Thursday, December 8, 2011

Must See - Double Amputee Soldier Jumps with his Military Working Dog (+video)


noticed by Blackfive,
words by Brandon at kitup.military.com
video by 2004vmc from youtube

"Here’s a great working dog video with a guy that lost both his feet and is back at work.
“I am still rocking! For those who haven’t heard, I was blown up, with my MWD, Axe, Feb 17th of this year. I lost both of my feet, and was back to work in July. …”
If there’s any doubters out there about the bond between man’s best friend, this video is living proof.  Also, look how happy that dog is after the sky dive!
Enjoy-
Brandon"

Read more: http://kitup.military.com/2011/12/skydiving-military-working-dogs.html




Women to be allowed to serve on submarines

ID: DN-SC-94-01949 Service Depicted: Navy A po...Image via Wikipedia
Women are to be allowed to serve on submarines for the first time in the Royal Navy's history, the Secretary of State for Defence Philip Hammond announced today.
 
The decision comes following an 18-month review conducted by the Royal Navy looking at the legal, operational, health, social, technical and financial issues of allowing women to serve on submarines.
Women had previously been excluded from submariner roles due to concerns about higher levels of carbon dioxide in a submarine atmosphere being a risk to female health. But recent research by the Institute of Naval Medicine showed that these risks were unfounded and that there were no medical reasons for excluding women from service on submarines.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:
"I am pleased that women will now have the same opportunity to serve on board our submarines, carrying out vital tasks maintaining Britain's defences around the clock, across the world.
"The Royal Navy has always been at the forefront of innovation, and this decision represents another step in its distinguished tradition of recognising the contribution of its people and making the very best use of the talent from which it can recruit."
The first female submariners are expected to take up their posts towards the end of 2013. Initially this will be a small number of female officers - volunteers who will begin training next year for service on the Vanguard Class of Trident submarines. The first female ratings will be recruited and trained from 2014.

Women will also be able to serve on Astute Class submarines from 2016 when the necessary modifications to on-board accommodation have been made.
The Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery, said:
"Our primary objective in the Royal Navy is maintaining our operational effectiveness both now and in the future.
"This carefully considered decision will allow the Submarine Service to draw on the widest range of talent and skills of our people - those in service and those yet to join. It will therefore enable us to further consolidate our operational success, and it will give our women the same opportunities as men to enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career in the Submarine Service."
Currently, more than nine per cent of Royal Navy personnel are female, approximately 3,420. Women have been serving on board Royal Navy ships since 1990.

(c) MOD.UK

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Explosion targets district intelligence chief in Uruzgan

Thursday, December 08, 2011 –
According to local authorities in southern Afghanistan, at least 8 people were injured following a roadside bomb explosion in southern Uruzgan province.

The officials further added, the incident took place late Wednesday afternoon in Herawood district of southern Uruzgan province with an aim to target the district intelligence chief Ghulam Moeuddin.

According to security officials, the incident took place after explosives packed in a motorcycle went off in a market in this district.

District police chief for Herawood Gen Omer confirming the incident said, Ghulam Moeuddin and two of his bodyguards were injured following the incident.

In the meantime a spokesman for Uruzgan provincial police chief Farid Ayel said, at least five civilians were also injured during the incident.

No group including the Taliban militants have so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.

Taliban militants group frequently used improvised explosive device and roadside bombs to target Afghan and coalition forces.
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Dec. 08., 2011. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan — In Zurmat district, Paktiya province, a combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a drug cache during a patrol today.

The cache consisted of approximately 10,000 pounds (4545 kg) of hashish. All of the drugs were destroyed at the scene, and no civilians were harmed during the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

Today, a combined Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader in Chahar Darah district, Konduz province. The leader trains insurgents to construct and use roadside bombs in attacks. Additionally, he recruits suicide bombers and plans attacks throughout Chahar Darah district. The security force also detained multiple suspected insurgents during the operation.

In Nad ‘Ali district, Helmand province, a combined Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Taliban leader today. The leader directs a roadside bomb attack cell in Nad ‘Ali district and conducts attacks against coalition forces. He is also involved in multiple kidnappings in the area. The security force detained multiple suspected insurgents during the operation.

East

Today, A Haqqani facilitator was captured during an operation led by a combined Afghanand coalition security force in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province. The facilitator coordinated roadside bomb attacks against coalition forces and supplied Haqqani fighters for attacks in Pul-e ‘Alam district. One additional suspected insurgent was detained.

A combined Afghan and coalition security force captured a Haqqani leader during an operation in Bak district, Khost province, today. The leader conducted mortar, rocket, grenade and small-arms attacks in Bak district. The security force confiscated multiple weapons and detained four additional suspected insurgents during the operation.

A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a weapons cache while conducting a patrol in Khost district, Logar province, yesterday. The cache consisted of 10 82 mm rounds, two anti-personnel mines, one rocket-propelled grenade, 100 rounds of machine gun ammunition and one RPG motor. All of the items were destroyed and no civilians were harmed or property damaged during the operation.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Marines Patrol Base Georgetown attack (+video HD)

in this unclassified/released video by Lance Cpl. Jacob M. Lagoze show us the attack of the Marines Patrol Base Georgetown attack in Kajaki Sofla, Helmand, Afghanistan - on November 22, 2011.
1st Battalion 6th Marines Combat Camera

(First Battalion, 6th Marines is currently assigned to Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division (Forward)/Task Force Leatherneck. Task force Leatherneck serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Forces and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations.)

In the 5 hours fight the patrol base got a mortar hit....around 03:25
watch the video in 1080p HD version





Marines, taking highly accurate IDF at Patrol Base Georgetown in Kajaki Sofla, Afghanistan on November 22, 2011.

The Marines suppress the enemy with squad organic weapons, TOW missiles and .50 caliber machine guns. After 5 hours the Marines take casualties and get the wounded medevac'd.

(U.S. Marine Corps motion imagery by Lance Cpl. Jacob M. Lagoze / Released)

All I Want For Christmas - HMS OCEAN (+video)



British HMS OCean will return from deployment for Christmas...





After lots of time away last year (214 days) -- planned for 7 week deployment exercise with other nations

Diverted to Libya and further operations

Back 9 Dec after 7½ months away - 225 days with 176 at sea

400 people onboard (at peak during the amphibious exercises just under 900 onboard but approx 650 during Op Ellamy)
Steamed just over 40,000 miles
Burned approx 6,000 tonnes of fuel
Operated 16 different type of aircraft off the deck

Realities of deploying:

15 babies born while the ship has been away (fathers did get home to see mum and baby)
5 people were sent home so they didn't miss their own weddings.
1 sailor whose son's third birthday is on homecoming. Family meeting ship

Ships company have missed:

Summer holidays.
Children's exam results
Children finishing school and starting university
The Padre missed his daughter's graduation.

The ship's company made a Christmas DVD when they heard they would be home for Christmas.

Drawdown Through Kuwait (+video HD)

As Soldiers leave Iraq, they stop through Kuwait to process home.
Third Army ARCENTs Redistribution Property Assistance Team Yard on Camp Virginia is the first stop.
Here they hand over equipment, material and vehicles,
This is the largest logistical movement since WWII.
Third Army/ARCENT executes this mission and still maintains operations in Afghanistan as well as taking care of Soldiers along the way.



Package of soldiers leaving Iraq going through Kuwait to process home and how Third Army/ARCENTs Redistribution Property Assistance Team Yard gets that process started.
The 183rd Cavalry, 2nd Squadron, from Virginia Beach, Va., arrive at Camp Virginia, Kuwait to unload so they can go home. They were the last convoy to leave Victory Base Complex in Iraq.
Produced by Staff Sgt. Ashleigh Torres.
Includes soundbites from Sgt. 1st Class David Parthemore, LNO, RPAT Command Cell, Lt. Col. William Korsen, commander, 183rd Cavalry, 2nd Squadron, and Lt. Col. William Cain, commander, 541st CSSC Battalion.

watch in 720p HD

Iran Says Downed Drone Was Deep in Its Airspace

TEHRAN, Iran --
The unmanned U.S. spy plane was deep inside Iran's airspace, flying over an eastern town famous for Persian carpets and saffron when it was downed by Iranian armed forces, state radio reported Wednesday.

The report said the stealth-version of the RQ-170 drone was detected by Iranian forces over the eastern town of Kashmar, some 140 miles (225 kilometers) from the border with Afghanistan.

"The U.S. smart plane was captured by Iranian anti-aircraft units somewhere in the sky over Kashmar in the east of the country," the radio said. It did not speculate as to why the drone flew over the town, which lies in an agricultural area known for the production of saffron and Persian carpets.

The radio added that Iran will "soon" broadcast video footage of the downed drone.

Iran first reported the downing on Sunday but did not say when the incident happened. At the time, the official IRNA news agency said Iran's armed forces had shot it down -- a claim later rejected by U.S. officials who said the drone crashed over the weekend but that there was no indication it had been shot down.

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Bonn conference conclusions

Conference Conclusions: International Conference on Afghanistan, December 2011

Published December 5, 2011
These conclusions were presented after the International Conference on Afghanistan held in Bonn, Germany on December 5, 2011.

Afghanistan and the International Community: From Transition to the Transformation Decade

CONFERENCE CONCLUSIONS

1. We, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the International Community, met today in Bonn to mark the 10th anniversary of the 2001 Bonn Conference, which laid the foundation of the ongoing partnership between Afghanistan and the International Community, and to renew our mutual commitment to a stable, democratic and prosperous future for the Afghan people. We honour all those, from Afghanistan and abroad, who have lost their lives for this noble cause. Afghanistan expressed its sincere gratitude for the steadfast commitment, solidarity and the immense sacrifices of its international partners.

2. Afghanistan and the International Community expressed deep appreciation to the Federal Republic of Germany for hosting this Conference. Germany is a longstanding friend of Afghanistan and, in particular over the past ten years, alongside other members of the International Community, has been a steadfast partner in Afghanistan's stabilization and development.

3. Ten years ago today at the Petersberg, Afghanistan charted a new path towards a sovereign, peaceful, prosperous and democratic future, and the International Community accepted the responsibility to help Afghanistan along that path. Together we have achieved substantial progress over these ten years, more than in any other period in Afghanistan's history. Never before have the Afghan people, and especially Afghan women, enjoyed comparable access to services, including education and health, or seen greater development of infrastructure across the country. Al Qaida has been disrupted, and Afghanistan's national security institutions are increasingly able to assume responsibility for a secure and independent Afghanistan.

...

 Read the full article here: http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/conference-conclusions-international-conference-afghanistan-december-2011/p26689

Soldiers Conduct 36 Hour Patrol (+video HD)

Soldiers from 1st Platoon, Delta Company, 2-2 Infantry, conducted a 36-hour patrol in villages in Khudza'i Province, Marmurwal, Andar District and Ghazni Province. Coalition forces often use patrols to secure villages and in some cases, entire districts.

In this report, Petty Officer Erick Holmes takes us on a unique patrol that pushed a group of soldiers to the limit. Sound bites from 1st Lt. Louis Christ, Platoon Leader, Delta Company, 2-2 Infantry. Hometown; Eldora, N.J. Courtesy Video

watch in HD (720p, 1080p)

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