A Marine's Journal (Respect and Suspicion)
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (March 14, 2012) - The explosion was loud, powerful and sudden. Instantly everyone in the Joint Operations Center (JOC) hit the floor–standard procedure for a potential rocket or mortar attack, but a new experience for me.
When there were no additional explosions, we donned our body armor and resumed our work. My first task was to "drop a pri," that is, put in a priority immediate air request so that in the event of a follow-on attack we would have air support on station. Processing and coordinating "pri's" and other air support requests for ground units is what I do all day. Putting one in for my own location was slightly surreal.
Throughout the incident everyone in the JOC remained calm, professional and efficient. Within moments we learned that the cause of the blast was a large suicide car bomb targeting Afghan police in the town of Lashkar Gah. Thankfully, there were no friendly force casualties, though news reports have since indicated some civilian injuries. Soon after, the all clear was sounded and by the end of my shift, I'd all but forgotten it had happened.
Still, I'll admit to being slightly on edge lately, due as much to the news as to the car bomb. We obviously pay very close attention every time Afghan security forces attack their coalition partners, though we also see frequent examples of successful cooperation, which you may not hear as much about back home.
For instance, I recently had lunch with another lieutenant who is part of a Police Mentoring Team based here in Lashkar Gah. He told me that when he first arrived some eight months ago, his Marines went out nearly every day to various parts of the district to help train and advise their Afghan counterparts. On the day I met him he was complaining of boredom because the Afghan police unit had moved to its own base and was now operating far more independently. Anecdotal, sure, but still positive.
Here's another anecdote. Before the car bombing, but after the protests over the Quran-burning incident had begun to spread, we got word in the JOC that a crowd was forming in Lashkar Gah. We could hear someone speaking in Pashto over the loudspeakers that are usually used for the call to worship.
As the translation began filtering into the JOC, we learned the crowd wasn't protesting the Quran-burning but rather calling upon the Afghan police to do more to combat Taliban kidnappings. After a shura–a sort of council or meeting–was held the protestors disbanded peacefully.
Now I'm not trying to make more out of this than it is. Perhaps it's simplistic to say that things aren't simple here, but you don't have to be on the ground long to realize how true it is.
On my last deployment, I trained a squad of Marines tasked with securing our sector of Camp Leatherneck in the event of an attack. We conducted all kinds of rehearsals including live searches of Afghan civilians, vehicles and living facilities.
Before every search, I would remind my Marines that there are two types of Afghans on base. There are a few who are here to harm us or to collect information to aid others in attacking us. We must always be vigilant and suspicious, I told them, and I can tell you that our vigilance was justified, and paid off.
But then there are the vast majority of Afghans with whom we interact–interpreters, trainees, and contractors–who are risking their lives and the lives of their families in order to work with us. They are patriots who deserve eye contact, a smile and a firm handshake.
That's how I continue to see the situation today. The more brutal and murderous the Taliban are, the more I respect the Afghans who continue to defy them. It's a difficult balance to strike–between respect and suspicion–but each has its place and I think that progress depends heavily on both Afghans and coalition forces continuing to strive for it.
The big picture is that we're still on the tail end of the annual winter lull, and things are relatively quiet. But, summers are always hot in Afghanistan, in more ways than one. Unfortunately, more coalition casualties are likely, including possibly some at the hands of Afghans wearing their country's uniform. Still, as long as the Afghans continue to stand up to the Taliban in increasing numbers and places, those of us in our own nation's uniform will keep doing our part to give them the best chance for success.
When there were no additional explosions, we donned our body armor and resumed our work. My first task was to "drop a pri," that is, put in a priority immediate air request so that in the event of a follow-on attack we would have air support on station. Processing and coordinating "pri's" and other air support requests for ground units is what I do all day. Putting one in for my own location was slightly surreal.
Throughout the incident everyone in the JOC remained calm, professional and efficient. Within moments we learned that the cause of the blast was a large suicide car bomb targeting Afghan police in the town of Lashkar Gah. Thankfully, there were no friendly force casualties, though news reports have since indicated some civilian injuries. Soon after, the all clear was sounded and by the end of my shift, I'd all but forgotten it had happened.
Still, I'll admit to being slightly on edge lately, due as much to the news as to the car bomb. We obviously pay very close attention every time Afghan security forces attack their coalition partners, though we also see frequent examples of successful cooperation, which you may not hear as much about back home.
For instance, I recently had lunch with another lieutenant who is part of a Police Mentoring Team based here in Lashkar Gah. He told me that when he first arrived some eight months ago, his Marines went out nearly every day to various parts of the district to help train and advise their Afghan counterparts. On the day I met him he was complaining of boredom because the Afghan police unit had moved to its own base and was now operating far more independently. Anecdotal, sure, but still positive.
Here's another anecdote. Before the car bombing, but after the protests over the Quran-burning incident had begun to spread, we got word in the JOC that a crowd was forming in Lashkar Gah. We could hear someone speaking in Pashto over the loudspeakers that are usually used for the call to worship.
As the translation began filtering into the JOC, we learned the crowd wasn't protesting the Quran-burning but rather calling upon the Afghan police to do more to combat Taliban kidnappings. After a shura–a sort of council or meeting–was held the protestors disbanded peacefully.
Now I'm not trying to make more out of this than it is. Perhaps it's simplistic to say that things aren't simple here, but you don't have to be on the ground long to realize how true it is.
On my last deployment, I trained a squad of Marines tasked with securing our sector of Camp Leatherneck in the event of an attack. We conducted all kinds of rehearsals including live searches of Afghan civilians, vehicles and living facilities.
Before every search, I would remind my Marines that there are two types of Afghans on base. There are a few who are here to harm us or to collect information to aid others in attacking us. We must always be vigilant and suspicious, I told them, and I can tell you that our vigilance was justified, and paid off.
But then there are the vast majority of Afghans with whom we interact–interpreters, trainees, and contractors–who are risking their lives and the lives of their families in order to work with us. They are patriots who deserve eye contact, a smile and a firm handshake.
That's how I continue to see the situation today. The more brutal and murderous the Taliban are, the more I respect the Afghans who continue to defy them. It's a difficult balance to strike–between respect and suspicion–but each has its place and I think that progress depends heavily on both Afghans and coalition forces continuing to strive for it.
The big picture is that we're still on the tail end of the annual winter lull, and things are relatively quiet. But, summers are always hot in Afghanistan, in more ways than one. Unfortunately, more coalition casualties are likely, including possibly some at the hands of Afghans wearing their country's uniform. Still, as long as the Afghans continue to stand up to the Taliban in increasing numbers and places, those of us in our own nation's uniform will keep doing our part to give them the best chance for success.
Afghans, Marines brighten horizons for young students
KHAN NESHIN, Afghanistan (March 8, 2012)—If it's one thing Cpl Joshua Brooks likes most about his deployment to Afghanistan, it's his visits to the school in Khan Neshin. Brooks is a member of Team 3, Civil Affairs Detachment 11-2, a unit serving alongside 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion out of Combat Outpost Castle, assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5. They conduct civil affairs operations in southern Helmand province, with a goal to assist and guide the local Afghan government to service the country on their own.
The local government and civil affairs Marines identified the need for a new school here. Team 3 is now helping the village brighten their children's horizons. Brooks said the project is the highlight of the deployment for him.
"When you see the little kids run up to you and ask you for pens or soccer balls, they're just being genuine," said Brooks, a native of Celeste, Texas. "Seeing a school built for these guys is what's going to make (the deployment) worth it in the end—knowing that they're safe and are going to get the education that they need."
The current school is a traditional build for the area in Afghanistan. The walls are made of mud and mortar; there are six classrooms; and there's no electricity or running, drinking water.
Furthermore, the school is packed and can only support classes up to sixth grade, said 2nd Lt Andrew McGann, the assistant team leader of Team 3.
"It's an important project to the community because they value education. The locals want a better future for their children," said McGann, a native of Longmont, Colo. "In order to give that to the children, they need an appropriate place to go to school."
The head teacher of the school, known as "showoonki" in the Pashto language, voiced his concerns when the Marines of Team 3 visited the school to survey the progress of the new building.
He said the project is very welcomed, but it's tough sharing six classes with two teachers.
McGann said the new school will not only meet the current needs, but they expanded it for future increase in the volume of students and teachers.
The design of the new school is an eight-classroom, burnt brick building with an iron sheet roof—a building capable of lasting in the southern desert village here. With the new school, the Ministry of Education in Afghanistan will assign new teachers to the school, who will teach up to eight-grade students. The old school house will remain as dormitories for teachers and overflow classrooms as required.
Brooks said the new school can provide children with "the opportunity to dream bigger than who they are."
"School is serving a lot for us. We're learning here," said Noorm Mohammad, a 9-year-old student. "So school is everything to us."
Editor's Note: Team 3, Civil Affairs Detachment 11-2 are currently assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5, which is a part of Task Force Leatherneck. First Marine Division (Forward) heads Task Force Leatherneck, the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest), and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
The local government and civil affairs Marines identified the need for a new school here. Team 3 is now helping the village brighten their children's horizons. Brooks said the project is the highlight of the deployment for him.
"When you see the little kids run up to you and ask you for pens or soccer balls, they're just being genuine," said Brooks, a native of Celeste, Texas. "Seeing a school built for these guys is what's going to make (the deployment) worth it in the end—knowing that they're safe and are going to get the education that they need."
The current school is a traditional build for the area in Afghanistan. The walls are made of mud and mortar; there are six classrooms; and there's no electricity or running, drinking water.
Furthermore, the school is packed and can only support classes up to sixth grade, said 2nd Lt Andrew McGann, the assistant team leader of Team 3.
"It's an important project to the community because they value education. The locals want a better future for their children," said McGann, a native of Longmont, Colo. "In order to give that to the children, they need an appropriate place to go to school."
The head teacher of the school, known as "showoonki" in the Pashto language, voiced his concerns when the Marines of Team 3 visited the school to survey the progress of the new building.
He said the project is very welcomed, but it's tough sharing six classes with two teachers.
McGann said the new school will not only meet the current needs, but they expanded it for future increase in the volume of students and teachers.
The design of the new school is an eight-classroom, burnt brick building with an iron sheet roof—a building capable of lasting in the southern desert village here. With the new school, the Ministry of Education in Afghanistan will assign new teachers to the school, who will teach up to eight-grade students. The old school house will remain as dormitories for teachers and overflow classrooms as required.
Brooks said the new school can provide children with "the opportunity to dream bigger than who they are."
"School is serving a lot for us. We're learning here," said Noorm Mohammad, a 9-year-old student. "So school is everything to us."
Editor's Note: Team 3, Civil Affairs Detachment 11-2 are currently assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5, which is a part of Task Force Leatherneck. First Marine Division (Forward) heads Task Force Leatherneck, the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest), and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.