Marines carry their gear out to Army helicopters prior to an air assault into Marja, Afghanistan, Feb. 13, 2010. UH-60 Black Hawk CH-47F Chinook helicopters inserted nearly 300 Marines into the objective area. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Aubree Clute

When Operation Moshtarak kicked off here Feb. 13, Army helicopter crews from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade inserted nearly 300 Marines and Afghan security forces into Marja, Afghanistan, under cover of darkness.

UH-60 Black Hawks, CH-47F Chinooks and AH-64 Apaches from Task Force Pegasus facilitated the air assault of Kilo Company, 3/6 Marines, in seizing their objective area.

“Protected by Apache air weapons teams, the Marines and their partnered Afghan security forces quickly began moving to their initial objective, seizing key terrain and preparing to link up with their parent headquarters scheduled to begin a ground assault into Marja,” said Army Col. Paul Bricker, 82nd CAB commander.

Shortly after the Marine insertion, additional Task Force Pegasus aviation assets assisted a coalition air assault into nearby objective areas in Nad Ali. Task Force Pegasus’s 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 82nd Aviation Regiment — Task Force Wolfpack — was one of three helicopter units involved in the operation in support of the British Task Force Jaguar.

“Their air assault was equally effective in seizing key terrain in the city of Nad Ali, located adjacent and northeast of Marja,” Bricker said. “Their operation was even more complex, as it included over 20 rotary-wing aircraft from the U.S., Britain and Canada.”

Task Force Pegasus continues to provide support to operation Moshtarak, but the focus has turned from aerial security to medical evacuation. Casualty evacuation teams are standing by to transport wounded coalition and Afghan forces to appropriate field hospitals as necessary.

“[The CH-47F Chinook] has been specially configured with helicopter cabin litter support systems and manned with TF Pegasus surgeons and medics to conduct critical patient transfers from less-capable combat surgical wards within Helmand province to southern Afghanistan’s largest and most advanced hospital on Kandahar Air Base,” Bricker said.

The 82nd CAB has completed more than 120 air-assault operations throughout southern Afghanistan over the last 10 months in support of operations by the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan forces.

DoD
By Army Staff Sgt. Aubree Clute
Special to American Forces Press Service

Afghan National Army Commando students captured an insurgent and thwarted an insurgent attack, in Kapisa province, April 21.

Members of the newly minted 207th Commando Kandak performed a number of night-time air assault missions, resulting in the capture of one insurgent, numerous small weapons caches and IED materials. “The Company air assaulted into the target area, occupied blocking positions and cleared the objective utilizing speed, surprise and violence of action,” said the Coalition Team Leader in charge of the Commando training.

Prior to their graduation, the Commandos trained for, planned and executed their own mission to demonstrate their ability to perform competently in combat.

“I feel that there is continual improvement due to the growing capability of the Commando training company, the Afghan cadre, as well as the attention that the program receives from key leaders in the Afghan National Army and the Ministry of Defense,” said a Special Forces commander.

“We do this for the people of Afghanistan, and my Commandos did well during training and working with [Coalition forces],” said the 207th Kandak first sergeant, after the mission.

Next, the Commandos will graduate training and perform strategic strikes against insurgents, with the support of Coalition forces. “The capabilities of the Commando force enhance the security of the Afghan people, thus creating the opportunity for stability operations,” said the Special Forces commander. This will create an atmosphere for other organizations to initiate development projects, such as the opening of schools and government offices.

(Editors Note: It is Special Forces policy to not identify members below the rank of lieutenant colonel.

CJTF-101

(April 27, 2008) – Coalition forces engaged Anti-Afghan forces in the Tag Ab District of Kapisa province, Saturday, resulting in the death of several AAF militants.

Coalition forces conducted a search of several compounds in the Tag Ab District in an effort to disrupt AAF IED activities. Coalition forces’ search also targeted a Taliban militant known to have facilitated both Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device attacks and attacks against Afghan government and Coalition forces by foreign fighters. The targeted Taliban militant was believed to be planning operations to disrupt the Afghan National Independence Day celebrations and is believed to be among the dead.

During their search, an unknown number of AAF engaged Coalition forces with small-arms fire from several buildings. Coalition forces responded to the AAF attack with small-arms fire, artillery and close-air support. During the battle, Afghan National Security Forces and additional Coalition forces provided reinforcements. There were several civilian casualties during the battle. Some of the wounded were treated locally, and others were taken to a nearby Coalition hospital for treatment.

As Coalition forces continued to search the area they discovered and removed a suicide IED vest./cite>
CJTF-101

Afghan National Security Forces, advised by Coalition forces, conducted an operation in Bati Kowt District, Nangarhar province, April 27. The target of the operation was a known suicide bomb and IED facilitator.

The combined force came under machine-gun fire as they cleared the objective, and was able to eliminate the threat. Two insurgents were killed during the operation and four others were detained.

One ANSF member was killed during the operation. Coalition forces reported no casualties as a result of this operation.

CJTF-101

A dozen insurgents were killed and a dozen more were wounded during a failed attack, Sunday, on Afghan National Army and U.S. bases in Kunar province’s Korengal Valley.

An estimated 30 to 40 insurgents attacked five bases in the Korengal valley with small-arms fire, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and indirect fire. Afghan and U.S. forces repelled the enemy’s attack utilizing effective small-arms fire, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds, and artillery fire and close-air support.

No Afghan, U.S. Soldiers or civilians were killed or injured in the attack.

CJTF-101

Afghan National Army Commandos and Afghan National Police, assisted by Coalition forces, killed insurgents in Galuch Village, Laghman province April 27.

Commandos from the 201st Commando Kandak were searching Galuch when, air-support elements identified insurgents on a nearby ridge with a rocket propelled grenade. The air-support elements killed insurgents before the RPG was utilized against friendly forces. Another insurgent fled the area.

The Commandos found a rifle, IED materials and RPGs during the operation.

CJTF-101