New RC-West commander meets with PRT Farah, Afghan officials

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FARAH, AFGHANISTAN

10.06.2011

Story by 1st Lt. Mark Graff 

Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FARAH, Afghanistan – Italian Brig. Gen. Luciano Portolano, Regional Command-West commander, visited Forward Operating Base Farah and met with Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah and representatives from Farah’s Provincial Government Oct. 6.

The purpose of Gen. Portolano’s visit was to afford him a better understanding and familiarization with Farah, the PRT’s mission and the unit’s cooperation and interaction with Farah’s government officials.

“As the new RC-West commander I am looking forward to improving coordination with [the PRT] and all coalition forces,” said Gen. Portolano.

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Shane Voudren, PRT Farah commander, presented a formal briefing to Gen. Portolano, discussing how the PRT is supporting its “lines of operation."

Voudren discussed the PRT’s focus on improving the level of security, promoting effective governance and enhancing economic development across Farah province. He noted that PRT Farah achieves these goals in a few ways, including working closely with the PRT’s civilian, interagency partners and utilizing a “line liaison” program to mentor Afghan government officials.

“As we move forward, we’ll really emphasize improving governance as we meet with Afghan officials,” said Cmdr. Voudren, speaking of the PRT’s vision for the remainder of its deployment. “The focus is on planning, budgeting and contracting.”

After Cmdr. Voudren’s briefing, Farah government officials representing the local Afghan National Police, the National Directorate of Security and the Provincial Chief of Police discussed military and security operations with Gen. Portolano.

Gen. Akram Sameh, Farah’s Afghan National Army commander, spoke about the importance of demonstrating how Afghans are leading the security process.

“This [is] great that the Afghans are in the lead. Cooperation [with coalition forces] is important not only in times of conducting [operations], but in planning. Planning activities must increase,” said Gen. Akram.

Farah’s Provincial Chief of Police Sayed Mohammed added, “People and young people are helping us secure the areas,” in Farah province.

Gen. Portolano’s visit highlights the importance of cooperation between coalition forces and Afghans when it comes to effectively reconstructing Afghanistan.

Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah’s mission is to support economic development and effective governance at the municipal, district and provincial level in Farah Province in order to enhance the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s legitimacy and its ability to provide basic services to the people of Farah.

• Date Taken: 10.06.2011
• Date Posted: 10.12.2011 01:45
• Story ID: 78347
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE FARAH, AF