Spring Offensive

Friday May 20^th, Camp Leatherneck.

Yesterday’s incoming/outgoing fire has still not been confirmed. Scuttlebutt is that almost every FOB across RC-SW was attacked yesterday as a part of the spring offensive. One explosion here on Leatherneck early this morning has also been reported, with no confirmation of fire from the command.

Typically, an alarm is issued prior to the detonation of any ordinance as a safety precaution; this was not the case today.

Australia’s ABC correspondent reported that one of Sangin’s patrol bases received a suicide bomber (via motorcycle) that detonated near a foot patrol. She added that there was one confirmed casualty, an ANA (Afghan National Army) soldier. She was returning from the patrol base after her ten-day embed with the Marines of 1/5.

The ANA soldier lost two limbs, the US Marine suffered only a concussion.

Incoming Fire

May 19th, Camp Bastion.

It appeared as though Camp Bastion received incoming mortar fire yesterday. Camp Leatherneck responded with 10-11 long-range rockets ($93,000) a piece. The outgoing fire was heading N, NE from Bastion. No impact was heard from our location. Fire started at 0700 and ended at 1630.

No confirmation from the command was issued. However, the command post was locked down under increased security measures. Roads were blocked by armored vehicles, and increased ID check was in progress.

Live fire ranges previously cleared for training were all canceled.

I’ll report more when information is confirmed.

Waiting For A Bird

Today is another hot and dusty one. Just waiting for my ride to FOB Jackson. War is boring 95% of the time, it’s that unexpected 5% you need to stay prepared for.

Afghan National Army Training Conducted By U.S. Marines

Tues, May 17^th Camp Leatherneck Afghanistan,I observed the JSAS instructors on a live fire range with recruits from the Afghan National Army. The instructors are all former Marines or are in IRR status (reserves).

Retired Marine Warrant Officer T. Walker, of North Carolina heads up the program here at Camp Leatherneck. His experience is extensive, prior to Leatherneck, he led a similar program in Iraq.

The class is currently in their second week of training.

Tues, May 17th I observed the JSAS instructors on a live fire range with recruits from the Afghan National Army. (Image attached) The instructors are all former Marines or are in IRR status (reserves).

First Day On The Ground

I landed in Kabul at 0730, May 15th today. It feels like a solid two days of traveling, even though I lost three days in total. Checking into ISAF here at KAIA was exhausting. When I first landed I had to acquire a GSM card for my “unlocked” Blackberry. Considering the options, the guy here has a monopoly on the business. Good thing my phone worked, if not, I would not have been allowed back into the hanger to exchange. The worst thing that has happened thus far, is I lost a wheel to my hard-case travel trunks. The wheel was totally missing at baggage claim. I have since worn a hole dragging it around the city, and onto KAIA.

Getting a “secure” taxi is a bit of an obstacle, since you don’t know who you can trust here. Once I secured a taxi ride ($20) for a 5 minute ride, I had to haul my hear past 4 checkpoints. This was a mission in itself. The halls of the security point were too narrow for my trunks, so I took them one at a time. The missing wheel added to the challenge.

I had to dawn my PPE at the first checkpoint after speaking with a few Dutch Army on sentry duty at the second security bunker. They mentioned they received rocket fire just a week ago as the opposite side of the chain-linked fence is unsecured, just a few feet away.

I met up with my PAO, MC2 Anderson at the fourth check-point, he helped me haul off my gear to his armored Toyota Land Cruiser. He later issued me my ISAF ID badge and pointed me to billeting. It felt great to be welcomed by Americans. I’m exited to see Woody and the Marines of 1/5 in Sangin this week.

KAIA is a fairly large base, sharing the airport with Kabul on the South side, AKA Abbey Gate.  Multi-national troops are frequent and mostly transient here, staying just a few days, then moving on.

ISAF has established great MWR services here and seems to have just about everything you need, except a new wheel. Tomorrow, I will catch transit from KAIA to Camp Leatherneck; from there I connect to Sangin – hopefully.  Time-lines, priorities and space “A” changes daily. With any luck, I’ll be with 1/5 by Wednesday.

Feeling a little under the weather (snot rockets), but nothing that will slow me down. Temperature is just like 29 Palms and the heat is extremely hot, but a relief. I’m hoping I’ll kick this head-cold and feel better tomorrow.

After checking into my tent, showering off the grime of travel, not a bad day in all.

Return To 1st Marine Division

The original members of CAAT 1/7

It’s been nearly a decade since I left 1st Marine Division as a corporal.

Today, I prepare for a media embed assignment into one of the deadliest places on earth, the  Sangin River Valley, the backbone of poppy-country.

Poppy is the cash-crop in Afghanistan that has continued to fund the Taliban to date. A bi-product of poppy is heroin, the most addictive substance on earth. This subject has hit home for me and my family, as I’m sure it has for many other Americans.

This Blog will cover the work-up and events leading to the end of 1st Marine division’s occupation and collaboration with ISAF.

As a Marine, I’d like to think that my media embed will be unlike any other. Capturing unscripted Marine-to-Marine conversations and perspectives that are unavailable to an outsider.

My intent is to cover the poppy culture, conduct interviews with over hundreds of Marines and shed light on the Afghan people’s struggles. Where we are now, and what remains on the to-do-list.

I am asking followers to help provide a cross-section of questions for U.S. Marines in the theater of operation.

Please check back with my blog frequently, as I will be blogging daily.

(Pictured right to left: A.C. Mack, B. Matias, Driotez, J. Wodkowski, S. Levings, M.Anthony, S. Stablewski)