GUARDING AFGHAN DRIVERS

Credit:  Wisconsin National Guard

 
FROM: WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD NEWS: Wisconsin Guard Soldiers protect Afghan drivers

Date: August 31, 2012
By Sgt. Gregory Williams
3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

Afghanistan -The lives of soldiers and host nation truck drivers are intertwined every day as they hit the road together.

The drivers depend on the Soldiers for security and the Soldiers depend on the HNTs to get cargo from point a to point b.

Both play an integral part of the mission of Joint Sustainment Command - Afghanistan, which is to oversee the sustainment operations and other functions in Afghanistan.

The 1157th Transportation Company provided security for 25 host national truck drivers out of Jalalabad Airfield during a recent convoy mission.

Sgt. Michelle L. Meuer, a truck commander with the 1157th TC, said no mission is guaranteed to go smoothly for Soldiers of the Wisconsin National Guard unit and getting everyone to the base in one piece is always the focus of every mission.

With cars speeding by the convoy, gunners used laser escalation force system to signal drivers to slow down in order to avoid any unnecessary accidents.

Providing security does not just mean looking out for enemy fire and dealing with drivers, it also involves providing mechanical assistance, water and food to drivers as well.

"We have to make sure the HNTs and loads get to base safely so we try to provide basic life support to the drivers," Meuer said. "If you're nice to them the drivers will drive better, which helps us out."

Unfortunately for the 1157th TC, just when things were going as planned something happened disrupting the convoys movement. One of the vehicles broke down on the road causing the convoy to stop with oncoming traffic on one side and a cliff on the other.

"We inspect vehicles before we start each convoy to try to mitigate the risks, but you never know," said Sgt. 1st Class Jason R. Mattke, a convoy commander with the 1157th TC. "With the risks of attacks and unplanned incidents, we're responsible for the HNTs and it's all about getting them from point a to point b.

"Throughout all of this, you have to make sure you're communicating everything to the soldiers."

Over the course of two hours, radio communication intensified between the three truck elements making sure that each vehicle had eyes on their designated HNT vehicles.

Meuer said if a vehicle breaks down, it's not uncommon for Afghan drivers to leave their vehicles to talk to one another or even converse with Soldiers on the while waiting.

"They ask for cigarettes if we ever come to a halt and we'll chat with them for a while," Meuer said. "But when it's time to roll, we'll shine their trucks with a spotlight to make sure they know we're ready to go."

As the vehicle is fixed and the convoy starts to roll again, the 1157th TC has taken care of every situation that has come up.

The truckers finally pulled up to an entry control point after a nine-hour journey, which usually takes the drivers three hours to complete on a good day.

The Soldiers have once again successfully escorted another group of HNTs, but their mission will continue until all U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan end.

"The other day I read an article called "Afghanistan: The Forgotten War" and it made me mad because we're out here every day," Meuer said. "I hope people realize that soldiers are still busting their butts and that a majority of the Afghans do appreciate what we do for them."

ROTATION OF PEACEKEEPERS IN KOSOVO

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Army Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Carter from the South Carolina Army National Guard's 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade shakes hands with a role-playing police chief near a simulated protest during a Kosovo Force training exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Aug. 24, 2012. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael Sharp
Kosovo Force Rotation Prepares for Peacekeeping Mission

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2012 - As the next rotation to serve in the NATO Kosovo Force completes its final training, its members are looking beyond the warfighter skills they've refined during combat deployments to focus on the distinctly different challenges of peacekeeping.

It will be a profound departure," Army Lt. Col. Rob Stilwell, chief of staff of the South Carolina Army National Guard's 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, said in comparing the upcoming, 10-month mission to his unit's deployment to Afghanistan in 2007.

"In a peacekeeping operation, we really have to recognize that there is no enemy, and that we have to be focused on a much broader spectrum of issues than we did in Iraq or Afghanistan," he told American Forces Press Service during the mission rehearsal exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany.

Stilwell is preparing to serve as chief of staff for KFOR's Multinational Battle Group-East, an element currently led by the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

The deploying unit, to be commanded by Army Col. Blake Storey, includes National Guard members from South Carolina and eight other states, as well as members of the Army Reserve and troops from several other nations.

As part of KFOR, they will serve alongside another multinational battle group and five joint regional detachments to help set conditions for a stable, democratic, multiethnic and peaceful Kosovo.

KFOR entered Kosovo in June 1999 in support of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244. The Balkans at that time were in turmoil, facing the biggest military and humanitarian crisis since World War II.

A mounting conflict between the Serb-dominated military of the Federal Yugoslav Republic and the ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army demanding independence from Belgrade had claimed some 10,000 lives and sparked the exodus of almost 1 million Albanian refugees.

At the height of the KFOR mission, 39 nations were contributing about 50,000 troops. Today, the NATO-led mission continues, supported by about 6,240 peacekeepers from 30 nations. The upcoming deployment represents the 16th for KFOR.

As Stilwell and his fellow soldiers are learning, peace support operations are vastly different than the combat missions many of them have conducted in the past.

"We train as warfighters, but in this instance, we really are not in the business of warfighting," Stilwell said. "So we can't necessarily address the issues that arise in the same manner that we would in a kinetic fight. Our enablers aren't necessarily guns and ammo. Our enablers are our ability to form relationships and having meaningful discussions and negotiations to inform and influence the population of Kosovo."

The unit mobilized three months ago to train for the mission -- first at their home station at Fort Jackson, S.C., then at Camp Atterbury, Ind., then at Hohenfels for an intensive final mission rehearsal exercise to wrap up this weekend.

When the first elements of the KFOR-16 rotation begin deploying to Kosovo next week, Army Lt. Col. Eric McFadden is committed to ensuring they arrive ready to take on whatever awaits them.

"The goal here is to replicate the challenges they might face, and in some cases, accelerate those challenges," said McFadden, senior trainer for JMRC's "Raptor" team, during a break from the training.

He and his observer-controller-trainers monitor the situation in Kosovo and travel there regularly to meet with KFOR leaders and get firsthand assessments of conditions on the ground. That, McFadden explained, helps them make the training they provide as realistic and valuable as possible.

For example, when Serb demonstrators attacked NATO peacekeepers who removed roadblocks that had shut off a main road in northern Kosovo last November, JMRC introduced a similar training scenario within days.

The current training scenarios reflect escalating tensions north of the Ebar River and ongoing challenges to the newly independent Kosovo state. "We have incorporated all those aspects into the operating environment here," McFadden said.

The scenarios typically unfold in realistic-looking Balkan mock villages with role players depicting agitated local citizens. A protest or riot may erupt, and a barrier or barricade will appear, preventing freedom of movement by not only the KFOR, but also the local people.

KFOR will be tasked to restore freedom of movement and ultimately, calm.

"They have to figure out the best way to do that," McFadden said. "The goal is to do that from a nonlethal perspective. The primary means is through negotiations."

Much of the training focuses on crowd-control techniques and negotiation and problem-solving skills required to engage with key leaders to deescalate tensions, he explained.

During their after-action reviews, McFadden and his team regularly emphasize the importance of perceptions -- by the Kosovars and the media. "One of the most significant challenges [KFOR troops] face are the potential implications of tactical actions with strategic impact that is virtually real time," he said.

Demeanor means a lot going into an operating environment, he tells them. "If you go in heavy and strong and look like you are looking for a fight, there will be a fight," he said. And a seemingly minor misstep can have unintended second and third-order consequences that could turn public opinion against KFOR.

By using cameras and audio during the training, the Raptor team helps the deploying teams understand exactly how they come across when they respond to the exercise scenarios.

"We have to think a lot harder about what we do and say, because the effects are much more subtle, but no less profound," Stilwell said.

He called the JMRC training "invaluable" in challenging him and his fellow soldiers to focus on the important nuances associated with peace operations.

"The heavy hand is not the best way to deal with every set of circumstances," he said. "So this has been a very, very good resource, here at Hohenfels, to help all of the soldiers, from E-1 to O-6, recognize that this is a very different ballgame."

It's a mission he said they're honored to take on.

"Personally and professionally, we are looking forward to another challenge," in a different part of the world, Stilwell said. "It is another opportunity to hone our skills in something other than what we have become accustomed to over the years."

WI NATIONAL GUARD E-MAIL WARNS OF DANGEROUS HEAT WAVE

Graphic:  lcb.  
FROM:  WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS
June 27, 2012
  Dangerous heat expected this week
(MADISON) – People are encouraged to take extra precautions this week as hot temperatures and high humidity are causing dangerous conditions in parts of the state.

Last summer, five people died and more than 100 people received medical treatment due to extreme heat in Wisconsin. Most of the victims did not have air conditioning. The combination of the warm temperatures and high humidity caused the heat index to rise to over 100 degrees.
To help keep cool, here are some tips to keep safe during hot weather:

Never leave children, disabled persons, or pets in a parked car – even briefly. Temperatures in a car can become life threatening within minutes. On an 80-degree day with sunshine, the temperature inside a car even with the windows cracked slightly can rise 20 to 30 degrees above the outside temperature in 10 to 20 minutes! There have been cases when the inside temperature rose 40 degrees!

Keep your living space cool. Cover windows to keep the sun from shining in. If you don’t have an air-conditioner open windows to let air circulate. When it’s hotter than 95 degrees use fans to blow hot air out of the window rather than to blow hot air on your body. Basements or ground floors are often cooler than upper floors.

 Cooling Shelters or Locations.   If you don't have air conditioning, consider going to a shopping center or library. Several communities have also opened up cooling shelters or centers.   For locations, visit the ReadyWisconsin website at: http://readywisconsin.wi.gov or contact your local public health department or emergency management office.

Look in on your neighbors and family members who may have challenges getting to a cooling center and see how you can help.

Slow down and limit physical activity. Plan outings or exertion for the early morning or after dark when temperatures are cooler.

Drink plenty of water and eat lightly. Don’t wait for thirst, but instead drink plenty of water throughout the day. Avoid alcohol or caffeine and stay away from hot, heavy meals.

Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Add a hat or umbrella to keep your head cool…and don’t forget sunscreen!

Don’t stop taking medication unless your doctor says you should. Take extra care to stay cool and ask your doctor or pharmacist for any special heat advice.
Infants should drink breast milk or formula to get the right balance of water, salts and energy. You may supplement your infant’s fluids with an additional 4 to 8 ounces of water per day, but don’t dilute formula beyond what the instructions say (unless instructed by your doctor).
 Taking a cool shower or bath will cool you down. A shower or bath will actually work faster than anair-conditioner. Applying cold wet rags to the neck, head and limbs also cools down the body quickly.
 Call 211 if you or others you know need information about local community and government resources.
 People at higher risk of a heat-related illness include:
Older adults and Infants and young children
People with chronic heart or lung problems
People with disabilities
Overweight persons
Those who work outdoors or in hot settings
Users of some medications, especially those taken for mental disorders, movement disorder, allergies, depression, and heart or circulatory problems
People who are isolated that don’t know when or how to cool off – or when to call for help
Pets and livestock can also suffer from the heat.   Make sure all pets and livestock have access to cool, clean water and shade. Try to provide shade for all animals pastured outside. Consider adding shade cloth or tarps to an area to provide shade or open pastures to areas where trees or buildings provide shade. Limit exercising your pet to early morning or late evening hours when it is cooler. Some of the signs of heatstroke in pets include heavy panting, glazed eyes, and excessive thirst. Seek veterinary assistance immediately.
The heat can cause roads to buckle. Also, expect heavy traffic on Wisconsin roads and highways with the upcoming holiday.  Check your routes ahead of time for road construction and other possible delays.  Call 511 or go towww.511wi.gov for the latest road conditions across Wisconsin.

For lifesaving tips and other information, visit the ReadyWisconsin website at: http://readywisconsin.wi.gov or contact your county emergency management office, the National Weather Service or your local public health department.

WISCONSIN HAS AGRIBUSINESS TEAM IN AFGHANISTAN

FROM:  WISCONSIN ARMY AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD
Capt. James Schmitz of the Wisconsin National Guard's 82nd Agribusiness Development Team jots a few notes in his notebook about crop conditions at a demonstration farm in Watapur Province, Afghanistan, April 16. The 82nd ADT was at the farm to perform quality assurance checks of the farm's operations, assess crop health and identify future farm issues. 82nd ADT photo by 2nd Lt. Stephen Montgomery

NEWS: Wisconsin Agribusiness team visits Afghan demonstration farm
Date: April 25, 2012
KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The Wisconsin National Guard's 82nd Agribusiness Development Team had its first chance to check the progress of a demonstration farm in the Watapur District of Kunar Province April 16.

The farm - one of three the 82nd ADT oversees - was established by the previous ADT from the Illinois National Guard. The 82nd ADT met with Mohammed Wali, the demonstration farm manager, performed quality assurance and control assessments of the farm, and identified future issues.

"I think it was a good visit," said Master Sgt. John Dietzler, a soil science specialist assigned to the 82nd ADT and project manager for the Watapur Demo Farm.
The demo farm manger's son gave the team a tour of the farm, which is currently growing potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, onions, cucumbers and orange trees intercropped with wheat.
Dietzler said a canal project upstream is causing problems with the farm's irrigation system, which is affecting crop quality.

"Some of the plants were a little wilted, but overall the plants looked pretty good," he said.

After the tour, the team discussed previous training conducted at the demo farm. Wali stated three training events have occurred on the farm - spinach planting, winter vegetable, and orange sapling planting - training up to 30 farmers during each event.
While the previous ADTs have been more hands-on with the demo farms, Dietzler stressed that a cultural advisor and people called young professionals now handle most of the work.

"Much of what we are doing now is advising and facilitating," Dietzler said. "If there is a legitimate reason, we will then provide supplies and money, but we have to be justified in doing a project."

"A lot of time we go these places, we go to just give them ideas - they have the capacity to do it, we just need to encourage them," said Capt. James Schmitz, an agricultural specialist with the 82nd ADT who was also along on the mission to help assess the farm.
One of the stipulations of becoming an ADT-sponsored demo farm is the farmer must agree to reinvest 30 percent of the farm's profits back into farm maintenance and general farm upkeep.

"They have been living for today for so long," Schmitz said. "We're now trying to get them to invest in their future."

The Wisconsin National Guard learned it would gain an agribusiness development team mission in 2010, and the unit trained for 12 months before reporting for active duty in February and completing mobilization training at Camp Atterbury, Ind.

WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD IN KOSOVO ARE VISITED BY STATE LEADERSHIP

FROM:  WISCONSIN ARMY AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD
NEWS: Kosovo-deployed Guard Soldiers visited by state leadership
Date: April 24, 2012
National Guard troops keeping the peace in Kosovo received praise and gratitude from home as part of a leadership visit, April 19-23.
The governor of Wyoming, along with the top military officers for the states of Wisconsin and Wyoming, witnessed first-hand the efforts National Guard Soldiers have been performing as part of their year-long deployment in support of Operation Joint Guardian, a United Nations peacekeeping mission.

"I'm here to tell you that what you are doing here really matters," said Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar , adjutant general of Wisconsin. "You have brought your combat experience and leadership skills to Kosovo and what you are doing is very important."

Dunbar was accompanied by Wisconsin State Command Sgt. Maj. George Stopper.
Gov. Matt Mead, commander-in-chief of the Wyoming National Guard , was accompanied by Maj. Gen. Luke Reiner , the adjutant general of Wyoming, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jayson Walford.
Soldiers from both states serve alongside more than 700 National Guard Soldiers from 28 other states, as well as seven other nations, as part of a NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo known as KFOR. Their mission is to promote a safe and secure environment and ensure freedom of movement for citizens throughout Kosovo.

Most of the approximately 200 Wisconsin National Guard troops in country are part of the Multi-National Battle Group East (MNBG E), led by the Milwaukee-based 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade headquarters and includes Soldiers from the 32nd Military Police Company; Company F, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment ; and Detachment 1, Company B, 248th Aviation Battalion. Also part of MNBG E is approximately 20 Soldiers from the Wyoming National Guard's Detachment 2, Company B, 777th Aviation Support Battalion.

"Everyone's job differs," said Staff Sgt. Danielle Miller, a legal assistant from Wisconsin working at KFOR headquarters in Pristina. "This has been a very unique experience working with all the different nationalities. I consider it an opportunity of a lifetime."

MNBG E, along with MNBG West, ensures safety and security for Kosovo residents, performing a wide variety of missions in a supporting role to the Kosovo Police force and European Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). Whether it's airlifting critical supplies like food and water to remote outposts, conducting vehicle checks or sharing best-practice methods with Kosovo law enforcement agencies, Wyoming and Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers have proven their value to their multinational partners.
"They do a really good job," said German Army Maj. Gen. Erhard Drews, KFOR commander. "I appreciate what they are doing," adding that the Soldiers do an excellent job balancing the force protection mission with deterrence.

"The job that these Soldiers are doing here is absolutely critical," said Wyoming's Reiner. "It's an important mission to keep this region of the world safe and secure, and for our Wyoming Guard Soldiers to come over here and participate in this is a big deal and it makes a difference."

"Everyone back home in Wyoming and all the states should be very proud of the work that's being done here," Mead asserted. "I think it's just a great opportunity to visit these guys and see how they're doing."
In addition to performing their missions, many of the Soldiers deployed to Kosovo are completing military education requirements. Approximately 40 soldiers participated and graduated from the Warrior Leader Course for junior noncommissioned officers April 11, and another class is scheduled to graduate April 30. The command hopes to graduate 120 by the end of the group's tour. Officers in the command are also participating in the Intermediate Level-Education course, and a Battle Staff NCO course for intermediate and senior NCOs is expected to start later this summer.

"If we can help them get those requirements done while they are here it's a win-win for all," said MNBG E Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley Shields from Wisconsin. "Not only is it good for the Soldier, the Army and the Guard, but it also benefits the family and employers back home because the Soldier doesn't need to be away from home again to accomplish the training."

NATO has been leading a peace support operation in Kosovo since June 1999 in support of wider international efforts to build peace and stability in the area. Originally fielded by active duty units like the 82nd Airborne Division when NATO was the primary peacekeeping force in the region, the Army National Guard has taken a prominent role in the KFOR mission as Kosovo and European Union institutions assert themselves.
Over time, as the security situation has improved, NATO has been gradually adjusting KFOR's force posture towards a minimal presence - essentially, a smaller force progressively relying more on flexibility and intelligence with fewer static tasks, according to NATO officials.

"The intent is to teach them to take care of and provide for themselves," said Lt. Col. Jon Russell, MNBG E, operations officer from Wisconsin. This includes training and mentoring Kosovo security forces, conducting engineer inspections and educating medical personnel.

According to Kosovo native Ardian Nrecaj, who has been an interpreter for MNBG E since 1999, the Army National Guard forces joined the peace keeping effort in 2003 when the Pennsylvania Army National Guard took over from the active Army.

"National Guard members brought to Kosovo not only their military skills to keep a safe and secure environment, but they brought also their civilian skills, knowing that they are not only Soldiers but teachers, cops and other [types of workers]," he said. "With these extra sets of skills, they helped in training Kosovo institutions to receive more responsibility from KFOR."

The National Guard Soldiers currently assigned to MNBG E are more than halfway through their year-long deployment in Kosovo, and are expected to return in the fall.
"You're halfway there," Reiner said "Stay focused, stay safe, and make sure the second half is just as good as the first half."

WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARDS HELP FARMERS IN KUMAR PROVINCE AFGHANISTAN

FROM:  WISCONSON DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS
Col. Darrel Feucht, commander of the Wisconsin National Guard's 82nd Agribusiness Development Team, and Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Millard unfurl their unit's guidon during a transfer of authority ceremony Tuesday (April 10) at Camp Wright in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. The 82nd ADT has taken over the mission of providing agriculture and agribusiness support to the region from the 1-14th ADT of the Illinois National Guard. 82nd ADT photo by 2nd Lt. Stephen Montgomery
Wisconsin Guard unit begins agribusiness mission in Afghanistan

April 11, 2012
By 2nd Lt. Stephen Montgomery
82nd Agribusiness Development Team
KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The Wisconsin National Guard's 82nd Agribusiness Development Team (ADT) has taken over the mission of helping Afghan farmers in Kunar Province after a transfer of authority ceremony Tuesday (April 10) at Camp Wright.

Col. Fred Allen, commander of the Illinois National Guard's 1-14th ADT, encased his unit's guidon in a canvas sleeve, symbolizing the end of his unit's mission in Afghanistan and handing that mission over to Col. Darrel Feucht, commander of the 82nd ADT.

"It's been a long road to assemble this team, train this team and, now, engage this team," Feucht said. "This team has worked hard with great anticipation for this day."
The 82nd ADT is the Wisconsin National Guard's first agribusiness development team, a National Guard initiative that leverages civilian skills crucial to improving agricultural methods.

"We now stand ready to perform our motto - to grow, to guide, to guard," Feucht continued. "To provide guidance to the Afghan farming community and guide each other in this partnership, to grow together as a unified team and grow crops, and to guard each other from those that do not see our goals in common."
The Wisconsin National Guard learned it would gain an agribusiness development team mission in 2010, and the unit trained for 12 months before reporting for active duty in February and completing mobilization training at Camp Atterbury, Ind.

WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD REMEMBER PRISONERS OF WAR

FROM:  WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
NEWS: Wisconsin National Guard members march in memory of POWs
Date: April 9, 2012
Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office
Twenty members of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade headquarters and 32nd Military Police Company - joined by dozens of service members from the U.S, Poland and Ukraine - recently honored the victims of the Bataan Death March by walking in their footsteps, as it were, in a memorial endurance event in Kosovo.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Hudson, a Wisconsin National Guard member assigned to Task Force Falcon, played a key role organizing the 13.1-mile march at Camp Bondsteel on March 26, complete with gravel, paved roads and large hills. He also took part in the heavy category which required participants to carry at least 35 pounds on their backs.

"Participating in the Bataan Memorial March was a fitting way to pay tribute to all the heroic service members who made the ultimate sacrifice defending the Philippine Islands during World War II," Hudson said. "All those who entered and took part did so out of sheer preservation and determination - not unlike the Soldiers who marched in the actual Bataan Death March."

Ninety-nine members of the Janesville-based Company A, 192nd Tank Battalion, Wisconsin National Guard, fiercely defended the Bataan peninsula in the Philippines for more than three months alongside fellow American and Filipino forces, until disease, lack of supplies and hunger compelled their surrender to the Imperial Japanese Army seven decades ago today (April 9).

The Janesville Soldiers who served in one of two National Guard tank battalions - comprised of companies from Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri - deployed to the Philippines shortly after the United States entered World War II. Approximately 76,000 prisoners endured the harrowing "Bataan Death March," an 80-mile forced trek to Balanga, the capital of Bataan. Prisoners of war who did not die of exhaustion, wounds or illness were stabbed, beaten or killed along the way - between 5,000 and 10,000 Filipinos and as many as 650 Americans before reaching Camp O'Donnell, where the death toll continued to mount. Only one third of the Janesville unit survived until their liberation three years later.

Wisconsin honors the service and hardship of these and other prisoners of war every April 9, designated since 2001 asPrisoner of War Remembrance Day.