation topple the Taliban. The last ten years have tribal structure in AO Duke. ance between partnership with our Afghan Well, in addition to our own personal and As far as what to expect on our year-long from our friends and loved ones back home. seen a tough fight to secure and perpetuate To add to the complication, the terrain brothers, and conducting combat operations Our primary mission here is to assist the when necessary to counter the objectives of Afghans in counter-insurgency operations Afghanistan’s enemies. The ANSF is step- and facilitating the effectiveness of the le- ping up and leading operations, with Dukes gitimate government to effectively serve the by their side, advising, assisting, and fight- people in our AO, but I recognize there will ing. I am constantly meeting with govern- be some down time. Whether you like to ment officials and ANSF leaders during my e-mail friends, establish a video connection battlefield circulation who have enthusiasti- with your loved ones via Skype, or sim- cally embraced us in this joint effort. ply phone home, take advantage of these Lasting success in Khowst, Paktya, and outlets when your duties allow. We all need Ghanzi Provinces, and ultimately Afghani- a morale boost from our Families when stan will come down to a couple issues, possible, and that interaction with the home none of which are surprising. They are front can make the year here pass more universal ones, and no more complex than quickly.