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MARJAH DISTRICT, Afghanistan – As Marine forces in Helmand province shift into an advisory role and the capabilities and responsibilities of Afghan National Security Forces continue to grow, the people of southern Helmand are reaping the benefits.
Afghan National Army engineers with 4th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, recently constructed a bridge vital to local travel and commerce to the village of Sera Qalah.
A local elder, Haji Soorgul Aghan, approached the ANA at Forward Operating Base Fiddler’s Green, informing them of a road nearby that was being eroded by the water of a canal across which it was built. The ANA engineers, with their Marine advisors in tow, surveyed the site and jumped into action.
“It was an ANA lead effort,” said 1st Lt. John F. Nelson, an engineer advisor with the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment combat support advisory team and 24-year-old native of Bethel, Conn. “We made few recommendations and let them decide whether or not to listen to our advice.”
The bridge is now part of a main road crossing a canal, trafficked by over 30 commercial trucks a day. Vehicles would often got stuck in the water when attempting to cross the degraded road.
The 4th Kandak’s leadership conducted an engagement with local leaders, discussing the details of the project. Two weeks later, Bravo Company, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, provided materials for their Afghan counterparts, and the project was initiated.
"During the construction I did not see any issues,” said ANA Sgt. Abdul Ahmad, an engineer with 4/1/215. “The locals were kind and allowed us to work without interference."
The engineers moved more than 350 cubic yards of earth, installed two culverts, and built a bypass for military vehicles to access the construction site. The Afghan engineers used their own bulldozers, loaders and compactors to construct the bridge.
"It feels very good to be able to help the locals,” said Ahmad. “I think the people are very impressed and happy with the work we did for them. They want us to do more projects."
Only four months ago, the engineer tolai (an ANA company) was acting as a provisional infantry in support of another unit. They are now an able engineering asset, capable of supporting other Afghan security forces and developing infrastructure for the people in southern Helmand.
“Over the course of three days, the elder’s faith in the ANA engineers grew exponentially,” said Nelson. “He and the other villagers were please and astonished by the tempo of work, abilities of the heavy equipment, and the quality of the finished project."
Editor’s note: The 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment Combat Support Advisory Team is currently in support of Regimental Combat Team 5, 1st Marine Division (Forward), which 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 ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: | 04.07.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.07.2012 05:22 |
| Story ID: | 86428 |
| Location: | MARJAH DISTRICT, AF |
| Web Views: | 365 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, ANA engineers construct bridge, help people of southern Helmand, by SSgt Alfred V. Lopez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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