An Army soldier from Reinbeck has died in Afghanistan, defense officials said Saturday.

Command Sgt. Maj. John Keith Laborde, 53, died Thursday at Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan in an incident not linked to combat, according to officials.

Details about the incident have not been released.

Laborde was part of the 649th Regional Support Group in Cedar Rapids.

1st Lt. Michael Meyer of the 103rd Expeditionary Support Command confirmed the death. Command Sergeant Major Laborde led a distinguished career of over 31 years in the military. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family here in Iowa, and to his comrades-in-arms still serving in Afghanistan,” Meyer said in a statement.  Read more... (360 words, 1 image, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – The RCMP has started looking at how to continue the police training mission in Afghanistan after the Canadian military pulls out next year, the Mounties’ top man said Saturday.

But Commissioner William Elliot noted there are a number of details and variables to be worked out, among them, who would protect and transport the police trainers as they go about their business in the volatile country.

“We’re at the beginning of looking at options, but there are a lot more questions than answers at the moment,” Elliot told reporters after wrapping up a brief visit to Kandahar.  Read more... (539 words, 1 image, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)

KANDAHAR — The RCMP has started looking at how to continue the police training mission in Afghanistan after the Canadian military pulls out next year, the Mounties’ top man said Saturday.

But Commissioner William Elliot noted there are a number of details and variables to be worked out, among them, who would protect and transport the police trainers as they go about their business in the volatile country.

“We’re at the beginning of looking at options, but there are a lot more questions than answers at the moment,” Elliot told reporters after wrapping up a brief visit to Kandahar.  Read more... (538 words, 1 image, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)

The statement in parliament today by Bob Ainsworth, secretary of state for defence, focuses on enhancements to military capability in Afghanistan and the penalties elsewhere in defence: 22 new Chinooks there, one less RAF base here. While no money is to be cut from the 2010-11 defence budget, it is not being increased as necessary to maintain levels of capability. Most important, the £900m of enhancements for Afghanistan are to be funded from the defence budget, and not from the central reserve – a major change, with serious implications for the longer term.  Read more... (587 words, 1 image, estimated 2:21 mins reading time)

The Canadian army is cutting back on training, travel, maintenance and the purchases of computers and commercial vehicles as it scrambles to find $80 million in savings between now and March.

Some part-time soldiers, some who have just finished serving in Afghanistan, are also being shown the door as their full-time regular force contracts are eliminated. They have the option of going back to the reserves or joining the full-time regular force.

News of the cuts, circulating over the last week within the ranks, was originally thought to affect the reserve force. But the regular army also will be hit by cutbacks, although the positions of full-time soldiers will not be touched.  Read more... (600 words, 1 image, estimated 2:24 mins reading time)