1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs
Story by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Birdsall.
08.12.2010 CAMP MIKE SPANN, Afghanistan - A four Soldier Human Intelligence Collection Team, operating in northern Afghanistan in support of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, is making significant contributions to securing and rebuilding northern Afghanistan.“Upon arrival to the area, locals were very hesitant to speak with us,” said HCT leader Sgt. Kristin Barnett. “Over the past couple months this has changed drastically.”
“We are welcomed with open arms in most areas,” she added. “The local populace is now looking forward to the next time they can see us in their homes.”
According to Barnett, the team is unique compared to the other teams because
it has two female Soldiers.
“This has provided us with many opportunities to speak with the local women, who are most often ostracized from the community,” Barnett explained.
The female Soldiers on HCT 592 have a strategic advantage over other teams operating in northern Afghanistan because they are able to talk with members of the community that other teams are not able to due to Afghan customs.
“We have had the opportunity to visit an all girls school, which in the past has not been visited due to the cultural barriers prohibiting male Soldiers to engage local females,” Barnett said. “During this engagement we were able to assess the needs of the school and found out girls travel from far away just to be able to receive an education.”
This advantage, along with hard work and dedication to the mission, has resulted in HCT 592 being the highest producing team in northern Afghanistan.
“Considering we are one of the very first U.S. Forces units in the area, it has been challenging and exciting at the same time,” Barnett explained. As the deployment progresses we anticipate a greater support to Coalition Forces, the Government of Afghanistan and most importantly the Afghan populace.”
The HCT mission is to make living conditions better for the Afghan people by providing economic and security support to the country.
“Our mission is to support the local populace by assessing their needs,” the team leader said. “While this has been challenging, we have the unique opportunity to make a difference in this area and really set the ground work for future operations. The more we encounter locals in all areas, the better things appear to be improving.”
The team takes to heart their mission of earning the respect of the people.
HCT 592’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by their leadership.
“I am very proud of the accomplishments of HCT 592,” said Major Lee Castana, the military intelligence company commander, “HCT 592 has worked very hard over the past couple of months and results are starting to show. I can say with confidence that HCT 592 has made a difference in northern Afghanistan.”
1SG Michael Martino, the MI Company’s first sergeant echoed the commander by saying the team has set a high precedence for Human Intelligence Collection in northern Afghanistan.
“They are a shining example of what ‘right’ looks like when it comes to HUMINT Collection operations,” Martino said.
While it is largely unknown how future events in Afghanistan will play out one thing is for certain; HCT 592 will continue to remain on the front lines collecting valuable intelligence information for Coalition Forces and the Afghan people.
“This has provided us with many opportunities to speak with the local women, who are most often ostracized from the community,” Barnett explained.
The female Soldiers on HCT 592 have a strategic advantage over other teams operating in northern Afghanistan because they are able to talk with members of the community that other teams are not able to due to Afghan customs.
“We have had the opportunity to visit an all girls school, which in the past has not been visited due to the cultural barriers prohibiting male Soldiers to engage local females,” Barnett said. “During this engagement we were able to assess the needs of the school and found out girls travel from far away just to be able to receive an education.”
This advantage, along with hard work and dedication to the mission, has resulted in HCT 592 being the highest producing team in northern Afghanistan.
“Considering we are one of the very first U.S. Forces units in the area, it has been challenging and exciting at the same time,” Barnett explained. As the deployment progresses we anticipate a greater support to Coalition Forces, the Government of Afghanistan and most importantly the Afghan populace.”
The HCT mission is to make living conditions better for the Afghan people by providing economic and security support to the country.
“Our mission is to support the local populace by assessing their needs,” the team leader said. “While this has been challenging, we have the unique opportunity to make a difference in this area and really set the ground work for future operations. The more we encounter locals in all areas, the better things appear to be improving.”
The team takes to heart their mission of earning the respect of the people.
HCT 592’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by their leadership.
“I am very proud of the accomplishments of HCT 592,” said Major Lee Castana, the military intelligence company commander, “HCT 592 has worked very hard over the past couple of months and results are starting to show. I can say with confidence that HCT 592 has made a difference in northern Afghanistan.”
1SG Michael Martino, the MI Company’s first sergeant echoed the commander by saying the team has set a high precedence for Human Intelligence Collection in northern Afghanistan.
“They are a shining example of what ‘right’ looks like when it comes to HUMINT Collection operations,” Martino said.
While it is largely unknown how future events in Afghanistan will play out one thing is for certain; HCT 592 will continue to remain on the front lines collecting valuable intelligence information for Coalition Forces and the Afghan people.
Stumble It!
