Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Houston | Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command...... read more read more
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BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – The 10th Mountain Division, under the command of Maj. Gen. Stephen Townsend, finished it's support of Operation Enduring Freedom where it had begun 13 years ago, in the eastern provinces of Afghanistan.
The division’s colors were cased signifying the end of Combined Joint Task Force-10, and Regional Command-East, on Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Nov. 4, 2014.
Soldiers of the 10th Mountain were the first in the region in 2001, and have been repeatedly deployed to the area, often serving as the commanding division of RC-East and working to develop Afghanistan's infrastructure and defeat international terrorism.
As OEF comes to a close, the 10th Mountain Division will leave Afghanistan's legacy in the hands of the Afghan people. In the past year, CJTF-10 oversaw Afghanistan's first peaceful transfer of power by democratic election. The task force advised and assisted the Afghan National Security Forces to take the lead in providing security for their country.
In their final year, CJTF-10 and its Afghan allies bore the brunt of the Taliban's collective efforts to destabilize Afghanistan, with RC-East receiving 50 percent of the total attacks across the country, said Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, who serves as the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command commander, and deputy commanding general of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan. He solemnly thanked and paid tribute to the coalition and the ANSF service members who gave their lives since 2001.
“In the aftermath of September 11th, no one could have foreseen how extensive our collaboration with the Afghan people would be as they sought to create a better future,” said James Cunningham, who serves as the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan. “The gains we see today in security, governance, economic development, health and education did not come without a price, but they stand as a testament to what Afghanistan and the international community have achieved and will achieve in the future.”
The coalition involvement in eastern Afghanistan will continue under the Train Advise and Assist Command-East as the responsibilities of the former regional command are passed to several commands in the TAAC-East region.
The end of mission of RC-East begins a new stage in the continuing development and support for Afghanistan's eastern provinces.
“Today the enemy threat remains, but due to RC-East's diligence and close partnership with the ANSF, the number of reported attacks are down nearly 32 percent from this same time last year,” Anderson said. “Both the 201st and 203rd Corps are more capable than ever...The insurgents have been beaten back and the Afghan security forces are carrying the fight to the enemy. Steve, to you and Command Sgt. Maj. Lewis, and the entire CJTF-10 team, thank you for your leadership and for what you have done for the coalition and the people of Afghanistan. You will all be missed.”
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.04.2014 23:23 |
| Story ID: | 146994 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 230 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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