Story and photos by Army Capt. Jonathan Springer
Army Lt. Col. Joseph Ryan, cmdr of 1st Bn, 327th Inf Regt, TF Bulldog out of Fort Campbell, Ky., discusses the importance of Op Crop Diversification with prominent leaders in the Kunar Prov., June 9, in Asadabad.
CAMP BLESSING - Many Soldiers within the 1st Bn, 327th Inf Regt – over 800 strong and a part of the “Bastogne” Bde, the 1st BCT, 101st AD – are finding out that this part of Afghanistan is different than any other, and much more convoluted than Iraq ever was.
The 1-327th, or TF Bulldog as they are known, operates in a very complex environment. The Pech River Valley, the Bulldogs current area of ops, is a very rural area in the remote Kunar prov. of NE Afghanistan, where the insurgent base remains strong despite the efforts of the ANSF and CF.
The “Pech” is comprised of about 100,000 people spread across 3 districts; Chapadara, Manogai, and Watapur. Daily life for the locals revolves around farming, raising livestock, and fighting to stay alive.
“Our daily focus is on combat ops that aim to increase an ever-elusive ‘security’ for the population that farms and lives in this rural area. This means, in basic terms, that we fight – everyday,” said Army Lt. Col. Joseph Ryan, bn cmdr for the 1-327th.
Ryan, who has seen this part of Afghanistan many times before, mainly with the 75th Ranger Regt, seems to have a keen understanding of how the Pech River Valley works.
“It’s my unscientific estimate that a good 90-95% of the population in the Pech River Valley is ‘indifferent’ at best to their govt’s efforts and the coalition’s efforts to secure peace in the valley,” said Ryan. “Now, this is not entirely unexpected, nor is it a bad thing. These are the survivalists; people who’ve grown up in a war-torn country for their entire lives. They know nothing but war.”
He continued, “The remaining 5-10% of the population falls into one of 3 categories. One group plays both sides; I call them the ‘entrepreneurs.’ They're willing to take what they deem is acceptable risk to make money or gain influence, by engaging the GoA and the coalition on one hand, and the enemy on the other. As you might imagine, this can be a lucrative, or a dangerous, undertaking.”
Another group, Ryan said, is very similar to the first, but different in the fact that it has chosen a side to support. Some will aid CF by passing intel to Soldiers, or by actively supporting GoA’s efforts to gain a foothold in the area, while others will support the enemy and their efforts. He said that the trick is finding out who is who.
“The final group, in my opinion, is comprised of those hard-line insurgents who believe in their jihad and see the implementation of a democratic GoA with support from the U.S., as a fate worse than death. These are the same people who provided sanctuary to Al Qaida, and those who facilitated the World Trade Center attacks in 2001,” said Ryan.
For TF Bulldog, the majority of each day is spent engaging with the population, spending time actively learning about the local villagers’ concerns with security in the Pech River Valley. Another focus area during engagement with the population is development, and trying to determine priorities for various projects that will help stimulate the local economy.
Throughout the months of June and early on into July, TF Bulldog has focused a vast majority of their time and effort on an op aimed at improving the lives of farmers, by providing an alternative means of growing crops in the valley.
This op, dubbed “Op Crop Diversification,” is one that's been met with wary, but open arms by many in the Pech. The concept is a simple one: give local farmers the opportunity to grow a variety of crops other than corn, through the help of GoA, in order to develop an agri-business in the prov., and as a side, but important benefit, limiting attacks on civilians, ANSF, and CF.
“We already know that insurgent forces use corn fields to cover and conceal their movement to ambush sites, used against US and ANSF forces,” said Army Capt. Jonathan Peterson, co cmdr for Charlie Co, 1-327th IR. “Unfortunately, when one of these ambushes takes place, it puts innocent people's lives in danger, and we are trying to stop that with this op.”
“Growing different crops can have a stimulating effect on the economy,” added Peterson. “Villages are volunteering to be a part of the program, because they understand it's a good thing for the Pech River Valley, but some villages remain hesitant to participate, because growing and harvesting corn is a major staple of their way of life here.”
As with all things in a Counterinsurgency, there is risk involved. However, the op will remain a top priority for the bn and GoA for many months, and will continue past harvest season and into the winter. Peterson is confident that this GoA-led op will be a success, and remains hopeful that it will continue through future growing seasons.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Only one road runs through the Pech River Valley, from Asadabad, the provincial capital city of Kunar. Leaders within the 1-327th recognize the significance of this road, known in the TF as “Route Rhode Island,” and understand the impact it has on the locals’ way of life in the Pech.
“The terrain is very mountainous and forbidding; valleys are narrow,” said Ryan. “We're on that road every day, because it's ‘peace’ on the road, and, in military parlance, ‘freedom of movement’ along that road shows the people that their govt can protect them. The enemy knows that they can find us on that same road, so we're always ready.”
The 1-327th is deployed at a crucial time in the war in Afghanistan, a time where a battle of wills, along with the hearts and minds of the people are at stake. There's a reason why the bn’s motto is, “Above the Rest!” Soldiers within the unit take that motto to heart day in and day out.
“After over 40 days, I couldn’t be more proud of these Soldiers. They're truly heroes, and perform their work with a calm, professional demeanor,” said Ryan. “They aim only to help build Afghanistan into an environment where its people can live a life that barely, if at all, just begins to approach so many of those things we take for granted in the U.S.”
A Soldier assigned to Charlie Co, scans the mountaintops for enemy fighters during a combat patrol near Nangalam, June 9.
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RC-East, Bagram Media Center
TF No Slack Scouts, Mortarmen Guard Marawara
Story and photos by Army Spc. Albert Kelley
KUNAR PROVINCE – Army Pfc. Larry Reed, an infantryman with the Mortar Plt, HHC, 2nd Bn, 327th Inf Regt, TF No Slack, prepares ammo, while providing security at Helicopter Landing Zone Hawk high, above the Marawara District, July 4. CF pushed insurgents out of the district days earlier, and are setting up permanent outposts to prevent insurgents from returning to the area.
Sgt. Kyle Johnson, a team leader with the Scout Plt, scans the valley below through a scope and a spider net while pulling security. The spider net prevents glare from giving his position away.
Pvt. Michael Stephenson, an indirect fire infantryman with the Mortar Plt, adjust the sights of his 81mm mortar system.
Pfc. Alex Kentner, a scout observer, and Pfc. Roy A. Arney II, a radio telephone operator, observe mortar fire and call in adjustments, July 5. Both Soldiers are with the Scout Plt. The mortar mission was aimed at a nearby hillside where insurgents were observed.
Pfc. Roy A. Arney II obtains a grid using a GPS for a mortar fire mission.
Pfc. Frank Copass, a radio telephone operator with the Scout Plt, mans an automatic grenade launcher, while pulling security, July 6. e Public Affairs Detachment)
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RC-East, Bagram Media Center
Sky Soldier artillerymen use innovation to reduce collateral damage Written by Army Staff Sgt. Bruce Cobbeldick
Army Staff Sgt. Michael Kain and Pvt. William Fiel of Bn A, 4th Sqdrn, 319th AFAR, 173rd Abn BCT, display the round used for civilian casualty reduction, July 7. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Rodney Graves)
WARDAK PROVINCE – The 173rd (TF King) has embraced the rules of engagement, and is taking active steps to reduce collateral damage by developing an alternative that reduces the chance of civilian casualties.
The 4-319 has begun the practice of using less-explosive training shells during the adjustment phase of fire support, and quickly transitioning to the high-explosive, lethal rounds during the fire-for-effect phase. The immediate result is fewer live rounds being fired, fewer chances for an errant round to cause unintentional injury or damage, and no decrease in effect of the support to ground units.
“The insurgents are choosing to fight among the people, employing them as human shields; this amounts to an avoidance strategy,” said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Woods, 4-319th command sgt maj. “Our enemy knows that when we use artillery in a conventional firefight there exists a possibility of unintended collateral damage. In our efforts to avoid that, cmdrs have previously been far less inclined to use artillery. The enemy has been using this assumption to avoid our fire support advantage … until now!”
The less lethal training round in use is the M804A1, also known as the “Smurf” round, due to its blue coloring. In practice, it's a ballistic match for a live, high-explosive artillery round, and exhibits the same effects while in flight from the tube to the target. The difference is in the impact effects.
“The 173D ABCT gives up nothing in terms of effectiveness; the fire-for-effect round is exactly where it would be had we fired an explosive artillery round,” Woods added. “This new approach that we're using here is more sensitive to the environmental impact issues, along with the cultural issues that affect the Afghanistan citizens.
Since Afghanistan is an agrarian society, when high explosives are used, they can contaminate the soil. When TNT, cyclonite and octogen (all proponents of high explosives) erode into the fields, crop yields can be harmed. Using less-explosive rounds is not only good for Afghanistan’s long-term future, but bodes well by posing a far less likelihood for collateral damage, explained Woods.
No one specifically told the Sky Soldiers how to avoid collateral damage, or civilian casualties. The solution was arrived at through asymmetrical thinking that allowed the paratroopers to tailor their effects, and deliver “focused lethality,” said Woods. “Our paratroopers chose to adjust fire with less lethal rounds to protect the citizens,” he added.
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RC-East, Bagram Media Center
Nangarhar PRT assists with humanitarian aid Written by AF Capt. Mary Danner-Jones
Dr. Naenaem, Heserak District Development Assembly chair (center), stands with Afghan civilians in front of a jingle truck loaded with humanitarian aid, to be delivered to flood victims in Heserak. The Nangarhar PRT assisted with the delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance supplies to flood victims, June 27 and July 7.
NANGARHAR PROVINCE - The request for PRT assistance came from the line director of disaster relief and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
“Our team was happy to assist with this endeavour,” said AF Lt. Col. Brent Grometer, Nangarhar PRT cmdr. “All of the appropriate measures were taken, and we were cleared to go in and support these crises. It was a great opportunity to train and assist our Afghan govt counterparts.”
The PRT coordinated with local govt officials for the delivery of 3,000 kg of rice, 2,800 kg of flour, 3,000 kg of sugar, 290 kg of Chai tea, and 2,720 kg of beans to the Heserak and Beshood Districts. Local officials supervised the delivery and distribution of the aid to the affected families.
"The benefit of participating in these missions is not only the positive impact local govt officials had on these families, but also the ability to test and improve coordination efforts between GoA, the UN, the PRT and other non-govt agencies," said Capt. Glenn Battschinger, Nangarhar PRT civil affairs.
Residents of the Mirian village in Beshood check on the damage to their home after the Kabul River flooded, July 7.
Dr. Naenaem, Heserak District Development Assembly chair, hands a bag of humanitarian aid to a flood victim from the Heserak district.
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