Posts Tagged ‘National Guard’
By Sgt. Jon E. Dougherty
Public Affairs NCO
203rd Engineer Battalion
FOB SHARANA, Afghanistan – For National Guard units operating in some of Afghanistan’s meanest regions, sometimes – like back home – just being a presence is enough.
It’s enough, for instance, to provide reassurance to citizens, while at the same time sending a strong message to the enemy, that America and its military are committed to creating a long-term stable environment in this war-torn country.
So it isn’t surprising that the mission of one of South Dakota’s finest Army Guard units – Second Platoon, 211th Engineer Company (sappers) – was all about providing reassurance on its latest mission here in eastern Afghanistan.
Normally a route clearance team whose primary purpose is to hunt improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the chief danger to U.S., NATO and Afghan forces, the Punishers – as they are called – took on a different challenge this time.
On this day Second Platoon would conduct what is often termed a “presence patrol” – a task designed to demonstrate visibility, both to Afghan civilians and to the insurgent enemy, for the purposes of providing security and, in no small measure, confidence. Instead of exclusively searching for IEDs, the Punishers set up a traffic control point (TCP) to look for known insurgents and illicit weapons and bomb-making materials.
It’s not a mission they have done very often, but it is an assignment that is no less important to the overall stability of a southwest Asian nation long accustomed to war and violence.
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By Sgt. Jon E. Dougherty
Public Affairs NCO
203rd Engineer Battalion
PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- Staff Sgt. Gary Rhodes, a member of the 203rd Engineer Battalion, Missouri Army National Guard, right, eyes his mine resistant ambush protected vehicle which became stuck along a ditch during a route clearance mission Jan. 30. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jon E. Dougherty) (Released)
FOB SHARANA, Afghanistan – First Lt. Phil Kirk pulled the walkie-talkie from his hip, disappointment obvious on his face and in his voice.
“Did you hear that?” Kirk asked, shaking his head. “Sounds like medevac is red. We’re not going anywhere.”
He was referencing radio traffic from the tactical operations center informing him that his newly formed route clearance patrol’s (RCP) first mission would once again be delayed for several hours because medevac helicopters were unable to fly, presumably due to poor weather conditions.
Highly motivated and well-trained, the unit, nicknamed the “Black Jacks,” was pieced together last month with members of the 203rd Engineer Battalion, Missouri Army National Guard, and 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery (the 5-3), 17th Fires Brigade, an active duty unit based at Fort Lewis, Wash.
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Written on February 4th, 2010 by iangraham7 shouts
By Sgt. Jon E. Dougherty
Public Affairs NCO
203rd Engineer Battalion
FOB SHARANA, Afghanistan – The active duty Army and National Guard members of a new route clearance patrol formed here last month would experience many “firsts” in their maiden voyage.
For many of the members of the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery (the 5-3), 17th Fire Brigade, based at Fort Lewis, Wash., last week’s opening mission marked the first time they served as part of a route clearance unit – a job typically left to combat engineers. Becoming route clearance personnel means taking on a substantially different role than manning MLRS – multiple launch rocket system – batteries, the 5-3’s core mission.
For the members of the 203rd Engineer Battalion, Missouri Army National Guard, it was also their first time serving in a route clearance capacity in Afghanistan with an active Army element. When the 203rd was ordered to mobilize last August, these particular citizen-soldiers initially were slated to perform a personnel security role but that changed once they arrived here and the need for more route clearance patrols (RCPs) became evident.
For all of them – who are collectively nicknamed the “Black Jacks” – the mission marked the first time they worked together “outside the wire” as a team.
And the first time they went out, they had their hands full.
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Listen to the interview with U.S. Army Lt. Col. Hilbrecht, who is currently deployed to the Dominican Republic in support of Operation Unified Response, the humanitarian relief mission for Haiti.
The Kentucky Air National Guard currently has about 50 members deployed in support of Operation Unified Response, including the 123rd Contingency Response Group in the Dominican Republic and members of the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron in Haiti.
Since last Friday, the 123STS airmen have processed in excess of 200 tons of supplies, to include an emergency shipment of plasma that was delivered by air into Haiti. Special Tactics airmen have also assisted in emergency supply air deliveries into Haiti with U.S. Air Force C-17s.
Combat controllers are used to working in locations devoid of functioning air traffic control. Armed and trained to set up and help secure new airfield operations, these airmen have made aerial resupply missions to Port-au-Prince International Airport possible.
The 123CRG is teaming up with other nations to form a joint command post (airbase) in the Dominican Republic to help expedite additional aid for Haiti. CRG operations include air base assessment, initial airfield operations and force protection and Alaskan shelter construction.
To listen to the interview live, click here.
For more information on what the National Guard is doing to support “Operation Unified Response” go to:
http://www.ng.mil/features/haiti/default.aspx
And, watch an interview with Lt. Col. Hilbrecht by visiting their blog: http://kentuckyguard.wordpress.com/
To view a transcript of this interview, click here.
By Sgt. Jon E. Dougherty
Public Affairs NCO
203rd Engineer Battalion
NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – There is nothing quite so satisfying to the soul than to see a smile on the face of a child, with the possible exception of being the one responsible for making that child smile in the first place.
These days, U.S. soldiers are responsible for lots of smiles on the faces of many Afghan children.
While combat is a reality of life that many soldiers regularly face, increasingly – thanks to a recent shift in strategy by senior Pentagon leaders – U.S. troops are also getting more opportunities to positively affect the lives of this next generation of Afghans. And those efforts are translating into greater trust and, noticeably, more smiles.
Cases in point:
Earlier this month members of the 41st Engineer Company, based at Ft. Riley, Kan., and the 5-3 Field Artillery Company from Ft. Lewis, Wash., took a break from their route clearance mission to engage the local population in a series of charitable acts that, from a ground perspective, will go as far in winning the war against extremism as any offensive military actions.
Our convoy first stopped at a tented community called Chamtala to distribute several bundles of clothing donated by Americans back home and distributed to the military through various U.S.-based charities – something these soldiers have done a number of times in recent weeks.
Anticipating what was coming, scores of local children and adults surrounded the American soldiers within seconds after they dismounted their armored vehicles. The eager response of the children was the most eye-catching; their enthusiasm was infectious and their warmth for the Americans was as obvious as it was palpable.
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