Afghan National Army Private Mohammed Khaili, the 100,000th BWC graduate to go through literacy training, is awarded a plaque and pen at Kabul Military Training Center in Kabul, Afghanistan, July 28, 2011, in recognition of the Afghan National Security Force's accomplishments in the realm of education and literacy. Basic Warrior Training Kandak 162 graduated 1,287 soldiers, all of whom will continue military and literacy training at various Afghan National Army Branch Schools or the Consolidated Fielding Center in Kabul. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael James

The Afghan National Army graduated 1,287 soldiers from Basic Warrior Training at Kabul Military Training Center, July 28, including a special commemoration marking the graduation of the 100,000 Afghan National Security Force literacy program trainee.

ANA soldier Mohammed Khalil, graduating with BWT Kandak 162, was chosen to represent the 100,000th literacy graduate. He was awarded a commemorative certificate and writing pen.

“Education is vitally important. When we become educated, it gives us the ability to recognize our friends from our enemies,” said Khalil. “Education will take us from the darkness to the light.”

The recognition of the 100,000th graduate of literacy training represents a milestone in the professional development of the Afghan National Security Force, which consists of the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and Afghan Air Force.

Literacy training was integrated into the ANSF required curriculum in November 2009 and has been expanding rapidly since. There are currently more than 86,000 soldiers and policemen enrolled in some level of literacy training.

“I am the eldest of six brothers; I do all I can to provide for them,” said Khalil. “I am now able to take the lessons I learned in Basic Warrior Training and share them with my brothers.”

The goal set by Afghan and coalition leadership is for all literacy program students to read at a first grade level by the end of basic training. The literacy education received by such large numbers of young Afghans is expected to have far-reaching effects throughout Afghan culture.

“Literacy is the basic tenant for building partnering capacity and professionalizing an already very capable ANSF,” said U.S. Army Col. Ken Lenig, Force Integration Director, NATO Training Mission Afghanistan.

Today’s graduates of the Basic Warrior Training course will go on to attend branch schools and leadership courses offering specialization in military proficiencies as well as continued literacy training.

NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan
By: U.S. Navy Petty Officer Michael James

When Diatullah returned to Afghanistan following a nine-year absence from his home in central Afghanistan, 17-year-old Ibrahim just enlisted in the Afghan National Army. Diatullah joined the ANA shortly afterward. That was six years ago.

Since then, 39-year-old Diatullah and 23-year-old Ibrahim have run missions together in Kandahar, Zabul and Helmand provinces as ANA Commandos trained by members of Special Operations Task Force – South, near Kandahar Airfield.

Today they are squad leaders in the ANA’s 3rd Commando Kandak, assisted by the same SOTF–South weapons sergeant who trained them in 2008.

“Last trip I worked with them on just about every mission, and we did similar direct-action missions then as we’re doing now,” said the weapons sergeant. “I was one of the lead advisors for their company and platoon; and comparing this squad to the others, [Ibrahim and Diatullah’s] leadership has definitely trickled down to the commandos in their squad,” he said.

Born just 30 miles from each other but separated by more than 17 years, Diatullah and Ibrahim arrived at the ANA from very different places in life.

THE YOUNGER

As an adolescent, Ibrahim had been attending school near his home in Baghlan province when the Taliban rose to power in the mid-1990s.

“When the Taliban came, they didn’t let us go to school anymore, so my family moved to Pakistan where it was safer for us,” Ibrahim said. “But we wanted very much to get back to our country and to live in our home again.”

Once they received word that the Taliban had been removed from power by early 2002, Ibrahim and his family moved back to Baghlan and back to their family’s compound. But by then, he said, he had reached the age where his family now depended on him to earn money to help provide for everyone.

Joining the ANA allowed Ibrahim to take care of his two biggest concerns at the time: patriotism and family.

“Even today, when I go back home on leave, I tell the young people that they can support their family and serve their country if they become a commando,” he said.

THE ELDER

Diatullah has served his country in two different decades of fighting.
In the 1980s, he fought the Soviets as a young man with the mujahedeen. It was a difficult time, he said, because the Soviets conscripted his brother to be a soldier in the Soviet army.

“For six months he was gone in Moscow for training to become an officer,” Diatullah said.

Not long after returning to Afghanistan, he got word that his brother was killed in a tank battle. Diatullah was wounded in fighting during that period, but it was a minor injury to his leg and not something with lasting effects.

Then life slowly began stabilizing for Diatullah’s family after the Soviets left Afghanistan, he said. By this time, his family was just his mother and his wife.

But when the Taliban rose to power, Diatullah’s family moved to Iran for safety. Then tragedy befell them all when a dispute with an Iranian soldier landed Diatullah in prison for seven years. He never saw them alive again.

“When I returned to Parwan,” he said, “I found that my wife and my mother had just died. I had only two younger brothers and no job.”

So Diatullah joined the ANA as a 33-year-old experienced fighter. His SOTF-South mentors have warmed to him because of his maturity and experience – and his signature mustache.

“We call him ‘mustache’ because he looks like that guy on the coffee can,” said the SOTF-South weapons sergeant. “He’s an old dude; but he and ‘Rahim’ are about the best I could ask for when working with a partnered force.”

A SOTF-South engineer sergeant said he’s worked with Diatullah and Ibrahim for the last four missions, and both are “probably the most squared-away” of all the commandos.

“They’re all proactive when we’re out there pulling security throughout the night,” he said. “Their assertiveness – you should hear ‘Rahim’ yell – and their concern for the most basic needs of their soldiers gives them credibility. Their squad listens when they talk.”

During their latest mission in Kandahar province’s Zhari district, Diatullah spent the early part of their first evening teaching their fellow commando, Rahmad, how to write up a guard roster for the squad’s evening watch.

Once the squad began their shift on an evening when temperatures dipped below freezing, both Ibrahim and Diatullah took turns adding logs to the fire they built to keep their squad warm throughout the evening.

“We have worked with each other for about five years, and he has become my closest friend,” Ibrahim said.

Both Ibrahim and Diatullah hope to continue their success as commandos, with the goal of one day earning selection for training as a member of the ANA Special Forces.

“We can’t worry too much about the future of Afghanistan, because that is up to God,” Diatullah said. “But I hope that one day we can help it become at least as secure as other foreign countries.”

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Story by Sgt. Benjamin Watson

An Afghan-led force killed more than 20 insurgents and destroyed more than 40 improvised explosive devices in northwestern Kandahar province during a three-day operation that ended Nov. 29.

The operation consisted of forces from the Afghan Border Police and Afghan National Army commandos, partnered with soldiers from Special Operations Task Force – South.

As the forces cleared their initial objective, area citizens provided information leading to further exploitation of the surrounding areas. The information came during evening shuras between area residents and the partnered force.

Following these discussions, the combined element decided to continue the operation past its planned 24-hour timeframe.

In all, the operation led to the discovery of two drug processing facilities, multiple explosives manufacturing facilities including nearly nine tons (8,500 kilograms in 170 50-kilogram bags) of explosives, 41 Kalashnikov assault rifles and eight high-caliber machine guns with 1,000 rounds.

The partnered force also cleared 41 IED’s from the area.

Elsewhere in northern Kandahar province’s Shah Wali Kot district, the District Governor Haji Obidullah and Afghan National Army special forces, along with their from Special Operations Task Force – South partners, located two weapons storage sites following tips from local citizens, Nov. 28.

The partnered force found almost 10,000 rounds of ammunition, multiple 82 mm mortar rounds, five rocket-propelled grenade warheads and a wide variety of IED-making material to include detonation cord, blasting caps and pressure plates.

Also in Kandahar province’s Arghandab district, Afghan National Police recovered two IED’s along a well-travelled road Nov. 29. Soldiers from Special Operations Task Force – South safely disposed of the IED’s.

No civilian casualties or property damage resulted from these operations.

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BARG-E MATAL, Afghanistan – ANA Soldiers stand guard after reclaiming Barg-e Matal on July 26.

Afghan National Security Forces, with support from their coalition partners, continued to secure Barg-e Matal on July 27.

Soldiers from the Afghan National Army conducted an air assault July 25 in order to reinforce security in the village, located in the Nuristan province.

The combined assault force took deliberate steps to avoid hurting any innocent civilians during the operation.

ISAF provided air support, supplies, and a small force in support of operation. The support helped the ANSF further secure the town, continuing their disruption of insurgent operations throughout the region.

Once operations conclude, follow-on efforts will include projects to reinforce security.

US Army RC East

Villagers return to the village of Barg-e Matal following the arrival of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan forces July 26

The third part of this series focuses on the Afghan National Police (ANP). Canadian Maj. Gen. Mike Ward, deputy commander-Police, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, recently briefed bloggers on the current state of the ANP and the progress made since the NTM was established.

Afghanistan created its national police academy about 75 years ago. However, the next step, a police staff college, has not existed for some 40 years. Many ANP recruits were going into the field without having been through the academy first.

NTM is working with its Afghan partners to create an ANP staff college as well as a non-commissioned officers academy. The Afghan National Civil Order Police just identified fifty outstanding NCOs who are being sent to a six month training course where they will emerge as officers. The Western model of a police officer working his way up the chain of command to Chief has not been the usual way in Afghanistan and this program will leaven the ANCOP officer ranks with men who have experience in the enlisted ranks.

Ward talked about the ANP’s reputation for corruption. A recent pay increase has brought police pay into parity with military pay. That has affected the need for shakedowns for many of the police. It has also increased recruitment.

General Ward told the bloggers that nearly 30 nations are providing training to the Afghan police, either through the NATO framework or in bi-lateral missions. Training is going on within Afghanistan at 27-30 different sites. At this time, NATO is concerned about building Afghan capacity so the policy is to use training outside of the country very sparingly.

One other issue that Ward discussed was the ethnic balance of the police. In this case, unlike the army, many of the local police units reflect the ethnic makeup of the local community. The national police leadership is reflective of ethnic balance, but the boots on the ground reflect their community. He pointed out that within ethnic groups there are tribal divisions, and it is possible that some tribes may feel unrepresented and left out of local policing.

SSgt. Sarah Brown, USAF, recently authored a piece discussing many of these same topics. Titled Fixing the Afghan National Police, it covered the work of the Kandahar Regional Training Center, where a six week course trains police recruits. Each session can train 316 police officers, and the trainees include many serving police who never received basic training. By October 2010, the goal is to have 109,000 serving Afghan National Police.

Major General Ward responded to a piece about the ANP on the CIGI website April 4, 2010. He identified the NTM priorities as “Quality and Quantity, and Leader development”. He identified long term staffing goals as having 120,000 police by March of 2011 and 134,000 police by October 2011.

Ward described the basic police training as 265 instruction hours with a week of 5.5 days. In those hours are 64 hours of literacy instruction for every new police officer.

It is clear from Maj. Gen. Ward’s comments that the ANP have some challenges to overcome. Additional personnel from both allied police agencies and the military are augmenting the training staff and mentoring existing police units in the field. The future course of the ANP remains less clear than of Afghanistan’s military.

The interviews about the training mission of NATO with the Afghan National Army and Police continued with Col. John Ferrari, deputy of programs for NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan.

Col. Ferrari talked with us about the logistics and contract management for both the Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghan National Police (ANP). It is very clear to NATO that the ability of Afghanistan to support and sustain its security forces must be encouraged and assisted. Little native industry survived the past thirty years of war and the Afghan First policy is intended to change that situation.

One of the ways that NTM is growing the Afghan economy and its ability to support the Army and National Police is by purchasing from local vendors. Brig. Gen. Gary Patton talked talked about the sole Afghan boot factory in his March interview. That factory has now produced its first 2,000 pairs of boots made to U.S. Military specifications and they are being field tested.

Col. Ferrari said that this effort has prompted at least two other companies to build factories to compete for the Army contract to provide boots. Uniforms for the security forces are also sewn in Afghanistan, though the fabric is imported. Several businesses are building in the hopes of entering that market, as well.

Ferrari also told us that in the next few weeks contracts would be let to women owned Afghan businesses for the provision of blankets and poncho liners. This is obviously something new for this generation of Afghans.

A company is setting up a furniture factory, with the hope of winning a contract to supply the security forces.

An army marches on its paper and the Afghan army is no different. Paper is imported but there are both public and private printing firms. The Ministry of Defense has its own printing plant. Local Afghan companies are printing materials such as pamphlets used in retention and recruitment efforts locally in Kabul.

Col. Ferrari pointed to the dates and goals which have been announced for staffing. This has enabled NTM and the Afghan ministries to project equipment needs and to plan contracting and ordering well into the future. Certain commodities may fall short in quantity due to unforeseen conditions but the logistics of equipping the new forces are planned and being prepared for.

The Afghan security forces buy their own food. With mentoring and training from NTM, other needs such as fuel, concrete and barrier materials, as well as water systems for base camps, will be moved to the Afghan ministries for contracting and purchasing by next summer.

As part of the forthcoming operations in the Afghan south in and around Kandahar, NTM is assisting with generating the necessary Afghan forces for the 205^th Corps, in units and not piecemeal. They are involved with refurbishing police stations in the city.

Ferrari told us about two large construction projects in the Kandahar area that will create local jobs and enhance the Afghan government’s ability to provide security in the region. They are:

• a joint regional Afghan police center which will be a state-of-the-art police center that houses the Border Police, the uniform police, the Afghan Civil Order Police and a brand-new regional logistics center that will support all the police in southern Afghanistan.
• a new regional military training center in Kandahar, where basic training will be done down the road.

Col. Ferrari recalled how the men who fought World War II brought their skills and discipline home with them and built the America we grew up in. They became “America’s Greatest Generation” out of the crucible of war. He likened this to the hundreds of thousands of Afghans who are or will serve in the National Army or National Police. They are learning skills, including literacy, that they will bring home when they finish their service. He feels we are potentially creating an “Afghan Greatest Generation” and through this uplifting the entire society.

June 7, 2010, represents the conclusion of the 104^th month of military activity by the United States in Afghanistan. That makes it America’s longest war, eclipsing the 103 months of the Vietnam conflict.

Our NATO allies have been with us since the beginning. This is NATO’s war, as it responded to the request of the United States under the NATO treaty shortly after September 11, 2001. NATO in in charge of the reestablishment and sustainment of a free Afghan government. NATO trains the Afghan army and police. NATO provides the overall command of much of the military in Afghanistan, sets strategy and tactics within the framework of the many nations involved in the effort.

The governments of the United States and Great Britain have determined to withdraw their forces in Afghanistan sometime in 2011, with the assurance that the Afghan national government can begin providing security and safety in the country. In order to permit this changeover, the NATO training mission has changed markedly in the last six months. A number of officers from NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan have spoken with bloggers in the last several days to explain those changes and the progress made in the last six months.

Those officers were:

• Brig. Gen. Gary Patton, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan Deputy Commander – Army Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan
• Maj. Gen. Mike Ward, deputy commander-Police, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan
• Col. John Ferrari, deputy of programs for NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan

The NATO Training Mission (NTM) was established November 21, 2009. In a previous interview, in March, 2010, Brig. Gen. Gary Patton talked about the reasons for its creation, and its goals. We have now received an update.

The current manning goals for the Afghan National Army are to have a force of 134,000 by October 2010, and a force of 171,600 by October, 2011. As of his interview with us on June 1, 2010, General Patton was able to state that the ANA had 125,694 men and women on its roster.

Patton told us that the attrition rate for the Army has been reduced from 3% per month in November, 2009, to 1.2% per month. Attrition is made up of those soldiers dropped from rolls for being AWOL, those permanently disabled and those killed in action. The reduction in the rate of attrition has been among those dropped from rolls. The General attributes that drop to increased pay, better Afghan leadership, improvements in base living conditions and an effort to create a predictable operational cycle.

The creation of various training academies with NATO assistance in staffing has allowed for a huge increase in the numbers of officers and non-commissioned officers who have been trained in a traditional Western manner. The officer corps training has gone from a capacity of about 1,600 per year to 4,500 per year. NCO training has gone from 1,900 yearly to 15,000. Driver training, a necessary but non-flashy training, has gone from 1,000 to 9,500 yearly.

Patton told us that one way they are increasing the number of NCO’s is by sending the top 150 Afghans completing recruit training on to an NCO course.

The Afghan National Army is presently an infantry heavy force, by design. It does not have the capacity to sustain itself. General Patton called 2011 “the Year of the Enabler”, as he talked about the establishment of national and corps level supply depots, creation of various branch schools such as engineers or artillery and establishment of the processes and procedures that move supply requests up and down the chain of command.

A success story is the creation of a consolidated fielding center. This is where Afghan army units are put together and trained as units. The training cadre for this school has gone from 65 to 300 personnel, reflecting greater emphasis on unit cohesion and experience.

This is the first of a multi-part series on the NATO training mission-Afghanistan, and the results after six months of operation.

An Afghan national army soldier sends signals to an Afghan national army Air Corps Mi-17 as they conduct recovery efforts on May 21. (Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Michael Tateishi)

On May 21, Afghan national security forces worked side-by-side in facilitating the recovery efforts of the Pamir Airlines AN-24 that crashed in the Salang Pass May 17.

During the 40 sorties to a landing zone about 1,000 feet below the crash site early May 21, Afghan national army and Afghan national police were ferried up the mountain on Mi-17 transport helicopters flown by the Afghan national army Air Corps and the Ministry of Interior’s Air Interdiction Unit.

At least 200 mountain climbers and ANA soldiers were airlifted to the landing zone in the mountain and then hiked up the 70 degree angle to the crash site that spanned four to five football fields. In addition to recover crews, family members were escorted by ANP Mi-17′s to the site to pay their respects.

“I cried for a while”, said Kabul Wing Commander, Brig. Gen. Muhommed Barat who flew a number of those missions to the mountains. “I really felt bad when I saw their bodies”, said Barat.

At least 33 sets of identifiable remains were recovered and other remains are pending analyses. 44 passengers and crew were killed when they hit the side of a mountain in the Salang Pass between Bagram and Kabul on May 17.

“I give thanks to all my partners and all my brothers that helped us find the bodies and we were able to submit them to their families”, said Barat.

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By Tech. Sgt. Michael Tateishi

Afghan National Army soldiers board their C-17 cargo plane for their flight to Turkey at the International Security Assistance Force airport in Kabul. These soldiers are flying to Turkey for training in leadership and the military skills required to operate as a special operations unit. The transportation and training is part of joint cooperative training and funding agreement with Turkey and Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Quillen

Afghan National Army troops boarded a C-17 cargo plane at the International Security Assistance Force airport for a flight to Turkey to take part in the first of a series of extensive training opportunities in securing the development and defense of Afghanistan.

The 119 ANA troops are the first group to take part in military training for several weeks of specialized operations. It will be conducted primarily by Turkish forces with assistance from American forces and includes courses in leadership along with the skills necessary to perform in the capacity of a special operations force unit.

“I already have 30 years of experience, but when the army told me about this training and that I would participate, I was excited,” said Col. Abdullah Nuri, the senior ranking officer of the 119 troops. “This is a strong opportunity to develop my skills, as an officer and as a soldier, and come back to Afghanistan to teach what I have learned to others.”

Once their training is complete, the Afghan soldiers will be split up and sent to all regions of Afghanistan to develop and conduct their own courses with their fellow soldiers.

The Afghan soldiers were selected for a variety of reasons including experience, demonstrated leadership and competent military skills, academic performance and a strong desire to perform at their best.

“This is the first time that we have worked with such a diverse force,” Nuri said. “So many nations have come to Afghanistan to help us and teach us. We need to take advantage, and use the skills they teach us to make ourselves strong, so we can be a true partner on the world stage.”

Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan funded the transportation with training provided by Turkey. The training will be ongoing with a new group of soldiers being flown to Turkey each month.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Quillen
NTM-A

Afghan and international forces seized enemy weapons and killed insurgent attackers in operations in Afghanistan in recent days, military officials reported.

The Afghan National Army, supported by an international security patrol, destroyed 16 rockets and a mortar round in Kandahar province, Feb. 7-8.

The Afghan soldiers were patrolling near Darivshan village when they received a tip about a weapons cache from an Afghan civilian. The soldiers went to the site and recovered 16 107 mm rockets. The following day, the same patrol element found an 82 mm mortar round in a garden near Shotor Gardon village.

An Afghan-led patrol in Paktika province, Feb. 8, found a large weapons cache after receiving a tip from a local resident in the Wazah Khwah district. The cache contained 54 artillery rounds, four mortar rounds and 18 fuses.

Also yesterday, a combined Afghan-international patrol discovered more than 20 mortar rounds in the Garm Ser district of Helmand province. Another combined patrol found 11 hand grenades and a rocket-propelled grenade round in the province’s Kajaki district.

In a Feb. 6 operation in Helmand’s Garm Ser district, an International Security Assistance Force patrol found 83 artillery rounds in a field.

On Feb. 5, an Afghan-international security force in the Musa Qaleh district of Helmand province killed two insurgents who attacked them with small-arms fire. Later, the force was engaged by more small-arms fire from different locations. A sniper supporting the patrol returned fire, killing another insurgent.

In another operation, Feb. 5, a combined force found about 1,000 rounds of small-arms ammunition, a belt of shotgun rounds, assault-rifle magazines and binoculars in the Garm Ser district of Helmand province.

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Staff Sgt. Linsey Clarke graduated from Robert E. Lee High School and earned his bachelor's degree in economics from James Madison University in 2005. He enlisted in the Army in August 2005 under the 18 X-Ray program. Following basic training at Fort Benning, GA he attended Airborne School, the Special Operations Preparation Course, and then Selection. Staff Sergeant Clarke completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in March 2008 as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant.

Staff Sgt Linsey Clarke awarded Silver Star for heroism

The sky was clear. The air had a bite to it, but for Afghanistan it was a beautiful day, said Clarke.

It was Feb. 20. Clarke was the driver of one of four vehicles conducting a joint operations patrol with members of the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and Czech Special Operation Forces in Khordi, a village in Southern Afghanistan.

In unison, the third vehicle in the convoy was struck by an improvised explosive device and the lead vehicle was engaged by rocket propelled grenades. Each vehicle was taking small arms fire from both the east and west as the patrol was being ambushed.

Clarke immediately backed up his vehicle to assist those who had been struck by the roadside bomb. He dismounted and ran through a volley of fire to discover three of the men inside had been killed instantly. The two remaining teammates were alive, but both were badly wounded.

Clarke found Staff Sgt. Eric Englehardt first. Both his legs were broken and he was bleeding heavily, so Clarke quickly and calmly applied a tourniquet to his right leg and dragged him from the burning vehicle. With no cover, and enemy fire on both sides, Clarke returned to the destroyed vehicle and found Master Sgt. David Hurt. He again dragged his comrade to safety.

With the team’s other medic now tending to the wounded, Clarke volunteered to stay in the firefight to secure the remains of the fallen Soldiers.

Today, even with a Silver Star pinned to his chest, Clarke still doesn’t believe he is a hero.

“It’s something any one of those guys would’ve done for me. There wasn’t a second thought,” he said.

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Story by Cpl. Katryn McCalment

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Linsey W. Clarke, United States Army, for gallantry in combat on 20 February 2009, as the Junior Medic, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha – 3123, Special Operations Task Force – 31, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Sergeant Clarke distinguished himself by exposing himself to accurate enemy fire through the course of a medical evacuation. His dedication to duty contributed to the successful defeat of insurgent networks, which enabled the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct unilateral security and stability operations. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, Special Operations Task Force – 31, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan, Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.

NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD: Staff Sergeant Linsey W. Clarke, United States (US) Army, heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the enemy of the US as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant, Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) – 3123, Special Operations Task Force – 31, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM on 20 February 2009.

While Conducting a joint reconnaissance patrol with forces from the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, and Czech Special Operation Forces the patrol’s rear Ground Mobility Vehicle (GMV) was struck by a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) completely destroying the vehicle and instantly killing three of the vehicle’s crew members. Simultaneously, the patrol’s lead vehicle was engaged by Rocket Propelled Grenades and the entire patrol began receiving heavy and accurate small arms fire from both the East and the West.

Sergeant Clarke immediately backed up his truck to the burning GMV. He returned fire, and without hesitation or regard for his personal safety, ran through heavy enemy fire to the burning vehicle. Sergeant Clarke found Staff Sergeant Englehardt in the wreckage of the GMV with two broken legs and a fractured back. The burning GMV was loaded with ammunition and explosives that were detonating within inches of Sergeant Clarke. While in grave danger from heavy enemy fire and the destroyed vehicle, he calmly applied a tourniquet to Sergeant Englehardt’s right leg and pulled him away from the IED site.

Sergeant Clarke then ran one hundred meters back through enemy fire with no cover to find Master Sergeant Hurt, burned very badly and lying to the rear of the destroyed vehicle. He immediately assessed his condition then helped him back to the Casualty Collection Point while still receiving accurate fire from the enemy. After loading Master Sergeant Hurt onto GMV2, Sergeant Clarke treated his wounds and prepared him for evacuation.

He passed him off to Staff Sergeant Ford, the ODA’s other medic, and informed him of all treatments rendered. Sergeant Clarke then volunteered to stay and secure the blast site with only two other teammates. With no vehicles to support him and enemy on both sides, Sergeant Clarke left his covered location to reposition the few Afghan National Security Forces that were at the site while continuing to engage the Anti-Afghan Forces (AAF).

He again exposed himself to enemy fire by returning to the destroyed GMV to secure the remains of Staff Sergeant Davis, Staff Sergeant Bessa, and an ODA Interpreter. Sergeant Clarke assisted in securing and moving all remaining casualties and recovered all sensitive material near the scene. He and a few of his teammates secured the site for over one hour with very little support. Had they not, sensitive items and the remains of US service members would likely have fallen into the hand of the AAF.

Sergeant Clarke’s actions on 20 February went well above and beyond the call of duty. He repeatedly faced imminent danger and at no point, did he show any regard for his personal safety. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, Special Operations Task Force – 31, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan, Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.

Spc. Charles Henderson, Bravo Company, 4th Bttln, 23rd Inf Reg, shakes hands with a child while searching a village in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Photo by Pfc. Casey Collier

The Afghan National Army compound in the Arghandab district of Kandahar province used to be a school for the children of surrounding villages. Even though the desks and books have been stuffed into storage to make room for the ANA soldiers who now reside there, in some ways the building still clings to the original intent of its design – lessons are still being taught and lessons are still being learned.

An ANA Heavy Weapons Security Squad was assigned to the compound a little more than a year ago when insurgent activity in the area became a concern to villagers who were worried about their well being.

Since then, the small squad has been the target of IED attacks and small arms fire so regularly that they speak about their combat experience as though they were talking about the weather.

But the experiences seem to have ignited a storm in the squad’s commander, Lt. Ahmadzay.

“Enough,” he said of the insurgents who have continually tried to harass his soldiers and the villagers around the compound. “War is damaging our country. If you are truly Afghan make peace for our people. This school was not meant to be a military checkpoint – it was built to be a school for the new generation of Afghanistan. If you truly love our country, bring peace to Afghanistan.”

It was these sentiments that greeted ISAF forces – U.S. Soldiers of Bravo Company, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment – who teamed up with the ANA on Nov. 18 to assist with disrupting enemy activity.

The numerous orchards, high mud walls and narrow streets of the villages that skirt the compound have been consistently fruitful ground for these enemies of Afghanistan, as Lt. Ghulam Mohammad Ahmadzay labels them.

Following the arrival of the ISAF soldiers, the forces worked in cooperation for two days and nights on patrols, setting up security checkpoints, speaking with village elders and obtaining information on insurgent activity in the area.

The first morning, while securing orchards in a village, an ANA patrol took fire from insurgents in orchards not far from their position. They returned fire but could not confirm if any insurgents were injured.

There were no injuries to ANA forces during the 15-minute long exchange, but afterward, one ANA soldier found that a bullet had passed through the pant leg of his uniform.

Lt. Ahmadzay said that the squad had been in a similar firefight just 10 days earlier – and the insurgent fire came from the same orchards.

After the incident there were no more exchanges of fire and the ANA soldiers and their ISAF partners focused on speaking with village elders and the villagers themselves.

“Bravo Company’s mission was to disrupt enemy forces in the area of Arghandab Valley,” said Sgt. 1st Class Dorian Ballard. “We had a lot of ground to cover and little time in which to cover it, and there were a lot of people with which to speak. Overall, I think the mission was successful. This was our first mission to Arghandab Valley and hopefully we can stay here, get to know the locals and do some great things here.”

On the last evening of the company’s stay at the ANA compound, soldiers of both forces broke from their usual meal routine and enjoyed a dinner of chicken, rice, scallops and flatbread.

ISAF soldiers bought the food from local markets and the ANA troops prepared it. For the ISAF soldiers, this was a Thanksgiving feast.

The next morning the company moved out of the compound, with the promise to the ANA contingent of continued ISAF support in the struggle to secure Arghandab District.

As the ISAF soldiers departed, Ahmadzay, resolved in his determination to free the Afghanistan people from their enemies, tasked the ANA troops to roll out of the compound gates for another day.

“I am a son of this country,” declared the ANA leader, “and as long as there is blood in my veins, I will defend Afghanistan.”

There are still lessons to be learned – and lessons to be taught in and around the former school house.

DVIDS
Story by Pfc. Casey Collier

More than 25 ISAF and Afghan National Security Force personnel were killed or wounded during a joint operation that involved multiple engagements over several hours yesterday in Western Afghanistan. ISAF and Afghan forces were conducting search operations for two missing U.S. Army soldiers. The soldiers went missing on Nov. 4 while attempting to recover airdropped supplies from a river in western Afghanistan.

In the course of search operations, the joint force was engaged by enemy forces. Reports indicate five ISAF service members from the United States were wounded in action. Reports also indicate four Afghan soldiers and three Afghan police were killed in action. Additionally, 15 Afghan soldiers and two Afghan police officers were reported wounded.

One Afghan civilian working with the Afghan National Army was killed and another was wounded.

“We are saddened by the loss of life and injuries sustained during this very important mission,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Jane Campbell, IJC spokesperson.

ISAF and Afghan authorities are currently investigating whether some of the casualties were caused by ISAF close air support. The operation is ongoing, and additional information will be provided when appropriate.

ISAF

The Afghan national army and Afghan national police, assisted by Coalition forces, conducted a cordon and search in the Arghandab District, Oct. 30, to search for a weapons cache and known insurgent leadership. The operation led to the detainment of four insurgents and several others being killed.

The intent of the operation was to decrease roadside bomb usage along the major highway going into Qalat City in Deh Chopan. The insurgents removed from the district were associated with placing several roadside bombs that were responsible for the deaths of innocent civilians.

The ANA and Arghandab ANP will continue to patrol this area and conduct operations to remove insurgents and halt the emplacement of roadside bombs.

No civilians were injured during this operation.

DVIDS

The Afghan National Army’s 1st and 6th Kandaks, ANA Commandos and U.S. Special Operations Forces conducted an operation to clear insurgents from Shewan City, Farah province, early Monday – September 28 2009.

More than 500 Afghan and coalition forces participated in the operation which killed a large number of insurgents. Heavy fighting occurred over more than 12 hours. The combined force received rocket-propelled grenade, machine gun and small arms fire; the force responded with munitions including small arms, and machine gun fire as well as air strikes. No ANA or coalition force members were killed.

“This is a great day for Afghanistan and a great day for Farah province,” said Col. Namatulah, ANA 1st Kandak commander. “Today we fought alongside coalition forces like brothers. Main roads that go through this city will not be under Taliban control. Safe roads are good for everyone, military and civilian.”

“We want peace in Shewan and all of Afghanistan,” said Sgt. Deen, a 1st Kandak squadron leader. “Me and my men came from Herat to give people here the same opportunities people have there. All Afghans are entitled to peace.”

ISAF