War operations
Green-on-blue attacks spike as U.S. draws down in Afghanistan
By John Ryan
As the US-led coalition in Afghanistan turns over greater responsibility to Afghan forces in advance of the scheduled 2014 end to the war there, American military officials have downplayed the significance of the rising number of so-called “green-on-blue” insider attacks, where uniformed Afghan defectors turn their weapons on their U.S. and NATO counterparts.
In [...]
Afghan kids found armed with bombs for foot patrols
By John Ryan and Joe Gould
They were young — aged 9, 11 and 18 — with dirty faces and shabby clothes, but they carried deadly cargo as they walked shoeless along a busy Afghan road. They carried two bombs, hidden in plastic bags, each made from one-liter soda bottles full of enough potassium chlorate to [...]
3,000 soldiers to serve in Africa next year
by John Ryan
A brigade will deploy to Africa next year in a pilot program that assigns brigades on a rotational basis to regions around the globe, the Army announced in May.
Roughly 3,000 soldiers — and likely more — are expected to serve tours across the continent in 2013, training foreign militaries and aiding locals.
As part [...]
SF soldiers make progress in hunt for Kony
By John Ryan
Green Berets and U.S. intelligence personnel have bolstered the manhunt in central Africa that is reportedly gaining ground on despot Joseph Kony’s rebel group, accused of abducting and conscripting children and killing more than 1,000 civilians since 2009.
Living among four African militaries in the bush, 100 U.S. special operations troops — mostly Special [...]
Combat warrants limit raids, cause worry over leaks
By John Ryan
Army forces in Afghanistan must obtain “warrants” to enter local homes before setting out on combat missions, causing concern among soldiers and Afghan forces over potential leaks that could imperil missions.
As NATO forces take a back seat in operations, the Afghan government now bans some U.S. conventional forces from running independent raids and [...]
Soldier profiles
With Medal of Honor, Giunta becomes face of modern-day heroism
By John Ryan
Spc. Salvatore Giunta dashed into the night of Oct. 25, 2007, under heavy fire and without cover, searching for a soldier who went missing during an ambush. He found two Taliban fighters carrying the wounded soldier away, and he shot one down while the other fled. After risking death, Giunta dropped to the ground [...]
IED hunter shares combat lessons at West Point
By John Ryan
Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Burnett was sitting in a mine-protected vehicle while its long robotic arm clawed the earth aside an Iraqi road — when it hooked a large drum.
As the arm raised the barrel, dirt fell to the ground, uncovering five 155mm artillery shells — which exploded with a thunderous roar.
The blast [...]
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