The 1430th Engineer Company, horizontal construction engineers, and the 744th Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, in cooperation with the Afghan government and Afghan national security forces, begin the process of rebuilding the roads in eastern Afghanistan’s Khogyani and Sherzad districts, Feb. 8. The approximately $5 million effort includes six separate projects – three asphalt and three cobblestone – spanning nearly 43 kilometers.

Engineers attached to 1st Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Bastogne, in cooperation with the Afghan government and Afghan National Security Forces began the process of rebuilding damaged roads in the Khogyani and Sherzad Districts of Nangarhar province in early February.

The process begins by tearing up the old surfaces damaged by frequent roadside bombs. The damaged roads made travel to Jalalabad difficult for those living in the area.

The job of tearing up the old road falls to U.S. Army Capt. Jason Rolling of Marquette, Mich., commander of the 1430th Engineer Company. In addition to offloading equipment, his team also looks for and removes command wires or detonation cord that could be attached to old improvised explosive devices.

“That’s the intent of this ripping, to get down deep enough to find these wires, to find this [detonation] cord,” said Rolling. “… Rip it all up … grade it back out … and pack it all down.”

Members of the 1430th Eng. Company, horizontal construction engineers, and the 744th Eng. Company, 54th Eng. Battalion, perform route clearance patrols and complete the road repair while soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 61st Cavalry Regiment provide security.

That cooperation and combined effort are a big part of the project, according to U.S. Army Lt. Col. William B. Johnson of Bristol, Tenn., squadron commander for Task Force Panther.

The approximately $5 million effort includes six projects spanning the nearly 43 kilometers between the two districts – three asphalt and three cobblestone.

“The local people have already expressed appreciation for the work we’re doing,” said Johnson. “They are very excited about having a better road that will hold up in the rainy season, that won’t wash out, that’ll prevent insurgents from putting bombs in the road, so it’s safer for [travellers].”

The Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army will provide security on the road with checkpoints, patrols and continued interaction with the locals.

“In addition, police in the Memla area will continue to do local patrols and provide security in the area when the roadwork is finished and continue to over watch the route while the Afghan contractors come in to do the long-term paving,” he continued. “We will rely upon them to provide security for the local Afghan contractors that do the improvements to the route.”

The project is scheduled to be completed mid-March.

“I’m also proud to have such motivated and dedicated Afghan forces to partner with, to take responsibility for their own security in this area and improve things for their own people,” said Johnson. “They are a great team, great partners to work with, and I look forward to continuing to work with them.”

DVIDS
Story by Spc. Richard Daniels Jr.

Combined Joint Task Force 82nd Soldiers and logistics units walk the Torkham border crossing area with CENTCOM Deployment and Distribution Operations Center Director, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert McMahon, March 25, 2010, Torkham, Afghanistan.

As part of an ongoing effort to enhance logistics throughout Afghanistan, the Director of CENTCOM Deployment and Distribution Operations Center, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert McMahon, met with U.S. logistics and border security forces from Combined Joint Task Force 82nd (Regional Command-East) at Torkham Gate, the critical border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“This is the main entryway into Afghanistan,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Seibert, the U.S. military officer in charge of the Torkham Gate mission. Torkham Gate serves as both the busiest port of entry for commercial goods from the Pakistan border and the busiest major route in supplying U.S. and NATO coalition forces throughout the country of Afghanistan.

The border crossing is located by the Khyber Pass, a mountain pass that links Afghanistan and Pakistan inside the Hindu Kush mountain region. The majority of military cargo moving into Afghanistan in support of U.S. and NATO forces moves by truck after vessel transport to Karachi, Pakistan. These supply trucks transit Pakistan and then cross into Afghanistan by way of a border crossing. Torkham is the busier of the two major border crossings.

“You are making a difference for the nation of Afghanistan,” McMahon said to the logistics and security forces stationed at Forward Operating Base Torkham. “Although your mission is not well-known, it is of vital importance.”

The logistics team at Torkham includes a movement control team and surface movement specialists. Military cargo is tracked and cleared through the border crossing for forward movement throughout Afghanistan. Security forces from the U.S. military, NATO, the Afghan national army, and the Afghan national police ensure the proper procedures are followed in regards to customs clearances, tariff memorandums, biometrics scans, and force protection in order to transport cargo safely, securely, and efficiently.

The recent visit included discussions of how to improve the logistics and security mission at Torkham. One planned initiative is the development of a reliable, secure communication channel with the Pakistan military and government. Other discussions focused on potential increased border forces from the local population and a potential program to train Afghan soldiers on border control procedures in the U.S.

The town of Torkham lies in the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan and the Khyber Agency of Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas, right on the Durand Line border. It is linked by a highway with Jalalabad to the west and Peshawar to the east, connecting with N-5 National Highway all the way to Karachi.

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Story by Maj. Christopher LeCron

A lone outpost nestled within the Selseleh-ye Spin Ghar Mountain Range is the base of operations for Afghan border police in this region west of the Khyber Pass. The Afghanistan/Pakistan border valleys within the mountains provide a natural border for the two countries and concealment for infiltrators. Photo by Sgt. Tracy J. Smith

“If you look there, that is one of the Pakistan border positions,” said the Afghan border police officer, pointing across the valley of the Safid Kho Mountain Ranges where a green flag was visible.

The image of the crescent and star weren’t clear, but the 6th Kandak ABP live near it every day, and know the flag well, because they are responsible for this remote Nazyan District outpost.

They had been attacked days earlier, leaving two of their officers dead. The blood that was shed now embedded in the earth mere feet from a reinforced position where they live and fight is now a tragic stain on the rocks. A reminder that the terrains jagged incline was not enough to deter their assailers.

The night of the attack, the border policemen radioed for reinforcement from the Soldiers of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat team, who weren’t able to react quickly enough. In spite of the attackers determination, the commitment of the ABP to hold their position and protect their borders proved stronger.

“We need to make sure we can get them the help they need using all our assets,” said Sgt. 1st Class Flint Weathers, a mentor and partner for the 6th Kandak headquartered in Ghanikheyl, Shinwar District.

The two outposts, Nakhtor Now and Shah Khot, are strategic points that extend the ABP’s overwatches of the many trails and passes connecting the Kyber Pass and Hindu Kush.

Operation Mountain Delivery, a joint Afghan and coalition air assault and resupply mission Jan. 23, was a live-action answer to future quick reaction needs.

“Our ability to conduct quick insertions and reinforcement for our Afghan partners in the fight will, ideally, eliminate loss of life,” said Lt. Col. Randall V. Simmons, commander, 1st Sqdn., 108th Cav. Regiment.

A U.S. Army cavalry scout assigned to 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Mountain Warrior recons the Safid Kho Mountain Ranges. The Afghanistan/Pakistan valley is a natural border for the treacherous terrain. The Afghan border police and Georgia Guardsmen conducted two aerial operations to the outposts located in Nazyan reinforcing border security and confidences alongside their Afghan partners. Photo by Sgt. Tracy J. Smith

Neither site had been visited by coalition forces in nearly five years. Simmons and his operational partner, ABP 6th Kandak commander, Col. Niazy did detailed surveys of the outposts and discussed opportunities for improvement.

“The most important thing we can do is be here with them,” Weathers said. The platoon sergeant walked with the commanders and shared the Warrior’s perspective of where the partnership’s next steps should go.

“If we embed with them here and give them that added layer with aerial support, there will never be a question that we are a ready, unified force.”

Additional supplies of water, food and barriers were also delivered with additional provisions delivered during future visits.

“It is a show of force!” Niazy agreed, “a message to our enemies and a reassurance to my men that their coalition partners will be here when they are needed.”

DVIDS
Story by Sgt. Tracy J. Smith

The Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team funded a $2.8 million project for the province's Grand Canal, repairing 63KM of the canal. The project included the repair of 850 gates and installation of five new siphons, including the Moqam Khan siphon shown here. Photo by Capt. Dustin Hart

Joined by government and local leaders, the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team celebrated the completion of a Grand Canal repair project, April 12, during a ribbon cutting ceremony in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Nangarhar Provincial Governor, Gul Agha Sherzai, and PRT commander, Air Force Lt. Col. Steven Cabosky from Newton Falls, Ohio, along with other government and tribal officials, spoke to the crowd about the benefits the repaired canal will provide to the province’s agriculture economy.

“This project represents hope for the people of Afghanistan,” said Cabosky. “It was identified by the government as one of the most important needs of the province and was a coordinated effort between the government and PRT. Afghans will enjoy the fruits of this project for years to come.”

The repairs took approximately nine months to complete and cost $2.8 million, covering 63 kilometers of canal spanning four districts. The contractor repaired 850 gates and installed five new siphons, which will help control the flow of water through the canal and double the irrigation capability.

“The canal repairs provide better irrigation, more crops, more jobs and a better economy for the Nangarhar people,” Cabosky said. “While the enemies of Afghanistan offer only destruction and death, this project demonstrates the government’s commitment to building a better future for the children of Afghanistan.”

The project will directly benefit more than 60,000 families, Governor Sherzai said at the ceremony.

“Reconstruction in Nangarhar is successful because we have the support of the people,” the governor said. “The Grand Canal was one of our biggest projects and it was repaired through the help of our coalition friends. It’s a very important project and today is a great day for all Nangarhar people.”

DVIDS
Story by Capt. Dustin Hart

Samer Khil Boys and Girls School, which was completed in approximately nine months, was a $200,000 project funded by the PRT. It marked the sixth school the PRT has finished in the past two months in three different districts.

A stream of elders waited their turn to thank the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team and its government partners for bringing the boys and girls of Samer Khil village the two bright yellow school buildings that stood behind them.

The scene in the small village of Behsood District April 7, is becoming familiar for PRT members, who joined the village elders and government officials to celebrate the opening of the school during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Samer Khil Boys and Girls School, which was completed in approximately nine months, was a $200,000 project funded by the PRT. It marked the sixth school the PRT has finished in the past two months in three different districts.

“In order to become a prosperous county once again, we must have education and schools to achieve our goals,” said Mohammed Khan, a village elder for Samer Khil. “Because of the PRT’s help, this dream is moving quickly.”

In addition to the recent completion of the six schools, the PRT is currently working to bring 18 new schools to seven districts in Nangarhar. The team has also proposed approximately 40 new school buildings to be built in the next year.

While the new schools bring a direct benefit to the students, who will now be able to receive their education out of the sometimes harsh weather elements of Nangarhar province, village elders at the ceremony said the new facilities help the entire village.

“The people of Samer Khil have waited for this day for a long time,” said Nazar Mohammed Nazari, the school’s headmaster. “This will allow the students to come indoors to learn. We are proud of this day, and it is a great day for all the people of Samer Khil.”

Khan agreed the school will help the entire village.

“We all have to be proud and take responsibility for this building,” he said. “Teachers have to be responsible for bringing up their students, and we all have to work hard to protect this school.”

Having Afghans recognize and take responsibility for the security of new buildings is a sign of the progress being made here, said Ron Ashley, an Army Corps of Engineers engineer who works with the PRT. It also provides a safe setting to educate Afghanistan’s future.

“Our goal is to help the children of Afghanistan learn as much as possible by giving them the best schools possible,” Ashley, a native of Dayton, Wash., said. “We hope these new schools will help educate the children of Afghanistan for years to come and help them make the big leap forward they deserve.”

ISAF
Written by By Air Force Capt. Dustin Hart,
Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs Office