U.S. Marine, New Jersey Native Leads Ground Surveillance Efforts in Helmand

Photo By Sgt. Sean Berry | LASHKAR GAH, AFGHANISTAN - “Between site surveying and patrolling and emplacing, it’s a tough job,” said Sgt. John Verhage III, native of South Brunswick, New Jersey and a surveillance sensor operator with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) prior to a sensor emplacement mission near Bost Airfield, Afghanistan, March 11, 2018. Verhage aids in the employment of remote sensor systems and unmanned aerial surveillance assets to help detect the movement of enemy personnel and vehicles. The ability to detect enemy movement is nothing new. Since 1967 in Vietnam, Marines have used unmanned remote sensor systems in any area of operation, helping to provide real- time warnings to brace Marines and their counterparts for anything they may face. “It’s better to use something like ground sensors now rather than something happening and wishing we would have employed measures like this beforehand.” The employment allows TFSW to gather an area’s information to aid the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) during constant combat operations in Helmand province. Verhage is one of the approximately 300 Marines deployed to Afghanistan to aid in the train, advise and assist mission to help enable the effectiveness of the ANDSF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sean J. Berry)  

LASHKAR GAH , AFGHANISTAN

03.21.2018

Story by Sgt. Sean Berry 

Resolute Support Headquarters

LASHKAR GAH, AFGHANISTAN -– “I’d rather take lessons from the past than learn lessons the hard way,” said Sgt. John Verhage III, native of South Brunswick, New Jersey and a surveillance sensor operator with Task Force Southwest. “It’s better to use something like ground sensors now rather than something happening and wishing we would have employed measures like this beforehand.”
Verhage leads the ground sensor operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, which helps employ remote sensors as general surveillance and early warning systems to aid the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. The constant management of the remote sensors systems helps the ANDSF maintain a high-level of awareness during combat operations.
“We’re all working together here; we’re protecting ourselves and the [Afghan National Police] at the same time with these sensors,” said Verhage, who has logged numerous security patrols—both mounted and dismounted—to help boost the ANDSF’s defense capabilities through sensor emplacement. “If I do my job, the police feel safer, which in turn makes us all feel safer. Every life matters out here, and I’m just doing my part.”
The ability to detect enemy activity through remote surveillance is nothing new. Since 1967 in Vietnam, the original sensor control and management platoon Marines used unmanned remote sensor systems in their area of operation. The ground sensor platoon Marines of today operate in the same way , by using the sensor systems to provide real-time warnings on enemy personnel and vehicle movement to brace Marines and their counterparts for any threat they may face.
“There’s a lot of planning that goes into this; we have to think of where it would be most effective, especially since the Afghans help us gather intel when it comes to areas of operation like this,” said Verhage who has experienced how difficult it could be to emplace in the coarse grounds of Helmand province. “Sometimes, you just have to understand that there’s never really a perfect place to emplace these sensors; we just do the best we can to provide coverage.”
Verhage is one of the approximately 300 Marines with TFSW deployed to Afghanistan to aid in the train, advise and assist mission that help enables the effectiveness of his ANDSF partners.
“I’m just trying to make a positive impact for the unit while I’m here,” said Verhage. “I hope to establish a good baseline while I’m here for my Marines to be able lead sensor operations in the future.”

• Date Taken: 03.21.2018
• Date Posted: 03.21.2018 05:00
• Story ID: 270060
• Location: LASHKAR GAH , AF