FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) -- Fort Campbell soldiers who are preparing for deployments to Afghanistan celebrated the Islamic holiday Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, by sharing a meal, conversing in Afghan languages and learning traditional dances and games.
Thousands of troops from the Tennessee-Kentucky state line will be returning to Afghanistan this year, but their roles will be shifting from combat to advising and assisting Afghanistan troops and police.
On Wednesday, the 101st Airborne Division commanding general, Maj. Gen. James McConville, gave a short speech in Dari, one of two Afghan languages taught to soldiers at Fort Campbell.
McConville said these language and cultural skills will be a critical tool for division soldiers in their new mission to hand off security responsibilities to the Afghan forces.
