7th Special Operations Kandak earn praise for security in Helmand

AFGHANISTAN

08.26.2013

Story by Staff Sgt. Osvaldo Equite 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army Special Forces and Commandos from the 7th Special Operations Kandak performed “exceptionally” well in recent operations in Helmand province, the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command chief of staff said, during a visit with the troops Aug. 22 in the province’s Washer district.

Brig. Gen. Bismullah Waziri addressed the soldiers and recognized more than 10 for their bravery and actions.

“All of our SOKs are good, but the 7th SOK is exceptional and at a different level,” said Waziri. He commended the kandak’s ability to independently gather intelligence information, plan and execute counterinsurgency operations, as well as, pass on intelligence to their higher headquarters.

The Afghan Special Operations unit demonstrated this ability by conducting two unilateral operations in the past month where they planned and coordinated the entire mission.

“They are able to collect their intelligence information and act on it and use it for operations,” Waziri explained.

Several members from ANASOC in Kabul and their U.S. counterparts met with 7th SOK leadership during the visit. They discussed ways to improve other SOKs in regards to discipline, organization, communications and equipment based on what the 7th SOK has been able to accomplish.

There is great teamwork among the 7th SOK, the general said. The Kandak officers are very happy with their U.S. counterparts and hope to share the lessons learned here with other Kandaks throughout Afghanistan.

“We have done a great job during security operations,” said an Afghan commando, “but we are working to be better by better coordinating with other [Afghan] security forces in the area.”

The 7th SOK continues to train with U.S. Special Operations Forces. This training honed 7th SOK’s abilities, allowing them to assist in the defense and expansion of three Afghan police checkpoints in the district in the past month.

• Date Taken: 08.26.2013
• Date Posted: 08.26.2013 09:25
• Story ID: 112595
• Location: AF