KABUL, Afghanistan – The 1st Special Operations Kandak (SOK) Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Masood Estanekzay and Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Gulzarin Paktin, recognized 12 Afghan National Army Special Forces (ANASF) members during an end-of-training cycle award ceremony in Pol-e-Charki, Kabul province, Feb. 27.
The ANASF and commandos are elite units whose main purpose is to conduct high-risk counterinsurgency missions in areas where insurgents live and operate.
The 1st SOK Battalion commander spoke about how the team members perfected clearing operations and mentored the Afghan Local Police, directly resulting in the effective disruption of insurgent activity in numerous locations.
“It is important that we always strive to conduct independent operations. You have all contributed to a very successful training cycle and I hope to have more detachments go out and experience working in the villages and will learn as you all have before the spring fighting season begins,” said Lt. Col. Masood Estanekzay. “It is important for me that each of you feels like part of a family where everyone is treated equally. This award ceremony is a tradition held at the end of every Commando training cycle and it will now be a part of the ANASF training cycle conclusion as well.”
Lt. Col. Estanekzay prayed for the family of a 1st SOK ANASF comrade who recently lost his life while fighting alongside his ANASF brothers. He assured everyone present at the ceremony that the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was taking care of the detachment member’s family.
The ANASF detachment commanders recommended 12 team members to receive 1st SOK Certificates of Achievement. Each commander also nominated three of their soldiers to receive monetary awards for outstanding performance during the training cycle.