KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN – Soldiers of the 1225th ‘Win the Fight’ Combat Service Support Battalion, Task Force Resolute Afghan National Army mentorship team are partnering with the ANA to prepare them to become an autonomous military and take over the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.
The ANA mentorship team accompanied approximately 75 ANA Soldiers assigned to the 205th Corps Logistics Kandak, 2nd Brigade stationed out of Camp Hero, Afghanistan as they ran their first supply convoy, May 3-5.
The supplies consisted of 133 tons of food products couriered by roughly 30 ANA vehicles to be delivered to ANA soldiers of the 2nd Combat Service Support Kandak, 2nd Brigade located on Camp Apache, near Qalat City, Afghanistan.
Training leading up to this mission has been spearheaded by the mentorship team which covered a vast array of skills needed to successfully fulfill a transportation mission. “Our team has trained them on skills to include weapons, convoy operations, vehicle maintenance, driving skills, security operations, and leadership skills to include a few,” said Sgt. 1st Class James Whittum, ANA mentorship team non-commissioned officer in charge.
No matter how much training a unit receives, hiccups are bound to happen during the actual mission. While convoying back to Camp Hero, two minor vehicle accidents occurred. During one, the road became impassible for nearly an hour. Tensions mounted with the local restless population, but U.S. and ANA soldiers handled the situation with professionalism and confidence.
“As we (U.S. and ANA soldiers) were dismounted, one of the elders of the village said to me ‘If your convoy doesn’t move, bad things are going to happen to you all’ but we calmed the crowd (which consisted of approximately 150 locals) and provided security for the downed vehicle,” stated Spc. Aaron Cope, ANA mentorship team member. “I had a lot of confidence in us (U.S. and ANA soldiers), that we would be able to do what was needed and handle the situation right. The ANA performed their duties great and have improved tremendously from where they began.”
Following the incident, the convoy rolled on with only minor vehicle issues. All of which were handled expediently by the 205th CLK soldiers.
Upon completion of the mission, U.S. and ANA forces reconvened at Camp Hero to conduct an after action review.
Afghan Sgt. Lal Agha, the enlisted convoy commander, 205th CLK, shared with his troops, “I’m proud of you all and you did a good job listening to your bosses and completing the convoy.”
The unit’s abilities have grown by leaps and bounds in comparison to what they started as. Many of the 205th CLK logisticians can neither read nor write and had never even been inside of a vehicle. With U.S. mentors alongside, the 205th CLK has become mission ready and capable of the accomplishing the task of continued convoy and supply support across Southern Afghanistan, said Capt. Monica Ridenour, an officer mentor assigned to Forward 78th Operational Mentor Liaison Team 3.
“I now have full confidence in their ability. They have grown and learned to trust their internal leadership much more so that they can function effectively,” said Ridenour. “They do have struggles ahead because of people that will try to stand in their way but they will do their damndest to push on and be successful.”
Challenges will continue for the ANA as they prepare themselves to effectively take on the Coalition Forces’ role in their country but it is met with dedication and pride on the part of the Afghan soldiers and confidence from the U.S. mentors.
| Date Taken: | 05.05.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.09.2011 07:26 |
| Story ID: | 70097 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 123 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, ‘Win the Fight’ soldiers assist ANA Kandak on first convoy mission, by SPC Krista Payne, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
