Ghazni Spartan Promoted

Congratulations to Lt. Cmdr. Michael Chin who was recently promoted to Cmdr.



Lt. Cmdr. Michael Chin takes an oath reaffirming his commitment to the Navy from Cmdr. Tristan Rizzi




Lt. Cmdr. Michael Chinhas his new rank placed on by from Cmdr. Tristan Rizzi


Congratulations to our newest promotee!


Motor pool keeps PRT running

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Gordon, motor pool leading petty officer from Merrillville, Ind., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, inspects the exterior of a tactical vehicle during an inspection in the motor pool shop July 2, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. This inspecting ensures there is no damage to the vehicles and it past every area of the inspection checklist prior to going out on missions. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Gordon, motor pool leading petty officer from Merrillville, Ind., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, inspects the wheels of a tactical vehicle during an inspection in the motor pool shop July 2, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. This inspecting ensures there is no damage to the vehicles and it past every area of the inspection checklist prior to going out on missions. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Tommy McGehee, mechanic from Mountainburg, Ark., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, replaces the brake system of a civilian vehicle in the motor pool shop July 2, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan.  The motor pool shop is responsible for inspecting all vehicles to ensure they operate properly and fix any problems they find. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Tommy McGehee, mechanic from Mountainburg, Ark., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, plasma cuts a bracket for mounting an infrared light onto a tactical vehicle using a torch in the motor pool shop July 4, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. The motor pool shop also makes modifications to equipment to enhance vehicle operations. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class James Hagen, mechanic from South Shore, S.D., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, conducts inventory and reorganize the tools in the motor pool shop July 4, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan.  The motor pool shop loan out tools and ensure the right tools are returned in their proper areas for easily accessibility. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Morgan, vehicle mechanic from Colorado Springs, Colo., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, connects the stinger for towing a damaged vehicle July 4, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. Towing vehicles and repairing the damages is some of the motor pool shop’s main responsibility.  (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Wolford, mechanic from Hagerstown, Md., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, drills a relief hole as part of a modification to a tactical vehicle in the motor pool shop July 6, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. The motor pool shop performs modifications to tactical vehicles to enhance its operations and fix reoccurring problems. Water condensations builds inside of the tactical vehicle and will start to crack the doorframe, this modification gives a place for the water to escape the vehicle. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Morgan, vehicle mechanic from Colorado Springs, Colo., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, uses a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts of a tactical vehicle July 11, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. Replacing tires of a tactical vehicle is one of the maintenance responsibilities of the motor pool shop. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

By U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady

Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – After six long hours replacing a damaged part they tighten the final bolt of the tactical vehicle, conduct a final inspection to ensure everything is working properly, it is then signed off as completed, and the keys are handed back over to the truck commander. As soon as it pulls out another vehicle is being backed into the shop, signed in, they speak to the truck commander about the problem, and the process begins all over again. 

 “Our main mission is to provide maintenance to all tactical vehicles” said U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Gregory Cooke, maintenance chief from Richland Center, Wis., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, attached to Task Force White Eagle. “Motor pool gets a wide variety of problems so you never know what tomorrow will bring, from broken wreckers to pick-ups, we assess the situation and do our best to get it operational”

The motor pool, a six-person team, is responsible for the maintenance of approximately $50 million of equipment and auto repair parts on Forward Operating Base Ghazni Afghanistan. They provide maintenance on more than 40 pieces of PRT equipment and also assist with the Polish PRT vehicles

“A busy but rewarding job,” said Chief Cooke. “Our people rise to the challenge everyday and are not afraid to get their hands dirty”.

They get their hands dirty with replacing different parts of vehicles, changing oil, and recovering vehicles Additionally, the team goes. out with the PRT and tow tactical vehicles that become inoperable during missions.

“We assist the PRT with the recovering vehicles that gets blown-up, breaks down, or get stuck during missions,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Morgan, vehicle mechanic from Colorado Springs, Colo., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle. “We tow the damaged vehicle back to the base and begin fixing it. If it cannot be fixed we salvage parts from it and attach them to another vehicle that needs it”.

With all the vehicles they are responsible for a normal day is full of work. Finding out exactly what the problem is and prioritizing the vehicles is vital to maintaining all these vehicles.

“We get here early, inspect vehicles, talk with truck drivers to determine the problems, check for discrepancies, and fix the problems.” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Gordon, motor pool leading petty officer from Merrillville, Ind., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle. “We put out the workload, prioritize each vehicle, and maintain the primary and secondary vehicles to ensure they are available for any mission”

Having vehicles ready to travel throughout Ghazni is vital to the PRT mission.

 “We know 100 percent that our vehicles will be ready for the mission because of the work they put into it” said 1^st Lt. Casey Janke, civil affairs team leader from Green Bay, Wis., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle. “Our truck crew deals with them often after missions. We come to them with problems and their team does a great job solving the problem and getting the vehicle operational again.”

The motor pool shop provides the PRT with the security of knowing that every time their vehicle has been worked on and every time they operate their vehicle that the best maintenance available was provided on their vehicles.

“The last thing that needs to be in their minds is the truck’s operability,” said Petty Officer Gordon, “We allow them to stay focused on their mission outside the wire without having any mechanical issues on their minds.”

Spartans train to operate in stressful environments

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Spc. Brendan McDonald, infantryman from Franklin, Mass., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, and U.S. Army Spc. Nicholas Kole, infantryman from North Dighton, Mass., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, rolls a tire during the combat stress firing course July 13, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. This course consists of six mission oriented events that gives the members the feel of operating under stress. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Spc. Michael Desantis, infantryman from Maiden, Mass., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, pulls himself up for a pull-up while wearing full body armor during the combat stress firing course July 13, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. This course consists of six mission oriented events that gives the member the feel of operating under stress. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Spc. Michael Desantis, infantryman from Maiden, Mass., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, and U.S. Army Spc. John O’Donovan, infantryman from Taunton, Mass., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, races to the finish while another team races to the firing range during the combat stress firing course July 13, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. This course consists of six mission oriented events that gives the member the feel of operating under stress. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Sgt. George Malouf, infantry squad leader from Hingham, Mass., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, and U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kenneth Kinslow, communications specialist from Columbia, S.C., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, carry 50 cal ammunition boxes during the combat stress firing course July 13, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. This course consists of six mission oriented events that gives the members the feel of operating under stress. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Lynn Chaplin, corpsman  from Rosenhayn, N.J., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, fires rounds from his M-9 pistol as U.S. Army 1^st Lt. Robert Mulhern, infantry platoon leader from Boston, Mass., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, watches during the combat stress firing course July 13, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. This course consists of six mission oriented events that gives the member the feel of operating under stress. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class David Swearingen, communications specialist from Orange, Texas, assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, fires from the kneeling position during the combat stress firing course July 13, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. The members were required to accurately shoot targets from various positions after completing physically demanding tasks. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

Ghazni PRT completes dust off training

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Army Staff. Sergeant Prouty, helicopter pilot from, briefs the Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni members about the proper way to load and unload patients onto a helicopter during medical evacuation training July 3, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. This training ensures that the PRT can successfully help an injured personnel be evacuated without endangering the wounded or other PRT members. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni members carry a simulated patient to a helicopter during medical evacuation training July 3, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. This training ensures that the PRT can successfully help an injured personnel be evacuated without endangering the wounded or other PRT members. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A helicopter crew chief watches while Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni members rush to unload a simulated patient from a helicopter during medical evacuation training July 3, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. This training ensures that the PRT can successfully help an injured personnel be evacuated without endangering the wounded or other PRT members. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A helicopter crew chief watches while Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni members rush to unload a simulated patient from a helicopter during medical evacuation training July 3, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. This training ensures that the PRT can successfully help an injured personnel be evacuated without endangering the wounded or other PRT members. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan –Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni practice unloading patients from a helicopter during medical evacuation training July 3, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. This training ensures that the PRT can successfully move injured personnel on and off of a helicopter as a team. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

By Master Sgt. J. LaVoie
Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan -  Whether injured in a rowdy party after your favorite team won the Stanley cup, or in a fire fight in Afghanistan, the key to a quick recovery is getting to the hospital as
quickly as possible.  This is why PRT Ghazni recently took part in hot and cold load medical evacuation training.

The training, which covered things like loading patients into a running and static helicopter, as well as what the medical team is expecting, will allow Spartans to perform these tasks under pressure in the battlefield.

"It's an aspect of things you don't get to see unless something bad happens," said Pfc. Whitney Hyde, Provincial Reconstruction Team infantryman from West Tisbury, Mass. "It was good to see it in training."

By experiencing  this in training, Spartans will be able to react quickly if the time to load someone on a medical evacuation helicopter ever occurs.

"It's important to get a casualty to the next level of care as quickly as possible," said Sgt. Dennis Magnasco, PRT medic from East Boston, Mass.  "Having a familiarity with medivac makes that process much quicker."

According to Hyde, in addition to making loading a quick process, it also allows the medical personnel to focus on the right thing.

"The more we know what to do, the less they have to tell us what to do and can focus on our buddy," he said.  "It also gave me more faith. From meeting the guys and seeing them explain things, it gave me more faith in their ability and confidence that they will take care of us if something happens."

The PRT medical staff hopes to make medical evacuation, as other medical training, a regular part of the PRT schedule.

"It may not be important to the mission, but to health and welfare it's critical," said Magnasco. "It's important so we all come home."

Ghazni Spartans promoted

Congratulations to our four Spartans who were recently promoted:

Sgt. Colin Sheedy
Sgt Paul Cruwys
Sgt.  Jeremiah Lopez
Staff Sgt. Andrew Beerntsen

 Cpl. Colin Sheedy is promoted to sergeant during the ceremony. 

 Cpl. Paul Cruwys tries to hide a smile as he is promoted to sergeant.

Cpl. Jeremiah Lopez was the last to be promoted to sergeant.

Sgt. Andrew Beerntsen is now a Staff Sgt.

Congratulations to all of our promotees.



New commander takes charge of PRT Ghazni

In keeping with U.S. Navy Tradition, twenty two bells rang out as distinguished visitors from Task Force White Eagle and the Ghazni provincial government entered the at the Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team’s change of command.

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Tristan Rizzi, took command of the PRT from U.S. Navy Cmdr John Doolittle, during the ceremony, which also included a short speech by Ghazni Provincial Governor Musa Khan.

“The team has spent many good days with us and we hope the new team will continue this relationship,” said Khan. He added the PRT’s work will continue to live in Afghanistan. “Your good deeds will stay in the minds of the people. You may leave, but your good deeds and good behavior will stay.”

This sentiment of good deeds being remembered was echoed by Doolittle, who during his farewell speech, said the future would remember Ghazni’s officials. “To the government officials, you are the heroes. Your efforts are honorable and you are making a difference,” he said. “You are risking your life each day by working to improve governance in Afghanistan. I thank you. Your families thank you and the children of Afghanistan will thank you in the future.”

After taking command of the PRT, Rizzi assured the audience the work would not stop. “A wise person told me ‘make sure you make a difference,’” he said. “To my Polish counterparts and Afghan patriots, we pledge to continue the outstanding work already started by the previous PRT. My team pledges to make a difference.”

The ceremony ended with several members of the outgoing PRT being awarded medals, and thank you gifts being bestowed upon the departing commander.



 U.S. Navy Commander John Dolitte, outgoing provincial reconstruction team commander, salutes while entering the change of command ceremony July 7, 2011 at Ghazni province Afghanistan.

 Ghazni provincial governor Musa Khan speaks to the audience about the positive impact the provincial reconstruction team had for the future of Ghazni City during the change of command ceremony July 7, 2011 at Ghazni province Afghanistan.

 American, Polish, and Afghanistan leaders and soldiers watch U.S. Navy Commander Tristan Rizzi, incoming provincial reconstruction team commander, accepts command during the change of command ceremony July 7, 2011 at Ghazni province Afghanistan.

 U.S. Navy Commander John Dolitte, outgoing provincial reconstruction team commander, salutes as U.S. Navy Commander Tristan Rizzi, incoming provincial reconstruction team commander, accepts command from Polish Brigade General Andrzej Przekwas, Task Force White Eagle Commander, during the change of command ceremony July 7, 2011 at Ghazni province Afghanistan.

U.S. Navy Commander Tristan Rizzi, incoming provincial reconstruction team commander, speaks to the audience after accepting command during the change of command ceremony July 7, 2011 at Ghazni province Afghanistan.