Townsend: 'Set to finish job we started'

By Maj. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, CJTF-10 CommanderFebruary 27, 2014

usa image
Leaders from across Afghanistan came to Forward Operating Base Gamberi to discuss the future of the advise and assist mission there Feb. 15. From left are Command Sgt. Maj. Noe Salinas, Col. Peter Benchoff, Col. Mario Diaz, Brig. Gen. Carl Alex, Maj.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Three weeks ago, we began our newest "Climb to Glory" in Afghanistan. The 10th Mountain Division (LI) headquarters is now fully deployed and has conducted a successful transition of authority with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is a truly professional organization with great leaders and Soldiers who set the conditions for a smooth transition of authority.

The bar has been set high, but I am confident that our Mountaineers will exceed the bar set by the Screaming Eagles. Our Mountaineers will make you proud of their accomplishments as we train, advise and assist the Afghan National Security Forces. I am honored to assume responsibility of Regional Command - East in Afghanistan and serve as commander, Combined Joint Task Force-10.

This coming year is vital to the future of Afghanistan. Building upon past accomplishments, we will help support enduring Afghan solutions to Afghanistan's challenges. In the near term, Afghanistan success is measured by their ability to successfully secure the elections without significant coalition support.

Their success isn't measured by the number of missions they conduct, but by the faith and confidence the Afghan people entrust in them. I have been busy with battlefield circulation visiting our great service men and women along with several of our Afghan partners. I am impressed with all that they accomplish each day.

The Patriots of 4th Brigade are nearing the end of their nine-month deployment operating in the provinces north of Kabul and have begun a relief in place with 2nd Brigade "Strike," 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). The Spartans of 3rd Brigade continue to make great strides in the provinces south of Kabul. Both 3rd and 4th Brigades deployed well trained and well prepared.

Even though the "Patriots" and "Spartans" are not in the lead in fighting the enemy, they both face a very tough fight in their operating environment. The enemy is pushing hard to counter the successes that our Afghan partners are having, and by so doing, he is making himself vulnerable.

While the Afghans have seen a rise in casualties, so has the enemy. Our forces are doing a superb job of advising our Afghan partners who have been taking the fight to the enemy in order to secure the Afghan population.

We are busily preparing to shut down several bases in the coming months. This will be a challenging mission, but our Mountaineers are more than ready to accomplish this mission. The Muleskinners of the 10th Sustainment Brigade are deployed in Afghanistan, and they are fully prepared to provide logistical support for the entire combined joint operating area within Afghanistan.

We have run into some old Afghan friends from previous tours here in Afghanistan and are amazed at how much they have accomplished in so little time.

They have grown from a loosely organized group of Soldiers to a professionally organized military formation. We went out to visit Task Force Patriot and Task Force Spartan, and I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of these two units. They have fully embraced the train, advise and assist mission, and their Afghan partners are progressing well against the enemy.

In addition to meeting with Col. Mario Diaz and Col. Sam Whitehurst, I had the opportunity to meet with several battalion commanders, command sergeants major, captains and first sergeants who are out in the frontier of Afghanistan. I left these meetings with these leaders impressed and confident in their abilities. I want you to know that your Soldiers are in very good hands with these leaders.

You can be proud of the work our great service members and our Afghan partners do here in Afghanistan. It is fitting that the 10th Mountain Division gets to finish the job we first started in 2002.

The majority of our force joined our Army post 9/11, and I am continually amazed by their spirit and resilience after a decade-plus of war.

I encourage each of you to maintain visibility of our Mountaineers and Regional Command-East by visiting the 10th Mountain Division (LI) Facebook page at www.facebook.com/drum.10th mountain and https://www.facebook.com/RC-East.

Thank you for your continued support. "Climb to Glory!"