Hey All
Last Sunday marked two months here on the Army's version of a vacation. My battalion deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and have been conducting operations in Southern Afghanistan as the Theater Task Force. We work as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and have been closely tied to the British, Australian, Canadian, Dutch, and Romanian forces. They operate quite differently than we do but all have the same vested interests.
Kandahar itself is settled in the southern tip of Kandahar province and is comprised of a variety of tribal demographics and a people desperate for leadership, the eradication of Taliban, and a betterment for their way of life. The culture here is vastly different than any I have seen in my travels abroad throughout my life, however, the people respond to and adhere to values instilled within ancestral codes.
The quality of life here on Kandahar is more than expected. There are three dining facilities, four post exchanges, an outstanding gymnasium, a multitude of international military compounds, and housing units with acceptable shower/toilet facilities and cable/internet services.
As we have enjoyed our time here on Kandahar, we have spent a large portion of our time deployed forward into theater conducting operations against an aggressive and intelligent Taliban who uses corruption, intimidation, and fear in an attempt to influence the population in this long-standing counter-insurgency warfare. Having said this and based on our battalion's success in the region, the commander of ISAF has ordered us to join the rest of our Brigade in eastern Afghanistan and into the Paktika province. Over the next couple of weeks, we will once again prep our equipment, pack our containers, and move our fleet and personnel over 400km via ground and air to join our Currahee brothers.
Dave
Last Sunday marked two months here on the Army's version of a vacation. My battalion deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and have been conducting operations in Southern Afghanistan as the Theater Task Force. We work as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and have been closely tied to the British, Australian, Canadian, Dutch, and Romanian forces. They operate quite differently than we do but all have the same vested interests.
Kandahar itself is settled in the southern tip of Kandahar province and is comprised of a variety of tribal demographics and a people desperate for leadership, the eradication of Taliban, and a betterment for their way of life. The culture here is vastly different than any I have seen in my travels abroad throughout my life, however, the people respond to and adhere to values instilled within ancestral codes.
The quality of life here on Kandahar is more than expected. There are three dining facilities, four post exchanges, an outstanding gymnasium, a multitude of international military compounds, and housing units with acceptable shower/toilet facilities and cable/internet services.
As we have enjoyed our time here on Kandahar, we have spent a large portion of our time deployed forward into theater conducting operations against an aggressive and intelligent Taliban who uses corruption, intimidation, and fear in an attempt to influence the population in this long-standing counter-insurgency warfare. Having said this and based on our battalion's success in the region, the commander of ISAF has ordered us to join the rest of our Brigade in eastern Afghanistan and into the Paktika province. Over the next couple of weeks, we will once again prep our equipment, pack our containers, and move our fleet and personnel over 400km via ground and air to join our Currahee brothers.
Dave
No comments:
Post a Comment