ANCOP SWAT, Pathfinders tackle drug routes

Photo By Staff Sgt. Daniel Schroeder | Pathfinders assigned to F Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, and members of 2nd Afghan National Civil Order Patrol Special Weapons and Tactics Team get dusted as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter lands on the side of a hill during a search mission as part of Operation Pranoo Verbena in order to disrupt Taliban operations in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 16.  

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

03.21.2012

Story by Sgt. Daniel Schroeder 

25th Combat Aviation Brigade

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The rotor blades of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters beat hard through the dust as they drew closer to the ground. The wheels touched and the aircraft came to a stop while Pathfinders assigned to F Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade and soldiers from 2nd Afghan National Civil Order Patrol Special Weapons And Tactics Team unloaded the helicopter in close vicinity to a suspicious vehicle in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 16.

This is the 4th time 25th CAB Pathfinders and Afghan soldiers worked side-by-side on Operation Pranoo Verbena where their teamwork and joint professionalism is proving successful in disrupting Taliban operations.

“I am happy to be working with the coalition forces,” said Capt. Sultan Aziz, 2nd ANCOP SWAT commander. “It is great to be able to help the people of our country.”

Since completion of their air assault training last May with the 159th CAB, the Afghan soldiers have become proficient with the necessary skills needed to provide a more secure environment for the people of Afghanistan.

During the operation, the ANCOP SWAT soldiers stopped and searched multiple vehicles with the intent of cutting off the export of drugs into the area and keeping the weapons from coming into the province. The ANCOP conducted all the searches, detaining, and questioning while the Pathfinders pulled security.

“The ANCOP soldiers executed the mission very well,” said Sgt. Kaylub Divine, A Team leader, F Company, 2-25th AVN, 25th CAB. “They learn fast and complete all tasks given to them in a professional manner.”

Aziz and Capt. Aroyn Borries, ground commander for this operation with F Company, 2-25 AVN, 25th CAB, coordinated to prepare themselves for the best possibility of success. The amount of teamwork displayed in each phase of the mission proves a high level of motivation and initiative that the Afghan SWAT has when providing security for Afghanistan.

“With the level of professionalism and dedication to achieving the operation, the soldiers of the 2nd ANCOP are closer to being able to conduct independent missions,” said Divine.

• Date Taken: 03.21.2012
• Date Posted: 03.21.2012 03:06
• Story ID: 85521
• Location: KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AF
• Hometown: WAHIAWA, HI, US