Showing posts with label Georgia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Georgia. Show all posts

Sunday, August 6, 2017

RS Casualties - One KIA & Six Wounded Thursday Night in Kabul



One KIA & Six Wounded Thursday Night in Kabul. One Resolute Support Soldier was killed and six others were injured by a suicide bomber on Thursday evening in the Qarabagh district, Kabul province. The patrol was conducting a partnered mission with the Afghan National Army when a personnel-borne IED detonated. All of the wounded were reported to be in stable condition.

One Soldier from Georgia was killed and three Georgian Soldiers were wounded. Two U.S. Soldiers were also wounded. One of the wounded was an interpreter. Two Afghan civilians were killed and seven wounded. There are over 900 Georgian Soldiers in Afghanistan - the country is the largest non-NATO contributor to the RS mission.

(Resolute Support News Release, August 4, 2017).


Sunday, November 13, 2016

Afghan Security News Update

Uruzgan Governor Pleads for Australian Help. The province where the Australian training and reconstruction effort in Afghanistan was centered is in a dire situation. The Taliban are steadily making progress and have the Afghan government security forces on the defensive. Of late, the provincial capital - Tarin Kot - has been threatened by the insurgents. Deaths and desertions have taken their toll on the ANP and ANA. The provincial governor is urging the Australians to return to the province with combat troops and helicopters. Read more in "Afghan Governor pleads for Australian help as soldiers defect to Taliban", ABC News, November 7, 2016.

UN Investigating Airstrikes. The United Nations says it is investigating U.S. airstrikes that killed over 30 civilians. The United States is conducting its own investigation. The airstrikes were targeting senior members of the Taliban. Afghan security authorities say the civilians were most likely family members of the slain Taliban leaders. Read more in "U.N. says investigating Afghanistan air strike deaths", Reuters, November 6, 2016.

COMRS Visits Georgia. The country of Georgia has been a staunch ally of the United States and the many other nations participating in the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. The Resolute Support commander - General John Nicholson - recently visited Georgia to discuss issues pertaining to the country's engagement in the RS mission. Read more in "US Commander of NATO Resolute Support Mission Visits Georgia", Georgia Today, November 7, 2016.

RS Senior Enlisted visits Bagram Units. Command Sergeant Major (CSM) David Clark visited units based at Bagram Air Field. (DVIDS, Nov 6, 2016).

C-RAM Units Exchange Responsibility. One Air Defense Artillery unit is headed home while another has taken its place at Bagram Air Field. The Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) mission provides critical early warning and takes steps to defeat the insurgent's rockets, artillery, and mortars that fire onto the air field and base. Read "Air Defense Artillery Transfer of Authority Ceremony", DVIDS, November 5, 2016.

Paper - Islamic State in Afghanistan. Casey Garret Johnson, writing for the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has penned a 16-page report that details the structure, composition, and growth of the Islamic State's so-called Khorasan province.The report is the result of more than sixty interviews with residents of Nangarhar - and provincial and national Afghan security officials. Read The Rise and Stall of the Islamic State in Afghanistan, USIP, November 3, 2016.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Afghan War News Snippets


Resolute Support Annotated Bibliography Updated. The AWN RS Bibliography has been updated as of 1 October. Over 200 pages of links to websites and publications about the war in Afghanistan.
www.afghanwarnews.info/pubs/RSM-Bibliography.htm

High-Level UN Event on Afghanistan. The U.S., China, and Afghanistan co-chaired a "high-level event" on Afghanistan on September 26, 2015 in New York City. Participants included regional neighbors of Afghanistan, key donors to Afghanistan, and other UN member nations. Some of the event 'themes' included the constructive actions of China, the importance of the peace process (as if Pakistan and the Taliban really care about peace), donor fatigue, etc. Sounds to me it was just a mutual patting of the back by nations eager to convince themselves they are doing the right thing in Afghanistan. Read a "backgrounder" by the state department on the event (U.S. Department of State, September 26, 2015).

DSPO Not Getting it Done for Veterans with Problems. The Pentagon's suicide prevention office ". . . lacks clear guidance and authority to develop and execute effective programs . . . " Read more in "Report: Pentagon suicide prevention office in disarray", Military Times, October 2, 2015.

Golden Hour Policy in Afghanistan. A recent study says that adoption of the 'Golden Hour' for MEDEVAC saved lives. (Military Times, Sep 30, 2015).

ANA to Receive Commando Select Vehicles. Textron Systems Marine & Land Systems has received a contract to supply additional Commando Select four-wheeled armoured vehicles to the Afghan National Army (ANA). (army-technology.com, Sep 30, 2015).

ANA Officer Academy - Good and Bad News. Danielle Moylan, a freelance journalist living in Afghanistan, provides us with an account of her visit to the ANA's Officer Academy (ANAOA -also called Sandhurst in the Sand) located just outside of Kabul. In addition, she paints a less than rosy picture of how well prepared the Afghan army is in facing the Taliban insurgency. Certainly not an endorsement of Resolute Supports efforts thus far. (ABC.net.au, Sep 30, 2015).

Visit to 1st AD Sustainment Brigade. The cdr of the 1RSSB provided tour to senior army leaders visiting Bagram. (DVIDS, 19 Sep 2015).

Wounded Georgian Soldier Recovering. A Georgian soldier who was seriously injured in an attack in September is responding well to treatment at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Read more in a news report (Agenda.ge, Sep 28, 2015).

Why Georgians are in Afghanistan. The country of Georgia has a significant troop presence in Afghanistan as part of the global anti-terrorist campaign. A recent new report explains why in "Georgians in Afghanistan Defending Their Country", Georgia Today, October 1, 2015.

Termez No Longer A German Stop-over. The German air base in Uzbekistan is now used only as a backup facility and is manned by a skeleton crew. The Uzbeks raised the rent for use of the base so high that the Germans have opted for other means. Termez was, since Feb 2002, a rear logistics and transit base for its military mission in nearby northern Afghanistan. Read more in "Germany No Longer Using Uzbekistan Air Base", Eurasia Net, October 2, 2015.

Germany Staying a Little Longer? According to some German newspapers we may see German troops at Camp Marmal for at least one more year. Seems their work is still not finished in northern Afghanistan. Perhaps they will reopen their Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Kunduz? Until October 2013, two years ago, a PRT operated in Kunduz province. The PRT's overall tasks were to improve security, extend the authority of the Afghan government, and facilitate reconstruction - all things that still need doing. You can read an account of the German-led PRT in The PRT Kunduz: An Unsuccessful Command Structure, by LTC Lars Werner, German Army, posted on the Global ECCO website. 

Former ANA Officer Now a Refugee. A former Afghan soldier's refugee trek to Europe is provided to us in this news report. His journey through Iran, Turkey and finally to Europe proper where he is now seeking refuge is documented. (CNN, Oct 1, 2015).

Pakistanis Executed by Taliban. Six abducted Pakistanis were killed in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan recently. They had been kidnapped by the Taliban and a video of their execution was released. 

How Much Have You Paid for the Afghan War? The 14+ year long war in Afghanistan has cost almost $1 trillion. Divided equally among Afghanistan's 30 million citizens the trillion dollars amounts to some $33,000 per head. Read more in a news report by Reuters, October 1, 2015.

New CSTC-A Cdr. MG Todd Semonite is leaving and MG Gordon Davis is arriving to take over the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan (CSTC-A). Read a news release (CENTCOM, Oct 1, 2015). Watch a video on the same topic where Gen Campbell says nice things about Todd and Gordon. (Resolute Command, Oct 1, 2015, 1 min).

CSTC-A Not Only DoD Entity Having Trouble with SFA. It appears that the U.S. military and its allies are not the only organization having trouble with the Security Force Assistance mission (Kunduz - just saying). Read about the troubles the U.S. is having in its Iraqi army training program. (The Washington Post, Oct 1, 2015).

Joe Dunford - former ISAF Cdr - and Women in Combat. The former ISAF commander is now the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - a relatively important position within the U.S. military establishment. He could be at odds with public opinion, the Obama administration, the SecDef, and the civilian head of the Navy (and Marines) on the topic of total integration of women in combat units. With he hold his ground like a true warrior or fold? Read more in "Dunford Deserves Credit for Sticking to His Guns on Women in Combat", Task & Purpose, September 30, 2015.

"Bulldogs" Return Home. 1st Bn, 327th Inf, 1st BCT, 101st Airborne Division has returned to Fort Campbell after a seven-month long deployment in southern Afghanistan. Read more in a news report by the Fort Campbell Courier, Oct 1, 2015.

JIEDDO 2.0. JIDA explained in a new report by Defense IQ, October 2, 2015.

Story on Route Clearance Company. The threat of IEDs is prevalent in Afghanistan and has causes numerous casualties to U.S. forces in the past. IEDs remain one of the biggest killers of members of the ANDSF as well. However, route clearance companies mitigate the IED threat. One such company is located at Bagram Air Field - A Company, 21st Brigade Engineer Battalion. Read more in "Company clears more than 5,000 miles in Afghanistan", Army.mil, September 28, 2015.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

43rd Battalion (Georgia) to Deploy to Afghanistan

43rd Battalion of Georgia. A farewell ceremony was held for the 43rd Battalion of the IV Mechanized Brigade of the Georgia Armed Forces prior to its departure for a deployment to Afghanistan as part of the Resolute Support Mission (RSM). The 43rd Battalion will replace the 51st Battalion on Bagram Air BAse (BAF) located just north of Kabul. The deployment will be six months long and the mission is to provide security for BAF. (The Messenger Online (GE), March 26, 2015.

www.messenger.com.ge/issues/3337_march_26_2015/3337_2.html

Monday, January 12, 2015

Georgia Military Chief Has Meetings in Afghanistan

Georgia's top military official has paid an official visit to Afghanistan to meet with Georgian troops and also have discussions about Georgia's future military participation in the Resolute Support mission. Read more in "Georgia's military chief holds top meetings in Afghanistan", Agenda.ge, January 10, 2015.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Georgia Troops for Resolute Support

The country of Georgia has been a reliable and valued troop contributing nation during the ISAF mission. The country will continue its efforts on behalf of its allies and Afghanistan with its commitment to the Resolute Support mission. A reconnaissance company from the 4th Mechanized Brigade of the Georgia Armed Forces is heading to northern Afghanistan to serve as part of the Train Advise and Assist Command - North under German leadership. The Georgian company of about 170 soldiers will be the rapid reaction force at Camp Marmal near Mazar-e-Sharif. The country has committed about 700 troops to the Resolute Support mission. The 51st Light Infantry Battalion is serving at Bagram Air Field - having deployed there in November 2014. Read more in "Georgian Troops Head to Mazar-i-Sharif", Civil Daily News Online, December 16, 2014.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Georgian Battalion Serves at Bagram

The 51st Battalion of the 5th Infantry Brigade of the Georgian Armed Forces is now stationed at Bagram Air Field (BAF) located just north of Kabul, Afghanistan. Read more in "Georgian battalion joins ISAF mission in Afghanistan", TREND, November 3, 2014. See also "1st Battalion, 320th FA Regiment transfers security of BAF to the Georgian 51st Light Infantry", DVIDS, November 3, 2014. The 51st Battalion will provide security for Bagram Air Field.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Final GDP-ISAF Rotation w/ Republic Georgia Armed Forces


"KRTSANISI NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, Republic of Georgia – Marines and Sailors from Georgia Training Team, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, are nearing the end of their six month deployment supporting the Georgia Deployment Program- International Security Assistance Force. They are the final GTT to train a Battalion from the Georgian Armed Forces to support the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. Combat operations will conclude in Afghanistan later this year, and the mission will transition from ISAF to Resolute Support Mission. The RSM will focus on training, advising and assisting Afghan forces marking the beginning of a new chapter in ensuring that stability and security returns to the region."
Read more: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/144462/final-gdp-isaf-rotation-redeploys-following-successful-partnership-with-georgian-armed-forces

Monday, February 24, 2014

31st Georgian Light Infantry Battalion - Helmand Province

The country of Georgia has been a very dependent partner and member of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) over the past several years. They operate principally in the Helmand province working alongside U.S. Marines and other coalition countries. Currently the 31st Georgian Light Infantry Battalion is deployed to Helmand - this being their third tour in country. The battalion is part of the task force charged with security of Camp Leatherneck and Camp Bastion. The battalion conducts patrols, mans guard towers, and provides a quick reaction force. Georgian forces have been deploying to Afghanistan since 2004. There are currently two 750-man Georgian battalions in Afghanistan. Georgia is 5th in troop numbers for ISAF behind the United States, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Read more in "Marines in Helmand hlep Georgians become fighting force", Stars and Stripes, February 22, 2014.