Weekly Report, August 6, 2011

The following content summarizes a weeks worth of activity from Regional Command Southwest, commanded by Maj. Gen. John Toolan and covering Helmand and Nimroz Provinces, Afghanistan. The content was created by Marine Corps Combat Correspondents, Combat Camera and personnel with UK media operations under Task Force Helmand. Feel free to forward our stories to family, friends and loved ones supporting those who are deployed.

Featured Stories
Coming of age through war: Lance Cpl. Ernest Prempeh CAMP HANSON, Afghanistan Life, for the most part, is gray. The passing moments are not unpleasant, nor are they particularly remarkable -- just a colorless blur of regularity and routine. (more)

By Cpl. James Clark, Regimental Combat Team 1

Afghan farmers trade poppy seeds for wheat seeds NAWA, Afghanistan - The change of agriculture in Afghanistan is steadily steering away from the illegal crops which fund insurgent forces year after year. Civil Affairs Team 3, which is supporting the Afghan government, plans to continue providing wheat as an alternative to growing poppy and cannabis in Afghanistans Nawa District to drive the country into future. (more)

By Cpl Marco Mancha, 2nd Marine Division

Royal Military Police train Afghan Local Police in Lashkar Gah CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan Forty-six members of the Afghan National Security Forces received diplomas, July 28, after completing training at Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest, Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province. (more)

By MC1 Gino Flores, Regional Command Southwest

Marine, Mullah partnership makes progress in counterinsurgency fight GARMSIR DISTRICT, Afghanistan In hopes of countering insurgent ideology and improving local infrastructure, coalition forces have recently begun engaging local religious leaders to rally support for coalition forces and developmental projects in the district. (more)

By Cpl. Colby Brown, Regimental Combat Team 1

Afghan soldiers blaze ahead with support from US Marines FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan - Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 turned up the heat for new Afghan National Army firefighters during the final evaluation of a basic firefighting course at Forward Operating Base Delaram II, Afghanistan, July 26. (more)

By Cpl. Samantha Arrington, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward)

Senior US Marine aviator in Afghanistan receives second star CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- The commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) pinned on his second star in a ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Aug. 2. (more) (video)

By 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) Team

JCS Chairman visits Sangin Marines FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen visited the Marines and sailors of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, at Forward Operating Base Jackson, July 30. (more) Admiral Mullen visits Camp Leatherneck B-roll. (video)

By Cpl. Benjamin Crilly, Regimental Combat Team 8

3/4 Marines take, return fire near Gereshk, Afghanistan PATROL BASE KAKAR, Afghanistan - In the low lands of Gereshk, Afghanistan, the Marines of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, know they are being watched by the insurgency. (more)

By Staff Sgt. Ryan Smith, Regimental Combat Team 8

Hobo's back to work after surviving Taliban attack A two-year-old black Labrador military search dog is back on the Helmand front line sniffing out improvised explosive devices (IEDs) after having recovered from serious injuries sustained during a battle with insurgents. (more)

A Military Operations News Article

Combat Medic Assistant Course Final Exercise Camp leatherneck, Afghanistan - Multimedia package and story of the new Combat Medic Assistant Course at the Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Photos of the final exercise with audio of Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Shoener, an instructor at JSAS and native of North Kingston, R.I. (multimedia) (story)

By Cpl. Bryan Nygaard, Regional Command Southwest

New Boomerang device helps troops return Taliban fire A state-of-the-art new shot detection system called Boomerang III has been introduced in patrol bases and checkpoints on the front line of Helmand province to alert troops immediately to the source of incoming fire. (more)

An Equipment and Logistics News Article

Marines increase water production, distribution in Musa Qala District FORWARD OPERATING BASE MUSA QALA, Afghanistan Water purification systems continue to take the place of bottled water, increasing the expeditionary capability of troops in Afghanistan. (more)

By Lance Cpl. Bruno Bego, 2nd Marine Logistics Group

EOD Conducts Controlled Dets Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan - B-roll of Marines and Sailors with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) conduct controlled detonations to dispose of nearly 25,000 pounds of unserviceable ammunition Aug 4th 2011. (video)

By Lance Cpl. Bruno Bego, 2nd Marine Logistics Group

Alpha Battery brings Steel Rain to Helmand FIRE BASE SAENZ, Afghanistan - An infantry squad leader can exercise a few options when engaged by insurgents. He could assault through the attack, while weighing the possibility of losing one of his Marines in the crossfire, or he can use one of the many assets available to him and call for artillery support. (more)

By Sgt. Earnest Barnes, 2nd Marine Division

Texas battalions good neighbor policy helps keep Helmand base secure CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan Marines and sailors with the Houston-based Lone Star Battalion, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, have been conducting security and counterinsurgency operations in the vicinity of the Camp Leatherneck-Camp Bastion complex since deploying to Afghanistan in January. (more)

By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Ross, Regional Command Southwest

Nimroz provincial, district governors meet for first time FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM, Afghanistan Senior Nimroz provincial, district, military, and police officials met here for the first time to discuss their current concerns and plan how to resolve future challenges facing the province. (more)

By MC1 Kurt Wesseling, Regional Command Southwest

Royal Engineers complete construction of Afghan Local Police station in Helmand capital PATROL BASE BOLAN-T, Afghanistan - Royal Engineers with 59 Commando Squadron completed construction of an Afghan Local Police station in the Helmand provincial capital of Lashkar Gah, July 26. (more)

By MC2 Jonathan Chandler, Regional Command Southwest

Latin roots help Carlos Company Marines succeed in Helmand CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan Through the course of the recent Iraq wars, and now in Afghanistan, Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, has literally grown up together, using their experiences from back home to unite and strengthen them on the battlefield. (more)

By Cpl. Adam Leyendecker, Regional Command Southwest

For additional stories from RC(SW) visit:

Regional Command Southwest 2nd Marine Division RCT-1 RCT-8 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing 2nd Marine Logistics Group Task Force Helmand Task Force Helmand on Facebook Task Force Belleau Wood on Facebook FaceBook