Tag Archives: Kandahar

Photo of the Day – More Flooding

We’ve been busy moving sites for where we stage vehicles and coordinate transportation of supplies. While Kandahar Airfield is a big place, it’s also packed with troops, civilians, and contractors. It almost appears as if there was no big picture plan over the years as the base grew. Buildings and units are scattered in ways that seem haphazard and random. Roads don’t seem to be efficiently laid out.

So, when someone is told to move, the logistics involved are immense. The sparse land that is available is available for a reason. Today, I visited the area that we’re supposed to be moving to. This is the area where we’re supposed to stage our supplies, vehicles, personnel and equipment awaiting a convoy back to the Pakistan border.


In this photo, the water is about up to my knees. This was taken today, four days after the flooding. In most places the water was only up to about halfway to my shins. I know some people would say that water coming up to my knees would only come up to a normal person’s ankles. Ha! I beat you to the joke.

Here’s a photo of a vehicle in another area of the yard – not where we would stage.

The water line is nearly up to the rooftops of these HMMWVs. Crazy stuff as we head into the Afghan rainy season.

All photos are mine.

Photo of the Day – Ramp Ceremonies

I’m not sure when I’ll get over missing Brian’s ramp ceremony. I get daily emails from COMKAF about lowering and raising flags as fallen troops transit Kandahar Airfield en route to their final resting place. It’s sad and highlights the danger in being over here.

The United States does not allow photographs or media coverage of the dignified transfers – ramp ceremonies – that see our fallen comrades off. In some ways, I understand the reasoning behind this. However, I also see how it would show Americans the dignity and care that we take in handling our fallen brethren.

I’m not sure that the Canadians have the same restrictions, which would explain this series of photos from SRA Katie Justen.


A cadre of Canadian service members carry the transfer case of Master Cpl. Byron Greff, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, to a C-130 on Bagram Air Field during a ramp ceremony. Greff was killed in an Oct. 29 Taliban attack when a vehicle packed with explosives rammed into the armored passenger Rhino Greff was traveling in. Greff served as a NATO Training Mission advisor and instructor, developing trainers to educate Afghan Army service members. Approximately 920 Canadian forces personnel serve in advisory and support roles at training camps and headquarters locations primarily in the Kabul area. Smaller contingents serve at training institutions in Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan and in Herat in western Afghanistan. The mission’s mandate extends to March 2014.


The transfer case carrying the remains of Master Cpl. Byron Greff, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, rests in the cargo hold of a C-130 on Bagram Air Field as a Canadian bagpipe player bows his head in prayer during a ramp ceremony.

Photo of the Day – Fist Bumps

Like I’ve said many times, I think the world – especially the Islamic World – needs to see more of these photos of how our Soldiers interact with the indigenous population, especially the kids. You can tell a lot about a people by how they treat their children. You can more about how they treat other people’s children. This photo by SRA Sean Martin is another of those great photos where a picture speaks a thousands words.


U.S. Army Spc. Jeffrey Brelsford, Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team security force infantryman from Silverside, R.I., plays a game with local children in a village during a dismounted patrol through Route Red Dog. The Kandahar PRT SECFOR provided security for the PRT engineers during a quality assurance, quality control assessment of the road. The Kandahar PRT works closely with battle space owners and DSTs throughout the province to improve governance, security and infrastructure capacity for Afghan citizens.

Photo of the Day – Like Husband, Like Wife

Just minutes after his promotion, Staff Sgt. Andre Footman, personnel clerk with Task Force Resolute, 7th Sustainment Brigade, pins his wife, Spc. Britney Footman, supply sergeant with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, TF-Resolute, with sergeant stripes during a promotion ceremony at the TF-Resolute compound on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

Photo of the Day – My Dad Can Beat Up His Dad

I used to have these thoughts as a kid how cool it would be to serve with my dad when I grew up. After graduating from high school, I started the process of joining the military. However, I was making really good money back then and, to be honest, wasn’t really ready for the military – whatever that means! So, I waited a few years and joined the Army a couple of years later.

It’s pretty rare to stationed with any family member you’re not married, especially a father and son. I just this picture was cool. I saw LtCdr Sullivan at the aiport (though I didn’t take this photo) today.


Mocking their rivalry, Navy Cdr. Carl Sullivan gets ready to duke it out with this son, Army Capt. Lynn Sullivan, at Kandahar Airfield. The two Ephraim, Utah, natives are deployed together in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and have a long-standing rivalry between services, colleges and professional football teams. Carl, an information operations planner, is a graduate of Brigham Young University and a Denver Broncos fan, while Lynn, a Kiowa pilot, is a Utah Valley University graduate who loves the Oakland Raiders. Photo by Staff Sgt. Lindsey Kibler.

Photo of the Day – Dude, Where’s My Congressman

Gonna have to ask my congressman why he hasn’t been over here… Maybe too many ignorant people with ignorant complaints.


Maj. Gen. James L. Huggins, 82nd Airborne Division and Regional Command South commander, and congressmen Tim Walz (D-MN), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Dan Benishek (R-MI), Jeff Denham (R-CA), and Phil Roe (R-TN) pose with Soldiers and Sailors before a constituents dinner at Kandahar Airfield Oct. 9. The congressmen came to RC-South as part of a congressional delegation, focusing on the developments being made regarding ele ctronic health records, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) protocols and behavioral health initiatives. (Photo/U.S. Army Spc. Amanda M. Hils)

Photo of the Day – Tender Heart

Kids have a way of bringing out the humanity in a war’s fighters. They center us and remind us that our decisions can affect completely innocent children. I always love seeing smiles on the faces of these Afghan children.


Spc. Jody Hyde, a military policeman with 58th Military Police Company, attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, befriends a young Afghan boy during a community circulation patrol. Soldiers from 58th MP Company and their Afghan Uniformed Police partners from Police Sub Station 16 went out into their community to connect with the people.

Photo of the Day – What Is That?

For many Afghans, they’ve never seen an American Soldier up close. Obviously, the many things we wear while on patrol invite questions and curiosity from the local populace. And no slice of society is more inquisitive than a nation’s youth.


Cpl. Justin McDonald, a military policeman with 58th Military Police Company, attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, allows young Afghan children to get a look at his gear. McDonald and his fellow MPs, along with their Afghan Uniformed Police partners from Police Sub Station 16, went out into the community to connect with the people. I hope he’s paying close attention or he’ll find that some of those curious attachments may be missing when the kids are gone! ;)

Photo of the Day – Toys

Over the next few days, I’m going to present a few photos taken by SPC April York of interactions between the Afghan people and our troops. I think it’s important to see these interaction. Remember these links when you here from people who say that our troops are “terrorizing women and children in the dark of night” or similar ignorant statements.

The fact is that our troops care about making Afghanistan a better place. The kids are innocent in all this and it’s important that young adults and children understand that WE are not the threat.


Pfc. Jessica Dostie, a military policewoman with 58th Military Police Company, attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, hands a toy ring to a young Afghan girl. Dostie and her fellow MPs, along with their Afghan Uniformed Police partners from Police Sub Station 16, were in the community of to reach out to the people.

Photo of the Day – Afghan SWAT

Even Afghanistan needs a SWAT. In this photo by SFC Stephanie Carl, a member of the 2nd Afghan National Civil Order Police SWAT team clears a row of grape vines during a patrol Sept. 4. The presence patrols give units an opportunity to interact with the local population and build a rapport with the people, while it also gives the ANCOP an opportunity to practice some of their basic operational techniques. The SWAT team, which is partnered with Task Force Thunder’s Kandahar Pathfinder detachment, is considered to be one of the most elite of the Afghan Security Forces. Its members receive special weapons and tactics training that allows them to plan and participate in more complex or specialized missions.