A Marine from 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, uses a metal detector to sweep a culvert during a route reconnaissance mission of Route Red, which extends from Highway 1 to Shir Ghazay, Jan. 2. The purpose of the mission was to document inclines and declines in the route, sharpness of curves, the shortest width during the route, and where culverts were located or needed to be placed on the route to prevent wash out. Photo by Cpl. Meredith Brown

Marine engineers with 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) have nearly completed two major route construction and improvement projects in Helmand province.

As of Jan. 3, elements of the Okinawa, Japan-based 9th Engineer Support Battalion completed the road surfacing phases of Routes Red and 611, which each provide north and south passage on their respective sides of the Helmand River. Additional measures are now being put into place over the course of the next month to ensure their permanence, while also marking total project completion.

“We’ll continue minor improvements along both routes, including culvert emplacements,” said Capt. Christopher Kaprielian, a native of San Mateo, Calif., and operations officer for 9th ESB.

The installation of culverts, Kaprielian explained, will allow for proper drainage of rain water, thus preventing the roadways from simply washing away.

Two Marines from 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, use a metal detector to sweep a culvert during a route reconnaissance mission of Route Red, which extends from Highway 1 to Shir Ghazay, Jan. 3. The purpose of the mission was to document inclines and declines in the route, sharpness of curves, the shortest width during the route, and where culverts were located or needed to be placed on the route to prevent wash out. Photo by Cpl. Meredith Brown

Work on the routes began last year with 9th ESB’s predecessors, the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 7th ESB, which completed nearly half of the work before going home in late November.

“A lot of cross coordination was involved,” said Kaprielian. “The combined effort was truly unique.”

In terms of Route Red alone, he noted expert integration across the Marine Air-Ground Task Force to secure the volatile region through which Route Red intersects. Support from Regimental Combat Teams 6 and 8 was especially critical in allowing the engineers to continue construction efforts.

The enhanced roads are essential to International Security Assistance Force operations, and perhaps most importantly, the livelihoods of Afghan locals in the region due to the proximity of the routes to several major population centers. Safe roadways will present a viable means of transportation and facilitate economic expansion well into the future.

Route Red connects Gereshk and Shir Ghazay, while Route 611 serves as the main thoroughfare through the Sangin and Kajaki Districts.

Not unlike Route Red, the region through which 611 traces was also a hotbed for insurgent activity. Operation Eastern Storm, a major offensive spearheaded by the Marines of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, launched last October to secure the Upper Sangin Valley from the Taliban-led insurgency. The secured and improved route will now allow ground convoys to deliver equipment and parts required to install a third turbine at the Kajaki Dam, located northeast of the village of Kajaki.

The dam was built in 1953, and according to the United States Agency for International Development, the additional turbine is part of an ongoing project to bring more reliable power and irrigation to the region. Once operational, this enhancement will improve energy distribution through Helmand and Kandahar provinces.

Story by Sgt. Justin Shemanski
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The citizens and local government in Garmsir District devised a plan to correct part of the Helmand River that was diverted during the high water levels last winter and has caused issues for Afghans down stream. Haji Abdullah Jan, Garmsir District governor, and approximately 100 Afghan citizens work on an ongoing project to correct the flow of water back to its original course, July 11.

The Helmand River is the one major source of water in this desert region, and when a portion of that supply is diverted, it causes problems for entire communities.

This scenario is exactly what transpired as the high water levels of last winter changed the course of the river at crucial points, capturing the attention of the Afghan government leadership in the area and that of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force.

The Garmsir District governor, Haji Abdullah Jan, called a shura, July 6, with about 50 village elders to discuss the matter and come up with a common solution. U.S. Marines with Regimental Combat Team 3 and the ISAF stability advisor for Garmsir were in attendance at the meeting and coordinated with the officials to help in the best way possible.

The citizens and local government in Garmsir District devised a plan to correct part of the Helmand River that was diverted during the high water levels last winter and has caused issues for Afghans down stream. Haji Abdullah Jan, Garmsir District governor, and Capt. Micajah Caskey, civil affairs team leader with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, and other Afghan citizens discuss the ongoing project, July 11.

“It is very important for everyone to pitch in and help because the people down river are having problems,” Jan said as he addressed the group of influential leaders.

As an agricultural district surrounded by a desert with temperatures reaching into the 120s during the summer months, water is crucial to the survival of the population and their livelihood in Garmsir.

“Aside from security, water is the number one concern in the region,” said Lt. Col. Leonard DeFrancisci, 4th Civil Affairs Group detachment commander with RCT-3.

Various solutions were discussed at the shura, but the Marines were strictly present at the meeting as observers, according to the CAG commander.

In a side conversation with the district governor, ISAF offered to pay for the renting of the equipment required, but the Afghan locals were committed to the physical construction of the project.

“The civil affairs Marines did just enough to get the project going, and the Afghans here took advantage,” DeFrancisci continued.

At the shura, a work plan was identified and the elders pitched in with village labor – about 100 locals joined the workforce. A local contractor who rents machinery was approached by the district governor, and he agreed to lease his equipment at basic rates, according to the Peter Chilvers, an ISAF stability advisor who works in conjunction with the British-lead Provincial Reconstruction Team in ‘s capital.

The PRT takes the lead on issues relating to governance and infrastructure development in Helmand province. It encompasses military and civilian advisors and experts in a variety of specialized fields who work closely with the provincial government to coordinate efforts with ISAF.

“Afghan leaders recognize that ISAF cannot fix all of their problems, and they are best suited to fix their own issues,” said Capt. Micajah Caskey, 2/8′s civil affairs team leader.

Construction for the project in Garmsir started July 8 with the work of numerous local Afghans and Governor Jan himself joining in the effort.

“The district governor played a very active role in helping the people – very visible in the community,” said DeFrancisci.

The work on the project is going well, according to Chilvers, and the district governor has been providing regular updates on the status of the project via Radio Garmsir.

“It all happened pretty quickly, and it is a great example of a joint community lead project being delivered by the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,” the stability advisor said.

“The process of Afghans working with Afghans to solve problems will have positive and far-reaching effects on the peoples’ confidence in the legitimate government,” said Lt. Col. Christian Cabaniss, battalion commander of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. “I’m just glad we were able to support the local government in effectively and immediately addressing a pressing issue that affects the entire community.”

The project should be completed before the end of July, according to Caskey. Equally as important as the project itself is the display of the local government’s ability to bring together numerous community leaders for the benefit of the Afghan people.

2/8 entered Garmsir District when it turned over battle space with British forces last June. It expanded further into the district during Operation Khanjar, July 2, when nearly 4,000 U.S. Marines and more than 600 Afghan soldiers entered areas of southern Helmand Province previously under the influence of the Taliban in an effort to provide security for the Afghan people.

The U.S. Marines and Helmand-based PRT are part of the larger international force in Afghanistan, ISAF, which is committed to the security, reconstruction and extension of governance in Afghanistan.

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Story by 1st Lt. Kurt Stahl

The Afghan national flag is raised above Khan Neshin castle in the Rig District Center for the first time July 8. The flag raising signaled the arrival of Afghan governance in the southern reaches of Helmand Province.

The Afghan national flag was raised above Khan Neshin castle in the Rig District Centre July 8 for the first time, signalling the arrival of Afghan governance in the southern reaches of Helmand province.

Khan Neshin and the areas south of the Helmand River have never experienced the sustained presence of coalition forces or Afghan national security forces, until now, seven days after the beginning of Operation Khanjar.

“The number one question we get from the people is, ‘when are you leaving?’” said Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, commanding general of Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan. “The answer is we’re not leaving until the transition for security is made to the provincial government, to include the Afghan forces.”

Afghans from the local populace came to Khan Neshin shortly after the flag was raised, where they heard statements from Helmand Governor Gulab Mangal and newly-appointed Rig District Governor Massoud Jan. Dozens of locals then gathered around a large courtyard within the district centre to sign up for voting in the upcoming national elections.

“Look at them,” said Gen. Muhaidin, brigade commander, 3rd Afghan National Army Brigade, 205 Corps, gesturing toward the crowd. “Now they know that the government is here and they have security. [The Afghans] have hope, that’s why they’re here.”

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Two related stories from the Marine operation in southern Afghanistan.

Afghan National Police assisted by International Security Assistance Force troops have restored government control in the town of Khan Neshin, July 6.

The mission was part of ISAF’s ongoing mission, Operation Khanjar, designed to provide stable conditions for the Afghan people by disrupting insurgents’ lines of communication and freedom of movement in Helmand province.

Afghan National Security Forces accompanied by approximately 500 US Marines have moved into the Khan Neshin area, located in the Rig District, near the part of the Helmand River known as “The Fishhook.” This is the first time international forces have had a sustained presence so far south in the Helmand River valley. Khan Neshin had been an insurgent stronghold for several years before ANSF and ISAF troops arrived and began discussions with local leaders several days ago.

The mission to secure Khan Neshin was part of a larger operation undertaken by ANSF and ISAF and to stabilise towns along the Helmand River Valley in order to connect local Afghans with their legitimate government while establishing secure conditions for national elections scheduled for August.

ISAF

After a 10 hour bumpy, dusty drive through the desert, the United States Marine Corps has now secured one of the southernmost points of operations in Helmand Province and begun construction on what will be the largest Combat Outpost (COP) ever built by Combat Logistics Batallion-8 from Camp Lejuene, North Carolina.

“This is the tip of the spear,” said Capt. Chris Annunziata. “Everything that happens south of the river depends on us.”

Within minutes of bulldozer and excavators being unloaded from flatbed trucks, construction began on COP Payne which overlooks the Helmand river valley. Annunziata, the onsite officer in charge of the construction project said building the COP will take just 96 hours to complete. The COP will serve as a logistical centre for all operations that will eventually take place south of the river along the border with Pakistan.

By the end of the first day of construction, a ten foot wall of dirt and gravel surrounded the 600 foot by 600 foot compound and a burn pit was dug for disposing of garbage. As the same time, other crews are working on a fording site across the Helmand River and fortifying Khan Necsion, a former insurgent stronghold that will now be handed over to the district governor.

“I have the best equipped and most motivated Marines,” said Annunziata. “These men and women are true professionals and I couldn’t be more proud of them.” The Marines carried out their work under the oppressive Afghan sun with temperatures soaring above 50 degrees centigrade.

Across the river, a curious lone rancher and his herd of cattle watched as COB Payne took shape. He was the only Afghan seen since departing Forward Operating Base Dwyer the night before.

“I wasn’t expecting any contact with insurgents on the drive down here,” said convoy commander, Lieutenant Tabitha Pinter. “This was a complete surprise. The enemy had no idea we were coming and they had no idea we’d take the route we took.” The convoy of 35 trucks and armoured vehicles drove through 112 kilometre of barren desert where no roads currently exist.

The Marines are not letting the quiet beauty of the river valley catch them with their guard down.

“All was quiet when we built Fire Base Thunder. It was three or four days later the insurgents learned we were there and that’s when they started their attacks,” said Annunziata.

ISAF

Villagers proudly walk across the Chutu Bridge to mark its official opening Dec. 30, 2008.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating completion of the largest construction project of the year, took place, Dec. 30, in Deh Rawood District, Uruzgon province.

Over 250 people attended the opening of the Chutu Bridge, including local leaders, village elders and members of the coalition. The opening ceremony, officiated by the Deh Rawood District leader, began with a local Imam giving the invocation and concluded after a series of speeches by both Afghan and coalition forces dignitaries.

Costing just over $2 million and utilizing a crew of over two-dozen Afghan construction workers and ten coalition members the bridge was completed in less than six months. The bridge is expected to have a major impact on the economies of the local communities.

“The people of the area are very pleased that the coalition helped us build this bridge.” said Sayed Usman, the Deh Rawood District chief.

“I thank you for making [this] bridge happen,” said Surabi Ali Safari, Afghanistan minister of Public Works while speaking to the elders of the area. “This [bridge] is what can come out of when we support the government [GIRoA] and the coalition.”

Over the past three years, there were numerous attempts to create other river crossings near the current bridge. Each eroded away during the seasonal spring floods. The new Chutu bridge site was chosen after a detailed study of the flood plain.

With over 240-tons of reinforced galvanized steel, the Chutu Bridge can handle a weight capacity of over 70 tons and will require minimal maintenance for years to come. Over 900 bags of cement were use to help construct the columns and abutments that make up and support 150 meters span.

“This is your house this is our home, this bridge is for everybody in the [Uruzgon] area,” said district police chief Omar Khan, provincial representative.

Prior to the construction of this bridge the local population had to use a ferry to cross the Helmand River at this location. The ferry ride would cost the equivalent of 2 U.S. Dollars. The other available option is to travel approximately 7 miles to the north, closer to Tarin Kowt, where a low water crossing is located. The problem with the low-water crossing is that when the water level rises too high, crossing the river at that point is not possible. Now that the Chutu Bridge is open, the people have a toll-free, all weather, all season crossing point.

“It’s not my bridge it is not the government’s bridge, it’s your bridge,” said Gen. David McKeirnan, commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan. “Special Forces don’t always just fight, they help build bridges too.”

The rigid design of the Mabey-Johnson style bridge will facilitate an increase in commerce for thousands of Afghans in the Deh Rawood area and throughout the Uruzgon region by serving as a more convenient place for them to cross the Helmand River.

The lure of potential benefits to local communities has prompted a pledge by villagers to defend the bridge themselves, if necessary, rather than see it fall victim to militants.

Additional security measures such as gates and guard stations will be added to help prevent accidents and overloading.

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