Commanding general reflects on year in Helmand

CAMP LEATHERNECK, HELMAND PROVINCE , AFGHANISTAN

02.14.2012

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde  

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Second Marine Division (Forward) is releasing a new, six-part series today entitled “Commanding general reflects on Helmand.” The series of intimate interviews with the commanding general of 2nd Marine Division (Forward) highlights the challenges and successes the Marines and sailors of the division made during their tenure as the ground combat element of the Marine Air Ground Task Force and Regional Command (Southwest) during the last year.

The series contains a rare and open dialogue with Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Craparotta, the commanding general of 2nd Marine Division (Forward), about how his units endeavored to ensure successful security and development operations through Helmand and Nimroz provinces, including areas such as Marjah, Sangin and Kajaki districts. These operations provided the basis needed for coalition forces to successfully transition security responsibility to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Afghan security forces earlier than anticipated in several key districts.
Craparotta attributes much of the division’s successes to the unit’s noncommissioned officers, who served as a major catalyst for positive change.

“When we took over Helmand in March of 2011, we had over 220 positions spread out across the battle space, and in many cases these positions were being manned and being commanded at the squad level,” said Craparotta. “We were relying on our sergeants and our corporals to run these positions, so it isn’t cliché in the Marine Corps when we say that this is their fight. We put tremendous responsibility on our junior leaders to execute that fight. We give them complete trust and confidence; they shoulder a great burden, and quite frankly, they rarely let us down.”

“Commanding general reflects on Helmand” aims to share the hard work and sacrifices of the Marines and sailors of 2nd Marine Division (Forward) with the American public as the division prepares to transfer control of the task force to 1st Marine Division (Forward).

Editor’s note: Second Marine Division heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.

• Date Taken: 02.14.2012
• Date Posted: 02.14.2012 04:07
• Story ID: 83813
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, HELMAND PROVINCE , AF