When it comes to all successful military operations, precise execution is the name of the game, which is the key point being taught in a new air assault course being taught at the Afghan National Army Air Corps base in Kabul. The new course is designed to create fully qualified and capable air crews with the ability to conduct air assault missions designed to accurately insert and retrieve grounds forces from an unprepared landing zone, on a specific time table, as well as plan for any number of contingencies.

Shuras outnumbered military engagements the last few days. At the invitation of Helmand governor Gulab Mangal, Nad-e Ali deputy district governor Haji Zahir held a shura in Marjah attended by 200 residents. The deputy district governor spoke about improving security conditions and said that more Afghan national police would be posted in Marjah.

The littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Freedom (LCS 1) achieved its first drug seizure Feb. 22 when it disrupted a high-speed "go-fast" vessel and recovered more than a quarter of a ton of cocaine. Freedom, with embarked Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, an LCS Surface Warfare Mission Package and a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET), was conducting counter-illicit trafficking (CIT) operations in U.S.

An Afghan-international security force searched a vehicle yesterday just outside Marjah in Helmand's Nad Ali District after intelligence information indicated militant activity. A search of the vehicle indicated a Taliban commander was possibly in a nearby village, which the joint force searched with the assistance of local elders. During the operation the security force detained several men for further questioning. In other operations, an ANSF-ISAF patrol discovered a weapons cache consisting of 22 mortar rounds of various sizes in Manduzai District, Khost province yesterday.

The last 24 hours have seen fewer engagements with insurgents. Despite this relative calm, IEDs and insurgent gunmen continue to pose a threat to civilians and security forces. Afghan national security forces are taking the lead in responding to local incidents, including a suicide IED attack in Lashkar Gah that killed eight Afghans and wounded 16. Afghan national police immediately responded to the attack site outside the Transport Department and bus station.

With the surge to Afghanistan now underway, thousands of XM-153 Common Remotely Operated Weapons Stations, known as CROWS, will soon be taking flight to strengthen U.S. Army forces in theater. Program Executive Office Soldier is ramping up its stateside logistics efforts and is in the process of establishing three new CROWS support sites in Afghanistan.

Afghan soldiers from the 207th Commando Kandak, assisted by coalition forces, captured a Taliban leader and known weapons facilitator, in Gerani village, Bala Balouk District, Farah province Sunday. After the mission, Afghan and coalition leaders met with village elders to assess the security of the village and distribute food and medical supplies.