American Morning
1,500 Marines set to ship out
It took three months for President Obama to decide on a troop surge strategy for Afghanistan. It took less than a week for the Pentagon to announce the first deployments.
About 1,500 U.S. Marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina just got the call. They're shipping out this month. Our Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence has the report from Camp Lejeune.
Afghans fighting back, one town at a time
President Obama will meet today with his top commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, and America's ambassador to Kabul, Karl Eikenberry.
As the president's war strategy starts falling into place, our Barbara Starr is already on the ground, embedded with U.S. forces.
Today she has the story of one village where Afghan forces are fighting back against the Taliban, and winning. It's a story you won't see anywhere else.
A Soldier's Story: 24 hours in the Army
Editor's Note: "A Soldier's Story" is a new original series by CNN's "American Morning" that will track three military recruits from their final days as civilians through deployment. Our Jason Carroll has been given unprecedented access by the Pentagon as the president outlines a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan. In part two, a new recruit spends his first 24 hours in the Army.
By Adam Reiss
As 18-year-old Will McLain leaves home for the first time there are tearful goodbyes with his parents. His mother Lori certainly did not want this day to come.
Will and his recruiter Sgt. Sheldon Rivers take the two hour drive to the processing center in Los Angeles where Will registers for the Army. He is asked about his tattoo and his medical records are thoroughly checked before he heads into the seminar to learn proper procedures for standing at attention.
"Sir yes sir!" Will is taught how to keep shoulders back and his stomach tucked in.
"I'm anxious, but I'm glad it's finally starting – like one of those days you don't think it will come and like bam it's here," says Will.
"Does anyone have any doubts, reservations or restrictions about joining the military?" shouts the drill instructor. "No sir" is the response from everyone.
"When I tell you to you are going to exit this bus quickly and safely, but the key word being quickly. Do you understand!," barks drill sergeant Crystal Scott as Will's bus arrives at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. It's two hours outside of St. Louis and a world away from his home outside Los Angeles. More than 200 soldiers reported for duty with Will on his first day. 30,000 a year go through the 43rd AG Reception Station, at 600 a week.
A Soldier's Story: Off to the Army
Editor's Note: Today we're beginning a new American Morning original series that will track three military recruits from their final days as civilians through deployment. Our Jason Carroll has been given unprecedented access by the Pentagon as the president outlines a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan. In the first piece, it's off to the Army for a high school football star who traded the gridiron to be all he can be.
By Jason Carroll
Will McLain is 18-years-old and a week away from taking the oath to enlist in the United States Army. We gave him a video camera to show us how he was passing the time; there were lots of parties.
“It’s always funny because even when I'm partying with my friends or something like that they always got to throw those Army jokes in. … They think I'm doing a good thing. They figure it’s better than just rotting away in Rosamond."
Rosamond, California is Will's hometown. It’s in the western Mojave Desert; a large stretch of land with a small population of about 14,000. A place Will McLain can't wait to leave.
“I'm kind of glad to be getting out of this little town because it gets old, but there's a lot of things you will miss, you know.”
It’s a place where dirt bike riding is surpassed only by motorcycle racing in popularity. We met up with Will the day before he was set to leave Rosamond. A day his 12-year-old brother didn't want to leave his side.
“I think it hits them more that I'm leaving. This last week, I think it's truly hit them,” says McLain.
Can war zone handle 30,000 new soldiers?
Secretary of State Clinton and Defense Secretary Gates will be back on Capitol Hill today to answer more questions about the president's new plan for Afghanistan. They'll be joined by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen.
Admiral Mullen spoke to Kiran Chetry on American Morning Thursday to talk about the unique challenges of sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan's rugged terrain by the summer of 2010.
Read more: Logistical problems could plague Afghan troop surge
Ft. Bragg families react to Afghanistan decision
The nation is refocusing on the war in Afghanistan, but at Fort Bragg it's been issue number one since the first parachute deployed.
The famed 82nd Airborne were among the first on the ground at Normandy in WWII, during President Bush's surge in Iraq, and in President Obama's first Afghan surge early this year. Now, more soldiers at Fort Bragg could get their orders in the next few days.
Our David Mattingly reports on the reaction to President Obama's speech at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
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