Soldier’s work integrates Afghan operations
by Spc. Adam Mathis CJTF101
WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The screen at the head of the two tables in the Operational Coordination Center-Provincial Wardak displayed statistics about coalition and insurgent activities in the area. Members of various branches of the Afghan National Security Forces listen as one of their countrymen briefed the data. Seated quietly at the table, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Larry Daley listened to his interpreter translate the fruits of his team’s labors.
Pictured: Members of Operational Coordination Center-Provincial Wardak, brief an Afghan general officer on operational updates April 4. Meetings like this one are a common occurrence at the OCC-PWardak. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Larry Daley of Preston, Minn., senior adviser to the Operational Control Center-Province Wardak, attached to the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Task Force Patriot, works closely with the Afghan National Security Forces to encourage information-sharing meetings.
According to Daley, his job as senior U.S. adviser for OCC-P Wardak is the future of the coalition presence in Afghanistan. Since November, Daley of Preston, Minn., attached to the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Task Force Patriot, worked to foster better cooperation between the various branches of ANSF and improve their ability to handle security in Wardak Province.
The OCC System
Daley’s position in Wardak came about by order of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who established the OCC system. Originally, the centers coordinated efforts related to elections and natural disasters. The system, however, worked too well to stay within such narrow parameters.
“It has evolved into a way that all of the entities of the Afghan National Security Forces can be integrated for operations and have a unity of effort in securing the population,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Kelley of Newnan, Ga., Operational Coordination Center-Regional South coalition force commander and senior adviser. OCC-Ps are local agencies that report to the OCC-R in their area.
The coalition presence in the OCCs is that of advisers, Kelley said. Specifically, their job is to aid the various branches of the Afghan security forces as they attempt to work together and share information. As Afghans assume more of what is currently the coalition’s job, coalition forces will increasingly assume the role of advisers.
This cooperation is what OCC-R South commander, Afghan National Army Brig. Gen. Muhammad Daood wants to see in the OCC system.
“I hope one day we’ll be able to provide security in the whole province,” said Daood through an interpreter.
To get there means a lot of drinking for Daley.
“A lot of late night chai sessions is how you get it done,” said Daley.
Cooperation
Chai, or tea, is a means to overcoming a problem that sometimes shows up in organizations: lack of communication. The various branches of ANSF have not been sharing the data they collect in Wardak. Daley compared this possessiveness with how the branches of the American military were before the 1980s; each organization had its own set of data and did not necessarily release it to the others.
Drinking tea, an almost ubiquitous custom in Afghanistan, helps Daley develop personal relationships. By establishing friendships and respect between the representatives of various branches of ANSF, Daley is able to improve cooperation.
“Maybe the organizations don’t really care for each other a whole lot, but if, as individuals, we can get along, we can make things work, Daley said.
“It’s something you’ve got to work at every day; if you’re not working at it every day, you’re probably going backwards.”
Advising Away Jobs
Kelley said as the OCCs become more proficient at handling security, there will be less need for coalition troops. Essentially, Daley is advising troops home.
And his work and that of his team is having some success. Recently, Daley began teaching Afghan personnel how to analyze data and ask what is causing those statistics. The result was a desire on the part of some Afghans to learn more.
“We’re getting there, it’s just taking time to make them sit down and think through very complex problems,” said Daley.
WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The screen at the head of the two tables in the Operational Coordination Center-Provincial Wardak displayed statistics about coalition and insurgent activities in the area. Members of various branches of the Afghan National Security Forces listen as one of their countrymen briefed the data. Seated quietly at the table, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Larry Daley listened to his interpreter translate the fruits of his team’s labors.
According to Daley, his job as senior U.S. adviser for OCC-P Wardak is the future of the coalition presence in Afghanistan. Since November, Daley of Preston, Minn., attached to the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Task Force Patriot, worked to foster better cooperation between the various branches of ANSF and improve their ability to handle security in Wardak Province.
The OCC System
Daley’s position in Wardak came about by order of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who established the OCC system. Originally, the centers coordinated efforts related to elections and natural disasters. The system, however, worked too well to stay within such narrow parameters.
“It has evolved into a way that all of the entities of the Afghan National Security Forces can be integrated for operations and have a unity of effort in securing the population,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Kelley of Newnan, Ga., Operational Coordination Center-Regional South coalition force commander and senior adviser. OCC-Ps are local agencies that report to the OCC-R in their area.
The coalition presence in the OCCs is that of advisers, Kelley said. Specifically, their job is to aid the various branches of the Afghan security forces as they attempt to work together and share information. As Afghans assume more of what is currently the coalition’s job, coalition forces will increasingly assume the role of advisers.
This cooperation is what OCC-R South commander, Afghan National Army Brig. Gen. Muhammad Daood wants to see in the OCC system.
“I hope one day we’ll be able to provide security in the whole province,” said Daood through an interpreter.
To get there means a lot of drinking for Daley.
“A lot of late night chai sessions is how you get it done,” said Daley.
Cooperation
Chai, or tea, is a means to overcoming a problem that sometimes shows up in organizations: lack of communication. The various branches of ANSF have not been sharing the data they collect in Wardak. Daley compared this possessiveness with how the branches of the American military were before the 1980s; each organization had its own set of data and did not necessarily release it to the others.
Drinking tea, an almost ubiquitous custom in Afghanistan, helps Daley develop personal relationships. By establishing friendships and respect between the representatives of various branches of ANSF, Daley is able to improve cooperation.
“Maybe the organizations don’t really care for each other a whole lot, but if, as individuals, we can get along, we can make things work, Daley said.
“It’s something you’ve got to work at every day; if you’re not working at it every day, you’re probably going backwards.”
Advising Away Jobs
Kelley said as the OCCs become more proficient at handling security, there will be less need for coalition troops. Essentially, Daley is advising troops home.
And his work and that of his team is having some success. Recently, Daley began teaching Afghan personnel how to analyze data and ask what is causing those statistics. The result was a desire on the part of some Afghans to learn more.
“We’re getting there, it’s just taking time to make them sit down and think through very complex problems,” said Daley.
The OCC System
Daley’s position in Wardak came about by order of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who established the OCC system. Originally, the centers coordinated efforts related to elections and natural disasters. The system, however, worked too well to stay within such narrow parameters.
“It has evolved into a way that all of the entities of the Afghan National Security Forces can be integrated for operations and have a unity of effort in securing the population,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Kelley of Newnan, Ga., Operational Coordination Center-Regional South coalition force commander and senior adviser. OCC-Ps are local agencies that report to the OCC-R in their area.
The coalition presence in the OCCs is that of advisers, Kelley said. Specifically, their job is to aid the various branches of the Afghan security forces as they attempt to work together and share information. As Afghans assume more of what is currently the coalition’s job, coalition forces will increasingly assume the role of advisers.
This cooperation is what OCC-R South commander, Afghan National Army Brig. Gen. Muhammad Daood wants to see in the OCC system.
“I hope one day we’ll be able to provide security in the whole province,” said Daood through an interpreter.
To get there means a lot of drinking for Daley.
“A lot of late night chai sessions is how you get it done,” said Daley.
Cooperation
Chai, or tea, is a means to overcoming a problem that sometimes shows up in organizations: lack of communication. The various branches of ANSF have not been sharing the data they collect in Wardak. Daley compared this possessiveness with how the branches of the American military were before the 1980s; each organization had its own set of data and did not necessarily release it to the others.
Drinking tea, an almost ubiquitous custom in Afghanistan, helps Daley develop personal relationships. By establishing friendships and respect between the representatives of various branches of ANSF, Daley is able to improve cooperation.
“Maybe the organizations don’t really care for each other a whole lot, but if, as individuals, we can get along, we can make things work, Daley said.
“It’s something you’ve got to work at every day; if you’re not working at it every day, you’re probably going backwards.”
Advising Away Jobs
Kelley said as the OCCs become more proficient at handling security, there will be less need for coalition troops. Essentially, Daley is advising troops home.
And his work and that of his team is having some success. Recently, Daley began teaching Afghan personnel how to analyze data and ask what is causing those statistics. The result was a desire on the part of some Afghans to learn more.
“We’re getting there, it’s just taking time to make them sit down and think through very complex problems,” said Daley.
WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The screen at the head of the two tables in the Operational Coordination Center-Provincial Wardak displayed statistics about coalition and insurgent activities in the area. Members of various branches of the Afghan National Security Forces listen as one of their countrymen briefed the data. Seated quietly at the table, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Larry Daley listened to his interpreter translate the fruits of his team’s labors.
According to Daley, his job as senior U.S. adviser for OCC-P Wardak is the future of the coalition presence in Afghanistan. Since November, Daley of Preston, Minn., attached to the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Task Force Patriot, worked to foster better cooperation between the various branches of ANSF and improve their ability to handle security in Wardak Province.
The OCC System
Daley’s position in Wardak came about by order of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who established the OCC system. Originally, the centers coordinated efforts related to elections and natural disasters. The system, however, worked too well to stay within such narrow parameters.
“It has evolved into a way that all of the entities of the Afghan National Security Forces can be integrated for operations and have a unity of effort in securing the population,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Kelley of Newnan, Ga., Operational Coordination Center-Regional South coalition force commander and senior adviser. OCC-Ps are local agencies that report to the OCC-R in their area.
The coalition presence in the OCCs is that of advisers, Kelley said. Specifically, their job is to aid the various branches of the Afghan security forces as they attempt to work together and share information. As Afghans assume more of what is currently the coalition’s job, coalition forces will increasingly assume the role of advisers.
This cooperation is what OCC-R South commander, Afghan National Army Brig. Gen. Muhammad Daood wants to see in the OCC system.
“I hope one day we’ll be able to provide security in the whole province,” said Daood through an interpreter.
To get there means a lot of drinking for Daley.
“A lot of late night chai sessions is how you get it done,” said Daley.
Cooperation
Chai, or tea, is a means to overcoming a problem that sometimes shows up in organizations: lack of communication. The various branches of ANSF have not been sharing the data they collect in Wardak. Daley compared this possessiveness with how the branches of the American military were before the 1980s; each organization had its own set of data and did not necessarily release it to the others.
Drinking tea, an almost ubiquitous custom in Afghanistan, helps Daley develop personal relationships. By establishing friendships and respect between the representatives of various branches of ANSF, Daley is able to improve cooperation.
“Maybe the organizations don’t really care for each other a whole lot, but if, as individuals, we can get along, we can make things work, Daley said.
“It’s something you’ve got to work at every day; if you’re not working at it every day, you’re probably going backwards.”
Advising Away Jobs
Kelley said as the OCCs become more proficient at handling security, there will be less need for coalition troops. Essentially, Daley is advising troops home.
And his work and that of his team is having some success. Recently, Daley began teaching Afghan personnel how to analyze data and ask what is causing those statistics. The result was a desire on the part of some Afghans to learn more.
“We’re getting there, it’s just taking time to make them sit down and think through very complex problems,” said Daley.
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