Task Force Chosin Soldiers build local trust at vehicle patrol base in Konar

Photo By Sgt. Amber Robinson | Army Pfc. David Mitchell, a Soldier with 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Battalion, scans the landscape surrounding Vehicle Patrol Base Badel, located at the mouth of the Narang Valley in Konar province. The base has closed down a large amount of enemy activity in the valley and in the districts of Narang, Chowkay and Nurgal.  

WARDAK PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

05.11.2009

Story by Sgt. Amber Robinson 

Combined Joint Task Force 101

WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Among the lush green pastures and valleys of Konar province, Afghanistan, Soldiers of Task Force Chosin, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, patrol for an elusive guerrilla enemy force.

In the seven-plus years U.S. forces have populated Afghanistan, the Taliban have remained a constant threat.

Although International Security Assistance Forces outweigh the enemy in personnel, resources and advanced weaponry, Taliban fighters continue to move doggedly against U.S. forces, using the local populace in various ways to support their criminal activities.

For Task Force Chosin, constant patrols, communication with the local populace and the strategic placement of tactical outposts and vehicle patrol bases have put a large dent in insurgent activity throughout the province.

One such patrol base, VPB Badel, at the mouth of the Narang Valley, has closed down a large amount of enemy activity in the valley and in the districts of Narang, Chowkay and Nurgal. Up until the past few months, when TF Chosin moved into the province, only a company held the battle space.

"We decided to strategically place a VPB in the mouth of the valley," said Army Capt. Nathaniel Miller, commander C Co., 1-32 Inf. Reg. "The VBP is situated on high ground, which overlooks all roads that go into the valley."

The small base sits atop a small hill which overlooks the valley, the Konar River and all major roads. The enemy threat is always imminent, especially since the placement of the VPB has greatly hindered the movement of illegally imported and exported goods to and from Pakistan.

"We know we have had an impact," said Miller. "The price of illegal weapons has doubled since we have begun to operate from the VPB. We've also begun to weather more attacks on the base, a result of their animosity at having their illegal trade routes cut off."

Soldiers must adopt an acute sense of battle readiness with an ever- looming enemy threat making life at the outposts and VPBs more precarious than at more established bases.

"We are always battle focused, even when we are out meeting with the people in the surrounding area, even when doing humanitarian aid work, we can't let our guard down," said Army Spc. Lucas Amyx, fire team leader with C Co.

Army Spc. Brady Nix, a combat medic with C Co., recalled an attack made on a small element of the platoon during a dismounted patrol.

"We had a news crew with us and there were a lot of local civilians crowding around while they conducted an interview," said Nix. "There were kids everywhere, a ton of little kids. I was sitting on a rock joking with them when we began to receive small arms fire. The enemy was actually spraying into the crowd. You could see the bullets hitting the dust at the children's feet. It was surreal because everything was so peaceful before. You just don't have time to think. All you can do is move into action and depend on your training."

Army 1st Lt. Ryan D. Feeney, a platoon leader in C Co., and his men, move from the VPB on dismounted patrols on a regular basis, working with locals to assess their needs, talk about potential enemy locations and provide an ISAF presence.

The Narang Valley has always been fraught with insurgent activity, but with beefed up military efforts in the region, officials hope the area will soon see a big change.

Feeney and his guys understand the importance of getting out and working with the local populace.

"The cornerstone of counterinsurgency operations is the relationships formed with the local populace," said Feeney. "Working on a close basis with the people is how we are going to figure out how things are going to get done. They have the most knowledge of the battle space -- they are the key."

In the local populace, an engrained fear of the Taliban has made many afraid of the repercussions they would suffer from the insurgents if they were to work with ISAF forces. Although locals within the VPB's area of operations were skeptical at first, they have warmed to the Soldiers setting up shop in the mouth of the valley.

Initially, locals avoided the small base, but have recently begun to show up for help from Chosin troops, mostly for medical care. Locals regularly bring their children with common ailments like sniffles or stomach aches, said Nix.

Amidst minor ailments, there have been more serious moments which illustrate the progress the VPB has made.

"We had a guy come in here a few days ago who was covered in bruises all over his body," recalls Nix. "He said the Taliban had captured him and beaten him. He had no other information for us, but the fact he felt he could come to us speaks well of the trust we are developing."

Trust is the basis for any relationship, especially those formed between ISAF troops and the local populace.

"It's a really good day when we do a sit down with local elders and they report suspicious activity or give us other important information," said Feeney. "That shows we have begun to earn their trust."

Local Afghan officials have always been willing to accept money for U.S. funded projects such as wells, bridges or schools. For a populace who has suffered the rigors of war for 30 years and the resulting third-world squalor, the monetary gains given by ISAF forces are accepted regardless of whether they support ISAF.

"It's frustrating," said Feeney. "We work hard to earn their trust but sometimes it's hard to get them to get past the conceptualization that we are merely a vending machine."

ISAF forces have the funds to help and will continue to make much-needed improvements to the country, but the victory lies in Afghanistan's willingness to rid itself of an oppressive enemy and pave the way for further humanitarian efforts.

The Taliban are well aware of the leeway Task Force Chosin Soldiers are making with locals.

"At first we were just receiving harassing fire," said Feeney. "We would get a couple of pock shots here and there, but now the attacks have become much more focused. We know we pose a serious threat (to the enemy) because enemy efforts to get rid of us have been amped."

Although enemy attacks have all but doubled on the VBP, Soldiers remain positive about the mission and continue to work toward security in Narang, Chowkay and Nurgal.

Feeney feels the work he and his fellow platoon leaders do at and from the VPB has had a positive effect and will continue to have such an effect as long as troops continue to push against a relentless enemy and embrace a seemingly skeptical local populace.

• Date Taken: 05.11.2009
• Date Posted: 05.12.2009 11:00
• Story ID: 33509
• Location: WARDAK PROVINCE, AF