Photo By Capt. Brendan Mackie | Col. Gary Johnston (right), commander of the 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade,...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan – The 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade’s mission in Afghanistan is complete. The unit’s flag was symbolically furled during a colors casing ceremony here, June 18.
“This is a historic event that marks the end of a long but very rewarding year,” said Col. Gary Johnston, commander of the 504th BfSB, also known as Combined Task Force Viper. “This year has been a great experience with a lot of lessons learned that will be applied as we build the reconnaissance and surveillance brigades of the future.”
Other speakers included Maj. Gen. Jim Huggins, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, Regional Command-South, Brig. Gen. Haji Abdul Razzig, chief of police of Kandahar province and Brig. Gen. Nesrullah Zarifi, commander of education and training for the Afghan Uniformed Police.
Following the speeches, local Afghan politicians and members of the Afghan National Security Forces presented Soldiers of the 504th BfSB with various gifts and awards in honor of their partnership and hard work during their tour in Afghanistan.
During that tour, CTF Viper served in a combat capacity in support of Regional Command-South and Regional Command-East in southern and eastern Afghanistan, June 28, 2011-June 18, 2012.
The unit was comprised of three battalion sized elements during the deployment: 2nd Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Tracker; 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Task Force Bluewatch; and 303rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Task Force Longhorns. The brigade’s force also supported three companies: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 504th BfSB; 268th Network Support Company; and 509th Forward Support Company.
The 504th BfSB served as landowner and force enabler for 10 brigade combat teams and four coalition battle groups throughout southern Kandahar province. Their battle space consisted of more than 10,000 square kilometers in the Spin Boldak, Shorabak and Takhteh Pol Districts. Approximately 230 square kilometers of that area were along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Elements of CTF Viper participated in 97 named operations including 26 air assaults, 33 focused targeting force raids, the disruption of three insurgent networks, and conducted more than 2,000 combat patrols of the area.
Within their battle space, the number of improvised explosive devices decreased by 31 percent from the previous year, according to the 504th BfSB. In the same area of responsibility, civilian and military casualties were also reduced by 71 percent.
The unit captured and destroyed more than 80,000 pounds of homemade explosive materials and more than 26,000 pounds of illegal drugs that were directly tied to supporting the Taliban. The unit also captured more than 110 detainees, including 26 named targets.
“To our Government of Afghanistan and our Afghan National Security Force partners, I will never forget the friendships we have developed over the past months as we fought the Taliban together, built trust and confidence together, talked as honorable men with tribal elders, changed the operational environment together and accomplished much,” remarked Johnston. “These memories and experiences will be etched in my mind forever.”
The 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade’s commander and command sergeant major are Col. Gary Johnston and Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Eger, whom already redeployed stateside. The unit is based out of Fort Hood, Texas.
| Date Taken: | 06.18.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.02.2012 14:13 |
| Story ID: | 91001 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPIN BOLDAK, AF |
| Web Views: | 1,133 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Mission accomplished for Combined Task Force Viper, by CPT Brendan Mackie, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
