Broadcaster Teaches Iraqi Police

By Army Sgt. Kissta M. Feldner
2nd Brigade Combat Team
RAMADI, Iraq, Sept. 26, 2011 - Iraqi police serving here in Anbar province are becoming more independent as they conduct their own missions and capture terrorist leaders, requiring less and less U.S. assistance as time goes on.

Army Sgt. Tony McCaslin, public affairs broadcaster for the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, teaches an Iraqi police media team how to use the settings on their new video cameras in Ramadi, Iraq, Sept. 15, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kissta M. Feldner

However, negative reports from unsupportive news agencies and journalists using bad information can overshadow this good news. The Iraqi police decided to take matters into their own hands to ensure the public knows the truth.

Assisting the Iraqis in getting out their story is Army Sgt. Tony McCaslin, public affairs broadcaster for the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, and native of Fairfield, Maine.

An award-winning broadcast journalist, McCaslin was chosen to provide an instructional class to the media team at the Anbar Police Directorate in Ramadi, on Sept. 15.

McCaslin taught the Iraqis basic videographer skills to improve their ability to tell their story.

"The better their stories are, the more people will want to watch them," McCaslin said. "And if the people know the Anbar police have the facts, the people will trust them."

Iraqi police Lt. Ali Fakhri Abbas, media relations and public affairs director, said Iraqi officials noticed the Iraqi police public affairs cameramen were making mistakes, which is why they asked the Americans for training.

"This is our job," Ali said. "And we wanted to get more knowledge from the U.S. forces before they leave."

McCaslin chose to cover composition and video sequencing techniques that make the video more interesting to the viewer. But when the class began, he realized even those skills were more complex than most of the policemen were used to.

"Halfway through the class, I found out that some of them didn't even know how to use their new camera," he said. "What a lot of broadcasters would consider basic, they were having trouble with."

McCaslin changed his focus to covering basic features on the camera. The policemen recently purchased a professional-grade video camera, which was a huge step up from their old handhelds, and therefore more difficult to operate. The buttons are in English, adding another training issue for the native Arabic speakers.

McCaslin familiarized himself with the camera's settings as the policemen gathered close. One issue the Iraqi videographers surfaced was that footage they shoot in the harsh Iraqi sun would become overexposed and unusable. McCaslin showed them how to adjust the camera's white balance and filter features.

After the demonstration, he handed the camera off to class members to perform the techniques covered earlier in the day. The men practiced different camera angles, rule of thirds, and perspective shots to help them achieve varied effects.

"I could tell they were excited to use the new camera and to figure it out for the first time," he said. "I saw that they really want to do this."

The Iraqi police media teams throughout Anbar province have worked with U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army units in the past to improve their video abilities. After receiving classes and new equipment, they have become an integral part of police operations in Anbar as they have now created their own television program.

'The Punishment' is a widely watched series that highlights arrests made by the Iraqi police, including confessions from the criminals and on-the-scene re-enactments of the crimes. A broadcast of this type is just one way the Iraqi police media teams are broadening outreach to local audiences.

"They're making that connection between the police and the citizens of Anbar," McCaslin said, "and that makes all the difference."

Brooke Toner: Life After the Knock on the Door

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

Brooke Toner, wife of Navy Lt. j.g. Francis L. Toner IV, addresses audience members after being presented the Silver Star in honor of her husband at the at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., Sept. 23, 2011. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley 
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2011 - Brooke Toner was 28 years old the day she heard the knock on her door.That knock brought the news every military spouse dreads: for Brooke, it meant her husband of less than three years was never coming home."It was the worst day of my life," she told the capacity crowd gathered at the Navy Memorial here yesterday for the award ceremony honoring her husband, Navy Lt. j.g. Francis L. Toner IV.Toner died in Afghanistan while defending fellow service members from an enemy who had infiltrated the Afghan National Army. The Americans were unarmed and on a physical training run when the gunman started shooting. Toner accosted the man and bought time for another service member to seek help.After Brooke accepted her husband's posthumous Silver Star from Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, she told American Forces Press Service how she felt about the event, and how her life has changed since that knock on the door in 2009.Surrounded by hundreds of friends, family, and 'Frankie' Toner's fellow sailors, she said, "I'm just so proud of my husband. It's as simple as that. I'm just proud that he's a man who lived the way he did, who loved me the way that he did, just who he was as a person."Toner was a great friend, brother, support system to others and a Navy officer, she said."He was just so incredible," she added.Their first date was six years to the day before he was killed March 27, 2009, she said."I knew him for seven months before that; we started dating in 2003, and we were married in 2006," she said. "We were married for two years, seven months, eight days."Brooke said she is now involved in the American Widow Project, which a fellow military widow, Taryn Davis, founded after her own husband was killed.On the group's website under "our mission," visitors will find this:"Since 2001, nearly 6,000 U.S. service members have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Around half of these service members were married, leaving an estimated 3,000 military widows across our country. While the service member's sacrifice is acknowledged, many simply forget or fail to recognize the sacrifice of the spouse who is now left a widow of war. Oftentimes the invisible wounds of military widows are disregarded due to age or a simple lack of knowledge and understanding."The American Widow Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to the new generation of those who have lost the heroes of yesterday, today and tomorrow, with an emphasis on healing through sharing stories, tears and laughter ... military widow to military widow."Brooke said the organization "means a lot to me, because I know how alone I felt. Just being able to meet with other women who understand the love that I have for my husband, and understanding that it's forever."The group is "full of love, full of life, full of laughter, surprisingly," she said. "For me to be able to let another widow know that they're not alone, through the organization � I couldn't ask for a better gift, because I know how I felt."In the two and a half years since her husband died, Brooke said, she has moved back to Idaho, where her "entire family" lives."After not living there for 12 years, I decided it would be a good support system at home, which is wonderful," she said.She also got a dog, which she named Kailua after the place she lived with her husband in Hawaii."I call him Kai. We picked out the name � we wanted to name our pets after places where we had lived," she added.Brooke said she travels to retreats "with the widows" and helps Davis with the group in any capacity she can."I'm just keeping busy. Each day I wake up and say, 'I'm going to have a good day today.' Because it's not always easy," she said. "So I make myself smile, and I find a way to really live and love life, the way me and Frankie lived and loved life."

Related Sites: American Widow Project Related Articles: Ceremony Reveals Threads Connecting Military Life Mullen Presents Silver Star to Fallen Sailor's Widow

AFN-Iraq 'Freedom Radio' Goes Off Air

By Terri Moon Cronk American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2011 - The soundboard lights went dark for the last time when American Forces Network Radio�Iraq "Freedom Radio" went off the air at midnight Sept. 23, after an eight-year run in Baghdad. The station's ending closed a chapter in the final 100 days of the U.S. drawdown of Operation New Dawn in Iraq. Operated by Army Reserve broadcasters, AFN-Iraq hit the airwaves in March 2003, when a U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq to oust dictator Saddam Hussein. Since that time, the team of Army announcers kept service members entertained and informed with a variety of music, chat and news. "It's ... a morale boost for the troops," Army Staff Sgt. Brad Ruffin, an AFN-Iraq announcer, said of the broadcasts. "That why we're here. We do it for them." Army Sgt. Adam Prickel called entertainment an important factor in AFN-Iraq programming, "to get [the troops'] minds off something that might be stressing them out a little too much." Emails from listeners came in every day to say they enjoyed the music AFN-Iraq played, announcer Army Staff Sgt. Jay Townsend said. The final broadcast that began at 6 a.m. Sept. 23 was filled with listener requests, entertainment and special interviews. "We had shout-outs from celebrities, interviews with military leaders and the famed Adrian Cronauer," Sgt. 1st Class Don Dees said during his on-air shift.

Cronauer is the former AFN radio broadcaster who was the inspiration for the 1987 Hollywood film, "Good Morning, Vietnam."

Coming up on midnight for the final time, AFN-Iraq Freedom Radio played its most-requested song: "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue," by Toby Keith, Dees said.

Radio programming now gives way to AFN signals from other locations, he said.

AFN-Iraq, an Army Reserve 206th Broadcast Operation Detachment in Texas, will become AFN-Europe out of Germany, officials said.

"We lived by the motto, 'Always there, on the air,'" Dees said.

The station also plans to keep its Facebook page, which has 5,400 "friends," active. "We have decided to keep this page running indefinitely," according to a post on its wall.
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Operated children are undergoing Physiotherapy in CMC

Since May 2010, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana has been involved in operating Children who are physically challenged under the Project Sarva Siksha Abhayan (SSA). Dr. Santhosh Mathangi, Head of Department, Physical Medical and Rehabilitation (PMR) has successfully operated more than 250 cases of deformity correction and tendon releases.
Children with disability are coming from various parts of Punjab. Their complete assessment is done by a team of professionals which include an Orthopaedician, a Physiatrist (PMR), a Physiotherapist and a Rehab nurse. After which patients with deformities, contractures are admitted in Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana for operation.
Physiatrist (PMR) helps in goal setting of disabled patients and with the help of the whole team, patients benefit better.
There are only two PMR specialists in whole of Punjab. Dr. Santhosh is leading the PMR unit in CMC and  Hospital, Ludhiana.

Operated children are undergoing Physiotherapy in Christian Medical College and Hospital by Tanu Arora (Physiotherapist) after which they are able to walk independently with or without orthosis and perform activities of daily living in order to make life better for both patients and parents.
Rehabilitation main aim is to help these children with special needs with their disabilities to be able to make them independent in life which is achieved with 6-8 weeks of rehabilitation programme and ultimately help these children to go to school. Mr. Deepak, Govt. Officer for the Surgical Correction Project, SSA, Punjab says that he is quite satisfied with the kind of services Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana is providing.

A report released to Congress

McHugh Cites Major Improvements at Arlington National Cemetery

Army News Service WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2011 - Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh today released a report to Congress, updating improvements made at Arlington National Cemetery more than a year after he ousted the cemetery's leadership and made sweeping changes in its structure and oversight. Each grave in Arlington National Cemetery, Va., was decorated with an American flag on Memorial Day, May 30, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Anthony Walker  "In just over a year, the cemetery's new management team has made major progress in reconciling decades' worth of paper records with physical graveside inspections to regain accountability," McHugh wrote in a letter to members of Congress."They have put in place new policies and procedures to protect against and prevent the type of errors uncovered in the Army's previous investigations," the letter says. "Equipment and training have been modernized, contracting procedures revamped, a historic partnership created with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the workforce improved and reinvigorated, and ongoing outreach and information has been provided to family members and the American public." McHugh provided the report to congressional oversight committees in response to legislation seeking the status of reforms he directed. In compiling the report, McHugh directed the Army's inspector general to again inspect the facility to determine compliance. An earlier inspector general report, also ordered by McHugh, found failures in management and oversight that contributed to the loss of accountability, lack of proper automation, ineffective contract compliance and a dysfunctional workforce. "Perhaps most important, the inspector general found the mismanagement that existed prior to these changes no longer exists," he told Congress yesterday. "And that significant progress has been made in all aspects of the cemetery's performance, accountability and modernization. "We're confident that the Army is on the right path toward repairing the cemetery's failures and restoring the confidence of Congress and the American people," he added. McHugh noted that even while making massive improvements in the cemetery's management and oversight, the pace of 27 to 30 funeral services per day -- many with full military honors -- has not abated. "Since 1864, the United States Army has been steward of this, the country's only active military shrine," he said. "I believe this report will demonstrate the Army's steadfast commitment to repairing what was broken in the past, and ensuring America's continued confidence in the operation of its most hallowed ground."

Biographies: John M. McHugh