TARIN KOT, Afghanistan - Australian airfield defense guards from Security Force Two (SECFOR 2) completed their final ground defense area patrol in Uruzgan, Nov. 10.
The Air Force personnel handed-over their security responsibility for the area surrounding Multinational Base – Tarin Kot to soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, who form the theater assistance force.
As the International Security Assistance Force gradually reduces its permanent presence in Uruzgan the TAF will provide a strong security presence during the crucial final stages of the mission.
Being an ISAF utility force, the TAF will then move to a new mission at the end of the year.
Flight Lt. Ben Kurlyowicz, officer in charge, SECFOR 2, said the TAF reconnaissance elements have been in Tarin Kot since September researching the layout and background of their new area of responsibility.
“When the TAF platoons arrived we were able to spend time with their soldiers at the section, platoon and company levels to explain the terrain then pass on our knowledge of the area and the local people before handing-over to them on the ground,” he said.
“One of the key parts of our hand-over was the relationships and rapport we had developed over the past years with the Afghan police check-point commanders and the civilian population.
“Our presence on the ground defense area patrols gives our forces a buffer zone of a few kilometers around the base and also provides a deterrent to insurgent forces.”
TAF Platoon Leader 2nd Lt. Jordan T. Dea, 1-8 Cavalry, said his force had already deployed to other areas across Afghanistan to provide security for coalition bases so units could complete their retrograde tasks unimpeded or affected by enemy activity.
“As the structure of our units vary to that of other nation’s forces we need to understand each other’s operating procedures,” he said.
“During the handover we conducted drills and rehearsals and meshed some of our tactics, techniques and procedures.
“We also conducted joint patrols to help us understand the Afghan National Security Forces [ANSF] sphere of influence in the area and expand the buffer zone for the retrograde works.”
“The locals told us that they understood the ANSF was now responsible for their security and they trust them to do this.”
Flight Lt. Kurlyowicz said SECFOR patrols incorporated the use of Australian Army combat engineers high risk searchers and explosive detection dogs to search for improvised explosive devices and weapons caches.
“As airfield defense guards we don’t have our own engineers or work a lot with the RAAF explosive detection dogs, so working with the army engineers was a good learning experience.
“It was a fantastic opportunity to be able to use their subject matter expertise and apply it to our planning and the conduct of our patrols.”
SECFOR personnel are still maintaining MNB-TK security at the entry control points and on the flight line for aircraft, the air traffic controllers, refuellers and the air load team until these responsibilities are also transferred to the TAF.
Second Lt. Dea said it was the first time he had worked with Australian forces and it had been an extremely positive experience.
“There’s not a big difference between the way we operate on the ground and both units have the same key ways in which we provide security,” he said.
“We noticed the way the Australian section commanders interacted with the Afghan locals without an aggressive posture, while at the same time providing security which created a comfortable and nonthreatening atmosphere.
“This was something we have not often seen in the different areas of Afghanistan, so it was impressive to see.”
Flight Lt. Kurlyowicz said Air Force had seen a huge development of its airfield defense capability over the last 12 months.
“The airfield defense guards, security police, soldiers and civilian detection dog handlers have all worked closely together during this deployment,” he said.
“This has created a model for how we should be protecting airfields in both Australian and on future expeditionary operations.”
I am proud of my men’s performance in Afghanistan, including the 15 Air Force Reservists.
“I was very impressed as they demonstrated a tremendous amount of self-discipline and a huge commitment to their task.
“There are certainly times when this role can be mundane or boring, but they remained switched on and alert, proving their worth by displaying the capability they can provide.”
