THE WEEK ON
OP HERRICK
08 - 14 Nov 10
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 - 14 OCT 10
Visits to TFH
DCDS(Ops): Lt Gen SV Mayall CB
Air Component Commander:
Air Cdre McCann
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 - 14 NOV 10
CF NES(N) (DANBAT)
On Wednesday 10th November CF NES (N)
hosted District Governor Mahayuddin Kahn’s
first meeting on counter-narcotics.
District Chief of Police Chief Esmarai, Brig Gen
Sheren Shah, the Chief of NDS, the
Commander of 3rd Kandak, ISAF CF NES (N)
and the Stabilisation advisers participated in
the meeting. The current situation is that an
estimated 200 villages will grow poppy in the
coming season. Most of the farmers are forced
by insurgents to grow the poppies.
The conclusion was a two-phased operation. In
phase one, an information campaign, GIROA
will inform the population about illegal poppy
growing in order to prevent the farmers from
committing unlawful acts. In phase two, which
will run concurrently, a combined force of ANA,
ANP and ANCOP will work on information
requirements until the next meeting will take
place. The operation should start in December
and run for around 100 days.
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 - 14 NOV 10
CF NES(S) (2 PARA)
REMEMBRANCE SERVICE AT PATROL BASE TWO, TO THE SOUND
OF BIRDSONG AND SMALL ARMS FIRE
At 1100 local time on Nov 11, elements of the 2 PARA Battlegroup took
time out from their tasks to pay their respects to those that have paid the
ultimate sacrifice doing their duty. The short service was attended by
approximately 100 officers and soldiers and included a two minute silence,
the Airborne Forces Collect and the Lord’s Prayer.
The two-minute silence was interrupted by small arms fire from an
engagement involving C (Bruneval) Company, 2 PARA, only a few
kilometres away, which gave a humbling context to the event.
Commanding Officer 2 PARA, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Harrison, said:
“There is a certain irony during our 2 minute silence today that the only two
interruptions were those of small arms fire and the birdsong.”
FOOD ZONE PROGRAMME WHEAT SEED DISTRIBUTION
COMES TO AN END; A GREAT SUCCESS
The Wheat Seed Distribution Programme (WSDP) element of the
Food Zone Programme that has been delivered from four patrol bases
in the Nahr-e-Saraj (South) district over the last few weeks has finally
come to an end in Patrol Base 1, with a total of 3000 local nationals
benefiting from the scheme.
The WSDP has provided local farmers the opportunity to buy wheat at
a lower price. The distribution was fronted by village elders to
promote a sense of local governance and will. The programme ran
without interruption thanks to an intense security operation that kept
the insurgents firmly focussed on ISAF.
Top- RSM and CO 2 PARA during the ceremony.
Bottom- Happy children during the Food Zone
Programme Distribution.
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 – 14 NOV 10
NDA(N) – 3 PARA
This week 3 PARA successfully secured the town of
Naqilabad Kalay, significantly improving the security
situation for the residents of this small town in Nad-e
Ali North. The planning and coordination of the
operation was conducted jointly, involving elements of
the ANSF and our Estonian counterparts. The ANSF
and ISAF commitment to this town is having an
extremely positive effect on the local population, with
good working relationships being fostered at this early
and crucial stage.
The Female Engagement Team (FET) concept
continues to develop in NDA(N). The 3 PARA FET is
currently working on local projects, engaging with local
females and supporting patrols on the ground.
A member of the FET speaks to a provincial ANA
representative originally from the NDA(N) area,
building working relationships that help to increase our
understanding of the local environment.
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 - 14 NOV 10
CF NDA(S) (1 R IRISH)
An Afghan National Army bomb
disposal team, trained by Brits, has put
its skills into practice for the first time,
safely disposing of two deadly
improvised explosive devices.
In an important milestone in the
development of the Afghan security
forces, the ANA Counter-IED team
conducted a textbook operation, under
the oversight of their partners from the
Royal Engineers.
They used controlled explosions to
render safe the Taleban traps, which
threatened the lives of British and
Afghan soldiers, as well as local
civilians. The deadly devices had been
discovered earlier during a joint patrol
by Afghan National Army soldiers and
C Company of 1st Battalion The Royal
Irish Regiment.
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 - 14 NOV 10
CF LKG (2 SCOTS)
Mayor Daoud with some of the local elders receiving seed
Local people receiving their wheat seed
Local farmers turned out in their hundreds today to attend a wheat seed
distribution as part of the Governor’s Food Zone Programme held at Checkpoint
North. The Afghan National Police (ANP) maintained order and security whilst
members of the Military Stabilisation Support Team (MSST) oversaw the
distribution of Wheat Seed and fertiliser to the locals by representatives from the
Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GiROA).
Mayor Daoud travelled to the distribution point to see first hand the effects that a
program like this has on the local people. He said that
A young local boy being treated by ISAF troops after suffering
an injury when travelling to the event.
“This wheat seed is important for the people as it gives them hope for the
future. If they can grow wheat then they do not have to grow poppies and
they also have the means to make bread to feed themselves. With more
initiatives like this one, the people will be able to lead better lives in the
future.”
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 - 14 NOV 10
CF LKG (2 SCOTS)
BRAND NEW BUILD FOR AFGHAN OLD BILL
CF LKG - ATTAL Police HQ Opening
Modern Sanger construction.
A proud member of the Attal ANP
The new living quarters for the ANP
On the 13th of November the new Police Headquarters at Attal was officially opened.
This new headquarters will allow the Afghan National Police (ANP) greater freedom of movement along
Route 601 as well as allowing them to conduct more patrols and man more checkpoints along this key
route.
Colonel Kamullahdin Shizri, Chief of Police for Lashkar Gah and the surrounding area, said: “Before the
police were building their checkpoints out of mud whilst defending the people at the same time.
This new facility will allow us to provide much more security to the people.”
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 - 14 NOV 10
CF LKG (2 SCOTS)
General Angar, Provincial Chief of
Police said: “This new
Headquarters represents a new
dawn for the security of Helmand
Province and the Lashkar Gah
area. With its new facilities we
can run our checkpoints much
better. Now our forces can
provide tight security to the
people so that they do not have
to live in fear.”
“The people should not fear the
Insurgents thanks to the brave
ANP warriors that we have here
in Helmand. The Insurgents will
soon be driven from our lands
and the people of Helmand can
live in peace.”
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 – 14 NOV 10
3/215 BRIGADE ADVISOR GROUP (1 IG)
Op OMID CHAR, the longest and largest ANA
planned and executed operation concluded with
the completion a new PB and a CP. The
operation conceived after the request for greater
security east of Gereshk by the District Governor,
involved over 600 ANA with the support of 200
ISAF troops mainly in the specialist support roles.
This demonstrates another advancement for 3rd
Brigade, 215 Mainwand Corps ANA under the
Brigade Advisory Group.
10
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 – 14 NOV 10
3/215 BRIGADE ADVISOR GROUP (1 IG)
Images from the new Patrol Base and Check
Point completed after the four week
Operation OMID CHAR
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 – 14 NOV 10
3/215 BRIGADE ADVISOR GROUP (1 IG)
A new ANA Counter IED team, on their
first Operation exploit their first find as
their Advisors from Irish Guards keep
over watch and a close eye.
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 – 14 NOV 10
3/215 BRIGADE ADVISOR GROUP (1 IG)
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 – 14 NOV 10
PDATT (5 SCOTS)
ANP attend Remembrance Parade at PB ATTAL
Col Sattar, Commander of the 2nd Kandak ANP, responsible for security of Route 601,
attended a parade to mark Remembrance Day on 11 Nov in PB ATTAL with D Coy 5 SCOTS.
Maj Nick Wight-Boycott, OC D Coy, Col Sattar, CO and Padre 5 SCOTS in PB ATTAL.
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 – 14 NOV 10
PDATT (5 SCOTS)
ANP Pass-Out Parade at HPTC
Clockwise from top left: An ANP cadet marches out to
receive his scroll; ANP Patrolmen demonstrate their skills
to the guests; General Angar addresses the cadets as CO 5
SCOTS looks on; The ANP parade forms up; John Ray from
ITN interviews General Angar, Helmand Chief of Police.
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 – 14 NOV 10
TFH Engr Gp (23 Engr Regt (Air Asslt))
5 Armd Engr Sqn concluded their support to 101st
AB Div, in breaking through to Sangsar, the home
to Mullah Omar’s mosque and the birthplace of the
Taliban.
Sappers smash through IED belts
Sappers break-in to the home of the Taliban
TROJAN a big hit with children of Sangsar
5 Sqn, from 23 Engr Regt (Air Asslt), breached a
route through to Sangsar enabling their US
colleagues to seize the village; dealing a huge blow
to TALIBAN morale and denying a key staging area
for fighters arriving from the South.
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 – 14 NOV 10
Joint Fires Group (7 Para RHA)
A week in the lives of F (Sphinx) Para Bty RHA in CF LKG
LBdr Denyer, Maj Spaul and Gnr Creech
Within CF LKG:
• BC’s TAC deployed to PB Nahidullah in support of
on going operations.
• Elements of the Bty provided over-watch for a
Shura which resulted in positive progress in local
security and policing issues.
• Using air assets a well used insurgent firing point
was destroyed.
• Members of the Bty continued their education with
on going CLM and Pashtu classes.
A destroyed INS Firing Point
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 – 14 NOV 10
WARTHOG Gp (2RTR)
2 RTR have taken over the
Warthog Gp. The new platform
is performing well and delivering
significant effect on the ground.
1 Troop is providing protection
to the Rte TRIDENT build.
2 Troop is on the Rte 611
providing a highly visible to
deterrent to enemy attacks on
the building work.
Sqn Tac has been mobile,
surging to reinforce both Troops
as required.
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 – 14 NOV 10
MASTIFF Gp (2RTR)
2 RTR Mastiff groups continue to enable the movement of CF
troops around TFH.
In NDA N Mastiff has been adding close fire support to the
infantry in true combined operations. These have culminated
in extensive contacts using a highly successful combination
of infantry, armoured firepower and air support.
In LKG Mastiff patrols have conducted significant work with
the ANP. Patrols have checked up on security and equipment
in ANP CPs and responded to an incident in LKG, in order to
coach the ANP handling of the situation.
TFH KEY ACTIVITY 08 – 14 NOV 10
ES Group (7 Air Asslt Bn REME)
Week 5 & 6
Th ES Bn have been working with the ANA for over a month now and the integration of our tradesmen within
the ANA has gone from good to great. The team have built up a superb relationship with the ANA Mechanics
and both sides now have a better understanding of each other. The spectrum of jobs completed has been
vast and a learning experience for both sides. Our VMs have found themselves completing jobs outside of
their normal daily work routine, ranging from body work panel beating to complete engine rebuilds. Whilst
working together on the engine rebuild it was found that the ANA had not seen a torque wrench before, a
common tool to us but something new to them.
As well as VM tasks, teaching the ANA about basic electronics has also been initiated to great success.
Beginning with the basic light bulb circuits and moving on to testing glow plugs and more complex ignition
circuits. Through this teaching we have been able to work closer with the ANA and we are sharing
knowledge on a daily basis. The training and development can be a slow process due to the language
barrier, but this is improving daily and already the team are seeing the benefits of sharing their knowledge.
The team are looking forward to continuing this partnership especially as the Workshops move into FOBs
within the AO.
KEY ACTIVITY 8 -14 Nov
Afghanistan Remembers
Troops across
Afghanistan paid
tribute to the fallen.
Remembrance
Sunday Services
took place across
Afghanistan
including Camp
Bastion, Kandahar
Airfield and Kabul
Images from
Kandahar and
Camp Bastion were
broadcast across
the world.
KEY ACTIVITY 8 -14 Nov
Afghanistan Remembers
Prince William paid a surprise visit to troops
in Camp Bastion in order to lead the tributes
on Remembrance Sunday. He laid the first
wreath, with a personal written tribute from
him, before spending time meeting British
Forces who are currently serving in
Afghanistan.
KEY ACTIVITY 8 -14 Nov
COMKAF Change of Command
The Command of Kandahar
Airfield was handed over by the
RAF to the USAF on 11 Nov
2010.
Air Cdre Gordon Moulds, the
outgoing COMKAF handed over
command of the Airfield to Brig
Gen Jeffrey Kendall. Air Cdre
Moulds has completed a 6
month tour in post; however,
this marks the end of 4 years in
command for the RAF who have
been running the Airfield since
2006.
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KEY ACTIVITY 8 – 14 NOV 10
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
Remembrance Sunday was
marked with a solemn
gathering of 83 Gp personnel
and invited Coalition Partners.
A Roll Of Honour was read
and placed in the specially
erected cairn underneath the
Cross of Remembrance.
Memorial wreaths were placed
by the UK ACC and
representatives from the RN
and Army. Wreaths were also
laid by senior US, Australian,
Canadian and French officers.
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KEY ACTIVITY 8 – 14 NOV 10
REAPER
UK Reapers from the RAF’s 39 Sqn have been at the forefront of attacking insurgents IED networks across
the whole of Afghanistan. Robust ‘Tactical Patience’ has time and again produced higher value results in the
targeting of Insurgent IED capability. Additionally they have also been heavily involved in supporting ANSF
led Operations such as Op HAMKARI around Kandahar in RC(S).
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