WTG, tom....you got #100!!
WTG, tom....you got #100!!
COALITION PARTNER — Italian Carabinieri provide security as Coalition Provisional Authority Administrator, Ambassador L. Paul Bremer, visits sheiks, council members, the Women's Civil Society, the governor and other Dhi Qar Province officials in An Nasiriyah, Iraq, Jan. 10, 2004. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Reynaldo Ramon
82nd Airborne, Special Ops Forces Capture 'Number 54'
Former Iraqi Ba’ath Party member Khamis Sirhan al-Muhammad, number 54 in the top 55 “Deck of Cards” list, was captured during a combined operation by members of the 82d Airborne Division and special operations forces on Jan. 11, 2004, in the vicinity of Ar Ramadi. Khamis was a former Ba’ath Party regional chairman for the Karbala governate.
Story Number: NNS040109-07
Release Date: 1/9/2004 5:04:00 PM
By Journalist 2nd Class Tim Walsh, Naval Support Activity, Bahrain Public Affairs
MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Actor and comedian Tom Green visited with service members, military family members, and government civilians at Naval Support Activity (NSA), Bahrain, Jan. 7 as part of a United Services Organization (USO) and Armed Force Entertainment sponsored tour of the region.
“It is great to come out here. I just wanted to come and see the troops,” Green said, after posing for photos at the Desert Dome.
In addition to the Dome appearance, Green made a morning visit to the DoDDS [Department of Defense Overseas Schools] Bahrain.
Green said he understands how difficult it can be for military dependents. His father served in the Canadian military as a tank commander. When Green was young, his father did tours in Vietnam and Cyprus.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers meets with Maj. Gen. Tesvegsurengin Togoo, chief of the General Staff for the Mongolian Armed Forces, in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, on Jan. 13, 2004. American Forces Press Service photo by Jim Garamone
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers speaks with members of Mongolia's 150th Elite Peacekeeping Battalion during a visit to Ulan Bator, Mongolia, Jan. 13, 2004. The unit already has men on duty in Hillah, and will soon deploy in replacements. American Forces Press Service photo by Jim Garamone
A Mongolian honor guard salutes during welcoming ceremonies for Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Jan. 13, 2004. Myers became the first chairman to visit Mongolia. American Forces Press Service photo by Jim Garamone
A bust of Ghenghiz Khan adorns a wall in the Presidential Palace in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. The 13th-century Mongol leader razed Baghdad to the ground. Today's Mongolians are helping build a better Iraq. American Forces Press Service photo by Jim Garamone
Ensign Greg Haubner fires a dual 50-Caliber machine gun under the instruction of Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Pixley during a familiarization fire exercise while underway on HSV Swift. Photo by: Sgt. Michael Hjelmstad, USMC.
Navy's evolutionary catamaran tested during African exercise
RELEASE NUMBER: 040106-1
January 06, 2004
By Edward Baxter, MSC Europe Public Affairs
WESTERN COAST OF AFRICA (USTCNS) --- Low intensity conflict, littoral warfare, special forces that can be whisked ashore at a moment's notice-all familiar terms to describe just how the military must transform to fight the ongoing global war on terrorism, and the battles of the 21st century.
For this very reason, the Navy's Military Sealift Command, or MSC, chartered two high-speed vessels-HSV Swift and HSV Westpac Express-sleek, stealthy, high-speed catamarans with a multitude of mission capabilities to meet today's security challenges, including: mine warfare, maritime interdiction, littoral warfare, humanitarian assistance, as well as the ability to quickly deploy troops to a combat zone.
MV Swift recently wrapped up her first deployment, scouring the western coast of Africa during West African Training Cruise, or WATC, 2004-training with the militaries of South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana, the Gambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Morocco, Nov. 3-Dec. 2.
In addition to crew orientation, the exercise was an opportunity to test the ship's multi-faceted capabilities, to include riverine operations, helicopter deck landing trials, and amphibious raids. Assigned to MSC's Special Mission program, MSC contracted the 300-ft. Swift from Bollinger/Incat USA Wave Piercing Catamaran, a consortium of both U.S. and Australian firms, as an interim Mine Warfare Command support ship. But, the Navy and Marines are looking into many different ways the ship can be used in modern warfare.
Delivered to the U.S. Navy in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, in August, Swift can carry up to 350 fully equipped troops, has a top speed of over 35 knots, and is capable of loading and unloading a multitude of military vehicles, including M1-A1 main battle tanks. Swift can also launch and recover small craft with an onboard crane, and has a helicopter landing deck capable of landing giant CH-46 "Sea Knight" helicopters.