Photo By Daniel Rangel | A Soldier prepares Hesco barriers with the aid of the heavy machinery at the new...... read more read more
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By Army Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
FORWARD OPERATING BASE AIRBORNE, Afghanistan — It's a scene played out nearly every morning somewhere in Afghanistan. Soldiers gathered around Humvees talking about family back home while waiting to roll outside the wire on their next mission. Then, suddenly, everyone scrambles to mount their Humvees as the commander approaches the vehicles.
The commander on the move is Army Lt. Col. Steven A. Baker, commander of the Special Troops Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. He is leaving the relative safety of Forward Operating Base Shank heading down the dangerous road to Forward Operating Base Airborne and the paratroopers mounting their Humvees are being employed as his Personal Security Detachment. Not that the colonel needs a security guard. This Army officer seems to know only one way to lead—from the front.
In an effort to re-establish its presence in eastern Afghanistan near Kabul, Task Force Diablo constructed Forward Operating Base Shank in Logar province and more recently, during the month of October, built Forward Operating Base Airborne in the adjacent Wardak province.
The effort comes as a response to increased enemy activity in the area, which represents challenges to provincial development, but Baker is determined to meet those challenges and restore order.
"This particular area was left uncovered for a number of months because we were focused on other provinces," said Baker, "So while we were gone, (the enemy) came in here and they set up shop and now they're not happy that we're back."
Task Force Diablo is comprised of Soldiers and paratroopers from a variety of military occupational specialties from 4th BCT's Special Troops Battalion, but has been charged with the duties more traditionally assigned to a maneuver command that usually has a higher density of combat arms Soldiers. In an attempt to better support TF Diablo, the task force also has augmentations from 4th BCT's 2ndBattalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment.
"We're asking all our different MOSs to do things that they wouldn't typically do in a normal situation. We're asking a lot of every Soldier that we have, every paratrooper to wear two hats. They still have to know their MOS job but they still have to be able to fight as infantry," Baker said.
Troops here must be able to function in dual roles not only because of the way they're being deployed, but because of the amount of battle space they are asked to cover.
"We drive more than anybody because of the distances, because the battalion commander has to check on his spread out units. He's got to personally do that because that's the kind of guy he is," said Army 1st Lt. Kyle Stockwell, PSD leader.
Baker's job has been difficult, but he credits his Soldiers and paratroopers for being able to get the job done.
"We've always had at least two provinces to try to command and control and it's been extremely difficult," Baker said. "It's very challenging, but the guys have stepped up and our infantry attachments have helped us grow and learn... I couldn't be more proud of them."
Part of the challenge has been the level of enemy activity in Task Force Diablo's area of operations.
"We've had 25 Soldiers suffer injuries, some of them serious, in the past two months in this province," Baker said. "The enemy in this area is skilled. foreign fighters are clearly training (the enemy) and they're well equipped."
But Baker has a plan that includes working with Afghan national security forces to hunt down the enemy.
"We have a very good relationship with the (Afghan national army) and they're probably one of the most trusted organizations in the country," Baker said. "(But) we're having a very hard time mentoring and getting the (Afghan national police) to the next level. That's really the key for us to be able to be successful in Afghanistan is to get the police to the same level as the army."
The ANA and the ANP are symbolic of the different levels of progress seen throughout most of Afghanistan.
"Each district is at a different level. In some places we're more kinetic, we have to fight and kill bad guys on a regular basis and in some areas we are more secure and have stability," Baker said. "(Where there is stability) we're able to actually do the things that we like to do, which is build—build schools, build roads, build wells and bring the people closer to their government."
And build is what Task Force Diablo does. They have quickly built two FOBs in the area in order to establish a commanding presence and deter the Taliban and other anti-coalition militia. FOB Airborne is the newest of the FOBs and is a routine stop for Baker, but the road to FOB Airborne is one of the most dangerous in the world.
Spc. Justin Eader from Gaithersburg, Md., is one of Baker's troops who are inspired to drive on and do a dangerous job despite being attacked three-to-four times a week. But Baker is with his troops the whole time leading the way. And his leadership is what's helping some of his troops get through their deployment.
"That's the only reason (Baker's leadership) why I think we're all alive right now," Eader said.
| Date Taken: | 11.14.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 11.16.2007 10:55 |
| Story ID: | 13963 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 4,548 |
| Downloads: | 3,787 |
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