Courtesy Photo | Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team Security Forces soldiers practice searching for...... read more read more
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PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The 40 infantrymen of the 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, make up the security forces unit attached to Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Counterinsurgency, commonly referred to as COIN, is an effort by coalition forces to build relationships with the Afghans and ultimately to win their hearts and minds.
Fighting on foot while winning hearts and minds may seem like a tall order, but that’s exactly what these soldiers have been ordered to do.
For U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher Willis, PRT SECFOR squad leader born and raised in Oak Bluffs Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., adapting to the mission is what he and his fellow soldiers are called to do, no matter what.
“This is what the infantry prides themselves on,” he said. “There is no mission too big or too small. The whole COIN concept is just a piece to the bigger picture.”
At first glance, it may appear these two extremes – fighting and befriending – require SECFOR soldiers to lower their guard, but according to Willis, that train of thought is on the wrong track.
“The infantry doesn’t have to lower their guard, they just have to be more observant to their surroundings and adapt from there,” Willis explained. “The security will always be as tight as it can be given the different factors that come into play.”
While the rules of engagement always allow soldiers to defend themselves in threatening situations, COIN is an aspect of the mission that asks them to take more than just perception into account.
Willis said he was required to do just that during one mission where he and his platoon were posting security outside Sharana Hospital when several unidentified individuals began pointing multiple weapons at them.
“I had to make a decision between going after them, which is fully acceptable, or showing a stronger front and getting everyone out of the hospital and back to base,” Willis said. “This is a split-second decision.”
Had he chosen to engage the threatening individuals, Willis said there would have been a fight and possible civilian casualties given the heavily-populated location. Although he would have been justified in his decision to pursue the enemy, Willis explained he opted not to with COIN in mind.
“I chose to show a stronger front, evacuate all our personnel and leave with no incident,” the sergeant said. “It was hard to walk away because I am used to the fight, but being a leader I had to think of the bigger picture. We all made it back safe and there was no disruption in the city.”
Currently on his fourth deployment, Willis said experience and leadership kicks in when making these spur-of-the-moment decisions.
One of Willis’ fellow soldiers on the PRT, U.S. Army Spc. William Brown from Wareham, Mass., said there’s a way to treat people and interact with them that gets the security point across but isn’t forceful or disrespectful.
“It’s not too hard once you get used it,” Brown said. “On this deployment we’re directly working with the civilian populous and seeing what they need to help build their towns.”
Security forces are a critical part of the PRT mission of working hand-in-hand with the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to rebuild their country.
“I think my troops inspire me and from that I drive,” Willis explained. “If I am the best leader I can be, they will follow and become the best soldiers they can be.”
| Date Taken: | 03.02.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2011 17:23 |
| Story ID: | 66586 |
| Location: | PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 35 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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