Afghanistan’s Crisis Response Unit 222 and 777 Special Mission Wing joined forces to participate in a time-sensitive target exercise at Kabul Military Training Center, Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 3, 2018. The TST exercise stressed the ability of the special operators to conduct rapid mission planning and execution in a condensed time period.
The exercise began with an emergency report to GCPSU of a terrorist assault. Immediately, GCPSU requested aerial reconnaissance of the target area from SMW. The special operations aviation team dispatched a PC-12 possessing a built-in infrared camera system that assisted in confirming the terrorist’s location. With the target identified, GCPSU deployed a CRU 222 assault element, airlifting them via a Mi-17 helicopter to a landing zone near the target compound.
Within minutes of CRU 222’s arrival, the unit breached the compound and began a surgical clearance of the building leading to the captured of the suspected terrorist. After a deliberate search for evidence, the special operators boarded the SMW aircraft and departed the location to analyze their findings at GCPSU’s intelligence center.
“This is a joint effort between ground and air forces,” said a GCPSU Special Operations Advisory Group mentor. “The partnering of the two commands increases the lethality and frequency in which Afghan Specialty Security Forces can place steel on the target.”