KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Soldiers from the Special Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Afghan National Civil Order Police conducted a logistics convoy operation from Kandahar Province to retrieve winter equipment from their headquarters in Kabul, Dec. 10-13.
SSB covered more than 700 miles (1127 km) with the support of Security Force Assistance Team 1, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
“The movement required cooperation and coordination with numerous coalition and local forces to provide logistics and security in route,” said Cmdr. Cindy Rhodes, a member of SFAT 1. “This was the first movement for the SSB and it revealed numerous opportunities for improvement; it also demonstrated the increasing and administrative maturity of the battalion but also the brigade and entire ANCOP structure.”
The movement provided many mentoring opportunities and allowed SFAT 1 members to demonstrate the value of well-trained drivers and proper vehicle maintenance.
“Despite some minor issues, the mentoring team was impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the SSB convoy team,” said Master Sgt. Kevin Seeley, a member of SFAT 1. “The mission was accomplished safely and it marks a major milestone in the advancement of SSB and 2nd ANCOP Brigade toward independent operations.”
The ANCOP is entrusted with responsibilities and military capacity far beyond a traditional police force. It is their responsibility to “hold” areas “cleared” of insurgents by the Afghan National Army and Coalition Forces until the Afghan Uniformed Police and other local government entities are ready to assume their “build” phase responsibilities.
The SSB is intended to push logistics forward to deployed police battalions in the field to free them from having to run supply convoys back to their home base, which allows them more time to run checkpoints and conduct patrols.
“In our time here, the ANCOP has continued to develop and improve,” said Lt. Col. Ben Eiser, commander of SFAT 1. “We are confident the ANCOP will be able to assume more responsibilities in securing Afghanistan for Afghans.”