Photo By Sgt. Michael Blalack | Col. Todd Wood, commander of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry...... read more read more
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COMBAT OUTPOST LION, Afghanistan - The 1st Kandak, 1st Battalion, 205th Afghan National Army Corps as well as local leaders and International Security Assistance Forces gathered for a dedication ceremony at Combat Outpost Lion, Dec. 11 to mark the culmination of a six-month partnered effort between the Afghan National Army and the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.
Starting in June the ANA and 1/25th SBCT began a combined effort, pushing into the dangerous and volatile Horn of Panjwa’i, an area in southern Kandahar province known as the birthplace of the Taliban.
The mission of the ANA and members of Task Force Arctic Wolves was to root out the Taliban and other insurgent fighters that have enjoyed freedom of maneuver in and around the Horn of Panjwa’i for the past 10 years. The ANA and 1/25th SBCT were to establish a secure foothold in the heart of the horn, creating a secure piece of tactical infrastructure. This would not be an easy feat and it would not be done without a fight.
Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment along with Afghan engineers from the 1/205th used bulldozers to cut a road through the goat-trail-ridden terrain in the Horn of Panjwa’i, leading to the future site of the new combat outpost; COP Lion.
“Basically we came out here, cleared the area and built a COP right out in the middle of it,” said Staff Sgt. Joe Rusk, a platoon sergeant with 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment.
Soldiers from the 1-5 Inf. along with their Afghan army partners conducted air assault operations into the horn to clear out Taliban and insurgent fighters while the 3-21 Inf. and Afghan engineers emplaced the roadway through to COP Lion.
“The construction of COP Lion was projected to take 6-8 months when we originally planned it,” said Col. Todd Wood, commander of the 1/25 SBCT. “Within 3 months the Soldiers of Task Force Arctic Wolves and our Afghan army partners completed the mission.”
The mission has cleared and improved roads, decreased the amount of drug traffic, improved security and stability in the region and uprooted the Taliban from what has traditionally been one of their primary safe havens and routes of movement.
The ANA has been part of the operation every step of the way, even planning and leading missions with minimal support by ISAF forces.
“Everything we did and everything we’ve done since we arrived, especially with this operation, has been completely partnered,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Miller, commander of the 3-21 Inf.
During the ceremony, planned and executed entirely by the 1/205th, military and local leaders raised the Afghan flag and cut the ribbon officially opening COP Lion for business.
“We are going to make sure the insurgents can’t come back in here and use this area to bring violence. We have brought security to Panjwa’i along with our ISAF partners,” said Brig. Gen. Ahmed Habibi, commander of the 1st Brigade, 205th Afghan National Army Corps.
For photos of this ceremony see the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Flickr page at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/1-25_sbct/sets/72157628418300437/
| Date Taken: | 12.11.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2011 13:43 |
| Story ID: | 81494 |
| Location: | COMBAT OUTPOST LION, AF |
| Web Views: | 249 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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