U.S. Forces-Afghanistan support element assumes role as Deputy Chief of Staff-Operations

Photo By Master Sgt. Sheryl Lawry | U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Leopoldo Quintas, Resolute Support Deputy Chief of Staff-Operations, addresses the audience during a headquarters reorganization ceremony at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, March 9.  

AFGHANISTAN

03.09.2018

Story by Samuel Wilson 

U.S. Forces Afghanistan

United States Forces-Afghanistan’s National Support Element (NSE) based at Bagram Airfield officially transitioned to the Deputy Chief of Staff-Operations headquarters, responsible for oversight of all NATO Resolute Support (RS) train, advise and assist operational missions across the country, during a ceremony March 9.

“Today marks the culmination of an intense period of planning, preparation and dedicated execution to maximize the impact this headquarters can make here in Afghanistan,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Leopoldo Quintas, Resolute Support deputy chief of staff-operations, addressing the audience.

Distinguished guests and servicemembers filtered into the Deputy Chief of Staff-Operations (DCOS OPS) compound to witness the uncasing of the headquarters’ new colors, including Provincial Governor Fazluddin Ayar, whose oversight includes Parwan Province where Bagram Airfield is located. U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan John Bass and his wife Holly Bass, Afghan Maj. Gen. Abdul Ghafar Safi, Italian Maj. Gen. Antonio Bettelli, and more than 100 U.S. and coalition commanders and servicemembers were also in attendance.

The strategic environment has changed in Afghanistan, according to Quintas. This reorganization reflects recent commitments by NATO at the Warsaw Summit and the mandate and authorities granted to U.S. Forces under the South Asia Policy. The RS headquarters is now “fit for purpose,” with the U.S. forces and coalition forces working together.

“We are excited to move forward, together with our Afghan partners, to achieve the enduring peace and prosperity that the people of Afghanistan deserve,” said Quintas.

In addition to celebrating the transition to DCOS OPS, the ceremony also acknowledged the inauguration of a new commander of Bagram Airfield, U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Terry Williams.

“It is humbling to be the commander of Bagram Airfield,” said Williams. To you [Afghan representatives], I look forward to working closely with you to accomplish our common goals, he said.

To conclude the ceremony, U.S. and coalition service members officially replaced their “U.S. Forces-Afghanistan” patches with “Resolute Support” patches, making the DCOS OPS headquarters official.

• Date Taken: 03.09.2018
• Date Posted: 03.11.2018 11:08
• Story ID: 268941
• Location: AF