LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, International Security Assistance Force commander, visited Forward Operating Base Shank to meet with members of the Logar Provincial Reconstruction Team from the Czech Republic, April 9.
After arriving to FOB Shank, McChrystal greeted and gave coins to a group of 20 troops from the PRT, met with Afghan national police trainees and watched a demonstration of the ANP training obstacle course before being taken to view some of the PRT's ongoing projects in the province.
The operation was in control of the Czech PRT, whose troops provided security for McChrystal, the ISAF command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Hall, and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kyle Lear, deputy commander of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, who were among the only American soldiers present.
"It was an honor for us to provide his security on our own," said Czech army Capt. Peter Siler, Public Affairs Officer for the Czech PRT.
Members of the PRT, including Czech army Col. Rudolf Honzak, commander of the Czech PRT, briefed McChrystal on some of their ongoing projects in Tanghjy Waghjan, including an ANP checkpoint that was reconstructed last year and three road bridges.
The bridges not only provide a road between the ANP checkpoint and an ANA/ANP outpost on a nearby hill, but also improve travel between the nearby villages, said Jan Pejril, the deputy chief of the civilian element of the PRT.
McChrystal was also interested in the process of dealing with contractors and coordinating with the Afghan government to ensure that once we leave, the villagers know how to continue getting projects done, said Perjil.
There are so many agencies in Afghanistan and in Logar province, both military and civilian, that McChrystal was pleased with how well we work with them, while also involving the local government, said Matyas Zrno, head of the civilian PRT.
Upon returning to FOB Shank, McChrystal thanked the members of the Czech PRT, military and civilian, for their work in Logar and helping to improve security and quality of life for the people of the province. He also appreciated the cooperation between the Czech civilians, troops and the soldiers of Task Force Bayonet.
"It was a big honor for us to have the ISAF commander here," said Zrno.