Embedded journalism

Marines push raids, surveillance as Afghanistan drawdown begins

By Dan Lamothe on April 30, 2012 Afghanistan, Battle Rattle, Embedded journalism, Infantry, Kajaki, Marines

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHAMSHER, Afghanistan — Good morning, friends. I’m back at the computer now after a foot patrol in Sangin’s Green Zone this morning with Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. We pushed through fields, canals and trails for several hours, and it was relatively uneventful. One thing I would like to point out today: Marine Corps Times has posted online another of my long-form features out of Kajaki district. It highlights the increasing prominence of surveillance and raids for Marines in Afghanistan, particularly in light of the planned drawdown of forces there. Conducting raids successfully requires massive amounts…

‘Holy Helo’ delivers priests to Marines in Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on April 29, 2012 Afghanistan, Camp Leatherneck, Embedded journalism, Infantry, Marines, Sangin

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHAMSHER, Afghanistan – Helicopters are used for many reasons in Afghanistan, but only a few are called the “Holy Helo.” That’s the nickname U.S. service members give to the aircraft used to deliver chaplains to military bases in a war zone. They’re frequently on bases just a few hours, long enough to conduct a religious service and say hello before moving on to the next location. That was the case Sunday morning when The Rev. Kevin Sweeney arrived here at the home of Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, out of Twentynine Palms, Calif. Sweeney, a Roman…

‘Holy Helo’ delivers priests to Marines in Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on April 29, 2012 Afghanistan, Camp Leatherneck, Embedded journalism, Infantry, Marines, Sangin

A day on patrol with the Marines of Dog Company 1/7

By Dan Lamothe on April 28, 2012 Afghanistan, Embedded journalism, Infantry, Sangin

SANGIN, Afghanistan – For a minute, it seemed like a manhunt in the hills of the Upper Sangin Valley was possible. Pushing out from Forward Operating Base Tabac early Saturday, Marines with Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, noticed a man on a nearby hill holding a metallic black object that was glinting in the sunlight. The assumption: The stranger was carrying a radio, making it entirely possible a Taliban spotter was spying on the patrol. “I saw it glistening in his hand,” said Lance Cpl. Christopher Sanders, making his way through a green field of thigh-high wheat. “There isn’t…

Gunfire and children: A day on the ground in Sangin

By Dan Lamothe on April 27, 2012 Afghanistan, Battle Rattle, Embedded journalism, Infantry, Sangin

FORWARD OPERATING BASE TABAC, Afghanistan – In just a few short hours, I saw both sides of Sangin. On one hand, photographer James Lee and I visited a shura, or meeting, that brought together 67 boys and 25 girls at the gates of this base, the headquarters of Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, out of Twentynine Palms, Calif. Most of the children sat obediently in straight rows on the ground as two interpreters and two Marines with a Female Engagement Team taught lessons about geography, civics and poetry. A few hours later, we heard our first gunshots fired in…

Marine Corps Times embeds in Afghanistan’s Sangin district

By Dan Lamothe on April 26, 2012 Afghanistan, Embedded journalism, Infantry, Sangin

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SABIT QADAM, Afghanistan — Ladies and gentlemen, Marine Corps Times has moved on to cover infantry operations at the heart of the war in Helmand province. Photographer James Lee and I arrived at this FOB last night, embedding in Sangin district with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, out of Twentynine Palms, Calif. The base was known until recently as FOB Jackson, but coalition forces have elected to give it and several other Sangin bases names with Afghan roots, said Lt. Col. David Bradney, 1/7’s commander. Sabit Qadam translates loosely from Pashto to “constant” or “stronghold,” interpreters here said.…

Marine Corps Times embeds in Afghanistan’s Sangin district

By Dan Lamothe on April 26, 2012 Afghanistan, Embedded journalism, Infantry, Sangin

Marines are ‘player coaches’ in Kajaki, commander says

By Dan Lamothe on April 24, 2012 Afghanistan, Battle Rattle, Embedded journalism, Infantry, Kajaki, Marines

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — With the war in Afghanistan beginning to wind down, the mission for Marines there is evolving. Just ask Lt. Col. Kevin Trimble, commander of 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. He sees his troops as “player coaches” for the Afghan forces, and he acknowledges the transition to Afghan control will come more quickly than it did in Marjah and other districts in Helmand province. “The whole thing is about what is ‘Afghan right’ and what is ‘Kajaki right,'” he said. “We’re doing this fast. Is this Marjah? No. But it has never been…

Free wireless Internet in Camp Leatherneck housing

By Dan Lamothe on April 23, 2012 Afghanistan, Camp Leatherneck, Embedded journalism, Marines

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Good morning, friends. We’re still on this forward operating base today, which gives me a good reason to bring up something Marines have going for them here. Leatherneck’s housing and quality of life have improved dramatically over the last couple years, particularly after the U.S. military shipped in containerized housing units, or CHUs. Most permanent personnel aboard Leatherneck live in them, typically sharing an air-conditioned 8-foot by 20-foot space with at least one other service member. That’s tight quarters, but it beats the heck out of a dusty tent. The CHUs have an interesting perk, too.…

Checking in midway through our Afghanistan assignment

By Dan Lamothe on April 22, 2012 Battle Rattle, Camp Leatherneck, Embedded journalism, Infantry, Kajaki, Marines

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Three weeks after flying out of Washington, D.C., photographer James Lee and I have reached a milestone midway on our assignment in Helmand province. We arrived today on this forward operating base from Kajaki district, marking the conclusion of our media embed with 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. I’d personally like to thank all the Marines in the unit who shared their world with us, from battalion commander Lt. Col. Kevin Trimble right on down to the many lance corporals we trailed outside the wire on patrols. If you’ve been following this…

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