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HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, patrolled to different villages surrounding the Lakari bazaar, March 8, to pay and assess battle damage claims.
Just a few months ago the villages surrounding Lakari bazaar, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, were the location of countless firefights.
As the fighting intensified, locals would flee from their homes, or be forced out by insurgents, who would then take possession of the compound and fire at Marine patrols from inside. The Marines would then close with the enemy and search the compound which could sometimes cause damage to it.
The fighting has now died down and families have returned to their compounds, some come home to find their doors kicked in, or windows broken prompting them to go to the Marines for help.
"If you don't give them battle damage claims you better give them something tangible," said Capt. Scott A. Cuomo, the commanding officer of Fox Company, 2/2. "It's full-spectrum counterinsurgency. The family is caught in the middle of it."
The patrol started with a small village that had already gone through the process of filling out claims cards, having pictures taken of the damage, and had the ownership of their compounds verified. Then they waited for a patrol to show up at their door to pay them the money for the damage.
"We actually go there so the local nationals don't have to come all the way over here," said Staff Sgt. Robin J. Reyes, a civil affairs Marine currently attached to Fox Company, 2/2. "Also so they see our presence."
The Marines paid them the money for the repair and apologized for the time it took to get the money to them. This gave them a chance to sit down with the locals.
"I think one of the objectives of civil affairs is the winning of hearts and minds," said Reyes. "Through [battle damage claims] we develop sources, we develop informants, we develop positive relationships, and we project information."
The Marines then moved onto another village next to the bazaar, only this time, the compounds had not yet been seen.
The owners of four compounds were ready to show the Marines the damage that was done to their homes. Marines lived in their compounds, as part of an observation post, when they first moved into the area.
The Marines followed the owners through the compounds as he showed them where the damage was. They took pictures of the damage so that Reyes could assess it later to give them a fair price.
"We kind of defeat the [information operations] campaign, of the enemy, by doing these kinds of things," said Reyes.
While it is sometimes hard to tell if the damage actually come from Marines, they are generally more than happy to assist the locals.
"We would just rather take the blame," said Reyes. "A lot of people are only going to go to the group who provides. Whoever is doing the best for their needs is probably where they're going to go."
Reyes added that people will sometimes try to take advantage of the Marine's hospitality, but it's rare.
"It's the nature of the beast," said Reyes. "Some people will say a tank came around and killed 300 of my chickens."
Cuomo added that while handling battle damage claims is not what the average infantrymen joins to do, the Marines realize the importance of doing them.
Through this system, the Marines of Fox Company have gained a stronger relationship with the locals.
"They were almost killed, and to come back and interact with these people is just amazing," said Cuomo. "When I look at what these guys do on a daily basis, I'm in awe. I'm in absolute awe."
| Date Taken: | 03.08.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 03.17.2010 05:18 |
| Story ID: | 46785 |
| Location: | HELMAND PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 287 |
| Downloads: | 195 |
This work, Marines pay Afghans back for battle damage, by Sgt Dwight Henderson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
