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SHORSHURAK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Residents welcomed Afghan National Army soldiers and Marines into their village when they arrived during a recent security patrol. The patrol leaders discussed business with village elders as children swarmed the troops responsible for holding security, asking for chocolate from nearly everyone wearing a flack jacket and Kevlar helmet. The troops were happy to comply, handing out candy and showing off their unfamiliar, strange equipment to the young Afghans.
The Marines with Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, and ANA soldiers were in the area to increase their security presence, gain intelligence on recent insurgent activity in the area, and get a little face-time with local residents.
The ANA soldiers talked to village elders to build rapport and address the residents’ needs, as the Marines took a more passive role and provided guidance for the soldiers when needed. The 1/12 Marines have been training the ANA throughout their deployment to become proficient at gathering information from the Afghan citizens and interacting with the population. The soldiers are now taking the lead when talking to local residents, an important step toward long-term stability in Afghanistan, according to Belmont, Calif., native Sgt. Roberto Rayon, a squad leader with the battery.
“I want to make sure the ANA is handling the majority of the mission,” said Rayon. “I’m just there for security, training and teaching them to ensure that they can take over soon.”
The Marines have seen considerable improvement in the ANA’s ability to take control of their own affairs in the short time the battalion has spent in Afghanistan.
“They’ve improved a lot,” said Fall River, Mass., native Cpl. Matthew Eddy, an assistant patrol leader with the battery. “In the beginning (of the deployment), Sergeant Rayon would be the one asking the questions. The ANA would basically provide security; their (senior members) would be listening. Now their leaders are getting in there, asking questions.”
The residents in the area have also shown they trust and rely on the coalition’s presence. At first, they were afraid of the troops because of an insurgent-sponsored intimidation campaign, but the Afghan residents have warmed up to the coalition over time, according to Rayon.
“The (local citizens) seem to be happy that we’re around,” said the 21-year-old Eddy. “There was a point when we first started patrolling, they would literally run (from us). They’re a lot more willing to talk to us now. We’ve had a couple (residents) come up to us and say, ‘We love seeing you guys, (your presence) makes us feel safe.’”
The local citizens began to embrace the coalition when they started seeing the troops patrolling in their area on a regular basis. They realized the troops cared about their needs and could protect them from intimidation by the local insurgency.
“We go (to Shorshurak) two, three, four times a week,” said Rayon. “They know that we’re out there on a regular basis. They know we’re out here in our mission trying to take care of them.”
The people’s trust in the coalition is a good sign for Afghanistan’s future, and the ANA’s continued development is imperative as the country moves forward.
Editor’s note: First Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, is currently assigned to 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: | 09.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.01.2011 11:13 |
| Story ID: | 76294 |
| Location: | SHORSHURAK, HELMAND PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 558 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Afghan National Army takes lead, Marines lend support, by Cpl Tommy Bellegarde, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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