TARIN KOT, Afghanistan - “The Afghan National Army [ANA] is capable, robust and effective fighting force which the Taliban cannot beat in a tactical fight.”
Lt. Col. Mick Bye, commanding officer, 2nd Cavalry Regiment Task Force, led the Security Force Assistance Advisory Team for the 4th Bde 205th Hero Corps at Multinational Base – Tarin Kot.
He advised Brig. Gen. Mohammed Rasul Khan (Kandahari), commander 4/205, on brigade operations and his interaction with ISAF and ANA commands.
As the last Australian task force operating in Afghanistan, the 2nd Cavalry task force also provided force protection to ISAF elements in Uruzgan and Kandahar to support the process of security transition which will see governance and security firmly in control of the Afghan people.
Lt. Col. Bye says his intent as the senior adviser was to build on the brigade’s latent capabilities not just in operational warfighting, but in its performance and expertise in base administration, logistics and facilities management.
“While the ANA has issues with its logistics, sustainment and maintenance capabilities, when it comes to their fighting capabilities, they are more than capable of taking control of the security responsibilities for Uruzgan,” he said.
“As past mentors and advisers had already focused on the ANA’s warfighting skill sets, our team directed their efforts into the skills required to sustain a developing army, which can take time and patience to build.
“In the seven months we were involved with the 4/205 we have seen the growing confidence in their ability to conduct operations.”
This year 4/205 reported they had conducted nearly 800 operations across Uruzgan, including 28 deliberate brigade level operations to maintain persistent pressure on the insurgents while protecting its population.
Other tactical operations included day and night ambushes, long distance patrols, logistic resupply, checkpoint operations, counter improvised explosive device clearances and support to other security agencies.
Lt. Col. Bye says the great irony in advising is that in many respects, you learn far more about your own Army, than that of your counterparts.
“It’s clear to me that much is taken for granted about how the Australian army works and what it does.
“Our army works because of a training system that develops certainty of the way our people will operate, which in itself is based on our national education system,” he said.
“Comparatively, the Afghan army has had an uphill battle in this respect.
“The literacy rate of the overall Afghan population is only 28 per cent because the education system is still developing and it was virtually non-existent under the Taliban.
“We are now seeing consistent gains in that area, but education is still a challenge for Afghanistan’s security forces.”
The 2nd Cavalry task force’s mission in Uruzgan was different to previous rotations from the outset.
The unit had a diverse set of roles involving force protection and advising the 4/205 through to the draw-down of the operation.
Force protection provided by the task force included the manning of a quick reaction force, the SFAAT security platoon, the other government agency platoon which provided security for the provincial reconstruction team and the Kandahar-based 205th coalition advisory team protection platoon which provided protection for the corps advisory effort.
Lt. Col. Bye says in every respect, the men standing post and providing day in day out security performed exceptionally well.
“Many will not appreciate the extreme challenge in remaining focused for hours at a time, consistently exercising tactical patience and restraint in the face of often uncertain circumstances,” he said.
“Our men rose to this challenge and met every requirement with professionalism and cheerfulness.”
Lt. Col. Bye says the SFAAT’s job was complex and morphed from advising on military issues, such as training and personnel management, to advising the ANA leadership on methods of sustaining their army, including logistics, leave management, pay and conditions and facilities and infrastructure maintenance.
“We estimate our team of 22 soldiers spent nearly 6,000 hours in direct interaction advising personnel from 4/205,” he said.
“Our medical adviser, Warrant Officer Class Aaron Writer, spent more than 550 hours advising Afghan soldiers and dealt with nearly 40 ANA fatalities, at least 60 soldiers and police who suffered from life threatening wounds and approximately 140 other casualties.”
Lt. Col. Bye says the 4/205 is well postured and supported by their corps.
“The Taliban avoid fighting them because they know they will come off second best, and as a result the insurgents will continue to be kept to the peripheries of the province where security forces are not always present,” he said.
“The ANA have also prevented the Taliban from achieving their stated goals of taking over at least one district in every province and they are well positioned to continue this into the future.
“We were very conscious as a task group of making sure the good work and legacy of the previous mentors and advisers as well as the efforts of personnel with Combined Team Uruzgan was respected, understood and built upon.”
Lt. Col. Bye says his soldiers genuinely wanted to see the Afghans succeed.
“Afghanistan has many issues as a country, but its people will work through them,” he said.
“We are confident we are leaving Uruzgan with the Afghans in a much better position to provide independent security for their nation.”
“Everyone should be proud of the sacrifices that have been made, because what has been achieved in this province shows that our efforts were absolutely worth it.”
Finally, Lt. Col. Bye paid tribute to one particular group who allowed the mission to succeed.
“As an Army, we should recognize the selfless support given by the families of our soldiers during this operation,” he said.
“Over many years, they have been magnificent in the provision of understanding, patience and generosity of spirit, which allowed our men and women to do what they needed to do in this province and elsewhere.
“Without this commitment we would have achieved far, far less."
| Date Taken: | 12.02.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 12.03.2013 02:51 |
| Story ID: | 117639 |
| Location: | TARIN KOWT, AF |
| Web Views: | 225 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Uruzgan ANA firmly in control, by OR-5 Mark Doran, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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