“Bringing Midnight Sun to Western Kandahar”
SEPT 2011
TF ARCTIC WOLVES’ SOURCE FOR THE LATEST SECURITY AND STABILITY NEWS Volume 1 Issue 3
Page 2
1/25 SBCT COMMANDER Col. Todd Wood
1/25 SBCT CSM Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Bernie Knight
Welcome to the inaugural issue of Wolfpack Shona, TFArctic Wolves’ newsletter showcasing our efforts to provide security, governance, and development assistance to our Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) partners as well as the residents of Western Kandahar province. Our move from FOB Lagman to our new brigade headquarters at FOB Masum Ghar is now complete, and we have rolled up our sleeves to begin work with our ANSF partners on behalf of the citizens of Panjwai, Dand, and Daman districts. For many members of the Brigade, such as our Soldiers and SFA Teams from 1-5 IN, 2-8 FA, and 3-21 IN, this is the battle space they have known during their entire deployment in Afghanistan. For the Brigade Headquarters this is new terrain. The great news is that the Brigade is now consolidated and able to leverage its considerable resources toward assisting GIRoA provide for the needs of the people of Western Kandahar. There have been many notable developments as GIRoA continues to mature before our eyes. First, in the area of security, a series of checkpoints is being completed for the Afghan National Police (ANP) along Route Hyena. We have continued to mount ANSF-partnered operations with an extensive campaign of air assault missions that have been executed shoulder-to-shoulder with our Afghan partners, including and most importantly, during the planning stages. Another exciting development has been the graduation of the province’s first class of Afghan Local Police (ALP). Here in Arctic Wolves’ new location we are fortunate to have many of the same enablers – small, specialized elements designed to support our missions while helping secure the Afghan countryside – bringing hope to the citizens in this part of Afghanistan. Thanks again to every one of our ANSF DEV team members, our SFA Teams deployed in sector, and ―Team Village‖, our Government, Reconstruction, Development, and Education team. Your support is essential in enabling us to conduct daily operations here. Arctic Wolves! Col Todd R. Wood
Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Bernie L. Knight
Page 3 Special points of interest: Commanders Corner
By Capt. Mike Newman, 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment Unit Public Affairs Representative
Partering in pictures 1-24 IN HA distro Automatic in Daman : Forged In Fire
Inside your Aug. Issue 5-1 Cav partners with ANP
3
2-8 FA
4
Lending a helping hand
4
CSSK & Opahey
5
ANSF Training & Transition
6
FET
7
CSSK Cont.
7
Partnering through pictures
8
Bobcats special delivery
9
Admin info
10
FRONT COVER: ANA Soldiers and troopers of 5-1 CAV conduct training
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FRONTENAC, Afghanistan --The troopers of Task Force Blackhawk, 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment recently had a chance to team up with their Afghan National Police (ANP) partners to conduct partnered air assault missions. The air assaults were specifically planned and designed to afford the ANP-Blackhawk assault force to leapfrog obstacles—especially insurgent IED belts expressly emplaced to hinder movement in pursuit of insurgents as well as to establish the element of surprise. Cavalry Troopers are flexible Soldiers, able to transition easily from their traditional mission set of reconnaissance to the more urban, infantry-centric se-
curity patrolling, and these missions offered an excellent opportunity for Blackhawk to diversify their skill set. ―We always look for opportunities to keep the enemy off-balance, and a combined clearance team inserted by air achieves the surprise and shock effect that I and the District Chief of Police like to see‖, said Lt. Col. David Raugh, Commander, 5-1 Cav. In addition to participating in the air assault mission, the ANP contributed greatly to the planning process for the operation. Although this was the first time that the local Shah Wali Kot ANP members had participated in an operation involving such complexity, it will not be the last. Lt. Col. Raugh went on to explain, ―The Shah Wali Kot ANP force is a courageous and determined bunch of Afghan patriots who are always looking for a way to make things happen. My Squadron’s job is to capitalize on this energy by refining their skill sets and enabling their operations.‖ Operations of this type will have a lasting impression on the members of the ANP as well as the troopers of Task Force Blackhawk.
Page 4 By Capt. Angela Chipman
DAMAN ORGANIZATIONAL CONTROL CENTER-DISTRICT, KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- The Task Force Automatic, 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment, Security Force Assistance (SFA) Team, led by Lt. Col. LTC Alberto Garnica, have been working tirelessly throughout the last thirty days to improve the crisis reaction skills of Afghan Uniformed Police (AUP) units located within their battle space. First and foremost, the SFA Team has engaged in efforts to boost security at the Organizational Control Center-District (OCC-D). One of the first steps taken by Lt. Col. Garnica and his team was to establish some basic base defense Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the AUP to follow in the event of an attempted insurgent attack.
The crawl-walk-run developmental process was used for the training, and the AUP are practicing the steps of the SOP. This should develop into a „real-time‟ training program before the upcoming Eid Muslim holiday observance takes place later this month. “It's been a challenge with Ramazan," Lt. Col. Garnica stated, referring to the Muslim holyseason, which is currently underway. “Our AUP counterparts are ready to train, fight and win, but the recent blistering heat has made preparation for this a little slower than we‟d like to see," Lt. Col. Garnica reported. "At any rate, I want everyone to know that these men are battle-tested from years of experience and they are ready to put their skills to use." From the look on Garnica‟s face, one that has seen Soldiers he supervises forged in the fire of harsh, realistic training, there is little doubt in his mind that his AUP are now ready for any possible attack attempts looming in the future.
Lending a Helping Hand to Haji Kajir Story By: Maj. Joel Anderson
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LAGMAN, Afghanistan – The Afghan National Police, the Family Readiness Group and the Soldiers of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, The Arctic Legion, recently joined forces across thousands of miles to improve the lives of some local Afghan children in the vicinity of Patrol Base Haji Kajir. The members of B Co., 1-24 IN FRG donated infantspecific formula, bottles, and pacifiers. On the day of distribution the ANP were given a class on how to prepare and use baby formula. This one-on-one class, conducted with the assistance of local farmers, gave the officers of the ANP specific instructions on how to mix the formula. They were then sent out to engage local national parents of infants in order to instruct them in their usage. Many of the local farmers expressed their thanks and stated, “Some of our children have been so badly weakened by malnutrition they could not walk.” As word spread of the program, several of the local Afghan parents were even emboldened to defy a Taliban restriction on them to venture to the patrol base.
However, they were so concerned about the well-being of their children they risked exposure in their quest to provide sustenance for their children. In the continuing struggle for the hearts and minds of the people of Haji Kajir, this simple gesture proves how much can be accomplished when people come together, even if they are thousands of miles apart.
Page 5
By1st Lt. Stephen Leader Logistics: Believing in ANA logistical support capabilities can be a daunting task to the common ANA Soldier. But it is an achievable task due to the efforts of the mentoring and partnering units. In the CSSK realm, the ANA sustainment Soldier is faced with many difficult challenges: estimated cost of damaged vehicles (ECOD), unserviceable equipment, continuous shortage of repair parts, improper training, low literacy rates, tribal differences, morale, shortage of contracts, and leadership development. The 25th BSB and the 5/1/205th Kandak are uniting “shoulder to shoulder” in order to overcome these issues. Several approaches are being pursued when it comes to maintenance, supply, transportation, medical support and communications. Over the last four months, the 25th BSB and the 5th Kandak (CSS) have developed a logistical way forward forged through trust, learning, and providing the ANA Soldiers with the necessary opportunity to learn from ISAF sustainment mentors. The 25th BSB provides ANA logistical leadership with one-on-one instruction, demonstrating organizational skills, and gleaning lessons learned for more effective operational methods by focusing on the word “delegate”. Delegation of tasks has been a constant challenge because for over 30 years ANSF have been stricken by poverty and have depended solely on their own survivor skills. When it comes to maintenance, the 25th BSB recognized that CSSK Soldiers should know and understand the basic fundamentals of maintenance. However, they are missing a key component of identifying issues, in ISAF terms, “Technical Inspections”. For several months, the ANA has been working on identifying issues with the mentors, thus proving to the Opahey team that they have become proficient in this task. Maintenance operations, MOD-14s, and parts visibility have become ongoing issues. However, the ANA and their mentors have begun to create the necessary foundation for tracking the progress of maintenance with the use of MOD-14 tracking sheets. This process reveals vehicle deadlines at a weekly meeting intended to scrub these specifically tracked issues. Additionally, this process allows the ANA to have a better understanding of the status of their equipment and ensures manageability of the paperwork. The CSSK continues to struggle with visibility at the MOD depot, particularly at Camp Hero. Command and Control, along with oversight from the Corps level, is insufficient at the MOD depot at Camp Hero because MOD only receives limited oversight from Kabul. The CSSK and BDE simply require more attention and accountability measures to force the CSSK to step up their accountability processes. This would allow the CSSK to move forward in maintaining a better Operational fleet for the fight. An additional meeting is the logical next step forward for the CSSK. This would ensure that BDE G4 has direct involvement in these weekly meetings while ensuring that the BDE Commander has proper visibility. Sections such as transportation, medical, and communications also play a vital role in the way forward for the ANA. Transportation plays a crucial and constantly changing target for the CSSK. Progress is possible Continued on page 7
Page 6
Volume 1, Issue 3
Training and ANSF Transition By Maj. Carson Davis The adopted U.S. strategy for Afghanistan depends on the transfer of security to the Afghan Security Forces (ANSF). The transition is a key link between future ANSF development and the constantly changing environment in which ANSF find themselves operating. Building ANSF capacity includes two key factors, both of which are grounded in a trained and professional force: Professional and institutional capability Capacity to function in an unstable (threat and political) environment Afghan President Hamid Karzai made a comment to the Kabul International Conference (July 2008) in which he stated that ANSF ―should lead and conduct military operations in all provinces by the end of 2014.‖ This goal will only be reached with extensive assistance from the international community, most particularly, the United States. Assistance will come in the form of continued financial support and equally important, ISAF’s training mission led by the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan (NTMA). Current plans intend to expand the Afghan National
Army (ANA) to 171,600 and the Afghan National Police (ANP) to 134,000 by October 2011. While capacity exists today to provide mentors and partners to Afghan Forces, the challenge will be to provide competent and professional police and soldiers on a dwindling timeline. Simply put, the international community is running out of time. The development of the ANP faces greater and more complex challenges than the development of the ANA. In Afghanistan, the ANP is expected to perform a variety of counterinsurgency (COIN), security, law enforcement, counter-terrorism and counternarcotics missions. In addition, unlike the ANA, ANP performance is closely linked to the local and regional government and justice sector. The ANP must be trained to a high enough standard that they will be able to defend themselves against an organized and trained insurgency. Inadequate training and high casualty rates will continue to contribute to an even higher AWOL rate and low retention among patrolmen.
Traditional police functions relating to upholding the Rule of Law can only be ef-
fectively achieved in a relatively secure environment. Until security is achieved, the ANP will continue to serve as a security force versus an investigative police force. When ANP operate in areas that are either in the ―clear‖ or ―hold‖ phases, the concept of upholding the Rule of Law is frequently ignored by both politicians and military leaders. Hence the police force is further relegated to a security force and not a police force. Building a credible security force, specifically a police force, requires patience, resources and time. Given the current geopolitical environment existing in both Afghanistan and the Coalition Nations, time is the essential element. A legitimate security force can only be created by a government institution that is viewed by the people as being equally legitimate. The development of the ANP, with a blind eye to the weakness of the Afghan Government, lack of Rule of Law, and the high level of corruption significantly undermines the effectiveness and development of the required security and policing institutions that will be required throughout Afghanistan.
Volume 1, Issue 3
Page 7
CSSK (continued from page 5) in order to help ensure that CSSK members understand the significance of delivering the various classes of supplies to their supported units. The medical preparedness of the ANA counterparts is gradually increasing. CSSK Soldiers have conducted multiple CL VIII inventories on medical equipment and instruction on the proper management of CL VIII. These classes and inventories have helped to ensure medicine does not stay in containers, but instead actually gets out to the Soldiers that require the needed treatments and supplies. The final piece of the CSSK way forward is communication. Communication in a CSSK is an extremely important function that initially appeared to be overlooked and even the ANA Soldiers have realized how important it is to properly communicate. ANA Soldiers have started to strengthen their capabilities in radio
communications through training courses and have also begun to maximize their capabilities on the battlefield to communicate to higher when necessary. These communications courses encompass understanding each other in the most basic ways of human speech. The issue is that of a low literacy rate among ANA Soldiers. The 5/1/205th is working to develop a computer literacy course for Soldiers with the help of the mentors to increase the use and capabilities of computer programs among the CSSK. By increasing this one critical component to a basic and common level, 25th BSB has noticed an increase in productivity and required maintenance knowledge. CSSK soldiers are better able to use electronic manuals through electronic interactive literacy programs. CSSK Officer/NCO development has become crucial in the transfer of logisti-
cal knowledge and leadership. The 25th BSB has also continued to encourage leaders to pursue higher levels of education, instilling NCO pride, rewarding Soldiers, and creating discipline within CSSK shops. Mentors must be willing to listen to ANA counterparts‟ issues during tea breaks or while having a meal with them. The example of “Opahey” leadership has demonstrated what logistics means to the war fighter by providing food to Soldiers, transportation of supplies, fuel to cook food, and money for meals. Finally, Opahey mentors have followed the motto of “Opahey… without delay”, ensuring that the best support is provided to Soldiers.
Arctic Wolves Female Engagement Team Reaches Out to Women By Pfc. Andreka Johnson QALAT CITY, Afghanistan – A select element of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, and the brigade’s Female Engagement Team spent their day recently providing outreach to a group of Afghan women in Qalat City in Zabul province. One of the goals of the FET is to listen to the needs of women and to provide a voice to the female population. Due to their cultural beliefs, Afghan women are required to keep their faces covered and are prohibited from talking to males, including the predominantly male U.S. military. This most recent meeting was a chance for members of the FET and the local women to discuss new projects and future opportunities to come together with a sense of community. ―One of our biggest concerns right now is health care,‖ said an Afghan woman. ―We want to know how to take care of ourselves and our families without having to depend on the local hospitals because of how things are for us right now.‖ Most importantly, the women were
able to express opinions about everything ranging from women’s rights to being taught how to aid themselves and their families. The women always seem to enjoy speaking with the FETs,‖ said Maj. Maria Rodriguez, the 1/25 SBCT Provost Marshal and FET leader. ―They are excited for the opportunity to voice their concerns and to feel included in the decisions being made throughout their country.‖ ―The important part of the meetings is that both sides walk away with a better understanding of each other’s needs,‖ Rodriguez continued. ―It’s inspirational for both parties, and it feels good to know we are making a difference in the lives of our Afghan counterparts.‖ This passion for human interaction and genuine kind-heartedness is what gives FET its advantage in engaging
the local people. ―They have helped us a lot,‖ said another Afghan local. ―They are really great about teaching us new things and listening to any ideas that we may have.‖ As the 1/25th SBCT continues daily operations in southern Afghanistan, Rodriguez and the FET plan on dedicating many future operations toward improving the rights and safety of the female population in Zabul province, Afghanistan.
Page 8
By Lt. Col. David Abrahams
Tuesday, 31 August 2011 was the first day of the Eid Holiday for our Muslim partners in Afghanistan. Task Force 1-5 Infantry (Bobcats) and Security Force Assistance Team Five (SFAT-5) presented a gift of sheep to the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP). The presentation of sheep occurred at Combat Outpost EDGERTON in Dand District where elements of the Bobcats live and work with both ANA and ANP. This presentation was intended to strengthen our working relationship through sharing an important cultural milestone with the Afghan National Security Forces. The ultimate goal of 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division operations, and all International Security Assistance Force operations in Afghanistan is to leave in place a government that can stand on its own, provide basic services to the Afghan people such as education and health care, and protect its people from the influence of violent actors such as the Taliban and drug smugglers. In order to protect its people, Afghanistan must have a strong security apparatus. The base of that security apparatus is the Afghan National Police, also called the Afghan Uniformed Police. One of the most important efforts that the Brigade executes is building capability and capacity in the Afghan National Police. In Dand District, Task Force 1-5 Inf. develops plans specifically designed to assist the development of the police. At the Dand District Center an attached Security Force Assistance Team executes those plans and works hand in hand with the police every day. Sometimes the efforts of the Task Force and the SFAT results in strained relationships or disagreements about the way the ANP operate. These relationship dynamics are a normal result of living and working with a partner who thinks and acts differently than we are accustomed to as Americans. Developing a sound friendship based on mutual trust and understanding is the most effective way to ensure that the partnership remains strong. The m,onth of Ramadan and the following three days of the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday are one of the most important times of the year for our Muslim partners.
Author, Lt. Col. Abrahams carries a sheep to the Eid feast
Ramadan is a lunar holiday that lasts throughout the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims in Afghanistan wait in anticipation for their mullahs to proclaim that the holiday has begun, and begin a stringent regimen of fasting for thirty days. During this time Muslims are not allowed to eat, drink or smoke during hours of daylight, signified by the 1st and 4th call to prayer each day. Observance of this holiday is obligatory for Muslims and is one of the five pillars of the Islamic religion. When the Mullah declares that Ramadan is over, he also signals the beginning of a three-day holiday called Eid ul Fitr – or Eid. Eid celebrates the end of Ramadan with feasting, gift-giving, and social visits to old friends and respected elders in the community. Despite the difficulty of abstaining from food and drink for 17 hours a day, our Afghan partners continued to work shoulderto-shoulder with us in the effort to secure Dand District and create an environment where young Afghans have hope for a better future. In recognition of this incredible effort, and acknowledgement of the important cultural milestone, Task Force Bobcat and SFAT5 presented sheep to the ANA and ANP to slaughter and eat as part of their Eid celebration. Lt. Col. Abrahams, chief of SFAT5, while presenting the sheep offered these words to the Afghan National Police at the Dand District Center: “Like you, we celebrate our holidays a long way from our family and friends. And, like you, we reflect on the important things in our life during these times. Often we may look at things from a different perspective, but we are not that different. Think of these sheep as a bridge between our two cultures and as a symbol of the gratitude of Lt. Col. Payne, the Bobcat Battalion, and SFAT5 here at the District Center.” Later that day the sheep were slaughtered, dressed, and roasted in a pit tandoori style. Afghans from all regions of the country and various ethnicities sat side by side with Americans, cross-legged on pillows, and feasted together to celebrate the beginning of Eid.
Page 9
Have photos? Story ideas? Email us!
joel.b.anderson@us.army.mil michael.d.blalack@us.army.mil thomas.duval@us.army.mil andreka.johnson@us.army.mil
Produced by TFAW SFA-T/ANSF DEV with: 1/25 SBCT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
Unit Public Affairs Representatives * 2-8FA Capt. Angela Chipman * 1-24IN 1st Lt. Matthew Rogers * 3-21IN Capt . Chad D. Wriglesworth * 1-5IN 1st Lt. Matthew R. Burke * 5-1CAV Capt. Mike Newman * BTB 2nd Lt. John Conway * BSB 1st Lt. Stephen T. Leader
-MAJ. JOEL ANDERSON PAO OIC -SGT. MICHAEL BLALACK PRINT JOURNALIST -SGT. THOMAS DUVAL PRINT JOURNALIST -PFC. ANDREKA JOHNSON PRINT JOURNALIST
“FIRST WITH THE TRUTH”
www.facebook.com/pages/125-SBCT-Arctic-Wolves
(search: 1/25 SBCT Arctic Wolves)
Looking for Arctic Wolves’ photos? Go to: \\150.196.177.200\BDE Special Staff\PAO\PHOTOS On BDE Shared Drive