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By U.S. Army Capt. Jonathan J. Springer
CAMP BLESSING, Afghanistan – The transfer of authority, In layman's terms, it's a battle-handover between two Army units. One combat outfit leaves an area of operation, while another assumes that area of operations for the next 12 months.
But in reality, it's more than just a battle-handover; it's a critical period where a well-executed relief-in-place can make or break the progress made by the outgoing unit, and it's incumbent for the incoming unit, from brigade down to the platoon level, to continue to build upon the successes established by the outgoing unit.
For the "Bulldogs" out of 1st battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), May 28, marked the day when the Soldiers from Fort Campbell assumed authority over their AO in the Pech River Valley, a valley that lies within rocky terrain of the Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan.
"The first 30 days after a TOA are critical for any new unit in a combat environment, but the 1-327th is trained and ready for the challenges that lay ahead in the next 12 months," said Maj. Ryan P. O'Connor, battalion operations officer.
The Pech River Valley is a notorious area; an area that is dominated by mountainous terrain that is both demanding and unforgiving. One of the Pech River Valley's main arteries is the infamous Korengal Valley; the Kunar province was the first province in Afghanistan to feed the insurgency against the Soviet Invasion in the 1980s. The area has remained a difficult place to operate for the US Military since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom.
"The terrain here is demanding, unforgiving and steep. We are fighting an enemy who lives, trains, and conducts operations predominately along the ridgelines and mountain tops. This is an enemy who grew up running up and down these mountains; they move along the natural lines of drift hidden from view, stopping at known historical fighting positions or nearby villages requesting, or outright taking supplies, to assist them in their mission," said O'Connor.
The mission from the enemy's perspective in the Pech River Valley is a simple one: deter any or all progress made by the Government of Afghanistan, and defeat the Afghan and coalition forces.
But what the enemy doesn't know is that the 1-327th is no stranger to combat. This deployment to the "Pech" will be the battalion's fourth deployment in just under eight years. And, along with previous deployments to OIF and OEF, the Bulldogs bring along many combat multipliers that make it a force to be reckoned with in the current full-spectrum environment.
Before assuming authority in the Pech River Valley, the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Lethal, from Fort Carson, Colo., was in charge of spearheading operations within the area.
"I've been incredibly impressed with Task Force Lethal (2-12th) since my Pre-Deployment Site Survey here last August and September. They are an outstanding organization through-and-through, leaders and Soldiers alike. I've told many in 1-327th that we could simply continue along their lines of effort and be very successful," said Lt. Col. Joseph A. Ryan, battalion commander for the Bulldogs.
Before deploying to Afghanistan, Ryan had specific guidance published throughout his organization that outlined essential actions that would need to be implemented during their first month in Afghanistan. Now that the TOA is complete, he stressed that focus and discipline will be just some of the keys to success in this type of environment.
"We need to focus now on learning about our Operating Environment – people, places, terrain, and other things that makes life in the Pech River Valley what it is. We're also focusing on doing things right, safely and within established parameters and directives – and on force protection, specifically improving in those areas where our predecessors were very comfortable," said Ryan.
The 1-327th has roughly 800 Soldiers dispersed throughout an AO that spans just under 2000 square kilometers. Now, while that sounds like a large area to cover with the battalion's current troop levels, the Bulldogs won't be fighting the enemy alone. Every operation the Bulldogs conduct will be jointly led alongside their Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police counterparts.
"The Kunar province as a whole, and the Pech River Valley specifically, is iconic in Afghanistan for being the historical seat of jihad. After thousands of years of existence, the people here have deep-seated feelings about what is right and what isn't. These things are not for us to change – they are for us to understand and adapt to, because we want the people of Kunar to live peacefully as they wish," Ryan said.
As it stands presently, the 1-327th has a long road ahead over the next 12 months; there is a lot of work to be done, but nothing Ryan and his Soldiers haven't trained and prepared for before leaving Fort Campbell in early May. Like O'Connor mentioned, the first 30 days will be vital for the battalion's success. But the first month won't just be advantageous to the Bulldogs, but it will also be beneficial for the people in the Pech River Valley.
"A year deployed is a long time. Many of our leaders and Soldiers are married and have families, myself and Command Sgt. Maj. Antoine Cannon included. However, we have a mission here that we will accomplish. I've asked many to think about what impact they will have – so that after a year they can say, 'We did that', and be proud of it," he said.
"We will leave a legacy here in the Pech River Valley, where only four US Army Infantry Battalions have served previously. Our goal is to make that legacy positive and enduring for the people and for our Soldiers," said Ryan.
| Date Taken: | 06.02.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.02.2010 04:44 |
| Story ID: | 50691 |
| Location: | CAMP BLESSING, AF |
| Web Views: | 1,685 |
| Downloads: | 511 |
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