From the Ranks: 123109
December 31st, 2009 | From the Ranks | Posted by M. Scott Mahaskey
Marines use shovels to attempt to dig out a Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected vehicle in the rain Dec. 19 after it sunk into the soft mud flats near Observation Post "ManBearPig." The MRAP was freed with the help of a recovery vehicle. Marines say thick, deep mud like this is typical in the arid farming area in northwestern Nawa district. (Photo by Sgt. Brian Tuthill/ DoD)
From the Ranks: 123009
December 30th, 2009 | From the Ranks | Posted by M. Scott Mahaskey
Capt. Mike Hobson performs preflight checks in the cockpit of an A-10 Thunderbolt II before taxiing out to the runway for take-off Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 24, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor)
Split Barrel
December 13th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Colin Kelly
No, Wile E. Coyote was not involved in the making of this image, nor was Photoshop. A contestant in the first USASOC Sniper competition held last week at Fort Bragg had some sort of mechanical malfunction and shortly after he pulled the trigger to shoot, his barrel split right down the middle. No one knows for sure why the barrel split like it did but I was told that the Armorer is looking into it.
The Dahla Dam
December 9th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
The Dahla Dam on the Argandab River, which was built with help from the West in the 50′s, feeds a long network of canals, irrigating the former breadbasket of the country. Eighty percent of Kandahar’s population near some aspect of this system – and after years of war, the irrigation system works a significantly reduced capacity. ISAF officials say it will be at least five years until the dam and waterways are working fully again.
Undercover Work
December 7th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
A dog sleeps in a soldier’s cot after he left during the night for a patrol. A brief note about dogs – although command may often try to clamp down on having said mascots on bases, many soldiers sing the praises of having one around. Aside from morale issues, I have heard several accounts from various troops who say that their untrained, locally found dogs have found IEDs, arms caches, and warned them about Afghan ambushes while on patrol.
A Fine Cookie Mist
December 5th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Soldiers clutch a newly arrived mail shipment as a helicopter takes off for its return leg to Kandahar airfield. Those cookies mom sent? That’s why they ended up like that.
Nomad Camp, Argandab
December 4th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
A Kuchi herder – Pashto nomads – tends to his flock of sheep outside of Rajan Kala, near the Argandab valley, during the closing night of Eid Al-Adha, the Muslim holiday that marks Abraham’s sacrifice – and ends up being a kind of Thanksgiving feast.
Tell Her About The Coffee
December 3rd, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Staff Sgt. Jason Hughes, Squad Leader, 1st Platoon, Charlie Co., 1-17 Infantry, writes a letter home to his grandmother at the Baba Saheb district center in Kandahar. He often takes up to three days to write a letter, taking his time to figure out what he wants to say.
I’d suggest he could let her know that the unit has the finest coffee I’ve ever had in the military, made with a truly mind-boggling piece of equipment, too. Can you tell these guys are based near Seattle?
New FOB #2
December 2nd, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
After scouting some new desolate hills about 1000 yards away from the last compound, Staff Sgt. Matthew Sanders, Charlie Co., 1-17 Infantry, takes in his newly assigned patrol base, an empty hilltop outside of town. Who needed walls or buildings anyway for the winter? C-wire is just as good.
That Was Fast, Yet Again
December 1st, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
So that new FOB that 4th platoon just secured, and built up guard defenses, a proper bathroom with a door (minus some walls), dug up an entrance path for the Strykers, and whatnot for two days? Four hours after he visits the FOB with no official name, the battalion commander decides the site is no good and tells the men they have to move. Back to work, but in reverse… Looks like we’ll get no walls now, either – moving out to some field or hill, it seems.