California National Guardsmen and Afghan National Army soldiers planted trees to celebrate Nowruz (pronounced now-rose), the Afghan New Year, March 22.
The Guardsmen of Combined Joint Task Force-101 Toccoa TAC and members of the Afghan National Army 201st Flood Corps planted 30 orange and grapefruit trees at Gamberi Garrison, the new home of the 201st Corps.
Soldiers and non-commissioned officers from the ANA and Toccoa TAC planted most of the trees on a dry warm day before Nowruz, breaking the rock-solid ground with a pickaxe to till the dirt and plant the trees.
“The planting of this tree is a Nowruz tradition symbolizing growth and developing prosperity, much like the ongoing partnership between the Afghan National Army and coalition forces,” said Army Brig. Gen. Warren Phipps, of Ft. Campbell, Ky., who not only serves as Toccoa TAC commander but also as the Deputy Commanding General of Support for CJTF-101.
The last tree was saved ceremoniously for Phipps to plant with ANA Maj. Gen. Abdullah, the 201st Corps commander, as the Corps staff and Toccoa TAC stood by to watch.
Afterward, the two units bustled over to the American dining facility where an Afghan meal had been prepared for the group to dine on.
“I think the Afghans appreciated the fact that we cooked some of their dishes,” said Army Maj. John Griffis, the Toccoa TAC personnel officer and a California National Guardsmen. “You can only make so much progress talking about work all the time.”
“A meal goes really far because it emphasizes the common human link we have. We need to eat!” laughed Griffis, from Woodland, Calif.
“The core of our mission is to provide synchronization and coordination between the 201st Corps ANA, Regional Command East and the battle-space owners that occupy the 201st Corps area of responsibility,” said Toccoa TAC Deputy Commanding Officer Army Lt. Col. Jeffrey Smiley, an Army National Guardsmen from Sacramento, Calif.
While the original 15 core members of Toccoa TAC are Army National Guardsmen from California., Nebraska, North Carolina, Vermont, and Texas, the TAC is unique because it is composed of members from all across the military.
Toccoa TAC also includes five Army Reservists, 27 active duty Army, a Marine officer, a French Army officer and five civilian contractors.
In order to conduct its mission, Toccoa TAC also receives support from over 40 local nationals who serve as linguists who help bridge the language gap between Afghan and American service members.
“The most difficult part of the job is breaking through the language barrier and ensuring we’re all communicating on a similar language; whether that’s operational or that’s our functional areas,” said Smiley.
“The Corps is growing and with this move they are also realigning combat power and concentrating troops for operations in eastern Afghanistan,” said Col. David Baldwin, former Toccoa TAC deputy commanding officer, also a California National Guardsmen from Sacramento. Baldwin, who ended his tour in March, was recently named the new Adjutant General for the California National Guard. “They’re taking the fight to the enemy.”
Toccoa TAC has been partnered with the 201st Flood Corps for the past six months.
Nowruz is the traditional New Year for Afghanistan which uses the Islamic solar calendar, making the current year 1390.