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    Securing Afghanistan’s future: Effective relationships among Afghan and American security teams

    Securing Afghanistan’s Future

    Photo By Maj. Richard Barker | The 2nd Afghan National Civil Order Patrol Special Weapons And Tactics Unit and...... read more read more

    PANJWA'I DISTRICT, AFGHANISTAN

    05.26.2012

    Story by Capt. Richard Barker 

    25th Combat Aviation Brigade

    PANJWA'I DISTRICT, Afghanistan – The 2nd Afghan National Civil Order Patrol Special Weapons And Tactics Unit recently led an operation with Pathfinders of Company F, 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade to establish observation posts and blocking positions in support of a Task Force Tomahawk operation to clear villages in the Panjwa’i district.

    During the operation, code named Tomahawk Tufaan, the 2nd ANCOP SWAT and Pathfinders were successful in preventing enemy forces from escaping the villages into the Registan Desert.

    “The effectiveness of [our] partnership is directly tied to the relationships that have been built over the course of the deployment,” said Cpt. Aryon Borries, Pathfinders commander, Company F, 2-6 Cavalry, 25th CAB. “We conducted all aspects of this mission together to include mission planning and rehearsals, patrol base operations, tactical decision making, and engagement with the populace.”

    The 2nd ANCOP SWAT and Pathfinders have been working together since early January when the 25th CAB deployed to Afghanistan.

    Pfc. Devin McClain, a rifleman with the Pathfinders, explained that while their mission was to over watch the clearance of villages, they were able to achieve secondary effects.

    “The ANCOP SWAT and Pathfinders were able to react to some of the suspicious activity that was observed,” he said. “We were able to remove some illicit aid from the battlefield in support of TF Tomahawk, which is a good feeling.”

    The security team recovered 1,500 lbs of hashish, some radio controlled improvised explosive device making materials, and a 120mm mortar round from enemy possession during the operation.

    McClain explained that the relationship between the 2nd ANCOP SWAT and the Pathfinders contributes to both teams overall effectiveness on the battlefield.

    “They help us better understand how Afghan locals live and think which improves our cultural awareness,” he said.

    Borries backed up McClain’s statement.

    “The ISAF and ANSF soldiers respect the specific skills and knowledge that their counterpart brings to the fight, which fosters a willingness and desire for both units to conduct partnered operations,” said Borries.

    Joint operations in Afghanistan such as operation Tomahawk Tufaan have two word code names made of a combination of one English and one Arabic word. Operation Tomahawk Tufaan translates to Tomahawk Storm.

    Task Force Tomahawk, who led the overall operation that the 2nd ANCOP SWAT and Pathfinders supported, secured more than 700 pounds of IED making materials and eradicated nine weapons and IED making cashes that included 107mm rockets, hashish, landmines, grenades and RPG rounds.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 05.26.2012
    Date Posted: 05.28.2012 01:43
    Story ID: 89070
    Location: PANJWA'I DISTRICT, AF
    Hometown: WAHIAWA, HI, US

    Web Views: 82
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN