"We, together with our ANSF and GoA partners, have helped to thwart the further influence of the insurgency, and have helped to secure the people from the continued threat of terror from the insurgents in the Ganjgal Valley and Sarkani district," said Army Lt. Col. J.B. Vowell, cmdr of 2nd Bn, 327th Inf Regt, 1st BCT. “Ops like this help make the region a safer place for those who live here."
Eleven insurgents were killed during the op. “We're proactively clearing this area, which in the future, will enhance coalition and ANSF’ ability to operate freely within the undeveloped region, so that we can focus on a more independent governance,” said Afghan Maj. Shirinagha, PA officer. ”Clearing this terrain also helps to establish essential conditions for more enduring security in the immediate area and beyond.” Ops in the area are ongoing.Soldiers from Co. C, working alongside AUP, restricted insurgents’ ability to conduct similar attacks, after conducting a search in Chor Village, 4 kms north of the district center. During the op, a local man offered to guide the SECFORs to an insurgent cache.
After looking in a qalat, the patrol found a complete 82mm mortar system, 3 mortar rounds, 2 hand grenades, an AK-47 bayonet, AK-47 ammo and a landmine. “Finding the 82mm mortar system is a huge success in disrupting the insurgents’ indirect fire cell operating in and around the Miri District Center,” said Co. C cmdr., Capt. Justin Quisenberry. The patrol then moved to a 2nd structure, which the Ghazni police confirmed to be a safe house for insurgents. In addition, the AUP found a red container with 2 cans of lighter fluid and writing all over the walls. The National Directorate of Security quickly realized that the container was a holding cell for captives. The owner of the container was detained for further questioning."In the past," Rahimi explained, "Afghan communities would gather together and clean their own canals. However, since anti-Afghan forces offered money to young men to take up arms against the GoA, it had become more difficult to get workers to clean canals for free. Cash-for-work programs like the one the ADT underwrote," Rahimi added, "made it less likely workers would join insurgents for money. Just as significantly," according to Rahimi, "the farmland irrigated as a result of the project would be much more productive, boosting income for farmers in the district.
AF Staff Sgt. Bennett Groth, the ADT’s asst project leader for the Sarkani leader, provided quality control and quality assurance for the canal-cleaning effort. “I knew it would help them irrigate some of their land, but I didn’t really expect, like Noor said, that it could reduce the number of insurgents or anything like that,” Groth said. “That’s a lot of bang for the buck.”The bn, based at Bamberg, Germany, assumed the task of route clearance in Wardak, Logar, Nangahar, Konar, Nuristan, and Laghman provs., from the Fort Bragg, N.C.-based 27th Eng. Bn., TF Tiger. During its deployment, the 54th Eng. Bn. will be known as TF, a name reflecting the unit’s history as well as its roots in Germany. Dolch is the German word for dagger.
During the ceremony, the Soldiers of both TFs gathered to signify the change of the mantle from TF Tiger to TF Dolch. “There's no real permanence to a military org., except for the colors,” said Army Staff Sgt. Angelita Bridges, TF Dolch retention NCO. “It's the colors that bear the history of the unit, its battles, its campaigns, and its accomplishments.” The uncasing of the bn’s colors signifies the completion of the TOA and the assumption of responsibility for route-clearance ops in RC-East. It's an important occasion, one that shows the commitment and dedication of the unit to its new mission in Afghanistan. TF Tiger helped train Soldiers of the 54th Eng. Bn. on multiple tasks ranging from day-to-day ops to using some of the newest equipment in theatre, including the newest 2-passenger Husky route-clearance vehicle. Soldiers learned the tactics, techniques and procedures that were effective for TF Tiger, and how to implement them in their own ops. The learning experience gave the outgoing Soldiers a sense of closure, and the incoming Soldiers knowledge needed to execute properly during their deployment.-30-
His first point was to provide guidance for project focus. “You’re doing a lot of good things here,” Campbell said after hearing plans to establish different programs in Paktya, such as organized sports, and courses on agriculture at Paktya University.
Campbell said that he's seen units in the past spread their efforts on too many projects, leading to an overwhelming amount of work for the units, and resulting in unfinished projects. Campbell’s guidance to the members of Team Paktya was to pick a few projects with good potential, and focus to fully develop them. “This will be a more effective way to engage and help the local population in the long run,” Campbell said. The second point Campbell made to Team Paktya was to ensure that the people in control of governance in Paktya are right for the job. To do this, Campbell said that Team Paktya needs to work as a cohesive group. Herve Thomas, a member of USAID on Team Paktya, said that the future of the team is bright. “More importantly,” said Thomas, “there's a good understanding of what each unit is doing, as demonstrated by the way the team comes together to solve issues.” Campbell offered the floor to the members of Team Paktya and listened as the members expressed what they feel needs to be done in the prov., to facilitate progress. Team Paktya as a whole appreciated the opportunity to interact with Campbell, and present their plans to help Paktya prov. progress toward a better way of life.