“Under the Taliban, less than 9,000 boys and almost no girls had access to education [in Afghanistan]. Today, more than 8 million children, more than a third of whom are girls, are enrolled in school.”
Troops
Walking Through an IED Minefield “On a Daily Basis”
Last Thursday the House Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee held a hearing on the Pentagon’s efforts to defeat improvised explosive devices, the homemade bombs that are now the leading cause of death among U.S. …
Power Up
Better the Second Time Around
Army Major Jeremy Hall pulled two tours as an Army engineer north of Baghdad – first in 2007 and 2008, and then again in 2010 and 2011. He faced challenges during his initial deployment, but was glad he went back for a second …
A Modest Proposal…
If someone had told Battleland when he was a whippersnapper on the defense beat that this pair of statements would be issued on the same day by the nation’s two ground forces, we wouldn’t have believed it:
— The Army announces that Major Nidal Hasan, the psychiatrist who faces trial for allegedly killing 13 people at Fort Hood
…
Bastion: Bulwark or Bullseye?
Last weekend, a band of 15 Taliban fighters attacked Camp Bastion in Afghanistan’s Helmand province and killed two Marines while inflicting the most damage on U.S. warplanes since the Vietnam war’s Tet offensive 44 years …
The Military’s Anti-Suicide Push: Old Wine, New Bottles
September is suicide prevention month. The military has focused again on reducing suicide, which is absolutely appropriate. But I am troubled by the use of old, already tried/tired (failed?) methods for reducing suicide.
Soldiers and other service members do not need more suicide awareness-type campaigns. They are smart, and well …
“Anybody Home?”
Defense In Depth
“I predict that traumatic brain injury is going to be the Agent Orange of this conflict.”
Iraq: Will Over Skill
Army Major David Cutright served twice in Iraq – in 2003-04 with the 3rd Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division, and in 2009-10 with the 1st Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division, when he was in an advise-and-assist role to the …
Substance Abuse in Uniform: Some Good Outside Advice
“Green on Blue” Attacks Trigger Changes on the Ground
COMBAT OUTPOST GARDA, WARDAK PROVINCE — The jumble of Afghan soldiers stood in the shade of a wall, waiting for orders to prepare for drills from their American trainers. Suddenly the thump of an explosion sent them scattering. …