thedrifter
05-17-08, 05:38 AM
SATURDAY MAY 17, 2008 Last modified: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 3:27 PM PDT
Marines mentor Afghan police
By Cpl. RAY LEWIS / Special to The Trail
FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan — The Marines of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division say they have made immediate progress with Afghans here despite arriving in Afghanistan just weeks ago.
The Marines met with the village elders in the Golestan District, arranged for key-leader engagements and laid groundwork for future civil military projects.
While the Marines traveled here to make a liaison with provincial and district leaders of the Afghanistan National Police, they also met with the governor of Farah and village elders to open the lines of communication with the Afghan people.
The visit culminated with the battalion commander leading his Marines on 2/7’s first combat patrol.
“This is who we are, so we wasted no time! I wanted the Afghans to know that we’re here to help improve their quality of life. Their mission is our mission; their success is our success,” said Lt. Col. Rick Hall, battalion commander.
Hall commands a reinforced light infantry battalion of approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors based out of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms.
The 2/7, whose motto is “Ready for all; Yielding to none,” was sent to Afghanistan to provide security and mentoring for the Afghani police over a 210-day deployment.
“We’ve started our mission and have reaped positive results. The people were thankful for us coming to address their needs, and very surprised in knowing that we have come from so far away to help improve their quality of life,” Hall said.
Although Hall said his Marines are “starting from scratch,” he is confident they will draw from the lessons they learned during their support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The battalion returned to Twentynine Palms in September 2007 after serving seven months in Fallujah, Iraq, and surrounding areas.
After forging a bond with the national police, Hall hosted a “shura,” or meeting, with the village elders of the Golestan District — a remote mountainous location in western Afghanistan.
“I think the meeting served as a good introduction for both of us. They seemed pretty positive and receptive, and labeled out in order what their concerns were,” said Capt. Victor A. Lomuscio, commander of Company G.
Once the battalion is fully operational, Hall will send a platoon of Marines from Golf Company to the Golestan area. These Marines, along with the ANP, are responsible for providing added security to the Golestan area, while 2/7 engages in various civil affairs projects to enhance quality of life for local residents.
Following the “shura,” the battalion commander realized most of the focus was on the availability of medical care, school property and equipment, village infrastructure and security. Hall said he was surprised at how frugal the requests were, but was pleased to know his unit will be able to assist the Afghans in a number of ways.
“No sooner did we finish the ‘shura,’ we started patrolling,” Hall said. “It was truly a combined joint patrol and it proved to our alliance partners how committed we are to this mission.”
The patrol also helped instill confidence in the ANP. Hall and his team of staff officers were impressed by the tactics displayed by the ANP during the combat patrol. The ANP has gotten stronger, and Lomuscio said it will get even better when his Marines start training with them.
“I’m confident that we’ve made a positive effect in the area that needs it,” Lomuscio said.
“The potential to do a lot of things is amazing. I think we’ll really leave a positive impact on the Golestan Valley.”
Before departing the area, the Marines also met with the Physical Reconstruction Team, which specializes in civil military operations.
The team’s primary concern is laying blacktop roads. The battalion commander is focused on making it happen.
“Blacktopping the roads will have a direct impact on the people,” Hall said. “It will also work to create more credibility for the government and provide legal employment opportunities by adding to the local economy. It also directly correlates to the Afghan government meeting the needs of its people.”
Ellie
Marines mentor Afghan police
By Cpl. RAY LEWIS / Special to The Trail
FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan — The Marines of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division say they have made immediate progress with Afghans here despite arriving in Afghanistan just weeks ago.
The Marines met with the village elders in the Golestan District, arranged for key-leader engagements and laid groundwork for future civil military projects.
While the Marines traveled here to make a liaison with provincial and district leaders of the Afghanistan National Police, they also met with the governor of Farah and village elders to open the lines of communication with the Afghan people.
The visit culminated with the battalion commander leading his Marines on 2/7’s first combat patrol.
“This is who we are, so we wasted no time! I wanted the Afghans to know that we’re here to help improve their quality of life. Their mission is our mission; their success is our success,” said Lt. Col. Rick Hall, battalion commander.
Hall commands a reinforced light infantry battalion of approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors based out of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms.
The 2/7, whose motto is “Ready for all; Yielding to none,” was sent to Afghanistan to provide security and mentoring for the Afghani police over a 210-day deployment.
“We’ve started our mission and have reaped positive results. The people were thankful for us coming to address their needs, and very surprised in knowing that we have come from so far away to help improve their quality of life,” Hall said.
Although Hall said his Marines are “starting from scratch,” he is confident they will draw from the lessons they learned during their support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The battalion returned to Twentynine Palms in September 2007 after serving seven months in Fallujah, Iraq, and surrounding areas.
After forging a bond with the national police, Hall hosted a “shura,” or meeting, with the village elders of the Golestan District — a remote mountainous location in western Afghanistan.
“I think the meeting served as a good introduction for both of us. They seemed pretty positive and receptive, and labeled out in order what their concerns were,” said Capt. Victor A. Lomuscio, commander of Company G.
Once the battalion is fully operational, Hall will send a platoon of Marines from Golf Company to the Golestan area. These Marines, along with the ANP, are responsible for providing added security to the Golestan area, while 2/7 engages in various civil affairs projects to enhance quality of life for local residents.
Following the “shura,” the battalion commander realized most of the focus was on the availability of medical care, school property and equipment, village infrastructure and security. Hall said he was surprised at how frugal the requests were, but was pleased to know his unit will be able to assist the Afghans in a number of ways.
“No sooner did we finish the ‘shura,’ we started patrolling,” Hall said. “It was truly a combined joint patrol and it proved to our alliance partners how committed we are to this mission.”
The patrol also helped instill confidence in the ANP. Hall and his team of staff officers were impressed by the tactics displayed by the ANP during the combat patrol. The ANP has gotten stronger, and Lomuscio said it will get even better when his Marines start training with them.
“I’m confident that we’ve made a positive effect in the area that needs it,” Lomuscio said.
“The potential to do a lot of things is amazing. I think we’ll really leave a positive impact on the Golestan Valley.”
Before departing the area, the Marines also met with the Physical Reconstruction Team, which specializes in civil military operations.
The team’s primary concern is laying blacktop roads. The battalion commander is focused on making it happen.
“Blacktopping the roads will have a direct impact on the people,” Hall said. “It will also work to create more credibility for the government and provide legal employment opportunities by adding to the local economy. It also directly correlates to the Afghan government meeting the needs of its people.”
Ellie