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Captured soldier identified by DoD
Relevance Score: 4.063 2009-07-19 16:39:38
The Defense Department on Sunday identified the soldier who has been listed as missing/captured in Afghanistan. Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl, 23, of Ketchum, Idaho, was declared Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown on July 1. His status was changed to missing/captured July 3. Bergdahl is a member of 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, of Fort Richardson, Alaska. The DoD announcement came one day after The Associated Press reported that the Taliban had posted a video of the soldier. In the video, the man, who two defense officials confirmed to AP was the missing soldier, said he’s “scared I won’t be able to go home.” In the 28-minute video, the soldier is shown with his head shaved and the start of a beard. He is sitting and dressed in a nondescript, gray outfit, according to AP. Early in the video, one of his captors holds the soldier’s dog tag up to the camera. He is shown eating at one point and sitting cross-legged. The soldier is interviewed in English by his captors, and he is asked his views on the war, his desire to learn more about Islam and the morale of American soldiers, AP reported. Asked how he was doing, the soldier said: “Well, I’m scared, scared I won’t be able to go home. It is very unnerving to be a prisoner.” He later chokes up when discussing his family and his hope to marry his girlfriend. “I have a very, very good family that I love back home in America. And I miss them every day when I’m gone,” he said, according to AP. On July 2, the U.S. military said an American soldier had disappeared after walking off his base in eastern Afghanistan with three Afghan counterparts and was believed to have been taken prisoner, according to AP.
Military Victims Of War In Afghanistan.
Relevance Score: 3.818 2009-07-14 00:09:45
One foreign soldier from the NATO-led force was a victim of an attack by insurgents in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, the alliance informed in a statement on Monday. It gave no other details, including the soldier's nationality. A roadside bomb killed two U.S. Marines in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military informed on Sunday. Another soldier serving with NATO-led forces in the south died on Friday from wounds received in June, the alliance said. Here are figures for foreign military deaths as a result of violence or accidents in Afghanistan since 2001: NATO/U.S.-LED COALITION FORCES: Britain 184 Canada 124 Denmark 25** France 28* Germany 35 Spain 25 Netherlands 19 United States 736 Other nations 69 TOTAL: 1,245 NOTES: ** Figures supplied by Danish Central Command, includes one suicide. * Figures supplied by French military.
Army to Field Experimental Soldier Systems Equipment
Relevance Score: 3.049 2009-05-03 11:58:44
Wearing their Rapid Equipping Force hat, The Army’s Asymmetric Warfare Group set about to assemble a package of Commercial Off the Shelf Soldier Systems equipment to conduct a demonstration with members of the 4th Infantry Division deploying to Afghanistan. The aim was to demonstrate that these alternative technologies will enhance the combat effectiveness of our troops fighting in the brutal terrain of Afghanistan. Unfortunately, a long brewing battle between the Army’s Acquisition community and the REF seemed to come to a head two weeks ago when the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology halted the shipment of the equipment package into theater and began to ask some very pointed questions about the capability of the armor package chosen. Long-term friction has come about as the REF continues to conduct rapid identification, assessment, and fielding of critical warfighting technologies while the traditional acquisition system takes a much more methodical approach and fielding of new systems requires longer lead times. The system in question is the MBAV cutaway plate carrier produced by Eagle Industries used in conjunction with a hard plate only certified for use by USSOCOM. All of this is fully in the Army’s purview and unknown to most sitting on the sidelines of this issue, PEO-Soldier is in the midst of an evaluation of five cut away armor plate carriers. It is highly probable that the cutaway system chosen by AWG is also a candidate in this PEO-Soldier evaluation. The situation seemed to take on a life of its own and after two weeks of consideration the Army has chosen to field the experimental package and it will be shipped for use by 480 Soldiers across two battalions of the deploying 4th ID. According to Army sources, short notice testing was completed to provide a safety release of the equipment. However, the new lightweight hard armor plates used by SOCOM will be replaced by the Army’s current issue plates.
Vietnam War Vet Killed in Iraq
Relevance Score: 3.030 2009-05-13 19:42:14
PHOENIX - A 60-year-old Vietnam War veteran killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq has become the oldest Army soldier to die in that conflict, the military said Thursday. Maj. Steven Hutchison, of Scottsdale, Ariz., served in Vietnam and wanted to re-enlist immediately after the 9/11 terror attacks, but his wife was against it, his brother said. Richard Hutchison told The Associated Press on Thursday that when she died, "a part of him died" so he signed up in July 2007 at age 59. "He was very devoted to the service and to his country," Richard Hutchison said. He described him as a great big brother and friend. "I didn't want him to go," he said through tears, adding that he loved his brother "so much." The Pentagon said Steven Hutchison was killed in Iraq on Sunday. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Nathan Banks said Thursday that Hutchison was the oldest Army soldier killed in Iraq. An Associated Press database of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan shows that Hutchison is the oldest member of any service branch killed since the wars broke out. Hutchison served in Afghanistan for a year before deploying to Iraq in October, heading a 12-soldier team that trained the Iraqi military, his brother said. Later, he was assigned to help secure Iraq's southern border. Hutchinson, who grew up in California, taught psychology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles on and off between 1988 and 1996, and lectured and taught at two other colleges, according to school records. He then worked at a health care corporation in Arizona before retiring and re-entering the service, his brother said. He was part of the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kan.
Troops deserve best technology
Relevance Score: 2.929 2009-03-18 23:51:54
Your recent article ("Military and police work together to subdue a volatile corner of Afghanistan," News, March 10) pointed out that the 17,000 extra U.S. troops we are sending to Afghanistan will face a growing insurgency that could grow more deadly than the one we left in Iraq. So as the Obama administration places Pentagon programs on the chopping block, it should remember that cuts to programs like the Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program would delay the delivery of new high tech reconnaissance tools that could save countless lives in Afghanistan--by uncovering ambushes before they happen. For a soldier on patrol, each ditch in Afghanistan might hide a deadly ambush. To survive, our troops need the best technology to see around these dangerous corners: fog lights for the proverbial fog of war. Each platoon in an FCS brigade will have remote-controlled aerial and ground robots providing live video reconnaissance of insurgent activity directly to troops on the ground. The networked vehicles and digital soldier gear can access up-to-date electronic maps of the area, color coded with friendly units and potential insurgent strongholds, thus allowing our soldiers to take the battle to the enemy on our own terms. Combat veterans testing this equipment say our troops need it now. When critical body armor and armored vehicles failed to arrive in Iraq on time, thousands of soldiers died. We must ensure that this type of critical equipment for our combat troops never suffers another needless delay. --George Autobee Cpt. (Ret.) Director of Government Affairs, American GI Forum of the United States Washington, D.C.
US Army selects companies for GSE tech development
Relevance Score: 2.858 2009-05-13 20:12:30
The US Army has awarded three companies competitive technology development contracts for its emerging Ground Soldier Ensemble (GSE) situational awareness system, it was announced . General Dynamics C4 Systems, Raytheon and Rockwell Collins were each awarded contracts to build 10 prototypes for the GSE programme's technology development phase. The soldier-worn GSE is intended to fill a gap between mounted elements with 'blue force' tracking equipment and the dismounted soldier teams that depend only on voice communications to obtain battle command information. After the systems are delivered, the contracts could each total about USD12 million and all three awards include an option to support a potential US Marine Corps requirement of five "GSE refined systems".
Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan
Relevance Score: 2.748 2009-07-15 02:39:34
An Italian soldier was killed and three were injured by a roadside bomb in the Bala Boluk district in Afghanistan's western province of Farah, the Italian army and provincial governor said. Two U.S. Marines were killed in the southern province of Helmand, where the Marines have launched a massive attack this month, the U.S. military said.
Satellite service lets Taylor soldier participate in birth
Relevance Score: 2.701 2009-06-29 00:46:13
Despite not making it back to the states for the birth of his first child, Taylor soldier Nicholas Jevahirian did everything but cut the cord during his wife’s labor and delivery Monday – just by satellite. The 20-year-old Marine stationed in Al Asad, Iraq, coached his wife, Chelsey, 19, for the birth of Brayden Allen at 5:20 p.m. Monday with the help of the Freedom Calls Foundation. The New Jersey-based nonprofit provides phones, satellite service, computers, monitors and other equipment necessary for soldiers in the Middle East to participate in births, birthdays, weddings and other life events going on while they’re deployed. Jevahirian appeared on a video monitor next to his wife’s bedside at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn starting at noon Monday. His father, Richard, also of Taylor, cut the baby’s umbilical cord, hospital spokeswoman Paula Rivera-Kerr said. Those requesting the foundation’s help, which is free for those stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, or who want to donate to the group can call 973-290-7886.
Improved magazine increases weapons reliability
Relevance Score: 2.336 2009-12-29 12:26:10
The Army has begun fielding a new 5.56mm 30-round "improved magazine" that delivers a significant increase in reliability for M-16 and M-4 weapons. Bolstering the already high reliability ratings of the M-16 and M-4, the improved magazine reduces the risk of magazine-related stoppages by more than 50 percent compared to the older magazine variants, according to officials at Program Executive Office Soldier. Identified by a tan-colored follower, more than 500,000 of the improved magazines have been fielded to units in Iraq, Afghanistan and the United States. Currently, there are three different types of magazines in the supply inventory that can be identified by the color of the follower. The new, improved magazine follower is tan. Magazines with a green follower are strong performers and are acceptable so long as they are serviceable, but should be phased out from the force as the improved magazines are received. The oldest magazines have a black follower and should be turned in to supply sergeants. A significant portion of the system reliability gains are the result of the redesigned follower. The new follower incorporates an extended rear leg and modified bullet protrusion for improved round stacking and orientation. The self-leveling/anti-tilt follower minimizes jamming while a wider spring coil profile creates even force distribution. The performance gains have not added weight or cost to the magazines. To see a computer simulation of the improved magazine in action, visit the PEO Soldier blog at http://peosoldier.armylive.dodlive.mil.
US Army Awards MSS Contract to Rockwell Collins
Relevance Score: 2.332 2009-06-02 10:21:42
The US Army has chosen Rockwell Collins to provide an integrated video display system for the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the mounted soldier system (MSS) programme. MSS technology is incorporated in the M1-A2 SEP V2, M2-A3 Bradley, M3-A3 Bradley and M113 medical evacuation variant vehicles. The programme enhances mission effectiveness on the network-centric battlefield in the areas of command and control. Under the contract, the company will provide mounted soldier display systems (MSDS) that include vehicle-mounted video distribution switches and an SO35-A helmet-mounted display (HMD) equipped with a full-colour resolution micro-display with a 35° diagonal field of view. MSDS video distribution switch builds on the mounted warrior, land warrior and tank urban survivability kit HMDs. The system's vehicle video switch accepts the output from the electronic sensor and situational awareness systems in military vehicles and provides the display to the soldier while the SO35-A display control module, which is attached to the soldier's vest, provides operator control.