Afghan national army's 209th Corps Route Clearing Company helps keep their country safer

MAZAR-E-SHARIF, AFGHANISTAN

03.22.2010

Story by Master Sgt. Christopher DeWitt 

NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan — On a long, dusty road littered with potholes and winding ruts, one Afghan national army unit came into its own by conducting its first ever route-clearing mission.

Soldiers from Camp Shaheen's 209th Corps Route Clearing Company tediously cleared more than seven miles of road outside Mazar-e-Sharif recently, culminating nine months of training that is providing a new capability for the the northern regions of Afghanistan.

When recent intelligence called for a route-clearing mission, the Afghan soldiers led the way "Shoulder To Shoulder" with their U.S. Army RCC Embedded Training Team members. In Dari, Shoulder To Shoulder is "Shonha Ba Shonha" and "Ooga Pa Ooga" in Pashtu.

"We heard a couple reports that this route is [suspicious]," said Capt. Mohammad Ali Yazdani 209th RCC commander. "The Taliban are so weak that they cannot directly fight with the ANA or U.S. troops, so they are trying to put in mines, improvised explosive devices, or ambushes and that's why we are trying to clear this route."

Providing safe passage for Afghan and coalition forces will benefit the country, save lives and help people look for new opportunities.

"We clear this route for the civilians too, so they can cross easier," Yazdani said, adding that the citizens are also able to see the ANA providing help for the people of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's history has created a need for the 209th RCC, which is just one of six ANA teams currently being trained at each of the corps in country.

"During the previous wars in Afghanistan there were bombs dropping all over, lots of ammo; that's why we are trying to help the people," said 1st Lt. Mohammad Farrazad, 209th RCC First Platoon commander. "We are clearing the route to save someone's life, it is very important for everybody because if it isn't clear it's going to be dangerous for everybody."

In the north, a team of eight U.S. Soldiers assigned to Task Force 2nd Battalion 121st Infantry Regiment, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team has had the daunting task of training the ANA soldiers through interpreters but the need for training required no translation.

"IEDs are our biggest threats," explained Staff Sgt. Nicholas Ives, 209th RCC ETT non-commissioned officer in charge. "Route clearing teams will be important to all ANA, U.S., and other NATO forces because they are the tip of the spear - before operations begin they will go clear routes. For them, being able to clear routes before other elements follow on, it's great."

Hurdles lay ahead as the ETT dealt with new soldiers in the fledgling Afghan army, which forced the team to start with the basics.

"They could barely drive a vehicle or shoot and now we are out here clearing live routes," said Ives. He's been with the group since the initial training in Kabul. "We started the crawl phase at Kabul; now we're getting to the run phase and helping them to run missions on their own," said Ives, from Statesboro, Ga.

Training with the Americans has left a memorable impression on the ANA soldiers, according to the captain: "I am appreciative of the training team because they are training us well and they are now our friends."

Farrazad agreed: "We are lucky to have trainers from the USA and we hope when they leave that we will be able to clear our routes all over our country, We are like brothers."

American soldiers also formed friendships with their training partners Ives said: "We were hoping to stay longer with them. I feel coming over here that we've actually done something, it's really good seeing these guys start from the bottom and now they're up at the top."

The ANA 209th Corps, along with four corps, serves as a regional command, putting a permanent presence in every region of Afghanistan. Care has been taken to ensure soldiers represent each of Afghanistan's ethnic groups. The ANA is truly a national army representing all the people of Afghanistan. The ANA is trained and mentored by coalition forces to take the lead in securing and defending the independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity against enemies foreign and domestic.

• Date Taken: 03.22.2010
• Date Posted: 03.22.2010 18:45
• Story ID: 47037
• Location: MAZAR-E-SHARIF, AF