Story by: Senior Chief Petty Officer Kevin Elliott
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan--The 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Protective Service Detachment worked hand in hand with the U.S. Marine Corps Feb. 12 at the start of a four-day mission escorting 122 vehicles and nearly 300 Afghan National Army soldiers half way to their new command at Forward Operating Base Deleram in western Helmand Province.
Moving the 5th Battalion (Kandak), 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps of the Afghan National Army from Camp Blackhorse, through Kabul, down Hwy 1 to Camp Leatherneck/Shorabak and later to FOB Deleram was not an easy task but a challenge the 48th Brigade PSD was ready to meet.
"I thought it went well considering that we've never worked with the Marines before," said 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Operations Sgt. Maj. Bryan Tyler.
"Keeping on the same route and coming out on the other side of Kabul with everyone in order and accounted for was good," Tyler said. "It took three hours just to get through Kabul. Keeping the ANA moving was a big challenge. Some of those guys only had two weeks of experience driving. That's why it took us 11 hours to go 102 miles."
Marine units are now partnering with the Kandaks (Battalions) of the 215th Corps. Every unit trained with the Marines will move down south. This was the second big move.
"The goal is to train them and move them south to Helmand to Camp Leatherneck and CLB-6 will partner with them to conduct missions," said U.S. Marine Capt. Patrick Williams, Partner Team Leader, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, at Camp Leatherneck.
The trip was fairly smooth, but tension was high as HWY 1 is a corridor known for enemy contact. Trucks broke down and a few ANA soldiers, inexperienced at driving, bumped into each other.
"The breakdowns I expected but they refused to drive fast," Williams said. "They got out of the vehicles at every opportunity. It wasn't as smooth as it should have been. Basically it was follow the leader."
The PSD escorted the ANA to FOB Warrior, about half way to their final destination.
Despite a few breakdowns along the way Tyler thought his Soldiers experience contributed to the success of the mission.
"More than half my guys were in the brigade in Iraq where we did these missions for six months," Tyler said. "We used our experience gained in Iraq and it paid off big time."