KABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Increasingly, Afghan National Security Forces are taking responsibility for their own security and stability by conducting unilateral operations with minimal support from coalition partners and the results are exceptional.
In support of the transition, ANSF are taking the lead in training and operations - growing their capabilities daily, in order to provide security for the Afghan people.
Demonstrating their readiness to defend against the brutality of the insurgency here, members of the 2nd Company, 6th Commando Kandak recently led their own pre-mission training and operation rehearsals in Kabul province.
The Afghan National Army commandos perform specialized security training and offer strategic guidance to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for counterinsurgency and stability operations.
“They are beginning to do everything independently and are developing a sense of ownership for their country,” said a coalition Special Operations Forces adviser. “Anytime they can do this type of training events on their own, we can focus more on developing them rather than leading them.”
During a recent night range exercise, commando squad leaders, platoon sergeants and 1st Sgt. Khal Mohammad made adjustments as round after round began to hit targets.
While the commandos continued to push their training well past midnight, they understood that by sacrificing sleep for training and their warm beds to the muggy night, they strengthening their abilities to provide security for the Afghan people.
Roughly 14 hours later, the commandos expanded upon this training and were rehearsing for insurgent clearing operations.
Unfazed by steep terrain, the elite commandos moved in squad-sized elements through broken buildings and sharp hills, honing their craft to hunt down the enemies of the Afghan people.
The training will enable Afghan commandos to clear an area and make it safer for locals as part of Village Stability Operations, said a coalition SOF adviser.
Creating stability is nothing new to this kandak because of their prior role in shaping Afghan operations.
“We used to be a national strategy kandak, but now we are a fighter kandak,” said Mohammad. “If they don’t have training, they can’t fight. Because they are leaders, they will be in the fight.”
Although part of the ANSF mission is to increase security and stability across Afghanistan, one commando knows firsthand the importance of defeating insurgency.
“When the Taliban took over, they knocked out my teeth and put me in jail for almost two years,” Mohammad said. “The army is important for the government because it is the only way we can defeat the Taliban and defend our country.”
The commandos have been focusing on leading security operations for their country. The effectiveness and evolution of the ANSF has insurgent fighters losing key terrain.
The public is beginning to see the commandos leading their own missions, said a coalition SOF adviser. This takes the initiative away from the insurgents.
As more Taliban strongholds fall and stability spreads across larger portions of Afghanistan, the elite commandos push forward in their quest to rid the country of oppression, allowing Afghans the opportunity to develop a country that has experienced war for more than three decades.
| Date Taken: |
05.09.2012 |
| Date Posted: |
05.20.2012 08:13 |
| Story ID: |
88698 |
| Location: |
KABUL PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: |
782 |
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