Afghanistan Daily News - January 7, 2009

In This Issue:

U.S. Troops Train Afghan Security Guards

ANA and MSOC-I aid local villages

CHA PRT supports ANP in Chagcharan

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - ISAF military medics conducted a travelling medical clinic at Cahgcharan’s Afghan National Police Headquarters. In three hours, 207 police officers and employees received examinations.

ANP is the main security provider in Ghowr Province.

“As with most key institutions in Ghowr, the police sometimes do not receive enough

medical attention,” said Col. Vytautas Reklaitis, CHA PRT Commander. “As weather conditions deteriorate and many citizens of Ghowr province succumb to health problems, we decided to take care of the policemens’ health and show that we value their job of providing security in the province.”

The Provincial Reconstruction Team with members of the Lithuanian Armed Forces National Defence Volunteer Force. It is the second PRT manned by volunteer soldiers. Danish, Croatian, Ukrainian, American and Georgian soldiers also are part of the PRT. 

Lithuanian-led PRT missions were first launched in the Ghowr Province in June 2005. Their main task is helping the Afghan Government extend its authority in the province, ensuring security, and creating prevailing conditions for provincial reconstruction.

ANA and MSOC-I aid local villages

KABUL, Afghanistan - The 4-1 Reconnaissance Company of the Afghan National Army Corps’ 207th Kandak, provided humanitarian assistance to Rabaat Sabchan, a village of 130 families in the vicinity of Herat, Jan. 4.

“We were there to give them aid and see if they had any security issues in the area,” said ANA 4-1 Recon Company Commander 1st Lieutenant Hadi Khan, from Mazir-e-Sharif. “We also stopped at another village, Bazargan, to speak with the elders and hear of any problems they had.”

Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Afghanistan’s U.S. 2nd Marines Special Operations Battalion India Company (MSOC-I) joined the 4-1 Kandak on its mission.

“We are here to mentor a partnered nation force, training them on internal defence,” said Major Wu, commanding officer of MSOC-I. “Our overall mission is to increase the credibility of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the eyes of the local nationals."

Upon arrival at Rabaat Sabchan, commanders of the two forces met with local elders for a key leaders’ engagement (KLE), or shura, to hear concerns of the villagers and make a list of medical needs. ANA troops also unloaded wood and food provided by MSOC-I to the elders of the village for dissemination. The two companies moved on to Bazargan for another KLE with elders before finishing for the day.

“The ANA belongs to the people and is here to help them. This is the first reason we undertake humanitarian missions,” said Khan. “We also go out to see if there are any enemies in the area. By helping the people, they are more inclined to return the favor.”

U.S. Troops Train Afghan Security Guards By Army Sgt. Charles Brice Special to American Forces Press Service BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Jan. 6, 2009 – U.S. soldiers are training new Afghan security guards in an effort that is bringing them more help at traffic checkpoints. Army Sgt. Aaron Duncan, Company A, 201st Brigade Support Battalion, explains a traffic control point to Afghan security guards. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Charles Brice   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Soldiers from 1st Infantry Division’s Company A, 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, taught the specialized training at Forward Operating Base Fenty in northeast Afghanistan. The training included tactics, techniques and procedures for working traffic control points and conducting body searches. “What we teach in the class can carry over into their daily routine,” Army Sgt. Prentice Rouse, from Company A, said. “In return for their participation, they can go back and train their peers.” During training, the soldiers demonstrated techniques, which the Afghans followed. “Each [Afghan security guard] will go through the same training over and over until they grasp the information and feel comfortable with teaching it to others,” Rouse said. “We encourage them to participate and interact with our company and their fellow soldiers.” The security guards were taught a different skill set by the troops every week. “Now that our forces are combined, we can run the checkpoints and gates more effectively along with the [Afghan security guards],” Army 1st Lt. Craig Gridelli, base defense and operations officer in charge, said. “The training that we leave behind will hopefully have built a little bit of institutional knowledge with the [Afghan security guards] so that they can do the job themselves.” (Army Sgt. Charles Brice serves in the 1st Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team public affairs office.)

Related Sites: Combined Joint Task Force 101 NATO International Security Assistance Force

Army Sgt. Tobias Harris, Company A, 201st Brigade Support Battalion, teaches a block of instruction to Afghan security guards before training begins for the day. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Charles Brice   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution Army Sgt. Tobias Harris, Company A, 201st Brigade Support Battalion, demonstrates how to search a non-enemy combatant to Afghan security guards. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Charles Brice   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution