American Legion Post 50 SAL 50 New York USA
| November 11, 2008 WVOX 1460 AM WVOX.com Sons of the American Legion Radio Report Special Veterans Day Edition 7:20 to 7:40 AM |
A special Veteran's Day Edition of the "Sons of the American Legion Radio Report to
be aired live at 7:20 AM EST will host a call from a US Army officer located in
Afghanistan who is in charge of building schools for children.
Lt. Col. Mike Hoblin, from the New York National Guard, lives in New City, Rockland
County but works in Queens. He is a graduate of Fordham University and runs the
task force reconstruction program and humanitarian support efforts for the Afghans.
See the attached release.
Following the call with Col. Hoblin, a "Freedom Team Salute " will be conducted
honoring two veterans of the US Army and Army Air Corps. Honored will be New
Rochelle resident Melvin Garrett, a past state commander of the VFW, and US Army
veteran from 1945 to 1946. Also to be recognized will be a long time veteran of the
US Force William Ioris of Pelham. Col. Ioris began his military career as a B29
crewmember in the Army Air Forces at the end of WWII.
The "Sons of the American Legion Radio Report" can be heard live on WVOX
1460 AM in Westchester County and around the world on WVOX.com. The show is
held on the first, third, fourth and (Fifth) Tuesdays of each month from 2:30 to 3:00
PM.
The host of the program is Kenneth G. Kraetzer, Commander of Sons of the American
Legion in Pelham, NY; Vice Commander for Westchester County, and Vice
Commander for New York State.
The co-host on this segment was John Chuhran, a New Rochelle based PR executive
and Sons of the American Legion member.
Our next segment will be on Monday November 17th at 2:30 PM.
be aired live at 7:20 AM EST will host a call from a US Army officer located in
Afghanistan who is in charge of building schools for children.
Lt. Col. Mike Hoblin, from the New York National Guard, lives in New City, Rockland
County but works in Queens. He is a graduate of Fordham University and runs the
task force reconstruction program and humanitarian support efforts for the Afghans.
See the attached release.
Following the call with Col. Hoblin, a "Freedom Team Salute " will be conducted
honoring two veterans of the US Army and Army Air Corps. Honored will be New
Rochelle resident Melvin Garrett, a past state commander of the VFW, and US Army
veteran from 1945 to 1946. Also to be recognized will be a long time veteran of the
US Force William Ioris of Pelham. Col. Ioris began his military career as a B29
crewmember in the Army Air Forces at the end of WWII.
The "Sons of the American Legion Radio Report" can be heard live on WVOX
1460 AM in Westchester County and around the world on WVOX.com. The show is
held on the first, third, fourth and (Fifth) Tuesdays of each month from 2:30 to 3:00
PM.
The host of the program is Kenneth G. Kraetzer, Commander of Sons of the American
Legion in Pelham, NY; Vice Commander for Westchester County, and Vice
Commander for New York State.
The co-host on this segment was John Chuhran, a New Rochelle based PR executive
and Sons of the American Legion member.
Our next segment will be on Monday November 17th at 2:30 PM.
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COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE PHOENIX VII
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
CAMP PHOENIX
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
APO AE 09320
paul.a.fanning@afghan.swa.army.mil
For immediate release:
20 October 2008
U.S. support brings growth to Kabul school
TAJWAR SULTANA GIRLS SCHOOL, KABUL (19 October 2008) -- Afghan children are
benefiting and thriving thanks to sustained efforts by a U.S. task force and a program that is
helping to expand and improve their schools.
A new addition to a Kabul school was opened over the weekend in a ceremony that included
Afghan officials, school faculty, U.S. military officials and local contractors who completed the
work.
"This is the greatest day of my life. I feel as though I am the mother of all these children,”
said Principal Rabia Abdullah. “We used to teach them in tents and now we have a school."
The Tajwar Sultana Girls School is located within the City of Kabul, Police District 4 in a
village known as Kololah Pushta. More than 4,000 students, mostly girls, attend classes
there in three shifts each day. The curriculum includes primary school in the morning, high
school in the midday and middle school in the afternoon.
Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix (CJTF-Phoenix), based at Camp Phoenix in Kabul has
been investing U.S. funds in Afghan school and community construction and rehabilitation
projects through the Commanders Emergency Response Program (CERP) as part of its
mission to support the government of Afghanistan and its people. The task force has the
primary mission of training and mentoring the Afghan National Army and Police but engages
in other supporting efforts to build infrastructure and communities as part of the larger effort
to assist Afghanistan.
With an investment of $185,000 through CERP, Afghan contractors built a new school under
CJTF-Phoenix supervision with 10 classrooms that was opened at the end of April 2008.
The construction plan was coordinated with the Ministry of Education, which also assisted
with the design.
Additional projects to add a new story with 10 more classrooms at a cost of $155,000 and to
make improvements to an older building at a cost of $58,000 were completed last month.
Previously, many classes were held outside or under tents because an existing structure
built almost 30 years ago was in poor condition and there was not enough space to meet
student needs.
The faculty includes 120 teachers who have all been trained at one of the Ministry of
Education’s training centers. Teachers earn between 4,000 to 6,000 Afghanis per month,
which equates to about $100 to $140.
The projects have resulted in the construction of 20 new classrooms and the renovation of
30 more. While the student population has grown significantly since the fall of the Taliban,
the student per classroom numbers at Tajwar Sultana has dropped from 70 to almost 35 –
the recommended maximum by the Ministry of Education. In addition, the school is
positioned to expand its curriculum for computer and science programs. “Education is the
future of our country," said Najibullah Kamran, City of Kabul Director of Education.
"When I first came to Afghanistan I did not know what I would focus my time on,” said Lt. Col.
Michael Hoblin, a New York Army National Guard officer serving as the director of CJTF-
Phoenix’s Civil Military Operations office. “After my first school opening I realized education
was the key to progress. How can Afghanistan have a bright future if the children are not
educated?” he said. “We have built or started construction on 47 schools throughout
Afghanistan. If you look into the eyes of these children you can see hope. These kids need
and deserve our help. There is progress here.”
-30-
081019-A-4754R-0773A The new Tajwar Sultana Girls School serves nearly 4,000 students
from primary through high school grades.
081019-A-4754R-0813A Lieutenant Colonel Michael Hoblin presents Najibullah Kamran,
City of Kabul Director of Education with the keys to the school’s front door during the
opening ceremony for the school’s new wing.
081019-A-4754R-0817A Afghan girls and boys are delighted with their new school.
081019-A-4754R-0759A The school includes a playground.
081019-A-4754R-0752A Afghan students shown at their desks in one of the new
classrooms.
U.S. Army photos by Captain Robert Romano (released.)
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
CAMP PHOENIX
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
APO AE 09320
paul.a.fanning@afghan.swa.army.mil
For immediate release:
20 October 2008
U.S. support brings growth to Kabul school
TAJWAR SULTANA GIRLS SCHOOL, KABUL (19 October 2008) -- Afghan children are
benefiting and thriving thanks to sustained efforts by a U.S. task force and a program that is
helping to expand and improve their schools.
A new addition to a Kabul school was opened over the weekend in a ceremony that included
Afghan officials, school faculty, U.S. military officials and local contractors who completed the
work.
"This is the greatest day of my life. I feel as though I am the mother of all these children,”
said Principal Rabia Abdullah. “We used to teach them in tents and now we have a school."
The Tajwar Sultana Girls School is located within the City of Kabul, Police District 4 in a
village known as Kololah Pushta. More than 4,000 students, mostly girls, attend classes
there in three shifts each day. The curriculum includes primary school in the morning, high
school in the midday and middle school in the afternoon.
Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix (CJTF-Phoenix), based at Camp Phoenix in Kabul has
been investing U.S. funds in Afghan school and community construction and rehabilitation
projects through the Commanders Emergency Response Program (CERP) as part of its
mission to support the government of Afghanistan and its people. The task force has the
primary mission of training and mentoring the Afghan National Army and Police but engages
in other supporting efforts to build infrastructure and communities as part of the larger effort
to assist Afghanistan.
With an investment of $185,000 through CERP, Afghan contractors built a new school under
CJTF-Phoenix supervision with 10 classrooms that was opened at the end of April 2008.
The construction plan was coordinated with the Ministry of Education, which also assisted
with the design.
Additional projects to add a new story with 10 more classrooms at a cost of $155,000 and to
make improvements to an older building at a cost of $58,000 were completed last month.
Previously, many classes were held outside or under tents because an existing structure
built almost 30 years ago was in poor condition and there was not enough space to meet
student needs.
The faculty includes 120 teachers who have all been trained at one of the Ministry of
Education’s training centers. Teachers earn between 4,000 to 6,000 Afghanis per month,
which equates to about $100 to $140.
The projects have resulted in the construction of 20 new classrooms and the renovation of
30 more. While the student population has grown significantly since the fall of the Taliban,
the student per classroom numbers at Tajwar Sultana has dropped from 70 to almost 35 –
the recommended maximum by the Ministry of Education. In addition, the school is
positioned to expand its curriculum for computer and science programs. “Education is the
future of our country," said Najibullah Kamran, City of Kabul Director of Education.
"When I first came to Afghanistan I did not know what I would focus my time on,” said Lt. Col.
Michael Hoblin, a New York Army National Guard officer serving as the director of CJTF-
Phoenix’s Civil Military Operations office. “After my first school opening I realized education
was the key to progress. How can Afghanistan have a bright future if the children are not
educated?” he said. “We have built or started construction on 47 schools throughout
Afghanistan. If you look into the eyes of these children you can see hope. These kids need
and deserve our help. There is progress here.”
-30-
081019-A-4754R-0773A The new Tajwar Sultana Girls School serves nearly 4,000 students
from primary through high school grades.
081019-A-4754R-0813A Lieutenant Colonel Michael Hoblin presents Najibullah Kamran,
City of Kabul Director of Education with the keys to the school’s front door during the
opening ceremony for the school’s new wing.
081019-A-4754R-0817A Afghan girls and boys are delighted with their new school.
081019-A-4754R-0759A The school includes a playground.
081019-A-4754R-0752A Afghan students shown at their desks in one of the new
classrooms.
U.S. Army photos by Captain Robert Romano (released.)
US Army veteran Mel Garrett and US Army Air Force veteran William Ioris receive the US
Army Freedom Team Salute Recognition awards presented at WVOX by Ken Kraetzer of
the Sons of the American Legion. Below Bob Marrone welcomes the two veterans to WVOX.
Army Freedom Team Salute Recognition awards presented at WVOX by Ken Kraetzer of
the Sons of the American Legion. Below Bob Marrone welcomes the two veterans to WVOX.