Weekly Report, July 16, 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
Improvements to Kajaki dam power potential in southern Afghanistan KAJAKI, Afghanistan - Technicians with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Afghanistan Engineer District-South and Afghan engineers completed installation of switching equipment, July 11, at Kajaki Dam. (more)

Story by Regional Command Southwest Team

Washington team sets foundation for Kajaki district FORWARD OPERATING BASE KAJAKI, Helmand province, Afghanistan Relics of three decades of war are scattered about the mountainsides and along the river in the Kajaki district. Soviet mines, tarnished tanks and artillery pieces, and an ever-present threat of improvised explosive devices are a constant reminder of the instability of the area of Kajaki. (more)

Story by Sgt. Earnest Barnes, 2nd Marine Division

Guardian of patrols: Afghan dog fights like Marine FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, Helmand province, Afghanistan He defends Marines and sailors with love and tenacity, protecting them as any Marine would protect a brother-in-arms. He is the epitome of mans best friend, shielding service members from the enemy while providing companionship and camaraderie. His name is Willy Pete, and hes a warrior, a protector, a friend. Hes also a dog. (more)

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew, 2nd Marine Division

Point man leads way for J Company, 42 Commando in Helmand province NADALI DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan Imagine how much courage it takes to be a point man in Helmand province, Afghanistan, where insurgent attacks and improvised explosive devices are a common occurrence. Now imagine your specific mission is to detect and locate IEDs as the point man for a patrol. (more)

Story by MC2 Matt Snodgrass, Regional Command Southwest

Tired Out: Helmand Marines dig deep for martial arts instructor certification CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Afghanistan Youre stuck in the desert. Youve been there 10 months, and you work no less than 12 hours a day. What do you do during your downtime? (more)

Story by Sgt. Jesse Stence, Regimental Combat Team 1

1/5 mourns loss of EOD legend FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan - A month before the bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, President Ronald Reagan wrote Some people work an entire lifetime and wonder if they ever made a difference to the world. The Marines dont have that problem, in a letter to a Marine who was being deployed to Beirut. (more)

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly, Regimental Combat Team 8

New base takes battle for Sangin north PATROL BASE FAHEEM, Helmand province, Afghanistan Faheem is now one of the northern most company positions in the 1/5 battle space. The patrol base allows the Marines to more effectively secure north of Sangin by engaging fighters farther away from the District Center. The district of Sangin is located roughly 300 miles west of Kabul, the capitol of Afghanistan. (more)

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly, Regimental Combat Team 8

Soldier thanks his helmet for lucky escape in Afghanistan A British soldier has had a miraculous escape after the strap of his helmet was shot off during his first patrol with his new unit in Helmand province. (more)

A Military Operations news article

Logistics squadron keeps Marine aircraft flying in Afghanistan CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan - Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 40 has one mission - to guarantee 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) squadrons are never left without ordnance, working equipment or the parts they need to keep aircraft in the fight in Afghanistan. (more)

Story by Cpl. Rashaun James, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward)

Royal Marines hand control of checkpoints to Afghan Police A Company from 45 Commando Royal Marines handed over the keys to Checkpoint (CP) Meelet in Nad 'Ali (South), Helmand province, to the Afghan Uniformed Police (AUP) last week. (more)

A Military Operations news article

Defense Secretary presents purple hearts CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan The new Secretary of Defense, Leon E. Panetta, visited Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), July 19 at Camp Dwyer, during his first tour through Afghanistan after a week in office. (more)

Story by Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego, 2nd Marine Logistics Group

Joint Terminal Attack Controllers: Reach out and touch someone FORWARD OPERATING BASE EDINBURGH, Afghanistan Whether its clearing the airspace for a controlled detonation of an improvised explosive device or calling in air support, joint terminal attack controllers are the voice (Video) behind the scenes. (more)

By Sgt. Rachael Moore, 2nd Marine Logistics Group

2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) corpsmen earn Fleet Marine Force pin CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan Since 1898, a group of sailors have been dedicated to caring for wounded Marines, on and off the battlefield. (more)

By Sgt. Rachael Moore, 2nd Marine Logistics Group

Lone Star Battalion probes for enemy during Operation Frank Jr. CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan Marines with the Houstonbased Lone Star Battalion, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, Task Force Belleau Wood, pushed through south Habib Abad in Nad Ali District, Helmand province, and linked up with troops from Task Force Helmand during Operation Frank Jr., July 13. (more)

By Cpl Adam Leyendecker, Regional Command Southwest

42 Commando Helps Clear Key Route in Nad' Ali District (Video) (Print story)

By LCpl. Daniel Wulz, 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