Soldiers dig in with ANA friends

Photo By Sgt. Nevada Jack Smith | An Afghan National Army soldier present arms during the Afghan national anthem while standing in formation at an opening ceremony for Patrol Base Zafar, June 3, 2012. The base is located near the village of Chaka Juy, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.  

TARIN KOWT, AFGHANISTAN

06.03.2012

Courtesy Story

117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (Hawaii)

Story by Australian Navy Lt. Kara Wansbury

TARIN KOT, Afghanistan – The dust, heat and imposing mountains provide a spectacular backdrop for the Afghanistan National Army’s newest patrol base in Chaka Juy, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. Personnel from ANA 4th Brigade and Mentor Team Three (MT-3) have worked together to build the strategically placed patrol base approximately 75 kilometers from Tarin Kot.

The ANA have led the planning, building and security of Patrol Base Zafar, named after the commander of the 4th Brigade ANA, Brig. Gen. Zafar.

It was a proud day as Uruzgan provincial government, police, military and citizens came together on Sunday for the base’s opening. The commander of the 4th Brigade, Brig. Gen. Zafar, after whom the base is named, said the base would hinder the insurgent’s freedom of action in the area.

“We have blocked the Taliban in this area – they are not able to use this as a supply route anymore,” said Brig. Gen. Zafar.
“We have achieved our objective and I am very proud,” he said.

As the commander of the coalition element, consisting mainly of Australians, assisting the ANA build of Patrol Base Zafar, Capt. Dean Schmidt has seen the project from start to finish.

And what a start it was.

“It was a long journey with approximately 40 vehicles and 200 personnel. The team cleared the road of IEDs and conducted route enhancement over the course of the nine-day period,” he said.

At the end of the road move the personnel from MT-3 arrived at the new patrol base location: a bald feature of land surrounded by savage mountains and an endless blue sky. The bald feature was very quickly turned into a maze of sleeping pits for the group.

The conditions were harsh said Capt. Schmidt.

“My team lived and worked in pits without fresh water or fresh food for over a month. The weather was very cold and at times it rained for days. But we all had a job to do, “he said.

And that job meant the sweat of both Afghan and coalition men and women turned the barren plateau into a well-established patrol base in just six short weeks.

Set in the Chaka Juy Valley the base provides essential security along Route Whale, a supply route between Khaz Uruzgan and Tarin Kot. The location of the base was an ANA decision and it has proved effective said Capt. Schmidt.

“This road has been traditionally used as a Taliban supply route with little to no use by locals, since construction began though we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of jingle trucks, cars and motorcycles,” he said, “the locals feel comfortable to use the road with the constant ANA presence.”

During the construction the ANA led regular security patrols in the regions, with MT-3 personnel in the rear. The ANA develop the patrol program and MT-3 is always there to assist, but further in the background than ever before said patrol base second in charge Sgt. Ryan Young.

“Our role is to act as a mobile quick reaction force as we shadow the ANA, if they have any issues we are not too far away to provide support if required,” he said.

Sgt. Ryan Young said such patrols provide multiple effects.

“The ANA-led patrols show the local nationals that the ANA are there for their security, they disrupt the insurgent’s freedom of movement and allow the ANA to conduct key leadership engagements with local leaders to discuss any security concerns,” he said.

During each patrol there are more ANA than coalition soldiers and this too is making a difference in the region.

“Since we have been here it appears different areas are more permissive to security patrols as time goes by," said Sgt. Young.
The relationship between ANA and the Australian diggers was crucial in all aspects of the patrol base build and Sgt. Young has a great respect for his ANA counterparts.

“We are paired up with the Heavy Weapons Tolay [Company] and they are an awesome bunch of guys: always prepared to go outside, and the search engineers are always asking tips off our engineers and I would have to say that they are the biggest improvement we have seen in our time here,” he said.

While security conditions were well met, the build saw a successful partnered effort. Coalition engineering expertise and heavy equipment capability matched Afghan enthusiasm, innovation and desire to learn. The key motivation for all was to meet the goal of completion of a sustainable facility within deadline and due to the ANA’s hard work this was well met.

Capt. Schmidt was impressed by the result.

“When I look around now I see the holes I have been living in for five weeks and just behind I see the patrol base that has been built in such a short time. I have an excellent bunch of lads that I work with and the ANA I have been working with are exceptional and their commander is a very smart man,” he said.

Thanks to ANA and coalition efforts the Chaka Juy area is now safer and a professional group of ANA soldiers now secure, maintain and manage it.

• Date Taken: 06.03.2012
• Date Posted: 06.05.2012 03:54
• Story ID: 89427
• Location: TARIN KOWT, AF