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Published Saturday, July 04, 2009 in Local

Soldiers complete first Afghanistan mission

By Elizabeth Richardson

The Times-Herald

Some of the soldiers with the 48th Infantry Brigade "Bravo Company" Second Battalion have completed their first "mission" in Afghanistan -- and it was successful and uneventful.

The unit that before deployment was attached to Newnan's Jackson-Pless National Guard Armory has been stationed in Afghanistan for approximately three weeks. When they arrived in the country, they took up temporary residence in Kabul at Camp Phoenix.

While some soldiers from the unit have remained "stuck" there waiting for a ride to their permanent location, others made a 40-mile trek to Bagram Air Field north of Kabul to pick up new vehicles, according to First Lt. Jason Rich.

The group trained for about a week on the new equipment, which falls into a class of vehicles known as MRAP, or Mine Resistant Ambush Protected. The vehicles, according to Rich, are "designed to take an extraordinary amount of force from an explosion without injury to the crew."

The MRAP vehicles are "a massive compilation of steel and rubber" that are "somehow" mobile.

"They are vastly different vehicles than anything else I have ever been in, and the driver's training we endured at Bagram was vital," said Rich. "We learned all about the new vehicles and got to drive them in all sorts of conditions, on and off road. Needless to say, the men are excited at the added protection the vehicle offers."

Rich reported via e-mail that Bagram is one of the largest posts in Afghanistan. Soldiers at Bagram have access to numerous computer labs and phone booths, shopping centers, and American cuisine -- Pizza Hut, Burger King and Dairy Queen.

On the other hand, the men have already had to contend with the country's notorious sand storms. Rich said sand gets in their eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Following one sand storm, the soldiers raced to the showers only to find they weren't working.

And yet, "Bagram was a nice change of pace from Camp Phoenix and probably the nicest my team will have it until we return home," said Rich.

Rich's group recently moved from Bagram back down through Kabul to a smaller camp, Camp Blackhorse.

"The movement went smooth and all the guys did remarkably well, especially considering that it was the first time most of them had run a mission outside the wire, and everyone was still getting familiar with the new vehicles," said Rich. "Thankfully, there is nothing notable to report from the movement."

The unit will remain at Camp Blackhorse for a few months training with the Afghan National Army until it is time to move to their permanent location.

"There is a certain peace of mind that comes with knowing that you will be in a spot for more than a week or two -- a peace of mind which we have not had the opportunity to enjoy for quite some time."

The soldiers are reportedly "in high spirits" as they begin their work with the national army.

"While it is no doubt a daunting task, I cannot think of a more rewarding mission than to help Afghans who want to defend their country and earn their freedom, and it is exciting to have such a pivotal role within the mission," said Rich. "Without a doubt, the soldiers here will experience things, do things and see things that will leave a lifetime of stories to tell their kids, families and loved ones."

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