ANA Soldiers lead checkpoint construction efforts
LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – With support from 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment’s Task Force Thunder, Afghan National Army soldiers constructed a checkpoint to increase security in Zarghun-Shar District of Logar province, July 3.
Although TF Thunder soldiers provided supplies and conducted outer security - along with their Afghan partners, ANA soldiers from 4th Kandak, 4th Brigade, 203rd ANA Corps did the work and proved they are ready and willing to take the lead for such operations. ANA soldiers took charge of building the checkpoint - one of several in the area - in a known insurgent hotspot, and said they were excited for this opportunity to prove themselves.
Pictured: Afghan National Army soldiers from 4th Kandak, 4th Brigade, 203rd Corps construct a checkpoint in Zarghun-Shar, Afghanistan, July 3. (Photo by U.S. Army Spc. Brian P. Glass)
U.S. Army Capt. Frank Adams of Torrance, Calif., is TF Thunder’s fire support officer and information officer. He said he witnessed an increase in the level of quality work Afghan National Security Forces are doing in securing Zarghun-Shar for the local residents.
“They’ve done phenomenally well,” said Adams. “We have had different ANSF agencies here - from (National Defense Service) to the (Afghan National Police) to the ANA - and they’ve all worked in concert together, which has really made this one of the better operations just because they have been in the lead, and they’ve been the first ones to bring the fight to the enemy.
“This is very strategic for (the Afghan government), and in particular for the ANSF - coming here and doing these operations and showing they can take the fight to the enemy, and that they are a capable and competent force,” Adams continued.
ANSF are placing checkpoints at strategic locations throughout Zarghun-Shar. This strategy will give Afghan forces, with coalition forces supporting them, advantages in their efforts to effectively keep the insurgents out of the area.
“From what I understand, those are the three ... biggest avenues of approach in and out of the city,” said U.S. Army Pfc. Jeffrey Nobach, an intelligence analyst from St. Johns, Mich., assigned to TF Thunder’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battery. “If you are going to screen people going through some place, you want to pick the most populated area.”
Nobach said ANSF checkpoints limit freedom of movement for insurgents and make it much harder for insurgents to move munitions. Also, such security checks show the populace that ANSF have a strong presence in and around their villages, making residents feel more secure.
“That’s the idea,” said Nobach. “The big thing is to provide security and limit freedom of movement and manuever for the (insurgents) and provide legitimacy for GIRoA and the ANA.”
Adams said with the ANA taking the lead and doing most of the work, the job of providing support to make the mission successful is much easier for coalition forces. He and his soldiers provide logistical support and supplies, basically things the ANA can’t acquire on their own yet, he said.
“So we’ll help them out in that respect,” said Adams. “All of the hard work is coming from them. We are just providing them the tools to reach that objective.
“This is their area; this is their hometown, their country, so we are providing support to them,” Adams continued. “However, they are the lead for all these operations.”
Sanamgul said the ANA appreciates the resources the TF Thunder Soldiers provide. He promised to do the best they can to keep Zarghun-Shar safe.
“We heard that the enemy had set up a strong point over here,” said Sanamgul. “Zarghun-Shar is a key point for us to hold, especially within Muhammad Agah, because the enemy is capable of coming through here, reinforcing themselves and moving out through here.
“I think that (local residents) are very happy with our operations, and they are very happy that we are building these checkpoints,” Sanamgul continued. “These checkpoints have a great effect for these areas, and ... hopefully ... this will be blocking the gates to Kabul; and the enemy effectiveness in Kabul will decrease.”
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