CAMP ALAMO, Afghanistan – In America, people remember the Texas Alamo as a heroic struggle against impossible odds — a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. In Afghanistan there is a camp, which bears the same name and spirit for the scores of Afghan soldiers that camp personnel train to provide the same freedoms for Afghan people.
Camp Alamo, located in the nation’s capital of Kabul, is home to the Kabul Military Training Center (KMTC) Advisory Group, an assemblage of more than 1,000 U.S., coalition, and civilian contractors who provide mentorship, training and logistical support to the Afghan National Army (ANA).
However, without garrison support, this collection of mentors and trainers would be about as helpless as the Alamo defenders cut-off from supplies and reinforcements in the battle’s final days. They may not be remembered to the likes of David Crokett or Jim Bowie, but soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 178th Field Artillery, South Carolina Army National Guard, are sustaining the fight for these Alamo residents.
Serving as a Camp Support Group (CSG) for the Kabul Base Cluster, the 1-178th has the mission of providing life-support and sustainment operations for Camp Alamo.
“We are focused on living conditions, security and management of Camp Alamo,” said Capt. Christopher Turner, Camp Alamo mayor from the 1-178th. “We are also responsible for the selection and performance management of all service contracts for the camp.”
Under the direction of Turner, of Summerville, S.C., a small mayor’s cell team is responsible for the ever expanding camp that supports coalition forces from the United Kingdom, France, Mongolia, Romania, Australia, Greece, Germany, Turkey and Italy, as well as U.S. Army soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division’s 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, and detachments of the 95th and 1st Army Division’s. The CSG also supports a number of U.S. Sailors, Marines and Airmen with various military specialties.
Sgt. 1st Class Roger Cantley of Andrews, S.C., Staff Sgt. Tony Grant of Pawley’s Island, S.C., and Staff Sgt. Jack Hart of Canonsburg, Pa., round out the CSG mayor cell team. Turner said the camp has grown quickly in the short time his team has been here, and the cell continues to meet the needs of camp residents and improve services.
“The command group has been successful in meeting the challenges of enlarging the camp’s capacity from a population of 300 to nearly 1,000 people in the six months since we arrived,” said Turner. “We’ve also facilitated a seamless transition between vital logistical service providers – KBR and Fluor – while continuing to operate efficiently and meet the needs of the ever evolving KMTC Advisory Group.”
Turner said much of the team’s focus is dedicated to improving the working conditions and quality of life of Camp Alamo residents both military and civilian. Through their commitment and hard work, dozens of major projects have been completed and many more to be undertaken.
“As the team moves into the second half of their deployment, we continue to initiate and oversee several million dollar projects to include construction of buildings that will house close to 200 personnel, improvement and expansion of service facilities, and upgrades to morale, welfare, and recreational conveniences,” said Turner.
While the battle for the Texas Alamo will continue to symbolize liberty and freedom for Americans, only time will tell what Afghanistan’s Camp Alamo will come to symbolize for its people. One thing that no historian will be able to deny, however, is the support and improvements made by the few members of the 1-178th; giving its residents the best service possible in this moment of history.
| Date Taken: | 09.05.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.05.2010 01:33 |
| Story ID: | 55733 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 2,051 |
| Downloads: | 13 |
This work, Remember the Alamo: camp support group provides services for residents, by LTC Anthony Deiss, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
