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SAFAR BAZAAR, Helmand province, Afghanistan — Safar Bazaar was once a hotbed for insurgents, its shops teeming with illegal drugs and streets laden with improvised explosive devices.
Over the last two years, four Marine infantry battalions and their Afghan National Security Forces counterparts have labored to make it safe. Today, the buzzing bazaar is the commercial hub of southern Garmsir district.
Thousands of Afghans from around the district travel to the bazaar each week to purchase goods. On ‘Bazaar Day’ every Tuesday, a sea of approximately 2,500 eager shoppers swallows up the streets.
From the shade of his shop, a butcher stood behind an array of meat hanging from metal hooks. Two men baked bread and cooked kabobs for hungry visitors while their neighboring vendor attempted to draw interest to his dusty collection of shoes. Down the road, the methodical reverberation of a hammer hitting metal revealed a man crafting a trailer frame outside his shop.
The bazaar has been transformed, despite small strains of illegal activity that remain among its legitimate vendors. Afghan National Army soldiers and Marines with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, partnered to clear these remnants of insurgent activity during Operation Sandman here, Dec. 28.
On the two major roads parallel to the bazaar, infantrymen with Kilo Company, 3/3, joined members of the Afghan National Police to search people and vehicles entering the commerce center.
As vendors opened their shops, ANA soldiers led Marines with India and Weapons Companies, 3/3, on a thorough search of the small businesses. They moved door-to-door, searching for illegal drugs and weapons, and using IED detection dogs to uncover explosives and other IED components.
“The clear was methodical … a disruption,” said Capt. Bobby Lee, the commanding officer of India Co., 3/3 and native of Corpus Christi, Texas. “This hurts the spring offensive insurgents try to fight, and it keeps illegal goods from flowing north to fighters in Sangin district.”
As the ANA and Marines searched the shops, they questioned, photographed and biometrically enrolled the vendors to gather census data for the area.
“Some of the local people got irritated when we were searching, but they know we’re doing it to help them,” said Lance Cpl. John Corsi, a 22-year-old team leader with 2nd Platoon, India Co., 3/3, and native of Jupiter Farms, Fla. “The quieter it gets here, the better.”
While searching, Corsi’s platoon found several Soviet-made weapons but didn’t encounter a significant amount of illegal drugs or IED components. Though this find was small, the lack of illegal activity showed the development of security in the Safar area.
“This shows significant progress has been made in southern Garmsir,” Lee said. “The people have a willingness to combat criminal activity, especially the insurgency.”
This willingness, combined with the growing strength of ANSF, is a positive benchmark as coalition forces will soon transfer security responsibility of Garmsir to the district government.
“The Afghan forces are a part of their country’s future … they’re protecting their people and borders,” Lee said. “They take pride in their job and role in society, which contributes directly to the stability of Afghanistan.”
Cpl. Travis Naito, a 22-year-old team leader with 2nd Plt., India Co., 3/3, is one of many 3/3 Marines who mentors ANA soldiers on a daily basis. He said their Afghan counterparts have progressed to being able to plan and lead patrols, receiving only support and after-action advice from their Marine counterparts.
“Every time we go out with the ANA soldiers, they get better,” said Naito, a Marshville, N.C., native. “I’m confident that when we leave, they’ll be able to take over the area and do well here.”
While this improvement is gradual, security in southern Garmsir is one of the many seeds that has taken root in growing a stronger Afghanistan.
“Eighteen months ago, white flags [signifying support of the insurgency] were all around Garmsir,” Lee said. “The simple fact that a person can have a legitimate business here is a sign of progress. This new focus on economics, security and education shows promise for the future generation of Afghans.”
Editor’s note: Third Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, is currently assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5, 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 Forces 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 the ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: | 12.28.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.31.2011 07:21 |
| Story ID: | 81938 |
| Location: | SAFAR BAZAAR, AF |
| Web Views: | 1,068 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, From insurgent hotbed to commercial hub: Afghans, Marines clear Safar Bazaar of remnants of illegal activity during Operation Sandman, by SSgt Reece Lodder, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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