Chief of staff turns tables: constraining insurgents, engaging Afghan leadership

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

03.20.2012

Story by Chief Petty Officer L.A. Shively 

Regional Command Southwest

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - From a roadside bomb exploding under a bus full of Afghans to a firefight between insurgents and coalition forces, Col. Lawrence Killmeier knew about them all. As chief of staff for II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), he reviewed reports on casualties in Nimroz and Helmand provinces among his other duties.

He said it was these tasks that accounted for many of his longest days in Afghanistan.

“We had an incident where a civilian bus hit an (improvised explosive device) going around a checkpoint because the driver didn’t want to wait for traffic,” he said. “That was probably the largest number of casualties we had in one day.”

Coalition forces responded to the bombing causing the operating rooms at the U.K.-led Bastion Hospital to reach their capacity with wounded. Both the chief of staff and hospital personnel put in a very long day – fighting physical exhaustion and the media battle. Insurgents took every opportunity to highlight civilian casualties and condemn coalition forces in the press.

“That table was turned where we’re out in front and using that against the insurgents, affecting their operations,” Killmeier said adding that the bomb went off under the bus in an area where no coalition forces were present. He said many other events insurgents blamed on coalition forces were proven to be insurgent caused because of the weapons used.

“They’ve had to make sure they’ve constrained themselves. We’ve even seen conversation where the insurgency was telling their folks to make sure there are no civilians injured.”

But, there are still little things that tore at his heart. The colonel visited victims who were aboard the bus and other patients in the hospital whenever he could.

“Seeing some of the children who had been orphaned was tough,” Killmeier said.

No stranger to combat, a Naval aviator with experience spanning the beginning of the Gulf War through Iraq; the colonel organized a multinational, combined joint task force staff focused on developing the country’s security forces.

“His leadership allowed his boss, Maj. Gen. John Toolan, to effectively focus and capitalize on tactical gains,” said Navy Master Chief Frank Johnson, command master chief, II MEF (Fwd). Toolan commanded II MEF (Fwd) and Regional Command Southwest, from March 2011 through March 2012.

Johnson said that getting the lead on the seasonal campaigns set the conditions for the transition of the Helmand and Nimroz provincial districts to Afghan Security Forces, enabling governance and improving Afghan confidence in their systems.

Understanding the poppy harvest cycle was the key to the seasonal campaigns that unlocked the routing of the funding to the insurgency. Killmeier and his team strategized methods to facilitate the Afghan government-led eradication efforts. He said his aim was to take and hold the initiative – pushing the poppy crop fields away from the fertile areas into the desert.

His team made strides with Afghan leadership engagement. Killmeier credited Toolan’s personal dedication to meeting Afghans from all walks of life and learning who held sway in their communities.

“The real power brokers aren’t necessarily the ones sitting in the power seats all the time,” Killmeier said, adding that the effort in creating personal relationships paid big dividends.

But no matter the collective accomplishments of his team, Killmeier’s inspiration comes from his Marines in the fight. He said the real hero is the young lance corporal with the dog clearing routes with a mine sweeper, or exposing him or herself to fire to rescue an injured buddy.

“It’s not like they volunteered prior to the war starting,” the colonel said. “After seeing and hearing some of the horrors, they still volunteered. Pretty amazing.”

He said he’s tried to encourage a family atmosphere within the unit, celebrating the holidays and, of course, the Marine Corps birthday.

“It doesn’t matter what (career) field you’re from, everybody’s here together. A year is a long time,” the Knoxville, Tenn., native said.

The colonel has been deployed several times, but this was the first for him in a coalition environment. He said there have been both frustrating and rewarding moments, but overall he is satisfied with their endeavors.

“Once we get back, decompress a little bit and look back at what we accomplished over the last year,” Killmeier said, “I think they are going to be amazed, because it’s just been phenomenal. There were a couple of things we didn’t understand when we came out here, that we have doctorate degrees in now.”

• Date Taken: 03.20.2012
• Date Posted: 03.20.2012 04:39
• Story ID: 85480
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF