Soldiers Visit Shangar Village And School
There is a checkpoint for inspections on the roadway near Shangar Village. Coalition soldiers constructed the checkpoint, and have manned it up until about six months ago.
Recently, soldiers and Afghan Army members trained by the 2/503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment have provided the manpower for the checkpoint. The Afghanistan soldiers have proven to work out extremely well. The villagers are pleased because they know the members of the Afghanistan Army unit that mans the checkpoint, many of the Army personnel have relatives in the village, and at least two of the Afghanistan soldiers live in Shangar village with their families themselves. During their tour of duty manning the checkpoint, the soldiers from the 2/503rd parachute infantry regiment, Able Company, 4th platoon were involved in renovation and rebuilding the school at Shangar.
The Coalition soldiers stopped back in to visit at Shangar Village, to see how the checkpoint is doing, and to share with the children some gifts and supplies that they had collected. The soldiers were very pleased, the ANP who were manning the checkpoint were friendly, and very professional. They observed for over two hours the ANP as they checked both villagers and military personnel passing through the checkpoint. All people were treated with respect by the ANP, and the ANP personnel were alert, friendly and kept their military bearing despite the warm muggy weather.
During their visit with the school children, they were treated almost like rock stars, the children had smiles on their faces and they were very glad to receive the goods, toys and candy that the Coalition soldiers brought to them as gifts.
