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FORWARD OPERATING BASE BORIS, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army soldiers assigned to the 2nd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 203rd Corps, left their base, to conduct a three-day-mission designed to interact with the local populous of nearby villages March 12 to 14.
U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the Security Force Advisory Team, attached to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, Task Force “Golden Dragons,” 2/10 Security Forces Assistance Brigade, watched as their ANA partners left the gate without them.
“We usually go out on every mission with the ANA,” said U.S. Army Capt. Robert J. Reidel, of Baldwin Mich., team leader for the SFAT team, “but circumstances beyond our control have kept us off this mission the past two days.”
Operating independently the ANA soldiers continued their mission of gathering information from village elders and showing the local populace they can be trusted and counted upon.
“For the first two days the ANA executed without us, allowing them to strengthen their bonds with the local population,” said Reidel.
Solidifying the connection between the ANA and village elders and identifying and solving problems within the Bermal district of Paktika province where these soldiers are stationed, becomes easier with each mission.
“We are working hard at connecting with the villagers in the area, and hope to keep open communications with them,” said ANA Maj. Rajab Ali, the plans section’s officer in charge, assigned to the 2/2/203rd Corps.
Reidel acknowledges the ANA’s progress throughout their area of operations.
“The ANA are a lot farther along than I thought,” said Reidel. “They plan and execute all of their own missions; tactically they are ready to take over this area.”
As day three of the mission edged near, a change in circumstances facilitated the U.S. advisers accompanying their Afghan partners on their final day of patrols. Needing no assistance, the competent and ready soldiers stationed here took the lead.
“To me it’s a rewarding job,” said Reidel. “You can see the relationships that we have built and you can see they are really listening to what we have to offer. It is good to know at the end of the day, at the end of your mission, that you have made a difference.”
| Date Taken: | 03.14.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2013 11:24 |
| Story ID: | 104530 |
| Location: | ORGUN, AF |
| Web Views: | 74 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 203rd Corps take the lead, by SFC Mark Moore, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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