OEF Update, Dec. 17, 2009: Forces in Afghanistan Nab Militants

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 17, 2009 -- An Afghan-international security force detained a handful of suspected militants in Paktya province today while pursuing a Taliban commander responsible for weapons facilitation and several attacks in the area.

The joint force searched a compound near the village of Payandegi in the Zurmat district where intelligence sources reported militant activity. They recovered several AK-47 rifles, chest racks, grenades, blasting caps and other IED-making materials.

In another operation today, a security force detained a Taliban facilitator and other militants in Nangarhar province. This facilitator is responsible for supplying IED materials to other militants in the area.

The joint force searched a compound near the village of Duzalakheyl in the Hesarak district where intelligence sources reported the facilitator to be located. The force detained the militants, one of whom identified himself as the Taliban commander.

In a third operation, a security force detained a suspected militant in Wardak province while pursuing a Taliban commander heavily involved with IED activity in the area.

The joint force searched a compound near the village of Zamooch in the Sayed Abad district and detained the suspected militant.

No shots were fired and no one was harmed in these operations.

Paktya Regional Hospital Clinic Cares For ANA Families:

Afghanistan National Security Forces and their dependents are entitled to no-cost military health care throughout the country, but families don’t often use this service because they don’t know about the program, or the nearest military facility is still too far away. The Paktya Regional Military Hospital, a 50-bed inpatient facility in Paktya province, treats hundreds of outpatients daily and it is spreading the word about the program.

The Medical Embedded Training Team at Forward Operating Base Lightning is helping the hospital raise awareness of this resource. The goal of the program, named Women’s and Children’s Clinic, is to provide ANSF family members with medication, prescriptions, immunizations and health education. FOB Lightning’s Medical ETT assisted with the availability of appropriate medication, consultation and educational materials.

"We’re hoping it’s an all-ANA operation – Afghans taking care of Afghans," said Air Force Capt. Tess Marcial, a logistics and patient administrator with the METT. "We offer suggestions and provide materials, but the patients need to trust and gain confidence in the medical professionals available to them."

The clinic is primarily directed by the Poly Clinic, consisting of three physicians with backgrounds in treating women and children. They offer medical examinations, immunizations, hygiene education and prescriptions, including prenatal and children’s vitamins, birth control pills and other over-the-counter medications. "My hope for this program is that families become aware of this benefit as an entitlement and get the feeling there is an extended military family here to meet their medical needs," said Marcial.

ISAF Casualties:

There were no ISAF fatalities in the last 24 hours in Afghanistan.

(Compiled from NATO International Security Assistance Force news releases.)