Buffaloes Conduct Combined Air Assault

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

03.13.2010

Courtesy Story

5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

KANDAHAR CITY - The Dahla Dam, located 27 kilometers north of Kandahar City, was built during the 1950s by an American company and has served as a way to control the Arghandab River and provide water to the farmers of southern Shah Wali Kot District during the times they need it most.

Currently the major planting season has begun and in order to provide the farmers with the water they need, the floodgates of the dam have been turned wide open. The Arghandab River, which was easily fordable by dismounted Soldiers during the winter months, is now raging and is over six feet deep in certain locations. Many villages important to the security situation in southern Shah Wali Kot lie on the east side of the river and the only mounted avenue of approach to these areas is along a narrow dirt road that cuts through the mountains and has recently been seeded with improvised explosive devices by the Taliban. Gaining access to the villagers on the east side of the Arghandab River is a problem that was recently overcome by members of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment (Task Force Buffalo) and Afghan national police.

March 13, 2009, 33 Soldiers from Hatchet Company, 1-17 Inf. and 11 members of the Afghan national police conducted an air insertion on the east side of the Arghandab River utilizing two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters flown by pilots from Task Force Talon, an aviation brigade from the 82nd Airborne Division. A Scout Weapons Team of OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters from the same brigade provided aerial reconnaissance for the operation.

Early that morning the Black Hawks flew to Forward Operating Base Frontenac and conducted rehearsals with the Soldiers and ANP who would be conducting the mission that day. With the help of an interpreter, the pilots gave a briefing on the safety considerations associated with riding in a helicopter, how to safely enter and exit the helicopter and what to do in the event of a crash landing. This was the first time in a helicopter for all of the ANP so they paid particularly close attention.

Groups of Soldiers mixed with ANP then practiced loading and off loading the helicopters, conducting "cold load" drills. A final talk through was done and the first lift loaded up in the helicopters and prepared for the flight to the other side of the river.

Two lifts later the combined team was all dropped safely across the river. When the helicopters touched down outside of the village of Zartala many villagers gathered outside of their homes wondering what was going on. Capt. Joshua Glonek, the Hatchet Company commander and Bacha Khan, the ANP commander, were then greeted by the village elders and invited inside the village to drink chai, and, more importantly, have a discussion about the security concerns in and around the village. While this key leader engagement was held, the remainder of the combined force conducted reconnaissance of the hills and fields around the village and talked to as many villagers as possible.

When the commanders' meeting was complete the patrol departed the village and headed north skirting the orchards along the Arghandab River to the village of Takatu. Inside the village, the ANP commander was informed by villagers that the Taliban had recently been in their village.

The U.S. Soldiers and ANP patrolled through the village collecting as much information as possible about the enemy activity in the area. The villagers, although partly scared, were excited to see U.S. and Afghan forces working together to help bring security to their area.

"These people have lived through years of intimidation by the Taliban," said Bacha Khan, "but they now see that we are stronger than the Taliban and [they] are moving to the side of the government."

The patrol then moved outside of the village and established a helicopter landing zone adjacent to a farmer's field on one of the only flat pieces of land in the area. When the helicopters landed and the Soldiers and ANP loaded up on the aircraft, the ANP commander made a special request to fly over his checkpoint, located adjacent to the Dahla Dam, to check on his police who were manning the check point.

The pilots obliged and the helicopters circled the checkpoint while the passengers inside waved at the ANP below. The patrol then returned safely to FOB Frontenac where the Soldiers and ANP talked about the results of the patrol over a shared cooler of cold drinks before the ANP departed the FOB and headed back to their check point.

Overall the mission was a success and furthered the strong partnership between members of 1-17 Inf. and the Afghan national police. The use of helicopters provided a way to safely access the remote villages on the east side of the Arghandab River and showed the local population and the Taliban that U.S. forces and the ANP are strong and are committed to working together.

"The combined air assault operation that we conducted was an extremely rewarding experience," said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Whitesel, the battalion's mortar platoon sergeant. "We understand that working closely with the Afghan national security forces is critical to our success."

As this partnership continues to grow, Task Force Buffalo will continue to bring security to this part of Afghanistan.

• Date Taken: 03.13.2010
• Date Posted: 04.09.2010 10:09
• Story ID: 47896
• Location: KANDAHAR, AF