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CHORAH, Afghanistan - Coalition forces in Uruzgan province handed responsibility for a base rich in operational history to the Afghan National Army on May 15, 2013.
Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mirwais, previously known as FOB Locke after Australian Army Special Air Service (SAS) Sergeant Matthew Locke, was built by the Dutch with help from the local population in late 2007. The base was home to Australian Army mentors and engineers and the Netherlands Provincial Reconstruction Team in the Chorah District.
Coalition forces worked with the people of Chorah in the next six years to improve infrastructure, roads, and agricultural practices. Schools and medical clinics were built and wells and irrigation channels were dug. Solar panels were installed and electricity filled the city.
Chorah was also the district that saw some of Uruzgan’s heaviest fighting; its relative stability now is a tribute to the mentors and Afghan National Security Forces who fought there.
In late 2012, at the completion of its mentor mission, Australian forces handed responsibility for the base to Charlie “Chosin” Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, an element of Combined Team Uruzgan.
“Being the only base out here in the Chorah Valley, we’re the eyes and ears for CTU,” said Cpt. Jeffrey Kennedy, C Co., 2/3 company commander. “Providing atmospherics was an important part of our mission. We had the Security Force Assistance Team (SFAT) that assisted the Afghan Uniform Police (AUP) and we also partnered with the Afghan National Army (ANA) 2nd KANDAK.”
SFAT teams worked with AUP leaders to develop a stronger and more knowledgeable police force. They provided counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) awareness training, basic combat first aid courses, and evidence based operations classes, as well as mentored the officers in their specified line of work.
“We mentored the AUP, and honestly, they were a lot farther along than we thought,” said Cpt. Stephen Ayala, SFAT executive officer. “I think we had the largest impact on their logistics chain. We worked on their Ministry of Interior process and made sure they were filling out the correct forms. Their equipment needs are being met; and they’re getting things they need, like uniforms, ammo, and weapons. This has made the AUP feel like they are part of an important organization.”
According to Ayala, the AUP have begun to work closer and more proficiently with the ANA. He believes that if this continues, Chorah will retain the same level of safety.
“The base will be turned over to the 2nd Kandak under the command of Lt. Col. Gul Aqha,” Kennedy said. “They’ll receive the living areas, gym, chow hall, some containers, the towers, and all the force protection tools they’ll need to have a fully operational base.”
Second Kandak soldiers have also received C-IED and first aid training to add to their training curriculum, and have been operating independently for some time.
“We’ve been very impressed with the 2nd Kandak,” Kennedy said. “They’ve proven themselves to be very capable. We’ve seen them maintaining and taking care of their equipment, providing training, and conducting successful operations. We’re very confident in what they’re going to be able to do once we’re gone.”
As for the U.S. troops, they’re ready to close out this part of their deployment. Some are sad to leave their Afghan counterparts who became friends, but many are simply ready to go home.
“I never thought this day would come,” Ayala said. “Our presence was welcomed there, but I felt that the longer we stay, the more reliant they become on us. They are ready to take charge of their own operation, and by us leaving, they are compelled to.”
ANA 2nd Kandak assumed command of Patrol Base Mirwais on May 15, 2013, when the last U.S. vehicle left the base’s perimeter.
| Date Taken: | 05.15.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.21.2013 08:14 |
| Story ID: | 107296 |
| Location: | URUZGAN PROVINCE, AF |
| Hometown: | ATLANTA, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | DAHLONEGA, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | TROY, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 687 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
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